541 F.3d 1278 | 11th Cir. | 2008
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, et al., (“Owner-Operators”) represents truck owners and truck drivers who enter into lease agreements to provide equipment and services to haul freight in interstate commerce for Lands-tar System, Inc., et al., (“Landstar”) a motor carrier. The Owner-Operators have appealed from the judgment entered against them rejecting their claims that Landstar violated 49 C.F.R. § 376.12(d) and (h), provisions of the Truth-in-Leasing regulations, 49 C.F.R. § 376.1 et seq., by failing to disclose in their lease agreements that banking fee charges would be deducted from compensation paid to the truck owners and drivers, and by failing to provide documentation regarding the computation of charge-back items including pricing information submitted by Qual-comm Incorporated (“Qualcomm”). The Owner-Operators also seek reversal of the District Court’s ruling that they are not entitled to restitution or disgorgement.
We vacate the judgment because we conclude that the District Court erred in finding that Landstar was not required to disclose banking fee charges and document charge-back items. We also hold that the District Court erred in granting an injunction sealing the pricing information Qual-comm provided to Landstar.
I
A
The District Court granted in part, and denied in part, the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment as to the issue of liability. The facts set forth in the parties’ oppositions demonstrate that Landstar is a motor carrier that hauls freight in interstate commerce under the authority of the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”). The individuals who drive trucks under the Landstar name are represented in this case by the Owner-Operators who are independent truck owners and truck drivers who lease their equipment and driving services to Landstar. Landstar compensates the Owner-Operators by giving them a specific percentage of the revenue on the hauled freight.
As a DOT-authorized motor carrier, Landstar is required to enter into written leases with the Owner-Operators.
Landstar also offers programs to the Owner-Operators so that they have the opportunity to purchase products and services they need to run their businesses. For example, Landstar’s programs include the “LCAPP Tire Program”
Landstar also offers the Owner-Operators an opportunity to purchase Qual-comm’s services. Qualcomm, Landstar’s third-party vendor, has a written agreement with Landstar under which it provides satellite communication and equipment services to the Owner-Operators. Qualcomm negotiated the terms of its agreements with Landstar. As part of those negotiations, Qualcomm required that Landstar keep confidential the terms of its agreement with Qualcomm, including pricing. Landstar charges a flat-fee to the Owner-Operators who opt to use Qual-comm’s services, but Landstar does not disclose the amount it pays to Qualcomm for the services.
The Owner-Operators may voluntarily purchase the LCAPP Tire Program and Qualcomm’s services from Landstar through pre-compensation advances. These advance and subsequent deductions from the revenue are referred to as “charge-backs.” Landstar repays the advances when the Owner-Operators’ compensation is settled. Landstar settles with the Owner-Operators by providing written descriptions of the revenue earned and the charge-backs on weekly “settlement statements,” which the parties reference as a receipt similar to a “pay slip.” The settlement statements list the amount the Owner-Operators paid for the charge-backs. The settlement statements do not show how the charge-back items were computed, how much Landstar marks-up the charge-back item, or how much profit Landstar makes from the charge-backs.
B
The Owner-Operators brought a class action lawsuit against Landstar alleging that the leases violate § 376.12(d)
After the complaint was filed, Landstar executed a new lease (the “New Lease”), which purported to correct certain violations in the original lease (the “Original Lease”). The Owner-Operators subsequently filed an amended complaint. In the amended complaint, the Owner-Operators alleged that the New Lease violated § 376.12(d) because, although the New Lease discloses “Landstar’s practice of understating shipping revenues,” it “fails to provide the amount of the reductions or the method by which they are implemented.” The Owner-Operators also alleged that the New Lease violated § 376.12(h) because it “fails to disclose how charge-back items are computed.”
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2),
Landstar moved to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the statute of limitations had run. Landstar argued that the Owner-Operators’ claims were governed by a two-year statute of limitations as opposed to the four-year statute asserted by the Owner-Operators. On June 4, 2004, the District Court ruled in favor of the Owner-Operators finding that the four-year statute of limitations applied to the Owner-Operators’ claims.
