Colonial Chevrolet Co., Inc. v. United States ( 2018 )

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
Nos. 10-647C, 11-100C, and 12-900C
(Filed: September 17, 2018)
CONSOLIDATED
)
COLONIAL CHEVROLET CO., )
INC., et al., )
)
Plaintiffs, )
v. ) Denial of Summary Judgment; Fifth
) Amendment Taking; Disputed Issues
THE UNITED STATES, ) of Fact; Government’s Role in
) Terminating General Motors
Defendant. ) Dealership Agreements; Voluntary
) Release of Dealership Agreements to
********************* ) General Motors; Ambiguous Release
ALLEY’S OF KINGSPORT, INC., et ) Language; Burden Shifting as to
al., ) Whether Dealerships Had Greater
) Value in the “But For” World Without
Plaintiffs, ) Government Bailout of General
v. ) Motors Than They Received or Were
) Offered in Wind-Down Agreements;
THE UNITED STATES, ) Motion to Supplement Evidentiary
) Record.
Defendant. )
)
****** *************** )
UNION DODGE, INC., et al., )
)
Plaintiffs, )
v. )
)
THE UNITED STATES, )
)
Defendant. )
)
Marquette William Wolfe, Mesquite, TX, for plaintiffs Colonial Chevrolet Co., Inc., et
al., Mesquite, TX. Ted B. Lyon, Richard Mann, and Charles Benne, Mesquite TX, and
Harry Zaville, La Mesa, CA, of counsel.
Kenneth M. Dintzer, Deputy Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, with whom were Joseph H. Hunt, Attorney
General, Robert E. Kirschman, Jr., Director, and Elizabeth M. Hosford, Assistant
Director, for defendant. James P. Connor, Agatha M. Koprowski, Amelia R. Lister-
Sobotkin, Alison S. Vicks, and Zachary J. Sullivan, Washington, DC, of counsel.
OPINION DENYING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
FIRESTONE, Senior Judge.
Pending before the court is the motion for summary judgment filed by the
defendant, the United States (“government”), pursuant to Rule 56 of the Rules of the
United States Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”). The government seeks summary
judgment against all of the General Motors plaintiffs (here after “plaintiffs”) from this
consolidated case brought by former General Motors and Chrysler dealers whose
dealerships were terminated as part of the United States government’s bailout of the auto
industry in 2009.1 Additionally, pending before this court is the plaintiffs’ “Motion for
Leave to Supplement the Summary Judgment Evidence While Defendant’s Motion for
Summary Judgment is Under Consideration.” The named plaintiffs owned franchise
dealerships to sell various General Motors (“Old GM”) vehicles before Old GM went
into bankruptcy during the 2008-09 financial crisis. The plaintiffs claim that the
government is responsible for a taking of their franchise agreements without paying just
1
The government has not sought summary judgment with regard to the Chrysler plaintiffs that
also had dealerships that were terminated in connection with the auto industry bailout.
2
compensation in contravention of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. U.S.
Const. amend V. Specifically, the plaintiffs claim that before the government would
agree to give more financial resources to Old GM as part of the government’s Troubled
Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) during the 2008-09 financial crisis, the government
forced Old GM to terminate their franchise dealerships through Wind-Down Agreements.
This case has 59 plaintiffs who contend that they were coerced into signing Wind-Down
Agreements and six plaintiffs who refused to sign the Wind-Down Agreements and had
their dealerships rejected in Old GM’s bankruptcy.2
The government makes four arguments as to why the court should enter summary
judgment in its favor. First, the government argues that it cannot be held liable for a
2
There are 59 plaintiffs who signed Wind-Down Agreements and the six plaintiffs who did not
sign Wind-Down Agreement. Those plaintiffs that did sign the Wind-Down Agreements are A.J.
Chevrolet, Inc.; Al Hanken Motors, Inc.; Alexander Ford-Mercury, Inc.; Andrews Chevrolet
Sales and Service, Inc.; Andy Chevrolet Company; Atchison Automotive Group, Inc., Axelrod
Pontiac, Inc.; B. Bogdewic Chevrolet, Inc.; Barber Brothers Motor Company, Inc.; Bilton-Behr
Chevrolet, Inc.; Cascade Chevrolet Company; Cliff Jones, Inc.; Colonial Cadillac Hyundai, Inc.;
Colonial Motors; Crown Chevrolet, Inc.; Dalgleish Cadillac-Oldsmobile, Inc.; Deery Brother,
Inc.; Don Steves Chevrolet, Inc., Duplessis Cadillac Volvo, Inc.; Dwight Shank Chevrolet, Inc.;
Fisher Motors, Inc.; Fortuna Mortors, Inc.; Gibson Chevrolet, Inc.; Gober & Merrell Chevrolet,
Inc.; Grand Auto, Inc.; Grossman Chevrolet Company, Inc.; Hagemann Enterprises; Hansen
Motor Co., Inc.; Herb Adcox Chevrolet Company; Huntington Chevrolet, Inc.; Joe Panian
Chevrolet, Inc.; Keeton Motor Co., Inc.; Kneip Implement Co., Inc.; Merollis Chevrolet, Inc.;
Merollis Oldsmobile-Cadillac-GMC Truck Inc.; Mullahey Chevrolet, Inc.; Olesen Chevrolet-
Oldsmobile, Inc.; Palace Motors, Inc.; Parkway Chevrolet, Inc.; Paul Benton Chevrolet; Pavlik
Motor Cars, Inc.; P.H.D. Motors, Inc.; Phillip Motor, Inc.; Preakness Chevrolet, Inc.; Ray
Chevrolet, Inc.; Ray Huston, Inc.; Rick Justice Pontiac-Buick-GMC, Inc.; Ricky Smith Pontiac,
Inc.; Ronnie Smith, Inc.; Rust Auto Center, Inc.; Schulz Automotive, Inc.; Serra Chevrolet, Inc.;
Simms Chevrolet Motors, Inc.; Stagg Chevrolet, Inc.; Sunnyside Automotive III, LLC; Vander
Meer Chevrolet-Buick-Oldsmobile, Inc.; Williams Motor Company, Inc.; Woody Chevrolet
Sales, Inc.; and Young Motor Co., Inc.
The plaintiffs who were offered but did not sign the Wind-Down Agreements are Colonial
Chevrolet Co., Inc.; Keystone Automotive, Inc.; Mullins Motors, Inc.; Rapp Chevrolet, Inc.;
Terry Gage Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, Inc.; and Graves Pontiac-Chevrolet-Buick, Inc.
3
taking stemming from the execution of any Wind-Down Agreement because the
government was not a party to any Wind-Down Agreement and thus the termination of
the franchise agreements through the Wind-Down Agreements did not involve any
government action. Second, the government argues that even if there was government
action in connection with the termination of the plaintiffs’ franchise agreements through
the execution of the Wind-Down Agreements, the government cannot be liable for a
taking because the plaintiffs who signed the Wind-Down Agreements voluntarily
relinquished their franchise dealership agreements to Old GM in exchange for various
concessions and a onetime monetary payment. Third, the government argues with regard
to the plaintiffs who signed the Wind-Down Agreements that the government cannot be
liable for a taking under the Fifth Amendment because those plaintiffs released the
government from all liability by agreeing, in their Wind-Down Agreements, to release the
shareholders of the 363 Acquirer of GM (“363 Acquirer” or “New GM”) from all liability
following the Old GM bankruptcy. The United States was a shareholder of the 363
Acquirer. Finally, the government argues with regard to both the plaintiffs that signed
Wind-Down Agreements and the plaintiffs that were offered Wind-Down Agreements
but did not sign the Agreements that all of the plaintiffs received or were offered
economic benefits in those Agreements that equal or exceed what they are seeking in this
case, i.e. the value of their dealership had Old GM not received a government bailout. As
such, the government argues none of the plaintiffs can prove a takings claim.
