Paul Lessig v. Tidewater Oil Company
327 F.2d 459
February 17, 1964 · Docket 17924
Opinion
This is an appeal by Paul Lessig from a judgment entered on a jury verdict in a suit for damages brought by Lessig under Section 4 of the Clayton Act,
Tidewater entered into a service station lease and dealer contract with Lessig November 15, 1955, and cancelled both May 15, 1958. The theory of Lessig’s ease was that during this period Tidewater violated the antitrust laws (1) by fixing the prices at which its dealers resold gasoline, and (2) by imposing upon its dealers a system of exclusive dealing and tying arrangemenTs“m''tEe_ purcTiiise of petroleum "products, batteries,, and those automotive accessories _which were sold or sponsored by Tidewater, and that Lessig was injured thereby.
I
Resale Price Maintenance
A. Sufficiency of evidence of violation
Lessig offered evidence of the following circumstances in support of his allegation that Tidewater conspired, or created a combination, to control the price at which its dealers resold gasoline.
Tidewater required its dealers to purchase their estimated total requirements of gasoline from Tidewater at prices “posted by seller at the time and place of delivery.” ’ It steadily increased the wholesale or tank-wagon price charged dealers during the relevant period, though the retail price dropped on several occasions. When the retail price went down, Tidewater extended “dealer-aid” in the form of a rebate from the tank-wagon price. When retail prices went up, the rebate was diminished or withdrawn. Payment of “dealer-aid” was conditioned upon adherence by the dealer to resale prices stipulated by Tidewater.
By maintaining, or increasing, the wholesale price when the retail price declined, Tidewater brought pressure upon dealers to accept “dealer-aid” and the accompanying condition requiring resale price maintenance. In addition, Tidewater’s representatives checked the prices at which dealers sold their gasoline, told dealers the price changes they were to make, changed prices posted on their pumps, placed price signs on the station premises reflecting the new price, and threatened to terminate and terminated dealers’ leases and contracts if dealers’
From this evidence the jury could conclude that Tidewater entered into agreements with its dealers fixing resale prices, thus contracting and conspiring in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, or, alternatively, that Tidewater secured dealer adherence to resale prices by a coercive scheme not limited to refusals to deal announced in advance, thus creating a combination in violation of Section l.
B. Sufficiency of evidence of damage
The evidence supporting Lessig’s claim of injury prior to the termination of his lease and contract from Tidewater’s resale price-fixing activities was not strong. However, the jury could readily infer that Tidewater terminated its business relationship with Lessig because he failed to adhere to the resale price-fixing scheme. Cancellation of Lessig’s lease and dealer contract in such circumstances would be unlawful, though in exercise of a right expressly granted Tidewater by the lease and contract
C. Alleged error in instructions
Tidewater makes the threshold contention that review of many of Lessig’s numerous claims of error is barred by Lessig’s failure properly to present his objections at trial. This may be true of some specifications, but that we need not decide. Lessig did properly present and preserve an objection to what we believe was reversible error in instructing the jury as to damages.
Lessig tendered to the court a proposed instruction concerning his right to recover reasonably anticipated future profits lost as a result of the cancellation of his lease and contract.
Reversal is thus required,
Lessig argues that the trial court should have instructed the jury that Tidewater’s conduct relating to resale price maintenance violated the Sherman Act as a matter of law. The instruction was properly refused. Tidewater did not concede that “dealer-aid” was conditioned on dealer adherence to its stipulated resale prices. Its officials testified that “dealer-aid” was given whenever the prevailing retail price in a particular area fell below the level at which Tidewater’s dealers could pay the posted wholesale price and retain.a fair margin of profit; and they insisted that each dealer, though receiving the rebate, was nonetheless free to meet the prevailing retail price or not as he saw fit. The jury was entitled to accept this explanation, and reject the contrary evidence.
We agree with Lessig, however, that the instructions given did not adequately inform the jury of the theory underlying the price-fixing aspect of his case. They did not clearly state in terms of the specific facts of the case:
The instructions on this phase of the case were objectionable in another respect. Lessig testified in detail regarding a conversation with Tidewater’s district sales manager immediately preceding receipt by Lessig of notice of the cancellation of his lease and contract. With apparent reference to this conversation, the court instructed the jury “that it was not unlawful for Tidewater to tell Mr. Lessig that his retail prices were so high that a loss df sales and customers was likely.” T[iis was one of several instructions which isolated particular incidents from the total course of Tidewater’s conduct and pronounced each lawful. These instructions were no doubt accurate, so far as they went. However, as the Supreme Court recently stated, “[i]n cases such as this, plaintiffs should be given the full benefit of their proof without tightly compartmentalizing the various factual components and wiping the slate clean after scrutiny of each. ‘ * * * [T]he character and effect of a conspiracy [or combination] are not to be judged by dismembering it and viewing its separate parts, but only by looking at it as a whole. * * * ’ ”; and “acts which are in themselves legal lose that character when they become constituent elements of an unlawful scheme.” Continental Ore Co. v. Union Carbide & Carbon Corp., 370 U.S. 690, 699, 707, 82 S.Ct. 1404, 1410, 1415, 8 L.Ed.2d 777 (1962).