On August 30, 2005, the District Court certified the class as comprised of “[a]ll owner-operators in the United States, who, after November 1, 1998, and through the pendency of this proceeding, had or have leases with [Landstar] or their authorized agents or business affiliates (‘Lessors’), that are subject to federal regulations contained in Part 376, Code of Federal Regulations.” The District Court stated, however, that “not all aspects of this case present common issues. For example, if these common questions are resolved in favor of the putative class, the issue of damages will be unique and subject to individualized proof.”
Landstar appealed the class certification order. This Court denied Landstar’s petitioner for permission to appeal on October 18, 2005. Landstar, et al. v. Owner-Oper
C
On October 6, 2006, the District Court issued its ruling on the parties’ cross-motions for partial summary judgment only on the issue of liability. First, the District Court denied Landstar’s request to adopt a “substantial compliance” standard of review regarding § 376.12(d), and instead used the “literal compliance” standard.
As to the Owner-Operators’ § 376.12(h) claim, the District Court ruled in favor of Landstar that Landstar was allowed to profit from charge-back items. The District Court ruled in favor of the Owner-Operators, however, in finding that Lands-tar violated § 376.12(h) because it did not provide the Owner-Operators with “access to documents under the Original or New Leases which allow them to ascertain whether they are being properly charged.”
D
On November 17, 2006, the parties filed a joint waiver of jury trial. In the joint waiver, the parties agreed that “with the exception of the resolution of Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Reconsideration [of the order on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment], the phase of this case regarding whether Defendants did, or did not, violate the Federal Leasing Regulations has come to a conclusion.” Subsequently, the District Court denied Plaintiffs motion for partial reconsideration. As to the issue of damages, the parties stipulated:
Defendants reserve their right to argue that in a civil action, such as this, brought pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a), equitable relief in the form of disgorgement/restitution is not an available remedy, but, if it is, Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a legal or factual basis for the award of such relief. Plaintiffs have reserved the right to seek damages pursuant to 14704(a)(2) in the event Defendants prevail in their argument that equitable relief in the form of disgorgemenVrestitution is not an available remedy.
E
There were a number of additional pretrial motions and orders. Qualcomm, Landstar’s third-party vendor, moved for a preliminary injunction asking the District Court to seal its confidential pricing information it provided to Landstar. On January 5, 2007, the District Court granted Qualcomm’s motion, explaining that Landstar’s charge-back for Qualcomm’s services was “not a charge-back item as anticipated by Section 376.12(h) for which lessors must be afforded copies of Qual-comm’s confidential pricing information to determine the validity of the charge.”
On January 12, 2007, the District Court issued an order to define the scope of the bench trial. The District Court first determined that a breach of contract claim was not properly before the court because
In the order, the District Court also granted Landstar’s motion in limine which prevented the Owner-Operators from presenting evidence regarding unjust enrichment. The District Court rejected the Owner-Operators’ argument that 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(l)’s provision for “in-junctive relief’ included the equitable remedies of restitution and disgorgement.
F
The three-day bench trial began on January 16, 2007. On the first day of the bench trial, the District Court heard oral arguments concerning Landstar’s argument in its trial brief that the class should be decertified as to damages. The District Court ruled in favor of Landstar and de-certified the class. The District Court explained that “issues regarding damages sustained by individual members of the Class would require unique and individualized proof.” The District Court’s decertifi-cation ruling applied only to the issue of damages, not to the issue of injunctive relief.