Plaintiffs argue, in response, that there are disputed issues of material fact that
preclude the entry of summary judgment in favor of the government. First, the plaintiffs
4
argue that they have presented evidence to show that the government forced Old GM to
terminate the plaintiffs’ franchise dealership agreements and thus, contrary to the
government’s contentions, the government and not Old GM was responsible for the
terminations of their dealerships. Second, plaintiffs argue that they have presented
evidence to show that there are disputed issues of material fact which establish that the
plaintiffs did not voluntarily relinquish their franchise agreements but were given no
choice. Third, the plaintiffs argue that the government is not entitled to summary
judgment regarding the 59 plaintiffs that signed the release in the Wind-Down
Agreements on the grounds that the release is ambiguous under Michigan state law and
that parole evidence is needed to discern the parties’ intentions. Specifically, the
plaintiffs argue that it is not clear from the language of the release whether the parties
intended to include the release of the United States government from takings liability
when the plaintiffs agreed to relinquish all claims against the 363 Acquirer. Finally,
plaintiffs argue that there are genuine issues of material fact which preclude summary
judgment as to the value of plaintiffs’ franchise dealership agreements if Old GM had
been forced to liquidate in bankruptcy. Plaintiffs argue that they have presented
sufficient evidence to show that if Old GM had liquidated they would have received more
than they received or were offered in the Wind-Down Agreements.
For the reasons set forth below, the court finds that genuine issues of material fact
preclude the court from granting summary judgment in favor of the government. It is for
this reason, as discussed in greater detail below, that the government’s motion for
5
summary judgment is DENIED. Additionally, as discussed below, the plaintiffs’ motion
to supplement the evidentiary record is GRANTED.
I. Procedural History
Before turning to the undisputed and disputed facts the court will briefly review
the extensive procedural history that makes up the backdrop to the pending motion.
A. Initial Complaint and Federal Circuit Appeal
The present case was filed on September 27, 2010, by 65 plaintiffs on behalf of
themselves and a putative class of Old GM dealerships who either signed a Wind-Down
Agreement or who were offered but did not sign agreements and had their claims rejected
in Old GM’s bankruptcy proceeding.3 Compl. (ECF No. 1). On January 21, 2011, the
government moved to dismiss the case. (ECF No. 11). On February 27, 2012 the
government’s motion to dismiss was denied and the case was certified for interlocutory
appeal. Colonial Chevrolet Co., Inc v. United States, 103 Fed. Cl. 570 (2012); Colonial
Chevrolet Co., Inc. v. United States, 106 Fed. Cl. 619, 622 (2012).
On April 7, 2014, the Federal Circuit issued its decision affirming the denial of the
government’s motion to dismiss, but holding that the plaintiffs’ complaint was deficient
because the plaintiffs had failed to include allegations “regarding the but-for economic
loss of value the plaintiffs’ franchises.” A&D Auto Sales, 748 F.3d 1142, 1158 (Fed. Cir.
2014). The Federal Circuit explained that in order to establish a taking under the Fifth
3
The plaintiffs’ motion for class certification has been stayed pending the outcome of this
motion. ECF No. 165.
6
Amendment the plaintiffs would need to allege and eventually prove that their franchises
would have had value in a “but for” world. Id. at 1158-59. The Federal Circuit
remanded the case to allow plaintiffs the opportunity to amend their complaint. Id. at
1159.
B. Amended Complaint and Renewed Motion to Dismiss
On September 15, 2014, the plaintiffs filed their amended complaint in which they
posited three “but for” scenarios in response to the Federal Circuit’s decision. Am.
Compl., (ECF No. 101); Colonial Chevrolet Co., Inc. v. United States, 123 Fed. Cl. 134,
140-46 (2015). The government moved to dismiss the amended complaint claiming that
all three of the scenarios alleged by the plaintiffs were either implausible or barred by the
Federal Circuit’s A&D Auto Sales decision. (ECF No. 104).
On September 9, 2015, this court granted the government’s motion to dismiss in
part and denied it in part holding that one of the three scenarios posited by the GM
plaintiffs was plausible and consistent with the Federal Circuit’s decision in A&D Auto
Sales.4 Colonial Chevrolet Co., Inc., 123 Fed. Cl. at 140-46. The court held that
plaintiffs could proceed under a “but for” scenario, wherein the dealerships would have
remained open “during [an] orderly wind-down” of Old GM while it was liquidated in
bankruptcy under the United States Bankruptcy Code. Id. at 146.
4
The court found that the plaintiffs could not support two “but for” world scenarios: (1) that the
government would have provided loans to GM without requiring termination of the dealerships
on the grounds that the scenario was precluded by Federal Circuit’s A&D Auto Sales decision
and (2) that another entity would have purchased GM’s assets without financial assistance from
the government on the grounds that the GM plaintiffs failed to allege sufficent facts to establish
this “but for” world. Chevrolet Co., Inc., 123 Fed. Cl. at 144-45.
7
C. Pending Motion for Summary Judgment, Motion for Discovery
Pursuant to Rule 56(d), and Motion to Supplement the Evidentiary
Record.
Following the denial of the government’s motion to dismiss on December 7, 2015,
the government filed the pending motion for summary judgment. Def.’s Mot. for Summ.
J. (Mot. for Summ. J.) (ECF No. 136). In response to the government’s motion for
summary judgment, the plaintiffs sought numerous extensions of time and eventually a
stay to allow for discovery pursuant to Rule 56(d). (ECF No. 155). On June 14, 2017 the
court granted the plaintiffs’ motion on Rule 56(d) in part. (ECF No. 263).
Discovery was completed on September 12, 2017. (ECF No. 280). Thereafter, the
parties resumed briefing on the government’s motion for summary judgment which was
completed with plaintiff’s sur-reply on March 26, 2018. Pls.’ Sur-Reply (ECF No. 334).
Oral Argument was held on May 22, 2018.
Three days after oral argument, on May 25, 2018, plaintiffs filed a motion for
leave to supplement their opposition to the government’s summary judgment motion with
additional evidence not available at the time of the initial briefing on the motion. (ECF
No. 344)
Briefing on the plaintiffs’ motion to supplement was completed on June 14, 2018
(ECF No. 353) and for the following reasons set fort immediately below, the court is
granting plaintiffs’ motion to supplement their opposition to summary judgment with
new evidence.
8
II. Motion to Supplement Is Granted
The GM plaintiffs have moved to supplement their opposition to the government’s
motion for summary judgment with the following evidence: (1) an expert report from Ted
Stockton, an expert hired by the plaintiffs and the Vice President and Director of
Economics Services of the Fontana Group, Inc, regarding the value of the GM plaintiffs’
dealerships in the “but for” world, (2) excerpts from the deposition of Steve Rattner taken
on April 26, 2018, excerpts from the deposition of Harry Wilson taken on May 16, 2018,
and excerpts from the deposition of the Rule 30(b)(6) corporate representative from
Boston Consulting Group (“BGC”) taken on April 24, 2018,5 and (3) additional
documents: (i) “GM and Task Force Contingency Planning Meeting: New York City-
May 1, 2009; May 15 2009: Key Issues and Deliverables,”6 (ii) “1GM and Task Force
Contingency Planning Meeting: New York City- May 1, 2009: Key Issues and
Deliverables,”7 and (iii) excerpts of an interview transcript conducted on May 26, 2010,
prepared by Steve Rattner for his book “Overhaul: An Insider’s Account of the Obama
Administration’s Emergency Auto Rescue.” (ECF No. 346).
The plaintiffs argue that these documents refute the government’s contention that the
plaintiffs have received or were offered more by Old GM in the Wind-Down Agreements
5
As discussed in depth below, the Task Force was created to respond the 2008-09 financial
crises’ impact on the American automotive industry. Steve Rattner was the lead advisor on the
auto industry crisis and Harry Wilson was a leading member of the Task Force. BGC was a
consulting group used by the Task Force to evaluate the viability of GM and Chrysler.