We have said that it would be reversible error to instruct the jury that particular acts, alleged to be part of a conspiracy, were lawful, without adding the express qualification, “in the absence of conspiracy” (Fox West Coast Theatres Corp. v. Paradise Theatre Bldg. Corp., 264 F.2d 602, 606 (9th Cir. 1958)), and it is at least clear that an instruction that a component element of an allegedly illegal course of conduct is lawful should be accompanied by a substance of the admonitions which we have quoted from Continental Ore Co.
D. Alleged error in exclusion of evidence
No substantial error occurred in the exclusion of evidence relating to resale price maintenance. Most of the excluded material was cumulative or only remotely relevant, and the discretion of the trial court in dealing with it was accordingly broad.
II
Exclusive Dealing and Tying Arrangements
A. Sufficiency of evidence of violation
Lessig offered evidence of the following circumstances in support of his algation that Tidewater imposed upon its dealers a system of exclusive dealing and . tying arrangements applicable to petroleum products, and to tires, batteries, and automotive accessories (TBA) whi ch Tidewater sold or sponsored.
Tidewater’s service station(ieájig) were renewable annually, and were subject to cancellation _at six-month intervals on-thirty days’ notice. Each dealer contract ended automatically upon terminar tion of."that dealer’s lease. The dealer was required bv his contract to purch3.se from Tidewater “his total requirements" o‘f gasoline, motor oils and greases, regularly manufactured and sold by” Tidewater, to an amount specified in the contract; and the amount specified in each dealer contract was the estimated full requirements of that dealer’s station. When the servicestation lease and dealer contract were execúted Tidewater’s representatives t.o|d the, dealer that he was to purchase iVom Tidewater his reqfprgrqents of petroleum products and TBA items which it sponsored or sold. Tidewater’s representatives accompanied salesmen of sponsored merchandise while the latter secured orders from dealers. Tidewater’s representatives inspected dealers’ stations for competing merchandise, required that it be returned, and threatened nonrenewal of the offending dealer’s lease. Credit card sales of non-sponsored merchandise were charged back to the dealer if the customer failed to pay. New dealers were required to purchase from outgoing dealers only inventory purchased from Tidewater.
the / i^P The record disclosed the disproportionate' size and economic strength of parties.
Evidence was offered that Tidewater — > entered into leases and dealer contracts. containing provisions similar to those described, with about 2,700 service station operators in eight western states. Some of the practices described admitted — ly were followed with respect to all Tidewater dealers, and the others appeared to be of quite general application. Thus, the jury could conclude that the restrictive provisions and practices affected a substantial portion of Tidewater’s sales') to its dealers of about 310 million gallons ( of gasoline annually (about five per cent of the gasoline sPld through dealers in the area), and four to five million dollars worth of TBA.
From this evidence the jury could conclude- that Tidewater sold petroleum; products and sponsored TBA to its deal-i ers upon conditions and understandings \ —express and tacit, oral and written— that they not deal in commodities sold by [jgpmpetitors of Tidewater. The only ' serious question is whether the jury could falso conclude that these conditions and * ................. .■■■ ■ - - —• understandings might lessen competition substantially or tend to create a monopoly in a line of commerce, as required by [the Clavton Act-
We think Standard
As Tidewater points out, the percentage of service stations in thlT market affected bv its conduct was not establishetrin the pT~Qs°nt as it was Sta^~ard. However, the percentage of sales of gasoline in the - area made through Tidewater stations was shown (about 5-per cent as .compared with. 6.7 per cent in Standard), and- yyouldr-seem to xeflectthe impact of the restrictive arrangements more accurately than would the percentage of retail outlets affected.
Tidewater also points out that the record did not disclose total sales m themwestem states of any of thé TEA items involved, and hence the share sold through its stations could not be deter-' mined. In^Standard such information! was available as to some TBA items. 1 However, knowledge .of the share of the"'' market foreclosed is .not invariably required to determine whether exclusive" dealing arrangements violate Section 3 of the Clayton Act. The test remains, /«whether the jury can find from all the ( circumstances that the effect of the par- \ ticular arrangements “may be to substantially lessen competition or tend to create /a monopoly in any line of commerce11; 7and, as the Clayton Act tying clause cases ^demonstrate, thisjmav appear from facts other than the proportion of total commerce in the relevant market which is subject to restraint,.
In Standard the proportion of ’ total sales of automotive accessories affected was not shown, and the evidence was that Standswilg gaUH nf tiras and •hat+PT-iPfi “^STT-o nmmv, eg to oifhpr nf tfiese nrndnets. e.yeeeded 2#. óf the total sales in the Western area” (337 U.S. at 296-297, 69 S.Ct. at 1053-1054, 93 L.Ed. 1371). Clearly, the Court’s conclusion that competition might...he. lessened substantially did not rest, upon the nrooor: tion foreclosed of totafacommerce in these products. The (fprobabik basis for the . Court’s concTusi<mréqualIy applicable to the present case, was that dependence upon Standard- for petroleum supplies and station leases so restricted dealer freedom of choice that arrangements recmirlng dealers to-jnnrchase TBA from Standard, in their anti-competitive effect. “shpgld-perhAps,” as Justice Frankfurter said, “be considered, as a. matter of classification. tving rather t^flh rpfl11,‘T-°ments agreements.” 337 U.S. at 305 n. 8, 69 S.Ct. at 1058, 93 L.Ed. 1371.