On January 17, 2007, at the close of the Owner-Operators’ case-in-chief, Landstar presented an oral motion for judgment as a matter of law pursuant to Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
On March 29, 2007, the District Court entered an order setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law on the issue of damages and injunctive relief. First, as to damages, the District Court stated, in relevant part, the following findings of fact:
Plaintiffs presented insufficient evidence at trial tending to show that Plaintiffs sustained damages as a result of Defendants’ failure to disclose documents to determine the validity of chargebacks .... To the contrary, Plaintiffs testified that it would even be beneficial to use Landstar’s program, and that Plaintiffs have continued to purchase products and services through Landstar even after suit was filed .... The testimony*1286 diminishes Plaintiffs’ claim of damages .... Plaintiffs were instructed that simply proving the Defendants charged more for a product or service than they paid a third-party vendor is insufficient, standing alone, to establish that Plaintiffs have sustained damages as a result of a disclosure violation under Section 376.12(h).
Based on these findings of fact, the District Court entered judgment in favor of Landstar on the issue of damages. The District Court concluded that the Owner-Operators were only entitled to actual damages because, under 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2), “Defendants are [only] liable to Plaintiffs for ‘damages sustained ... as a result’ of [a] violation.” The District Court further explained:
The Court has unambiguously held that charge-back items which include fees and profits are not unlawful under Section 376.12(h) .... The Court finds that proof of the difference between Defendants’ third-party costs and the prices they charged Plaintiffs does not, standing alone, establish that Plaintiffs sustained damages as a result of that violation .... Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed as a matter of law to establish damages sustained as a result of Defendants’ violation of Section 376.12(h).
The District Court also ruled on the scope of the Owner-Operators’ claim for injunctive relief. The District Court determined that “[Landstar’s] violation of Section 376.12(h) only applies to the LCAPP Tire Purchase Program.” The District Court further explained:
For all other programs at issue in this case [except the LCAAP Tire Purchase Program], Appendix C to the New Lease provides that Landstar’s pricing to owner-operators is based on fixed rates and discloses that certain charge-back items include a charge for profits and fees. For those programs, the only documents necessary to determine the validity of those charges are documents showing that owner-operators were in fact charged the amounts that are stated in the lease. The evidence at trial demonstrates that Landstar provides settlement statements reflecting the amount that was charged back to the owner-operators .... Defendants’ efforts to comply with the regulations have been demonstrated by their issuance of the New Lease in June 2004 and their considerable efforts to compile an elaborate disclosure plan subsequent to the Court’s summary judgment Order ....
The District Court concluded that, although Landstar violated § 376.12(h), “Defendants have, nonetheless, demonstrated that they have discontinued the violation of the regulation.” The District Court explained its conclusion:
this Court finds that Defendants have expressed a sincere intent to comply with regulations. Defendants have also demonstrated that the effectiveness of the discontinuance presents no threat of future violations. Upon due consideration of these and other pertinent factors, the Court finds that an injunction shall not enter in this case.
The District Court granted Landstar’s renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law. It also entered judgment in favor of Landstar on the issues of damages and injunctive relief. The Owner-Operators filed a timely notice of appeal.
G
The Owner-Operators appeal from seven of the District Court’s rulings. First, the Owner-Operators appeal from the District Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Landstar on the grounds that Landstar complied with § 376.12(d) and that Landstar is allowed to make profit
We will address each of the Owner-Operators’ arguments in turn. We have jurisdiction to review the District Court’s final order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
II
The Owner-Operators appeal from the District Court’s denial of their motion for partial summary judgment. They argue that the District Court erred in two ways. First, the Owner-Operators assert that the District Court erred in finding that Landstar had complied with the requirements of § 376.12(d). Second, the Owner-Operators contend that the District Court erred in finding that § 376.12(h) allows Landstar to make profits on charge-back items.
“We review a grant of summary judgment by a district court de novo: Shuford v. Fidelity Nat’l Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 508 F.3d 1337, 1341 (11th Cir.2007). “We apply the same legal standards that bound the district court and view all facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Id. (citations omitted). “The interpretation of a statute is a question of law subject to de novo review.” United States v. Murrell, 368 F.3d 1283, 1285 (11th Cir.2004).