6
Included as part of Mr. Wilson’s May 16, 2018 deposition and labeled as deposition exhibit 3.1.
7
Included as part of Mr. Wilson’s May 16, 2018 deposition and labeled as deposition exhibit 3.2.
9
than they would have received in an Old GM liquidation without any government
assistance. The plaintiffs assert that under Rule 56(e), the court has discretion to allow
them to supplement the evidentiary record before it rules on the government’s summary
judgment motion. Specifically, Rule 56(e) provides that “[i]f a party fails to properly
support an assertion of fact or fails to properly address another party’s assertion of fact as
required by RCFC 56(c), the court may: (1) give an opportunity to properly support or
address the fact; [or] . . . (4) issue any other appropriate order.” RCFC 56(e). The GM
plaintiffs argue that precedents from several circuits support the appropriateness of
supplementation in this case. See In re Louisiana Crawfish Producers, 852 F.3d 456,
459-60 (5th Cir. 2017); Steven N.S. Cheung, Inc. v. United States, 2006 WL 2136738, at
*1–2 (W.D. Wash. July 28, 2006).
The government opposes plaintiffs’ motion to supplement the evidentiary record on
the grounds that all of the evidence the plaintiffs contend is new was available to the
plaintiffs during summary judgment briefing and before oral argument and thus the
plaintiffs’ motion is untimely. In the alternative, the government argues none of the
evidence presented by the plaintiffs in its motion created a material issue of fact and did
not seek to provide any additional evidence of its own.
Plaintiffs argue, in response, that under the plain language of Rule 56(e) the court has
the discretion to allow a party to supplement the summary judgment record prior to the
court issuing a decision. See Steven N.S., 2006 WL 2136738 (July 28, 2006). As such,
the plaintiffs argue that the court should allow for the supplementation of the summary
10
judgment record pursuant to Rule 56(e) to ensure that the court has all the facts before it
rules on the government’s motion for summary judgment.
After considering the parties’ arguments, the court finds that it is in the interest of
justice to consider the new evidence submitted by plaintiffs before ruling on summary
judgment. The focus of the government’s summary judgment motion has evolved through
briefing and at the oral argument to be more clearly focused on the plaintiffs’ failure to
address whether in a “but for” world without any government assistance the plaintiffs’
dealerships would have more value than the dollar amounts and other benefits the
plaintiffs were offered or accepted from Old GM in the Wind-Down Agreements. With
the above-described evidence and expert report, the court finds in accordance with Rule
56(e) that it now has plaintiffs’ response and an evidentiary record to rule on the
government’s summary judgment motion. Accordingly the court will consider the (1)
expert report from Ted Stockton, (2) excerpts from the deposition of Steve Rattner taken
on April 26, 2018, (3) excerpts from the deposition of Harry Wilson taken on May 16,
2018, including deposition exhibit 3.1 “GM and Task Force Contingency Planning
Meeting: New York City- May 1, 2009; May 15 2009: Key Issues and Deliverables” and
exhibit 3.2 “1GM and Task Force Contingency Planning Meeting: New York City- May
1, 2009: Key Issues and Deliverables,” (4) interview transcripts created by Steve Rattner
while writing his book, and (5) excerpts from the deposition of the 30(b)(6) corporate
representative from BGC, when considering the government’s motion for summary
judgment.
11
III. Statement of Undisputed Facts
A. Government’s Financial Assistance to GM during the 2008-2009
Financial Crisis.
In the fall of 2008, a historic recession and credit crisis crippled the financial
liquidity markets which severely impacted automobile sales. A&D Auto Sales, 748 F.3d
at 1147. As a result, GM “suffered deep erosion in revenues, significant operating losses,
and a dramatic loss of liquidity, putting its future in grave jeopardy.” In re. Gen. Motors
Corp, 407 B.R. 463, 476 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2009), aff’d, In re Motors Liquidation Co.,
430 B.R. 65 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (GM Sale Op’n). The crisis led Old GM to seek financial
assistance from the United States Government. Id. at 476-77.
Using its authority under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the
government, in December 2008, provided Old GM with bridge loans totaling $13.4
billion. In re. Gen. Motors Corp, 407 B.R. at 477. In exchange for these loans, Old GM
agreed to submit a viability plan to the government in order to demonstrate that the
company could achieve financial stability with an infusion of additional government
funds. Thereafter, on February 15, 2009, President Obama announced the creation of the
Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry (“Task Force”), which he made responsible
for reviewing the viability plan submitted by Old GM. Pls.’ Resp., App. at 7 (ECF No.
295-1).8
8
The Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program
(“SIGTARP”) was charged with “conduct[ing], supervis[ing], and cordinat[ing] audits and
investigations on the purchase, management, and sale of assets by the Secretary of the Treasury
under any program established by the Secretary under section 5211 of this title [purchases of
troubled assets], and the management by the Secretary of any program established under section
12
Old GM submitted its first plan to the Task Force on February 17, 2009. Old
GM’s first plan, among other things, called for the incremental reduction in the number
of GM dealerships over a five year period. Id. at 9. Under the initial plan, Old GM
proposed the elimination of 1650 dealerships which would take the total number from
5,750 to 4,100. Id.
On March 31, 2009, Old GM reported liabilities of $172 billion and assets of only
$82 billion. GM Sale Op’n, 407 B.R. at 475. After reviewing Old GM’s initial viability
plan, the Task Force, on March 30, 2009, rejected Old GM’s proposal, in part, because
“GM’s proposed ‘pace’ of closing dealerships was too slow and was an obstacle to its
viability.” Pls. Resp., App. at 15-17.
In its Viability Determination dated March 30, 2009,9 the Task Force gave GM 60
days to revise its plan to include a more aggressive approach for “dealership
5212 of this title [insurance of troubled assets][.]” 12 U.S.C. §5231(c)(1). On July 19, 2010,
SIGTARP produced a report entitled “Factors Affecting the Decisions of General Motors and
Chrysler to reduce their Dealership Networks.” In a section entitled “Why SIGTARP Did This
Study”, explained that as part of bankruptcy proceedings “Chrysler terminated 789 dealerships
on June 10, 2009, and GM planned to wind down 1454 dealerships by October 2010.” Pls.’
Resp., App. at 3. The study explained that “[q]uestions arose as to how GM and Chrysler
selected dealerships for termination and what benefit, if any, the companies gained from
terminating the dealerships.” Id. “The report adresse[d] (1) the role of Treasury’s Auto Team in
the decision to reduce dealership networks, (2) the extent to which GM and Chrysler developed
and documented processes for deciding which dealerships to terminate and which to retain, and
(3) to what extent the dealership reductions are expected to lead to cost savings for GM and
Chrysler.” Id.
9
The Task Force found that Old GM’s overall plan was not viable, “in part because GM relied
on overly optimistic assumptions about the recovery of the company and the economy.” Pls.’
Resp., App. at 17. The Auto Team determined that Old GM needed to improve its restructuring
plan in five areas: “more realistic assumption of its cash needs associated with legacy liabilities,
reassessment of its market share assumption, improvement in prices, improved mix of products
to steer the company away from high-margin trucks and SUVs, and an excess of brands and
dealers.” Id. With regards to the excess dealerships the Task Force explained “GM has been
13
terminations.” Pl.s’ Resp., App. at 18. At the same time Old GM was provided with $6
billion more funds from the government to use for working capital. Id. Old GM
submitted a revised plan to the Task Force in May 2009 in which it agreed to reduce the
number of dealerships by 1,454 by October 2010, “rather than its originally planned
closure of approximately 450 in the same time period.” Id. at 19.