We are also satisfied that ' other grounds of distinction suggested by Tidewater between this case and Standard do not justify a different result.
As an independent theory of violation, applicable to TBA, Lessig contended thafj Tidewater leased its service stations and sold its petroleum products on the condition that its dealers purchase the TBA which it sponsored or sold.
Of course, if a substantial*^ volume of TBA were involved. Tidewater possessed coercive economic power over its dealers because of its role as a lessor of service stations and distributor 61 petroleum products, such tying arrangements would violate Section 3 of the Clayton Act: they would violate Section-1 of the Sherman Act as well if both-of these conditions were present
In the present case there was evidence from which the jury could infer that the alleged tying arrangements were imposed as a matter of general practice, and therefore affected t.ha — snb&tantial volume of TBA sold by Tidewater’s dealers. The jury could also find that Tidewater possessed the economic power requisite to Sherman Act violation from the fact that it successfully imposed tying conditions upon a substantial volume-of TBA sales, and from the following ci.renmstances. Tidewater could cancel dealer contracts on short notice^ and ae-eline to renew them upon expiration.. The consequences of termination" were-disproportionately grave to the , dealer. Tidewater could substitute one dealer for another readily or onera.te the station tor-itself. The dealer was economically bound to his station and to Tidewater's petroleum products-; they were to him (mimifil The good will of his business attached to them: moreover, he was bound by contract to purchase his requirements of petroleum products from Tidewater; and even if he were free to shift, a change would involve substantial expense,
We are satisfied that there was sufficient evidence of exclusive dealing and tying arrangements violative of the antitrust laws to go to the jury.
B. Sufficiency of evidence of damage
Tidewater argues that even so there was insufficient proof of damage to justify submission to the jury of this phase of Lessig’s case.
Lessig did not contend that the alleged exclusive dealing and tying' arrangements led to the cancellation of his lease; and we agree with Tidewater that there is little evidence that Lessig was damaged prior to the termination of his leáse by the requirement that he purchase petroleum products exclusively from Tidewater.
Tidewater argues that higher cost of sponsored TBA would not necessarily mean lower dealer profits because competitive TBA might not be equally salable and its purchase, even at lower prices, might lead to diminished profits through fewer sales, lower resale price, and narrowed margins. Under Tidewater’s hypothesis, the only wholly satisfactory evidence of damage would be a record of sales of both competitive and sponsored brands of TBA at Lessig’s service station during the same period, Since, arguendo, Tidewater’s illegal activity made the production of such evidenee impossible by preventing Lessig from dealing in competitive TBA, Tidewater cannot complain that the preferred proof was not produced.
As to the amount of damage, the evidence showed how much more some items of sponsored TBA cost than competitive brands and the quantity of the former Lessig purchased,
C. Alleged error in instructions
Relying upon Standard, Lessig requested the court to instruct the jury that if it found Tidewater’s dealer contracts imposed an exclusive dealing requirement
We agree with Lessig, however, that the iurv was not sufficiently advised that illegal tying arrangements might be found in tacit conditions or understandings inferred from all the circumstances of the case. Tidewater points to the use of the adjectives “express or implied” in the pertinent instructions, but an adequate explanation of the concept of tacit conditions or understandings established circumstantially cannot be conveyed by a phrase. The danger of confusion was increased by language repeatedly emphasizing the necessity for an agreement.
The court’s instructions conditioned recovery unon a finding that Lessig entered into an exclusive dealing or tving arrangement, ydfh Tidewater. , But Lessig’s charge was broader;
The court instructed the jury that there was no evidence from which it could find that Tidewater's conduct might “tend to create a monopoly” in TBA, leaving t.n t.bp jury only the question of whether it might “substantially lessen competition.” In the context of this case the distinction is scarcely clear; it was not taken in Standard or Richfield, and we can find no reason to take it here. The Clayton Act’s prohibition of agreements which “tend to create a monopoly” is violated though “the tendency is a creeping one rather than one that proceeds at full gallop; nor does the law await arrival at the goal before condemning the direction of the movement.” International Salt Co. v. United States, 332 U.S. 392, 396, 68 S.Ct. 12, 15, 92 L.Ed. 20 (1947).
The jury was instructed that Tidewater could “urge and encourage” its dealers to buy "all ffieír TBA” from Tidewater, and “express disappointment” if it found they were buying from others. We think the instruction went too far. If the evidence established that Tidewater followed the course of conduct deseribed and that Tidewater’s dealers thereafter purchased from it their requirements of sponsored TBA items, an inference of tacit agreement would be virtually compelled. The instruction thus might preclude the jury from finding tacit agreement from circumstances which would justify such a finding.