A
The Owner-Operators contend that the District Court erred in granting partial summary judgment in favor of Landstar on the ground that the Original Lease
In response, Landstar points to the appendix to the Original Lease which sets forth how Landstar computes the amount of AGR for a load. Compensation is based on a percentage of the AGR. As an explanation of that computation, the lease appendix defines, in relevant part, AGR as follows: “Adjusted Gross Revenue shall mean revenue to CARRIER ... for commodities hauled by INDEPENDENT
Section 376.12(d) provides, in relevant part:
The amount to be paid by the authorized carrier for equipment and driver’s services shall be clearly stated on the face of the lease or in an addendum which is attached to the lease ... The amount to be paid may be expressed as a percentage of gross revenue, a flat rate per mile, a variable rate depending on the direction traveled or the type of commodity transported, or by any other method of compensation mutually agreed upon by the parties to the lease.
See also supra note 3.
While the language in the appendix to the Original Lease explains that the AGR will be reduced, it does so in broad terms, referring to “third party” fees. Such language does not “clearly” state that the computation of the amount to be paid may be reduced by payment processing fees like Powertrack. § 376.12(d). It is only fair that the Owner-Operators be put on notice how their compensation is specifically being reduced. The catch-all phrase of “third party” fees is insufficient to satisfy § 376.12(d) because it does not give adequate notice of any specific charges. Some district courts have ruled that § 376.12 requires more specificity. See, e.g., Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass’n v. Bulkmatic Tr. Co., 503 F.Supp.2d 961, 969 (N.D.Ill.2007) (finding that a lease was ambiguous under § 376.12(d) because it failed to define the meaning of “gross revenue” or “specifically state which items, if any, may be excluded from gross revenue before calculating owner-operator compensation”); Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass’n v. Arctic Express, Inc., 159 F.Supp.2d 1067, 1078 (S.D. Ohio 2001) (finding a violation of § 376.12(k) because language in the agreement of “ ‘specific items’ are ... not ‘specific,’ since in practice they include any and all conceivable costs”).
To meet the requirements of § 376.12(d), it is sufficient for the lease to provide a specific category which would encompass deductions like Powertrack fees. In the New Lease, Landstar has added a new category of deductions that specifically encompasses “payment processing fee[s],” which, the Owner-Operators concede, covers deductions like Pow-ertrack. The language in the New Lease makes clear, on its face, the deductions to the driver’s compensation. The Original Lease does not have this clarity.
Landstar cites Tester Corp. v. United States, 1 Cl.Ct. 370, 374 (Cl.Ct.1982), for the proposition that a “revision to a contract does not prove that the older version was deficient.” Landstar is correct. The revisions to the New Lease cannot constitute an admission that the language in the Original Lease was defective. However, Landstar’s argument fails to address the problem that the broad reference to “third party” fees in the Original Lease does not literally comply with § 376.12(d). Therefore, the District Court erred in ruling on summary judgment in favor of Landstar that the Original Lease meets the requirements of § 376.12(d).
B
On summary judgment, the District Court found that, as a matter of law, § 376.12(h) allows motor carriers to include administrative fees and to make profits on charge-backs. On appeal, the
This is an issue of first impression. The Truth-in-Leasing regulations are silent regarding a motor carrier’s ability to profit on charge-backs. “ ‘[I]f a statute is silent or ambiguous with respect to the question at issue, our longstanding practice is to defer to the executive department’s construction of a statutory scheme it is entrusted to administer, unless the legislative history of the enactment shows with sufficient clarity that the agency construction is contrary to the will of Congress.’ ” Lyons v. Ga.-Pac. Corp. Salaried Employees Ret. Plan, 221 F.3d 1235, 1246 (11th Cir.2000) (quoting Japan Whaling Ass’n v. Am. Cetacean Soc’y, 478 U.S. 221, 233, 106 S.Ct. 2860, 92 L.Ed.2d 166 (1986) (internal quotations and citations omitted)).