B. Old GM Bankruptcy and Wind-Down Agreements
On June 1, 2009, the same day that Old GM filed for bankruptcy, Old GM filed a
motion in bankruptcy court requesting approval to sell substantially all of its assets under
a Master Sale and Purchase Agreement (“Sale Agreement”) to a new entity, Vehicle
Acquisition Holding, LLC, or “New GM/363 Acquirer.” GM Sale Op’n, 407 B.R. at 473-
474. In order to help facilitate the sale, the United States and Canada agreed to provide
the debtor-in-possession financing, with the U.S. Treasury providing $30.1 billion in
financing to support Old GM throughout its bankruptcy and restructuring. Id. at 479-80.
As part of the Sale Agreement to New GM, Old GM on June 1, 2009, offered
Participation Agreements to approximately 4,100 of the 6,000 Old GM dealerships. Id. at
476. These agreements allowed signatories to continue to function as dealerships for the
New GM, with certain modifications to the existing dealership agreements designed to
make New GM more competitive.
successfully pruning unprofitable or underperforming dealers for several years. However, its
current pace will leave it with too many such dealers for a long period of time while requiring
significant closure costs that its competitors will not incur. These underperforming dealers
create a drag on the overall brand equity of GM and hurt the prospects of the many stronger
dealers who could help GM drive incremental sales.” Id. at 18.
14
On the same day that Old GM offered Participation Agreements to the 4,100
dealerships, Old GM offered the remaining dealerships Wind-Down Agreements or
Deferred Termination Agreements (collectively “Wind-Down Agreements”). Id.; A&D
Auto Sales, 748 F.3d at 1149. In the cover letter accompanying the Wind-Down
Agreements, Old GM stated that “due to the extremely short court deadlines in the
bankruptcy process, [GM] must receive the enclosed agreement on or before June 12,
2009.” Def.’s Motion for Summ. J., App. at 13 (ECF No. 136-1). This gave the dealers
only 11 days after they had received the Wind-Down Agreement to either accept or
reject. The cover letter further explained that if a dealership did not return the Wind-
Down Agreement, Old GM would proceed with rejecting the dealership agreement under
Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code. Id.
Although the Wind-Down Agreements contained somewhat different terms to
address brand and regional differences, the typical Wind-Down Agreement allowed
dealers to: (1) remain in business for 17 months (from June 2009 through October 2010),
(2) sell their remaining inventory of new cars, (3) purchase GM parts, and (4) service GM
cars. Def.’s Mot., App. at 8 (Sample Wind-Down Agreement); Def.’s Mot., App. at 36
(Declaration of GM Chief Executive Officer Frederick A. Henderson) (“GM has offered
the Wind-Down Dealers the opportunity to accept ‘wind-down’ agreements that will
allow them to stay in business until October 2010 so that they can – in an orderly fashion
– sell down their inventory and provide warranty service to customers with the continued
support of GM.”); Def.’s Mot., App. at 43 (Mr. Henderson’s June 12, 2009 Congressional
Testimony).
15
The Wind-Down Agreements also provided for cash payments. Most dealers were
offered $1,000 for each car in their inventory and reimbursement for eight months of
remaining rent. Def.’s Mot., App. at 4-5, 153. The Wind-Down Agreements further
allowed the dealers to continue to participate in GM’s marketing programs and acquire
used vehicles at the company’s auctions. Id. at 120. The Wind-Down Agreements all
stated that the “Dealer has reviewed this Agreement with its legal, tax, or other advisors,
and is fully aware of its rights and alternatives. In executing this Agreement, Dealer
acknowledges that its decisions and actions are entirely voluntary and free from any
duress.” Id. at 10.
In addition, all of the Wind-Down Agreements contained the following release
language:
Dealer, for itself, its Affiliates and any of their respective
members, partners, ventures, stockholders, officers, directors,
employees, agents, spouses, legal representatives, successors,
and assigns (collectively, the “Dealer Parties”), hereby
releases, settles, cancels, discharges, and acknowledges to be
fully satisfied any and all claims, demands, damages, debts,
liabilities, obligations, costs, expenses, liens, actions and
causes of action of every kind and nature whatsoever
(specifically including any claims which are pending in any
court, administrative agency or board or under the mediation
process of the Dealership Agreement), whether known or
unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, suspected or unsuspected
(“Claims”), which Dealer or anyone claiming through or
under Dealer may have as of the date of the execution of this
Agreement against GM, the 363 Acquirer, their Affiliates or
any of their respective members, partners, ventures,
stockholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, spouses,
legal representatives, successors or assigns (collectively, the
“GM Parties”), arising out of or relating to the (i) the Dealer
Agreement or this Agreement, (ii) any predecessor
16
agreement(s), (iii) the operation of the dealership for the
Existing Model Line …
Id. at 6.
The dealers were not given the opportunity to negotiate any of the Wind-Down
Agreement terms.
The bankruptcy court determined that the agreements were “valid and binding
contracts” and provided “good and sufficient consideration” to the GM dealers. Def.’s
Mot, App. at 71, 86 (Sale Order). Over 98 percent of the dealers that were offered the
Wind-Down Agreement signed the Agreement they were offered. GM Sale Op’n, 407
B.R. at 476, Def.’s Mot., App at 36, 71, 114, 121. The bankruptcy court approved the
Sale Agreement between Old GM and New GM in July 2009. GM Sale Op’n, 407 B.R. at
473-475.
On July 6, 2009, the day after the bankruptcy court approved the Sale Agreement,
Old GM filed a motion to reject the dealership agreements of the small number of dealers
that did not sign a Wind-Down Agreement. Def.’s Mot, App. at 103-137. In total, out of
the over 6,000 dealers, Old GM sought to reject 38 dealerships in bankruptcy. Def.’s
Mot, App. at 114, 134-137. The bankruptcy court granted Old GM’s motion to reject the
dealership agreements in August 2009. These dealers were left with unsecured breach-of-
contract claims against Old GM. Def.’s Mot, App. at 45-52; A&D Auto Sales, 748 F.3d
at 1149.
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C. Arbitration Legislation
In December 2009, Congress enacted legislation to allow dealerships to file for
arbitration regarding the terms of their Wind-Down Agreements. Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-117, § 747, 123 Stat. 3034 (2009). Pursuant
to that legislation, 1,169 GM dealers sought arbitration. Pls. Resp., App. at 28. On March
5, 2010, at the conclusion of the arbitration process, GM announced that it would be
sending letters of intent offering reinstatement to 666 dealers. The court has not been
presented with any facts regarding which, if any, of the 65 plaintiffs in this action
participated in the arbitration process.
IV. Disputed Facts Regarding The Government’s Role in the Wind-Down
Agreement Process, the Voluntary Relinquishment of Property, and the
Wind-Down Agreement Release
The government does not dispute that the Task Force had a role in drafting the
Wind-Down Agreements but contends that the evidence produced by the plaintiffs is not
sufficient to establish that the government either coerced Old GM to terminate dealership
franchise agreements or otherwise controlled the termination decision-making process.
The government contends that there is no evidence to show that the Task Force identified
dealerships for termination or directed GM to retain specific dealerships.
Plaintiffs contend that in addition to the above-described role of the government
set forth in the SIGTARP report, the deposition of Harry Wilson, a member of the Task
Force, and exhibits accompanying his deposition- specifically, exhibits 3.1. and 3.2
entitled “GM and Task Force Contingency Planning Meeting: New York City- May 1,
2009; May 15 2009: Key Issues and Deliverables” and “1GM and Task Force
18
Contingency Planning Meeting: New York City- May 1, 2009: Key Issues and
Deliverables.” (ECF No. 346-3, p. 3; ECF No. 346-4, p. 2; ECF No 347-2, p. 6-7),
indicate that the Task Force controlled the termination process and was responsible for
“[f]inali[izing] dealer agreements and process for rejection.” ECF No. 346-3, p.3.