Lessig’s remaining objections to instructions relating to TBA tying and exclusive dealing arrangements seem to us inconsequential, unlikely to arise again, or clearly without merit.
D. Alleged error in exclusion of evidence
One of Lessig’s contentions concerning the exclusion of evidence relating to this phase of the case merits comment. Lessig complains that he was not permitted to state his opinion as to the profit which he lost as a result of Tidéwáter’s alleged conduct. ' Such opinion testimony is. admissible,
jjj
Attempt to Monopolize
We think the court erred in withdrawing from the jury the charge that Tidewater attempted to monopolize in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
The essence o monopo y is power to control pnces and exclude competítion.
Tidewater argues that attempt to monopolize is established only if there is proof of “dangerous probability of sue-cess, i. e., that if unchecked monopolization will result”; that this requires an evaluation of Tidewater’s power in the relevant market; that .the evidence on this issue was inadequate, and such evidence as there was indicated a lack of any possibility that Tidewater could monopolize the sale of petroleum products or TBA.
We reject the premise that probability of actual monopolization is an essential element of proof of attempt to monopolize.
When the charge -is attempt (or conspiracy) to monopolize, rather than monopolization, the relevant market is “not in issue.” United States v. E. I. Du Pont & Co., 351 U.S. 377, 395 n. 23, 76 S.Ct. 994, 100 L.Ed. 1264 (1956).
Reversed and remanded.
. 38 Stat. 731 (1914), 15 U.S.C.A. § 15:
“Any person who shall be injured in his business or property by reason of anything forbidden in the antitrust laws may sue therefor in any district court of the ■ - United States in the district in' which the defendant resides or is found or has an agent, without respect to the amount in controversy, and shall recover threefold .the damages by him sustained, and the tost of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.’’ • ■
. 26 Stat. 209 (1890), 15 U.S.C.A. § 1:
“Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal. * * * 26 Stat. 209 (1890), 15 U.S.C.A § 2:
“Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor * *
. 38 Stat. 731 (1914), 15 U.S.C.A. § 14:
“It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce, to lease or make a sale or contract for sale of goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies, or other commodities * * * on the condition, agreement, or understanding that the lessee or purchaser thereof shall not use or deal in the goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies, or other commodities of a competitor or competitors of the lessor or seller, where the effect of such lease, sale, or contract for sale or such condition, agreement, or understanding may be to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce.
. Throughout the opinion the evidence and inferences to be drawn from it are stated as favorably to Lessig as the record permits. Conflicts in the evidence (and they are substantial) are resolved in Lessig’s favor.
. United States v. Parke, Davis & Co., 362 U.S. 29, 43, 80 S.Ct. 503, 511, 4 L.Ed. 2d 505 (1960) (“In other words, an unlawful combination is not just such as arises from a price maintenance agreement, express or implied; such a combination is also organized if the producer secures adherence to his suggested prices by means which go beyond his mere declination to sell to a customer who will not observe his announced policy.”) ; Osborn v. Sinclair Ref. Co., 324 F.2d 566 (4th Cir. 1963). Parke, Davis and the decisions which preceded it are exhaustively analyzed by Dean Levi v. The Parke-DavisColgate Doctrine: The Ban oír Resale Price Maintenance, The Supreme Court Review 258-326 (1960). See also Helper, Individual Refusals to Deal: Customer Selection or Dealer Protection, 22 A.B.A. Antitrust Section 49 (1962).
In Sun Oil Co. v. F. T. C., 294 F.2d 465, 482-484 (5th Cir. 1961), the Court of Appeals reversed a finding of a price-fixing agreement based in part upon the granting by Sun of an allowance on the wholesale price to enable a dealer to lower his retail pride to meet competition. Unlike the present case, the dealer testimony was that there was no express or tacit agreement as to the resale price. FTC did not seek review of this portion of the Court of Appeals decision. F. T. C. v. Sun Oil Co., 371 U.S. 505, 511, 83 S.Ct. 358, 9 L.Ed.2d 466 (1963). However, the Supreme Court noted, in another connection, “to the extent that * * * the supplier attempted to set, or was responsible for setting, the retail price, there would be inherent antitrust problems arising from possible existence of illegal price-fixing agreements.” 371 U.S. at 524 n. 14, 83 S.Ct. at 369, 9 L.Ed. 2d 466.
. Poller v. Columbia Broadcasting Co., 368 U.S. 464, 468-469, 82 S.Ct. 486, 7 L.Ed.2d 458 (1962); Osborn v. Sinclair Ref. Co., 324 F.2d 566, 575 n. 17 (4th Cir. 1963). See also Englander Motors, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 267 F.2d 11, 15 (6th Cir. 1959).