In 1981, the ICC made the following statement concerning charge-backs:
It appears that, in certain instances, carriers are defeating the intent of the present regulations by profiting from charge-back items at the expense of owner-operators. Charge-backs are items that may be paid for initially by the authorized carrier, but ultimately deducted from the lessor’s compensation at the time of payment or settlement. We believe that all legitimate charge-backs and deductions should be clearly specified and identified in the lease and agreed upon between the parties. The carrier should not be in a position to manipulate these expenses in such a way that it makes a profit in its handling of these matters. To the extent that charge-backs to owner-operators reduce the carrier’s legitimate expenses, resulting in losses to the owner-operator and a profit to the carrier, they are not legitimate charge-backs or deductions.
ICC, Lease & Interchange of Vehicles, 46 Fed.Reg. 44013-01, 44014-15 (proposed Sept. 2,1981) available at 1981 WL 107853 (emphasis added).
The ICC then proposed to modify the charge-back provision “to require carriers to refund all amounts paid to the carriers which exceed the amount owed.” Id. at 44015. The language of the 1981 proposed rule related to charge-backs provided:
Charge-back items. The lease shall clearly specify all items and the amount of such items, including administrative costs, that may be initially paid for by the authorized carrier, but ultimately deducted from the lessor’s compensation at the time of payment of settlement. The carrier shall refund, with interest computed by the same method as on escrow funds under section 1057.12(1)(5), on deductions which exceed 110 percent of the amount shown on the lease as deductible from the lessor’s compensation.
Id. at 44015 (emphasis added). Thus, as noted, by the emphasized language in the ICC’s comments and the proposed regulation, in 1981 the ICC considered prohibiting motor carriers from profiting from charge-back items.
The final rule relating to charge-backs, however, differed from the 1981 proposed rule in that the final rule did not require motor carriers to refund charge-backs or administrative costs. The current rule, adopted in 1982, provides:
Charge-back items. The lease shall clearly specify all items that may be initially paid for by the authorized carrier, but ultimately deducted from the lessor’s compensation at the time of payment or settlement, together with a recitation as to how the amount of each item is to be computed. The lessor shall be*1290 afforded copies of those documents which are necessary to determine the validity of the charge.
ICC, Lease & Interchange of Vehicles, 47 Fed.Reg. 51136-02, 51140 (proposed Nov. 12, 1982) (codified at 49 C.F.R. § 376.12(h)) available at 1982 WL 146684. See also supra note 4. Nothing in the adopted rule prohibits motor carriers from profiting from charge-back items. The ICC considered a prohibition on profits from charge-backs in 1981, but ultimately rejected making it part of the final regulation. Thus, the District Court did not err in finding in favor of Landstar that, as a matter of law, Landstar can profit from charge-back items. See, e.g., INS v. Cardoza Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 442-43, 107 S.Ct. 1207, 94 L.Ed.2d 434 (1987) (“ ‘Few principles of statutory construction are more compelling than the proposition that Congress does not intend sub silentio to enact statutory language that it has earlier discarded in favor of other language.’ ”) (citations omitted).
Those courts that have considered this issue have come to a similar conclusion. See, e.g., Albillo v. Intermodal Container Serv., Inc., 2000 WL 35436363, at *17 (Cal. Sup.Ct. Sept. 20, 2000) (discussing charge-backs for insurance payments and finding that “defendants’ apparent profit on the charge-back amounts is not illegal”), ajfd in relevant part, 114 Cal.App.4th 190, 8 Cal.Rptr.3d 350 (2003); Kellander v. Davidson Bros., 2003 WL 25267577, at *5 (Pa. Ct. of C.P. June 18, 2003) (finding that the regulations do not prohibit deductions exceeding third-party costs).
The Owner-Operators cite to Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Ass’n v. Ledar Transport, 2004 WL 5249148, at *6 n. 36 (W.D.Mo. Dec. 30, 2004), for the proposition that profits on charge-backs are unlawful. However, in Ledar, the district court’s ruling mistakenly relies on the ICC’s comments from 1981, instead of 1982, when the rule was adopted. Id. (citing to Lease & Interchange of Vehicles, 46 Fed.Reg. 44013 (proposed Sept. 2, 1981)). Thus, the Owner-Operators’ reliance on Ledar is misplaced.