Regarding the issue of whether the plaintiffs who signed Wind-Down Agreements
did so voluntarily, the plaintiffs have introduced affidavits from Colonial Cheverolet
Buick, Inc., Cascade Autocenter, Dalgleish Cadillac, Inc., Gibson Chevrolet, Merollis
Chevrolet, Inc., Dwight Shank Auto Inc., Andy Chevrolet, Fisher Motors, Inc.,
VanderMeer Chevrolet-Buick, Inc., Young Motor Co., Inc. as well as the testimony from
Old GM’s CEO during a congressional hearing to the effect that the plaintiffs did not
have a choice but to relinquish their franchise agreements. The plaintiff affidavits state
that “[t]he short time frame that was imposed upon me for making the decision to sign the
wind down agreement and liability release agreement was coercive, abusive, and
prevented me from careful analysis of the true effects of signing the wind down
agreement[.]” See Pls.’ Resp., App. at 416-498.
The plaintiffs have also submitted the testimony of the CEO of Old GM before the
Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in which he stated that
GM dealers who were presented with Wind-Down Agreements faced a “no choice deal.”
Pl. App. at 61.
Regarding the release, the plaintiffs state in the same affidavits discussed above,
that they did not understand that the release of the 363 Acquirer included the United
States government for takings claims. Specifically, the affidavits state that they “did not
19
know or believe that the wind down agreement and liability release applied to any part of
the Federal government.” The plaintiffs further state that they were “never asked to and
did not agree to release and/or give up [their] right to assert a constitutional takins claim
against the Federal government in relation to the bankruptcy filing of GM. I believe that
the only claims I released were claims I had against GM in bankruptcy.” See Pls.’ Resp.,
App. at 416-498.
V. Disputed Facts Concerning the Value of Plaintiffs’ Dealerships in the “but
for” World
The government has not proffered any evidence to support its summary judgment
motion regarding the value of plaintiffs’ franchise agreements in a “but for” world
without any government bailout, despite having the opportunity to do so both in it is
initial briefing on the motion for summary judgment and in its response to the plaintiffs’
motion to supplement the evidentiary record. Rather, the government has provided
evidence as to what each named plaintiff was offered or received in their Wind-Down
Agreement and claims that those amounts equal or exceed what they would have received
in a “but for” world and thus plaintiffs have not suffered any economic loss.
The plaintiffs have submitted the following evidence regarding the value of their
dealerships in the “but for” world where the government provided no financial assistance
to Old GM and Old GM would be liquidated in bankruptcy. They have offered an
affidavit from Ted Stockton the current Vice President and director of Economics
Services of the Fontana Group, Inc. who has 30,000 hours within the retail automotive
industry with experiences which includes studies of hundreds of franchised operations
20
that sell, or have sold, vehicles of several makes and models. Stockton Dec. at ¶5. In his
report, he states that “[w]hile the question of whether any given GM Plaintiff’s value in a
liquidation scenario would have been greater than the Wind-down payment amount is a
factual one, the retained value of GM Plaintiffs in a liquidation scenario makes it likely
that many or most GM plaintiffs would have had value in excess of their respective
Wind-down payment amounts.” Id. at ¶ 16. Mr. Stockton’s conclusions were drawn
from several sources concerning the state of the auto market in the United States. See
Stockton Dec. As part of his analysis Mr. Stockton considered the plaintiff’s “direct
value” through the ability to sell used cars as well the ability to provide secondary
services such as providing maintenance. In order to show this continued value, Mr.
Stockton notes that “[o]f GM sales in 2017, 84.6% were of models that had common
names or platforms with vehicles in 2009. Of GM sales in 2009, 85.2% were vehicle
platforms that continued until at least 2017.” Id. at ¶ 25. Furthermore, Mr. Stockton
notes that “domestic manufacturers had a much more active presence in rural areas than
did import brands” and as a result foreign manufacturers would have sought out
franchises who were successful in these areas and as such would have had more value.
Id. at ¶¶ 27 and 28. Ultimately, Mr. Stockton notes that in such circumstances GM
dealers would have had more value in a “but for” world than they received or were
offered as part of the Wind-Down Agreements. Id. at ¶ 16. Mr. Stockton did not tie his
opinions to any of the individual plaintiffs.
21
VI. Legal Standards
Summary judgment must be granted where “there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and . . . . the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” RCFC
56 (c); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986); Mann v. United
States, 334 F.3d 1048, 1050 (Fed. Cir. 2003). A material fact is one “that might affect the
outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. The burden is
on the moving party to demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
Coletex, Corp.v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986).
On a motion for summary judgment, the court views the evidence “in the light
most favorable to the party opposing the motion,” and resolves all doubts in favor of the
nonmovant. Crown Operations Int'l v. Solutia Inc., 289 F.3d 1367, 1375 (Fed. Cir.
2002); see also Ball Aerosol & Specialty Container, Inc. v. Ltd. Brands, Inc., 555 F.3d
984, 991 (Fed. Cir. 2009). In its analysis the court may neither make credibility
determinations nor weigh evidence and seek to determine the truth of the matter. See
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. With regard to takings cases, “due to the fact-intensive nature
... summary judgment should not be granted precipitously.” Moden v. United States, 404
F.3d 1335, 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2005). As the moving party, the government “has the burden
to show ‘that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.’”
Crown Operations, 289 F.3d at 1377 (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317,
325, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)). The moving party may submit sworn
affidavits in support of its motion. See RCFC 56(c)(1), (e). Once the moving party has
met its burden, the party opposing summary judgment must respond and “set out specific
22
facts showing a genuine issue for trial.” Crown Operations, 289 F.3d at 1377. The
nonmoving party’s burden requires more than “mere assertions” or “conclusory
pleadings.” Pure Gold, Inc. v. Syntex (U.S.A.), Inc., 739 F.2d 624, 626–27 (Fed. Cir.
1984); see also Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG v. Murata Machinery, Ltd., 731
F.2d 831, 836 (Fed . Cir. 1984) (“The party opposing the motion must point to an
evidentiary conflict created on the record at least by a counter statement of a fact or facts
set forth in detail in an affidavit by a knowledgeable affiant. Mere denials or conclusory
statements are insufficient.”).
It is well-recognized, however, that the “non-movant need not always provide . . .
evidence to defeat a summary judgment motion. If, for example, the movant bears the
burden [of proof] and its motion fails to satisfy that burden, the non-movant is ‘not
required to come forward’ with opposing evidence.” Saab Cars USA, Inc. v. United
States, 434 F.3d 1359, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (quoting Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398
U.S. 144, 160 (1970)). Thus, under Rule 56(e), a non-movant must provide “opposing
evidence ... only if the moving party has provided evidence sufficient, if unopposed, to
prevail as a matter of law.” Id. at 1369; see also Zenith Elecs. Corp. v. PDI Commc'n Sys.
Inc., 522 F.3d 1348, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 2008).
VII. Discussion
A. Disputed Issues of Material Facts Preclude Summary Judgment for the
Government on the Issue of Whether the Plaintiffs’ Franchise
Dealership Agreements Were Terminated Because of Government
Action.
23
In order to succeed on a Fifth Amendment takings claim against the United States,
the plaintiffs must demonstrate that the action which resulted in the deprivation of their
property was the result of government action and not an act of a private party. Alves v.
United States, 133 F.3d 1454, 1458 (Fed. Cir. 1998); Colvin Cattle Co. v. United States,
468 F.3d 803, 809 (Fed. Cir. 2006). Specifically, “[t]here clearly can be no taking when
whatever acts complained of are those of private parties.” Alves, 133 F.3d at 1458
(citation omitted).