. See, e. g., Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. v. Nisley, 300 F.2d 561, 595 (10th Cir. 1961); A. C. Becken Co. v. Gemex Corp., 272 F.2d 1, 4-5 (7th Cir. 1959) Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. v. Brookside Theatre Corp., 194 F.2d 846, 854 (8th Cir. 1952); Timberlake, The Legal Injury Requirements and Proof of Damages in Treble Damage Actions under the Antitrust Laws, 30 Geo.Wash. L.Rev. 231, 277-83 (1961-1962).
Whatever relevance Simpson v. Union Oil Co., 311 F.2d 764 (9th Cir. 1963), cert. granted April 29, 1963, 373 U.S. 901, 83 S.Ct. 1290, 10 L.Ed.2d 197, may have to Lessig’s claim of damage from Tidewater’s resale price-fixing activities during his occupancy of the station, it has no bearing upon his claim for loss-of future profits because of cancellation of the lease and contract.
The problem of establishing proximate cause said by some to arise when the damage claim is based upon an alleged' refusal to deal prohibited by § 3 of the Clayton Act (see note 38) does not exist when, as in the present case, the refusal! to deal is part of a course of conduct violative of § 1 of the Sherman Act. A. C. Becken Co. v. Gemex Corp., 272 F.2d 1 (7th Cir. 1959); Halper, Individual Refusals to Deal: Customer Selection or Dealer Protection, 22 A.B.A. Antitrust Section 49, 59 (1963).
. The instruction requested read:
“A plaintiff whose lease and product agreements have been cancelled as a result of conduct in violation of the antitrust laws is entitled to be awarded as damages the loss of profits and values resulting from the cancellations.
“If you find that Paul Lessig had developed net income and profits at the service station at 22nd and Irving Street, San Francisco during the period May, 1955, to May 15, 1958, and there was reasonable likelihood that such net earnings and profits would have continued in the future you may award as damages the value of such future profits as of the date of cancellation.” ' Lessig also objected to the omission of three other instructions on damages. One was simply a generalized restatement of the instruction quoted; two were sufficiently covered by instructions which were given.
. See note 7.
. Tidewater argues that the omission of the requested instruction was unimportant since the jury was given general instructions that “the purpose of the law of damages is to place a party in as good a position as lie would have enjoyed but for the wrong done,” and the calculation “should include all damages suffered by the plaintiff because of lost profits”; and because the jury was told that it might base its award on the testimony of the expert witnesses, which related in part to loss suffered as a result of the cancellation. But these generalizations and possible inferences were not the fair equivalent of the specific instruction to which Lessig was entitled.
. Cf. Sunkist Growers, Inc. v. Winckler & Smith Citrus Prods. Co., 370 U.S. 19, 30, 82 S.Ct. 1130, 8 L.Ed.2d 305 (1962).
. Similarly, Tidewater did not concede that, as a condition to “dealer-aid,” it required its dealers to post signs showing a specified retail price. Tidewater officials testified that price signs were furnished to dealers only as a convenience to assist them in complying with California law governing the size, content, form, and color of gasoline price signs (see note 15), and that they were given whatever numbers they wished to post.
. Although instructions need not be framed in terms. of the specific facts in all cases (Cohen v. Western Hotels, Inc., 276 F.2d 26, 28 (9th Cir. 1960); cf. Baker v. United States, 310 F.2d 924, 930 (9th Cir. 1962)), it would seem appropriate to do so where, as here, the abstract legal principles are not self-explanatory to a lay jury, and the facts to which they must be applied are eom- ' plex. Cf. 2B Barron & Holtzoff, Federal Practice & Procedure 469-70 (1961).
. Quoting United States v. Patten, 226 U.S. 525, 544, 33 S.Ct. 141, 57 L.Ed. 333 (1913). See also Independent Iron Works, Inc. v. United States Steel Corp., 322 F.2d 656, 661 (9th Cir. 1963).
. Some of the instructions given by the trial court to which this comment will apply, if they are repeated at the new ■trial, ar.e the following: that it was lawful for Tidewater to sell gasoline to its dealers at any price it thought proper; that Tidewater was under no legal obligation to enable its dealers to make a large, small, or any, profit; and that it was lawful for Tidewater to reduce its price to its dealers whenever it thought necessary or advisable.
A somewhat related problem is raised by the reading to the jury of the full text -of Cal.Bus. & Prof.Code, §§ 20880, 20882, 20882.5, 20883, 20887, and 20888, pertaining to the display by service stations of signs showing retail gasoline prices. It seems to us that an epitomization of the statutory provisions with an explanation of their limited relevance to the issues would be better calculated to clarify the issues in the minds of the jurors.
.- Tidewater ProduP.fifl p-a.gnl-ino . pnS nthp.lr~net.rolfihm' -products which it sold' tó dealers for resale. It purchased tires and batteries and resold -piem tn denlerp. If also distributed selected automotive ac-~ pAKHnriftSj-mirlp.v agrpefnéntK-with ma^nO facturers providing that Tidewater was to’ ha ve a. stipulated discount or rebate on sales to dealers.
. Tidewater is one of the country’s major oil companies; It does business in 32 states, and its assets exceed- IMjÜT'mih lion. It sold^about 6.5% of-the total"? gasoline soUan~tffe~e]F5t western states. I
. Standard Oil Co. of Cal. and Standard Stations v. United States, 337 U.S. 293, 69 S.Ct. 1051, 93 L.Ed. 1371 (1949).
