Coast Village, Inc. v. Equilon Enterprises, LLC

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW RE: PHASE ONE OF TRIAL; PETROLEUM MARKETING PRACTICES ACT, 15 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.

This case involves Plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (“PMPA”), 15 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq. (“contract claims”), as well as their claims under California pricing and unfair competition statutes (“pricing claims”). On April 28, 2001, as agreed to by the parties, trial of these two types of claims was bifurcated: a Phase One trial of the PMPA contract claims; and a Phase Two trial of the state pricing claims. On May 7, 2001, this Court determined that Phase One did not require a jury. Accordingly, a non-jury trial (Phase One) was held before the Honorable Audrey B. Collins, District Judge presiding, from July 3, 2001 to July 18, 2001, on Plaintiffs’ PMPA claim(s). Having considered all the evidence presented at trial, and the arguments of counsel, the Court ENTERS the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 52(a):

I.FINDINGS OF FACT

Trial Presentation and Glossary of Basic Terms

1. Plaintiffs called a total of thirty-one witnesses during the nine-day court trial. Defendant (also…