The government argues that the undisputed facts demonstrate that plaintiffs’
franchise dealership agreements were terminated by Old GM and that because the
government was not a signatory to those agreements the government cannot be held
responsible for a taking of plaintiffs’ dealerships. The plaintiffs do not dispute the
government was not a signatory to the Wind-Down Agreement but argue that the facts
presented in the SIGTARP report, and confirmed by the Wilson deposition, establish that
the government’s Task Force was controlling the Wind-Down Agreement process and
that the government was responsible for ordering a larger number of dealership
terminations and a faster termination schedule than proposed by GM. Specifically, the
plaintiffs cite the portion of the SIGTARP report that explains that the Task Force
rejected GM’s initial restructuring plan and ordered GM to produce a new plan with more
dealership terminations. In March 2009, “GM was given 60 days to submit a more
aggressive plan overall, including planning for their dealership terminations . . .” Pl.’s
App. at 18. Specifically, the plaintiffs argue that the government rejected Old GM’s
initial restructuring proposal and in its rejection stated that “GM has been successfully
24
pruning unprofitable or underperforming dealers for several years. However, its current
pace will leave it with too many such dealers for a long period of time while requiring
significant closure costs that its competitions will not incur. These underperforming
dealers create a drag on the overall brand equity of GM and hurt the prospects of the
many stronger dealers who could help GM drive incremental sales.” Id. Based on this
evidence, plaintiffs maintain that it is clear that the government forced GM to increase
the number and pace of dealership closures and was thus responsible for the plaintiffs
losing their property interests.
The plaintiffs also rely on the deposition of Harry Wilson, who as discussed above
was the member of the Task Force charged with reviewing the Wind-Down Agreement
and the accompanying deposition exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 entitled “GM and Task Force
Contingency Planning Meeting: New York City- May 1, 2009; May 15 2009: Key Issues
and Deliverables” and “1GM and Task Force Contingency Planning Meeting: New York
City- May 1, 2009: Key Issues and Deliverables.” Plaintiffs argue that the deposition of
Mr. Wilson and the agendas referenced by Mr. Wilson show that Mr. Wilson was
responsible for reviewing and signing off on the Wind-Down Agreements initially
drafted by Old GM as a deliverable to the Task Force on May 1, 2009. ECF No. 346-4 at
p. 2. Plaintiffs argue that this is confirmed by documents that show that on May 16, 2009
David Markowitz, a member of the Task Force who reported to Mr. Wilson, had a
deliverable which included “[f]inalize dealer agreements and process for rejection.” ECF
No 346-3 at p. 3. Furthermore, the plaintiffs note that the status column stated “letters
being revised on 5/26 based on Treasury input.” Id. The plaintiffs argue that these
25
deliverables were to be completed shortly before the Wind-Down Agreements were sent
to the plaintiffs and as such create an issue of material fact as to the government’s control
over the Wind-Down Agreements and process.
The court agrees with the plaintiffs that there are genuine issues of material fact
that preclude the court from entering summary judgment in the government’s favor on
whether there was sufficient government action to support plaintiffs’ takings claims. The
facts presented by plaintiffs from the SIGTARP report as well as the deposition of Mr.
Wilson and the accompanying exhibits demonstrate that the government, through the
Task Force, forced Old GM to terminate more dealerships on a more expedited basis and
thereby forced the closure of at least some of the plaintiffs’ dealerships. In such
circumstance, the court cannot agree with the government that the Wind-Down
Agreements and the termination of plaintiffs’ dealerships was not the result of
government action but only the product of a private transaction between the plaintiffs and
Old GM.
B. Plaintiffs Did Not Voluntarily Relinquish Their Franchise Dealerships
to the United States.
It is not disputed that when an owner of property voluntarily conveys property to
the government or a third party by agreement, the property owner cannot subsequently
maintain a takings claim regarding that property against the United States. See, Norman
v. United States, 429 F.3d 1081(Fed. Cir. 2005); Wyatt v. United States, 271 F.3d 1090
(Fed. Cir. 2001). Thus, the government argues that even assuming the government was
involved in plaintiffs’ relinquishment of their franchise agreements through the Wind-
26
Down Agreement process, based on these precedents plaintiffs cannot claim a taking
because they relinquished their dealerships voluntarily in exchange for cash and other
valuable consideration.
The government relies on the on the express language of the Wind-Down
Agreements, which states the “Dealer has reviewed this Agreement with its legal, tax, or
other advisors, and is fully aware of all of its rights and alternatives. In executing this
Agreement, Dealer acknowledges that its decisions and actions are entirely voluntary and
free from any duress.” Def.’s Mot., App. at 10. Thus, the government argues the terms
of the Wind-Down Agreements make clear that the plaintiffs who signed the Agreements
voluntarily relinquished their dealership agreements and therefore cannot maintain a Fifth
Amendment takings claim against the government.
In response, the plaintiffs argue that they did not voluntarily relinquish their
dealership agreements when they signed the Wind-Down Agreements. First, the plaintiffs
rely on the SIGTARP report as evidence that the plaintiffs did not sign the Wind-Down
Agreements voluntarily. Specifically, they note that the SIGTARP report states that “GM
received a total of 1,316 appeals related to both complete and partial wind-downs.” Pl.’s
Resp., App. at 25. The plaintiffs argue that the number of GM dealers that took
advantage of the arbitration legislation indicates that Old GM dealers did not wish to
voluntarily terminate their dealership agreements and tried to reinstate their dealership
agreements at the first opportunity. Second, the plaintiffs point to the several affidavits
they submitted from different GM plaintiffs where they state that they did not want to
terminate their dealerships and did not do so voluntarily. Id. at 415-498. In their
27
affidavits, the plaintiffs state that “[t]he short time frame that was imposed upon me for
making the decision to sign the wind down agreement and liability release agreement was
coercive, abusive, and prevented me from careful analysis of the true effects of signing
the wind down agreement[.]” See Pls.’ Resp., App. at 416-498. Third, the plaintiffs rely
on the testimony of the CEO of Old GM before the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation. Specifically, the plaintiffs rely on an exchange between the
CEO of Old GM and Senator Begich where the CEO of Old GM implied that the GM
dealers who were presented with a Wind-Down agreement were faced with a “no choice
deal.” Pls.’s Resp., App. at 61. For these reasons, the plaintiffs argue that there are
disputed issues of material fact concerning whether the plaintiffs who signed the Wind-
Down Agreements did so voluntarily and as such this court is precluded from entering
summary judgment in favor of the government on this alternative basis.
Although the parties have focused their arguments on whether the plaintiffs
voluntarily relinquished their franchise agreements, the court finds for the below stated
reasons that the government’s reliance on the plaintiffs alleged voluntary action in
signing the Wind Down Agreements is misplaced. Contrary to the government’s
contentions, the present case is plainly different from Norman v. United States, 429 F.3d
1081 (Fed. Cir. 2005) and Wyatt v. United States, 271 F.3d 1090 (Fed. Cir. 2001), the
precedents relied on by the government.
In Norman, the plaintiffs alleged that the government required them to transfer
220.85 acres of wetland to a third party in order to receive the appropriate permit from
the Army Corps of Engineers. Norman, 329 F.3d at 1088-89. Specifically, the plaintiffs
28
alleged that the government deprived them of these acres and as a result the government
effectuated a taking of the plaintiff’s property. Id. The Federal Circuit held that because
the plaintiffs’ transfer of title of the aces was voluntary and was not an exclusive
condition that needed to be met in order to receive the permit no taking occurred because
the transfer of the acres was voluntary. Id. at 1089. In this connection the Federal Circuit
determined that there were other means by which the plaintiffs could have satisfied the
conditions necessary in order to receive the relevant permit from the Army Corps of
Engineers. Id.