Ill
The District Court ruled on summary judgment that, under § 376.12(h), Landstar must disclose the validity of charge-back items. The Owner-Operators do not dispute this ruling. Instead they argue that this ruling was eroded by subsequent rulings from the District Court. They assert that “[ujltimately, the court ruled that the only documentation required by Section 376.12(h) was verification in Plaintiffs’ settlement statements that the amount Landstar charged corresponded to the dollar amount specific in the written lease.”
The District Court determined, as part of its findings of fact at trial, that Lands-tar’s New Leases, with the exception of the LCAPP Tire Purchase Program, met the § 376.12(h) requirement because it provided “settlement statements” to the Owner-Operators “reflecting the amount that was charged back to owner-operators.” The Owner-Operators assert that Landstar failed to comply with the requirements of § 376.12(h) because the settlement statements, which the parties refer to as “pay slips,” do not meet the requirements of § 376.12(h). Landstar asserts that the regulation “requires only that the method for determining the charge be disclosed,” which the settlement statements satisfy. Landstar maintains that nothing in § 376.12(h) requires Landstar to provide documents that would reveal its profits on charge-backs.
We review the District Court’s entry of judgment in favor of Landstar, after the bench trial, de novo. Mitchell v. Hillsborough County, 468 F.3d 1276, 1282
“Where there is a question of statutory interpretation, ‘we begin by examining the text of the statute to determine whether its meaning is clear.’ ” United States v. Trainor, 376 F.3d 1325, 1330 (11th Cir.2004) (citation omitted). “Indeed, ‘[i]n construing a statute we must begin, and often should end as well, with the language of the statute itself.’ ” Id. (citation omitted).
Section 376.12(h) provides that the “lease shall clearly specify all items that may be initially paid for by the authorized carrier, but ultimately deducted from the lessor’s compensation at the time of payment or settlement, together with a recitation as to how the amount of each item is to be computed.” Section 376.12(h) also requires the motor carrier to “afford[] copies of those documents [to the lessor] which are necessary to determine the validity of the charge.” See supra note 4.
The language of the regulation requires motor carriers to recite how the amount of payment is computed. Lands-tar argues that, “if the method is to charge a flat fee (such as $1,650 per tractor per year for a base plate) then that is all that must be disclosed.” Landstar further maintains that “[n]othing in Section 376.12(h) requires Landstar to disclose what it [actually] paid for a base plate,” which would reveal its profit. Id. Thus, the issue before us is whether, where charge-back items are listed as flat-fees, § 376.12(h) requires Landstar to afford more documents to the Owner-Operators than copies of the settlement statements.
Because the plain language of the regulation does not address this specific question, we defer to “ ‘the executive department’s construction of a statutory scheme,’ ” unless it is contrary to legislative history. Lyons, 221 F.3d at 1246 (citation omitted). The ICC commented on § 376.12(h) as follows:
In light of these comments, we conclude that, rather than require carriers to state with specificity the amount of charge-backs, we should, instead, require that the lease contain the charge-back items, together with a recitation as to how the amount of each item is computed. To ensure that the owner-operator has access to these computation methods, we will require that owner-operators be afforded copies of those documents which are necessary to determine the validity of the charge. With such information, the owner-operators will be able to ascertain whether these charges have been computed correctly.
ICC, Lease & Interchange of Vehicles, 47 Fed.Reg. 51136-02, 51139 (proposed Nov. 12, 1982) available at 1982 WL 146684 (emphasis added). Thus, the ICC’s comments make clear that § 376.12(h) requires the lease to list the items subject to charge-backs and to provide access to the documents so that the Owner-Operators can determine how those fees were computed. Nothing in the ICC’s comments or the language of the regulation carves-out an exception for flat-fee charges.