. Richfield Oil Corp. v. United States, 343 U.S. 922, 72 S.Ct. 665, 96 L.Ed. 1344 (1952), affirming per curiam Judge Tank-wich’s decision at 99 F.Supp. 280 (S.D. Cal.1951).
. Compare United States v. Philadelphia Nat'l Bank, 374 U.S. 321, 357, 83 S.Ct. 1715, 10 L.Ed.2d 915 (1963), with Tampa Elec. Co. v. Nashville Coal Co., 365 U.S. 320, 328-329, 81 S.Ct. 623, 5 L.Ed.2d 580 (1961).
. See, e. g., International Salt Co. v. United States, 332 U.S. 392, 396, 68 S.Ct. 12, 92 L.Ed. 20 (1947) (tied product salt; sales affected $500,000; total sales not disclosed); Northern Pac. Ry. v. United States, 356 U.S. 1, 78 S.Ct. 514, 2 L.Ed.2d 545 (1958) (tied product transportation; neither amount affectetK nor the total disclosed); Qsborn v. Sinclair Ref. Co., 286 F.2d 832, 835 (4th Cir.1960) (tied product TBA; volume affected was ,<TEof. insubstantial”: totaT sales not* disclosed; Sinclair sold 10.SV of the gasoline sold in Maryland, and tlealt with" lOy-fl or the stations in that state). See also Brown Shoe Co. v. United States, 370 U.S. 294, 329-331, 82 S.Ct. 1502, 8 L.Ed.2d 510 (1962); cf. Tampa Elec. Co. v. Nashville Coal Co., 365 U.S. 320, 328-329, 81 S.Ct. 623, 5 L.Ed.2d 580 (1961), exhaustively analyzed in Bok, The Tampa Electric Case and the Problem of Exclusive Arrangements under the Clayton Act, The Supreme Court Review 267 (1961), and in
. As the Court pointed out in Brown") Shoe Co. v. United States, 370 U.S. 294, 330, 82 S.Ct. 1502, 1526-1527, 8 L.Ed.2d 510 (1962), the usual tying contract is “inherently anticompetitive” because it “forces the customer to take a product or brand he does not necessarily want,” whereas requirements contracts “are frequently negotiated at the behest of the customer who has chosen the particular supplier and his product upon the basis of competitive merit.” Evidence in the' present case that exclusive dealing was imposed against the dealers’ will, and that if free to choose dealers would have bought competitive products, lends support to the conclusion that these arrangements were substantially anticompetitive in effect, unlike requirements contracts which the buyer is free to accept or jeet.
Moreover, in evaluating the impact on competition, exclusive dealing arrangements imposed in a context of coercion should be treated as indefinite in duration. Bok, The Tampa Electric Case and the Problem of Exclusive Arrangements under the Clayton Act, The Supreme Court Review 267, 313-14 n. 119 (1961).
. The number of stations and volume of trade affected were somewhat greater in Standard than in the present case, and there was an explicit showing in Standard, but not in this case, that other major oil companies in the market were also- . operating under exclusive dealing arrangements. However, judging from the district court opinion in Richfield, these factual disparities, as well as those previously mentioned, likewise existed between that case and Standard, and the Supreme Court affirmed Richfield on the ground that the issues raised were “substantially the same as those decided in Standard * * 343 U.S. 922, 72 S.Ct. 665, 96 L.Ed. 1344 (1952).
. Times-Picayune Publishing Co. v. United States, 345 U.S. 594, 608-609, 73 S.Ct. 872, 97 L.Ed. 1277 (1953). The applicability of the Sherman Act must be considered because § 3 of the Clavton Act. applies only to the lease or sale “of goods, wares, merchandise, machinery. * * * or other commodities,” and_ therefore would not be violated if the-! jury concluded that Tidewater tied TBA only to the leasing of service stations, and not to the sale of petroleum products. See Northern Pac. Ry. v. United States, 356 U.S. 1, 13 n. 1 (1958).
. See also White Motor Co. v. United States, 372 U.S. 253, 262, 83 S.Ct. 696, 9 L.Ed.2d 738 (1963); Stedman, Tying Arrangements, 22 A.B.A. Antitrust Section 64, 69-70 (1963); Paley, Antitrust Pitfalls in Exclusive Dealing, 37 Notre Dame Law. 499, 513-14 (1961-1962).
. Northern Pac. Ry. v. United States, 356 U.S. 1, 7-8, 78 S.Ct. 514, 2 L.Ed.2d 545 (1958). This is because “the vice of tying arrangements lies in the use of economic power in one market to restrict competition on the merits in another, regardless of the source from which the power is derived and whether the power takes the form of a monopoly or not.” 356 U.S. at 11, 78 S.Ct. at 521, 2 L.Ed. 2d 545. See also Osborn v. Sinclair Ref. Co., 286 F.2d 832, 840 (4th Cir. 1960), and 324 F.2d 566 (4th Cir. 1903). And see United States v. General Motors Corp., 121 F.2d 376, 402-403 (7th Oir. 1941).