Next, in Wyatt, plaintiff alleged a regulatory taking by the government when the
government denied issuing a new permit to allow the plaintiff to continue to operate a
mine. Wyatt, 271 F.3d at 1096. The Federal Circuit determined that no taking occurred
because the plaintiff voluntarily relinquished its leasehold over the relevant property that
it wished to mine by not renewing the lease and thus there was no valid property interest
under which the plaintiff could assert a takings claim. Id.
In this case in contrast to Norman, the plaintiffs could not have avoided the loss of
their franchise agreements by not signing the Wind-Down Agreements. The plaintiffs
who did not sign the Wind-Down Agreements would have lost their franchise agreements
in bankruptcy court. Thus unlike Norman, the plaintiffs did not have the option of
retaining their franchises. Additionally, Wyatt is not similar to the case at hand either
because the plaintiffs here claim that they had a property interest remaining following the
execution of the Wind-Down Agreements and seek in this action the additional value of
their franchises above the amount they receive in the Wind-Down Agreements.
29
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the court agrees with the government that if the
value provided for in Wind-Down Agreements equals or exceeds the value of the
plaintiffs franchise agreements in the “but for” world there can be no taking. Without
evidence regarding the value of the franchises in the “but for” world, the fact that the
plaintiffs entered into Wind-Down Agreements with Old GM does not end plaintiffs’
takings claims against the United States.10
C. The Wind-Down Agreement’s Release Provision is Ambiguous.
Next, the government argues that the broad release language in each Wind-Down
Agreement defeats the takings claims of the GM plaintiffs who signed the Agreement.
Specifically, the government argues that even if plaintiffs have a takings claim, the Wind-
Down Agreement contained language which “release[d], settle[d], cancel[ed],
discharge[d], and acknowledge[d] to be fully satisfied any and all claims . . . against GM,
the 363 Acquirer, their Affiliates … arising out of or relating to the (i) Dealer Agreement
or this Agreement . . .” Def.’s Mot., App. at 6. The government argues that the “363
Acquirer” referred to New GM, the acquirer of Old GM’s assets under the Sale
Agreement, of which the United States was a stockholder. Therefore, the government
maintains that under Michigan law, which both parties agree governs the interpretation of
the Wind-Down Agreement, the release is unambiguous and the plaintiffs who signed the
Wind-Down Agreements cannot sustain a takings claim against the government because
10
Plaintiffs will also have to prove that their dealerships had any economic value above the
amounts they received or were offered in order to meet the criteria for a regulatory takings.
30
they released the government of any liability, including liability for Fifth Amendment
takings claims.
In support of its assertion that takings claims can be released the government relies
on this court’s decisions in Henderson County Drainage Dis. No. 3 v. United States, 53
Fed. Cl. 48 (2002) and W. Chelsea Bldgs. LLC v. United States, 109 Fed. Cl. 5 (2014),
aff’d Fed. Cir. 13-5066 (Feb. 12, 2014). In Henderson County Drainage Dis. No. 3, the
court was presented with a release which stated that the drainage districts “release and
forever discharge the United States . . . from any and all damages and claims for
damages, past, present, and future[.]” 53 Fed. Cl. at 55. The Henderson County court
explained that the plain language of the release showed that “the parties’ mutual intent to
contract was limited to the payment of a specific amount for damages, in exchange for a
full release.” Id.
In W. Chelsea Bldgs., this court was presented with a release which stated that the
plaintiff “agrees not to sue or join any action seeking compensation from, and will not
participate with and will withdraw from any class action seeking compensation from the
City or the United States or any of its departments or agencies with respect to the
Highline CITU . . .” 109 Fed. Cl. at 12. The court held the intent of the parties is clear
from the terms of the release and the plaintiffs cannot maintain a lawsuit for a taking
against the United States government. Id. at 23. The government argues that the release
provisions in Henderson County and W. Chelsea Bldgs. are similar to the one present in
the Wind-Down Agreements signed by the plaintiffs.
31
The government also relies on the decision by the Court of Appeals of Michigan,
in Gortney v. Norfolk & Wester Ry., Co. where the court reasoned that “[i]f the text in the
release is unambiguous,” the court “must ascertain the parties’ intentions from the plain,
ordinary meaning of the language of the release” and upheld a release where the
“language of the release evidences as a clear intent to settle and to release defendant from
liability[.]” 216 Mich. App. 535, 540-41, n.9 (1996). A release is ambiguous “if its
language is reasonably susceptible to more than one interpretation.” Id. at 540 (citations
omitted).
The government argues that by signing the Wind-Down Agreements the plaintiffs
agreed to a one-time cash payment as well as a period of time to wind-down their
operations and in exchange they also agreed that they would release Old GM and the new
363 Acquirer from all liability. The government argues that since the government was
the majority shareholder of the 363 Acquirer and the release extended to shareholders, the
plaintiffs who signed the Wind-Down Agreements necessarily released the government
from all liability in connection with the Wind-Down Agreements, including
constitutional claims.
In response, the plaintiffs make two arguments. First, the plaintiffs argue under
Michigan law it is not certain that the United States government is covered by the release
in the Agreements. Plaintiffs argue that M.C.L.A. § 600.1405 “defines third-party
beneficiaries and the rights they possess,” Kammer Asphalt Paving Co., Inc. v E. China
Tp. Sch., 443 Mich. 176, 189 (Mich. S.Ct. 1993), and that under that statute a person is a
third party beneficiary only when the promisor undertakes an obligation ‘directly’ to or
32
for the person. The plaintiffs maintain that the Michigan Supreme Court requires courts
to take a “guarded” and “cautious” approach to ensure that M.C.L.A. § 600.1405 is
“narrowly construed.” Shay v. Aldrich, 487 Mich. 648, 675 (Mich. S.Ct. 2010). Plaintiffs
argue that under the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Koenig v. City of S. Haven, if
the parties had intended for the United States government to be released in the Wind-
Down Agreements the parties needed to have specifically named the United States as a
released party. Koenig v. City of S. Haven, 460 Mich. 667, 676-77 (Mich. S.Ct. 1999).
Second, the plaintiffs argue that the scope and extent of the release is ambiguous
and that evidence is needed to establish its meaning. Plaintiffs assert that under Michigan
law, “[i]t is well settled that the meaning of an ambiguous contract is a question of fact
that must be decided by the fact finder.” Marrocco v. Oakland Macomb Interceptor
Drain Drainage Dist., Nos. 326575, 327614, 2016 WL 3355218, at *3 (Mich. Ct. App.
June 16, 2016); See also Klapp v. United Ins. Group Agency, Inc. 664 N.W.2d 447, 454
(Mich. 2003). The plaintiffs maintain that the scope of the release is ambiguous because
at the time that the Agreements were signed, there is no evidence as to the identity of the
363 Acquirer. Plaintiffs argue that they were required to sign and return the Wind-Down
Agreements within 10 days of their receipt on June 1, 2009 and the bankruptcy court did
not approve the 363 sale until July 5, 2009. Therefore, plaintiffs argue that there was no
way prior to July 5, 2009 that they could have known with certainty who would be the
363 Acquirer and thus who the release would apply to. The plaintiffs further argue that it
is unclear that the scope of the release included Fifth Amendment takings claims because
the release is designed to ensure that the new acquirer will not inherit the liabilities of Old
33
GM and not to release the new acquirer from any liabilities plaintiffs have separate from
actions by Old GM. Finally plaintiffs argue that when a release intends to release the
United States of all liability the release specifically does so. Specifically, the plaintiffs
rely on the senior executive officer agreements signed by GM executives which state that
“[t]his waiver includes all claims I may have under the laws of the United States or any
state related to the requirements imposed by the aforementioned regulations and
Limitations including without limitation a claim for any compensation or other payments
or benefits I would otherwise receive[.]” Pls.’ App. at 413.