. There was testimony that it cost a dealer as much as $5,000 to take over a station pumping 12,000 gallons of gasoline a month, although, of course, a portion of this initial expense would be recovered. And, as Tidewater itself points out, under California law (Cal.Bus. & Prof.Code, §§ 20840, 20849-20851), “in order lawfully to handle gasoline acquired from others, Lessig would either have had to install a separate set of tanks and pumps or to relabel those already at the station.” Tidewater urges this as the real reason Lessig bought gasoline only from Tidewater.
Compare Brown Shoe Co. v. United States, 370 U.S. 294, 337-338 n. 66, 82 S.Ct. 1502, 1530-1531, 8 L.Ed.2d 510 (1962), where, in another context, the Court said: “Since the retailer was required, under this plan, to invest his own resources and develop his good will to a substantial extent in the sale of Brown products, the flow of which Brown could readily terminate, Brown was able to exercise sufficient control over these stores and departments to warrant their characterization as ‘Brown’ outlets * $ jjs if
. See Simpson v. Union Oil Co., 311 F.2d 764, 767-768, (9th Cir. 1963), cert. granted 373 U.S. 901, 83 S.Ct. 1290, 10 L.Ed.2d 197 (1963). Authorities are collected in Timberlake, The Legal Injury Requirements and Proof of Damages in Treble Damage Actions under the Antitrust Laws, 30 Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 231, 232 (1961-1962).
. It does not follow that inquiry as to the legality of Tidewater’s alleged exclusive dealing practices is foreclosed to the extent these practices related to p’etro-léüm products. Such a compartmentalization of Lessig’s case would be inconsistent with the practical interrelationship of the business conduct involved and with the mandate of Continental Ore Co. v. Union Carbide & Carbon Corp., 370 U.S. 690, 699, 82 S.Ct. 1404, 8 L.Ed.2d 777 (1962).
. See Osborn v. Sinclair Ref. Co., 324 F.2d 566 (4th Cir. 1963). Cf. Flintkote Co. v. Lysfjord, 246 F.2d 368, 389-390 (9th Cir. 1957). See Comment, 60 Mich. L.Rev. 1104, 1123-24 (1961-1962). See also North Texas Producers Ass’n v. Young, 308 F.2d 235, 243-244 (5th Cir. 1962). Cases denying recovery where it appears that plaintiff has passed the higher price on to his customers without loss to himself are, of course, inapplicable. See, e. g., Wolfe v. National Lead Co., 225 F.2d 427, 433 (9th Cir. 1955); Comment, 60 Mich.L.Rev. 1104, 1129 n. 80 (1961-1962). But see Hanover Shoe, Inc. v. United Shoe Mach. Corp., 281 F.2d 481 (3d Cir. 1960).
. Indeed, we have said that where, a violation adversely affects the market in which the plaintiff must buy or sell, “[t]he mere unlawful combination over a period of time to eliminate competition is proof of damage.” Fox West Coast The-atres Corp. v. Paradise Theatre Bldg, Corp., 264 F.2d 602, 608 (9th Cir. 1958). See also Richfield Oil Corp. v. Karseal Corp., 271 F.2d 709, 713 (9th Cir. 1959). Cf. Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. v. Nisley, 300 F.2d 561, 579-580 (10th Cir. 1961). But see Timberlake, The Legal Injury Requirements and Proof of Damages in Treble Damage Actions under the Antitrust Laws, 30 Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 231, 239-40 (1961-1962).
. Bigelow v. RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., 327 U.S. 251, 264, 66 S.Ct. 574, 90 L.Ed. 652 (1946).
. Lessig testified, for example, that competitive batteries were “from four dollars to five dollars cheaper” than Tidewater’s “Flying A” batteries, and the record disclosed that Lessig purchased 31 of the latter during 1956.
. Lessig contended that the contract required dealers to purchase their full re^ q~mrements of petroleum products from TTHewatey. Tidewater argued that the language meant only that dealers were to buy their full requirements of Tidewater trademarked products directly from Tidewater, and that they were free to hnv products produced by others whenever and from whatever source they wished.
. The statement in the instructions that Lessig must have “committed himself Jinr~i ajlyaaee*1 — l~—i—y items / mUy fiwm. should be avoided. / Although it may mean in advance of purchase, as Tidewater suggests, as Lessig suggests it may also be taken tq, piean that the condition or understanding must exist at the outset of the relationship. between buyer and seller, thus precluding a finding of tacit condition or understanding based on a subsequent course of conduct.
. The charge was apparently limited in Leo J. Meyberg Co. v. Eureka Williams Corp., 215 F.2d 100 (9th Cir. 1954).
. See note 7.
. See Halper, Individual Refusals to Deal: Customer Selection or Dealer Protection, 22 A.B.A. Antitrust Section 49, 60-61 (1963); Turner, The Definition of Agreement under the Sherman Act: Conscious Parallelism and Refusals to Deal, 75 Harv.L.Rev. 655, 693-95 (1962); Kessler and Stern, Competition, Contract, and Vertical Integration, 69 Yale L.J. 1, 86 (1959-1960).