In response, the government argues that the United States government was
included in the release because the release applied to all stockholders of the 363 Acquirer
and that it was understood that the United States government was becoming the majority
shareholder in New GM. Next, the government argues that the release provision is
unambiguous under Michigan law. Relying on Quality Prod. & Concepts Co. v. Nagel
Precision, Inc., 469 Mich. 362, 375 (2003) and other cases, the government argues that
the scope of the release is not ambiguous but extends to all claims and that plaintiffs
cannot create an ambiguity with self-serving affidavits. See Hunt v. Lower Harbor
Properties, L.L.C., No. 303960, 2012 WL 5233633 at *5 (Mich. Ct. App. Oct. 23, 2012)
(“self-serving affidavit essentially mirror[ing] plaintiffs’ legal arguments regarding the
proper construction of the release” was insufficient to create an ambiguity). The
government argues that the court should reject the plaintiffs attempt to create ambiguity
of the release provision after the fact.
34
The court agrees with the government that the government as a shareholder in the
363 Acquirer is without question included as an intended beneficiary of the release.
However the court agrees with the plaintiffs that the scope and extent of the release
contained in the Wind-Down Agreements is ambiguous. A release is ambiguous “if its
language is reasonably susceptible to more than one interpretation.” Rinke v. Automotive
Moulding Co., 226 Mich.App. 432, 435 (1997) (citations omitted). “It is well settled that
the meaning of an ambiguous contract is a question of fact that must be decided by the
fact finder.” Marrocco v. Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage Dist., Nos.
326575, 327614, 2016 WL 3355218, at *3 (Mich. Ct. App. June 16, 2016).
The court finds that the scope of the release is ambiguous and thus it is necessary
for the court to hold a trial to determine the scope of the Wind-Down Agreement’s
release. The release is ambiguous because the government was not specifically named as
a third-party beneficiary, but became a third-party beneficiary through its status as a
shareholder of the 363 Acquirer. Whether the parties thus intended to release the United
States government for Fifth Amendment takings claims is unclear. Indeed, the evidence
presented by plaintiffs shows that in other agreements entered into with GM executives
following the GM bailout, the release language included all potential claims for payment
under the laws of the United States, including presumably the Fifth Amendment. The
absence of such express language in the Wind-Down Agreements supports plaintiffs’
contention that the subject releases are ambiguous on this question. It is for all these
reasons that a trial to discern the parties’ intentions is needed in accordance with
Michigan law.
35
D. Government’s Burden Regarding the Value of the Plaintiff’s Property
in the “But For” World.
Finally, the government argues that it is entitled to summary judgment on the
takings claims of all of the named plaintiffs, because they already have received or were
offered the amounts they are seeking in this litigation. The government maintains that
the Wind-Down Agreements, which provided the plaintiffs with a cash payment, the
ability to sell remaining inventory, purchase service parts, and perform warranty services
and other normal service operations for 17 months, are the same benefits that the
plaintiffs claim that they were deprived of by the government. The government argues
that under the Federal Circuit’s decision in Cienega Gardens v. United States, 503 F.3d
1266 (Fed. Cir. 2007), this court must take into consideration the benefits that were
offered or received by the plaintiffs when considering if there was any economic loss as a
result of the alleged taking. The government maintains that because the plaintiffs were
offered or received everything they are now saying that the government deprived them of,
the plaintiffs cannot establish a taking as a matter of law and the court should enter
summary judgment in favor of the United States.
In response, the plaintiffs argue that there are disputed issues of material fact that
prevent this court from ruling in favor of the government’s motion for summary
judgment. The plaintiffs maintain that the value of their dealerships would have been
greater than the amount they received or were offered as part of the Wind-Down
Agreements. In support of this assertion the plaintiffs have submitted an affidavit from
their expert Ted Stockton. In his affidavit, Mr. Stockton states that “[w]hile the question
36
of whether any given GM Plaintiff’s value in a liquidation scenario would have been
greater than the Wind-down payment amount is a factual one, the retained value of GM
Plaintiffs in a liquidation scenario makes it likely that many or most GM plaintiffs would
have had value in excess of their respective Wind-down payment amounts.” Stockton
Dec. at ¶ 16. Mr. Stockton’s conclusions were drawn from several sources concerning
the state of the auto market in the United States. Plaintiffs argue that Mr. Stockton’s
affidavit creates a genuine issue of material fact regarding the value of the plaintiffs’
dealerships in the “but for” world of liquidation and as such the court should not grant the
government’s motion for summary judgment.
The government argues that Mr. Stockton’s affidavit does not preclude summary
judgment because Mr. Stockton’s opinion only addresses one of the benefits of the Wind-
Down Agreements, the cash payment, and ignores the other benefits included in the
Wind-Down Agreements. The government argues, that by only offering an opinion on if
the plaintiffs’ dealerships were worth more than the cash payments received or offered
with the Wind-Down Agreement Mr. Stockton has not offered an opinion on the relevant
issue on summary judgment, i.e. whether the plaintiffs would have received more
benefits than offered in the Wind-Down Agreements had Old GM been liquidated in an
orderly bankruptcy proceeding. The government argues that because Mr. Stockton’s
affidavit does not address that issue, his report is irrelevant and does not raise a genuine
issue of material fact.
In addition, the government argues that Mr. Stockton’s opinions are the sort of
“conclusory statements [that are] insufficient” to create a genuine issue of material fact in
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any case. Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG v. Murata Mach., Ltd., 731 F.2d 831,
836 (Fed. Cir. 1984). Specifically, the government argues that the only evidence that Mr.
Stockton offers to support his conclusion that most of the plaintiff’s dealerships would
have had value in excess of the Wind-Down Agreements is that the Wind-Down
Payments received by the 59 plaintiffs who signed the agreements averaged $251,000
which was “less than half of the net profit achieved by U.S. franchised dealerships” in
2008. Stockton Dec. at ¶ 16. The government argues that Mr. Stockton neither explains
why averaging the Wind-Down Payments is a reliable measure of the plaintiffs’
dealership agreements in Old GM bankruptcy or why the average profit of dealerships in
2008 is relevant to the value of the plaintiffs’ dealership agreements in a GM bankruptcy.
Thus, the government maintains that these conclusory statements made by Mr. Stockton
about the value of the plaintiffs’ dealerships in the “but for” world are insufficient to
create a genuine issue of material fact that would preclude the court from granting the
government’s motion for summary judgment.
The court finds summary judgment is not appropriate in this case because to
prevail on summary judgment the government needed to show “that there is an absence
of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Celotex Corp. 477 U.S. at 325.
Specifically, the government has only provided this court with the actual amounts that the
plaintiffs received and were offered and has provided nothing to show that plaintiffs
cannot demonstrate that their dealerships would have been worth more in the “but for”
world where Old GM liquidated in bankruptcy. The court finds that despite the
deficiencies in Mr. Stockton’s Declaration, which are numerous, it is sufficient to
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preclude summary judgment. The mere assertion that what the plaintiffs have received or
were offered is all that they would have gotten in a “but for” world is not enough to
establish a right to judgment where plaintiffs have submitted contrary evidence. See Id.
at 328 (White, J. concurring) (“[i]t is not enough to move for summary judgment without
supporting the motion in any way or with a conclusory assertion that the plaintiff has no
evidence to prove his case. . . . It is the [movant’s] task to negate, if he can, the claimed
basis for the suit.”). For these reasons, the government is not entitled to summary
judgment on this ground.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the plaintiffs’ motion to supplement the evidentiary
record is GRANTED. Additionally, for the reasons stated above, the government’s
motion for summary judgment is DENIED. The court will turn next to the plaintiffs’
motion for class certification which had been stayed pending the outcome of this motion.
The parties shall have until October 1, 2018 to file any additional authorities they wish
the court to consider regarding the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Nancy B. Firestone
NANCY B. FIRESTONE
Senior Judge
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