. See also Klor’s, Inc. v. Broadway-Hale Stores, Inc., 359 U.S. 207, 213-214, 79 S.Ct. 705, 3 L.Ed.2d 207 (1959).
. Cf. Richfield Oil Corp. v. Karseal Corp., 271 F.2d 709, 713 (9th Cir. 1959) : “As the trial judge stated during discussion with counsel, Richfield ‘had no right to tell the operators of stations, independent operators and not [Richfield] employees, not to buy other products.” See-1 also United States v. General Motors Corp., 121 F.2d 376, 400-401 (7th Cir. 1941).
The instruction was also objectionable unless qualified as indicated in Continental Ore Co. See notes 14, 15 and related text. This annlies also to the following instrnctions given by the trial court in connection with the exclusive dealing and tying arrangements phase of the casé*: that Tidewater was entitled to engage in the business of selling TBA to its dealers; that it was not unlawful for Tidewater to restrict use of its credit cards to the resale of merchandise whlcír’tEe dealer had purchased from Tidewater; that it was not unlawful for Tidewater to introduce to its dealers representatives of XBÁ manufacturers from whom Tidewater bought merchandise; and that Tidewater’s volume TE A discounts~"to~ dealers were.. lawful.
. Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. v. Nis-ley, 300 F.2d 561, 595 (10th Cir. 1962). See also Story Parchment Co. v. Paterson Parchment Paper Co., 282 U.S. 555, 567, 51 S.Ct. 248, 75 L.Ed. 544 (1931).
. Cf. Flintkote Co. v. Lysfjord, 246 F.2d 368, 394 (9th Cir. 1957).
. See, e. g., American Tobacco Co. v. United States, 328 U.S. 781, 811, 66 S.Ct. 1125, 90 L.Ed. 1575 (1946).
. A contract, combination or conspiracy to fix prices, or to exclude competition from a substantial part of the market, violates both § 1 and § 2 of the Act. In addition, § 2 is violated by any attempt to accomplish the forbidden objectives; “having by the first section forbidden all means of monopolizing trade, that is, unduly restraining it by means of every contract, combination, etc., the second section seeks, if possible, to make tile prohibitions of the act all the more com-píete and perfect by embracing all attempts to reach the end prohibited by the first section, that is, restraints of trade, by any attempt to monopolize, or monopolization thereof, even although the acts by which such results are attempted to be brought about or are brought about be not embraced within the general enumeration of the first section.” Standard Oil Co. of N. J. v. United States, 221 U.S. 1, 61, 31 S.Ct. 502, 516, 55 L.Ed. 619 (1911).
. Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. v. Nisley, 300 F.2d 561, 586 (10th Cir. 1961); United States v. Consolidated Laundries Corp., 291 F.2d 563, 573 (2d Cir. 1961). Sunkist Growers, Inc. v. Winckler & Smith Citrus Prods. Co., 284 F.2d 1 (9th Cir. 1960), is not to the contrary, as Tidewater suggests. Cf. Kansas City Star Co. v. United States, 240 F.2d 643, 662-663 (8th Cir. 1957).
. Swift & Co. v. United States, 196 U.S. 375, 396, 25 S.Ct. 276, 279, 49 L.Ed. 518 (1905) (“ * * * when that intent and the consequent dangerous probability exist * * (Emphasis added.)) See also United States v. Griffith, 334 U.S. 100, 105, 68 S.Ct. 941, 92 L.Ed. 1236 (1948); Independent Iron Works, Inc. v.United States Steel Corp., 322 F.2d 656, 667 (9th Cir. 1963).
. See also Independent Iron Works, Inc. v. United States Steel Corp., 322 F.2d 656, 667 (9th Cir. 1963); Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. v. Nisley, 300 F.2d 561, 585 (10th Cir. 1961). Cf. Volasco Prods. Co. v. Lloyd A. Fry Hoofing Co., 308 F.2d 383, 389-390 (6th Cir. 1902).
. Mandeville Island Farms v. American Crystal Sugar Co., 334 U.S. 219, 236, 68 S.Ct. 996, 92 L.Ed. 1328 (1948); United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 332 U.S. 218, 226, 67 S.Ct. 1560, 91 L.Ed. 2010 (1947).
. See Crane Distrib. Co. v. Glenmore Distilleries, 267 F.2d 343, 345 (6th Cir. 1959); American Tobacco Co. v. United States, 147 F.2d 93, 113 (6th Cir. 1944), aff’d 328 U.S. 781, 66 S.Ct. 1125, 90 L.Ed. 1575 (1946). See also Klors, Inc. v. Broadway-Hale Stores, Inc., 359 U.S. 207, 213-214, 79 S.Ct. 705, 3 L.Ed.2d 207 (1959). Klors is not distinguishable because the conspiracy to monopolize involved a boycott; resale price maintenance is also a per se violation of the Sherman Act.