While this is an issue of first impression for this Circuit, district courts have come to the same conclusion. For example, in Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Ass’n v. Rocor International, Inc., 2000 WL 35512897, at *1 (W.D.Okla. July 19, 2000), at issue on summary judgment was the motor carrier’s “practice of charging owner-operators [a flat-fee of] $35.00 per week for workers’ compensation coverage.” The court rejected the motor carrier’s “argument that it need not disclose the method of computing the $35.00 charge because it is a ‘flat fee.’ ” Id. at *3. The
In Tayssoun Transportation, Inc. v. Universal Am-Can, Ltd., 2005 WL 1185811, at *16 (S.D.Tex. Apr.20, 2005), the district court ruled on summary judgment that a motor carrier violated § 376.12(h) because the lease did not give a clear method of computing cargo insurance charge-backs. The district court ruled that references to a “per trip fee” and a “range” of that fee was a violation of § 376.12(h). Id. The court explained that the § 376.12(h) “requirement is designed to allow owner-operators ... to determine whether a per trip fee being charged is fair” and the language in the lease was “incomprehensible” to make the determination. Id.
In Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Ass’n v. Ledar Transport, 2000 WL 33711271, at *7 (W.D.Mo. Nov. 30, 2000), the district court, in granting a motion for preliminary injunction, ruled that a lease which merely listed charge-back items violated § 376.12(h):
For the few items that Defendant’s Standard Lease Agreement does specify, it fails to recite how the amount of each such item is computed (e.g., whether Defendant will deduct simply the actual cost of the charge, or the cost plus administrative fees, etc.). Defendant’s Lease Agreement also fails to specify that the owner-operator will be afforded copies of documents to verify the validity of these charges. Accordingly, Defendant’s lease is in violation of [§ 376.12(h)] and therefore illegal.
See also Sheinhartz v. Saturn Transp., Inc., 2002 WL 575636, at *6 (D.Minn. March 22, 2002) (finding that federal law required disclosure of the “amount of any fees charged in excess of the premiums”); Fed. Proc. Forms § 66:191, Prayers for Relief ¶ 6 (2007) (providing that § 376.12(h) requires “an accounting of all transactions involving [the motor carriers’] compensation in any respect, including but not limited to deductions from income, debits, fuel tax credits and debits, and requiring [the motor carriers] to recite how each charge to income was calculated while providing all documents necessary to confirm the validity of the same transactions.”).
Here, there is no dispute that Landstar’s leases list flat-fee items that may be charged-back, and that Landstar provides settlement statements to the Owner-Operators that verifies that it charged the flat-fee listed in the lease. The settlement statements are analogous to the types of information the district courts in Rocor, Universal Am-Can, Le-dar, and Sheinhartz, found inadequate under § 376.12(h). Much like a flat-fee statement, Landstar’s settlement statements fail to show how the amount on the settlement statement was computed so that the Owner-Operators can determine the validity of the charge. This outcome is contrary to the purpose of § 376.12(h) which is to “ensure that the owner-operator has access to these computation methods.” ICC, Lease & Interchange of Vehicles, 47 Fed.Reg. 51136-02, 51139 (proposed Nov. 12, 1982) available at 1982 WL 146684; see also Siemens Power Transmission & Distrib., Inc. v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co., 420 F.3d 1243, 1252 (11th Cir.2005) (“ ‘While it is true that the language of a statute should be interpreted according to its ordinary, contemporary and common meaning, this plain-meaning rule should not be applied to produce a result which is actually inconsistent with the policies underlying the statute.’ ”) (citations omitted); Owner-Op
We conclude, therefore, that the District Court correctly ruled that § 376.12(h) requires Landstar to provide documentation related to charge-back items, but erred in concluding that it met the requirement.
IV
The District Court granted Qual-comm’s motion for a preliminary injunction and sealed Qualcomm’s pricing list that it provided to Landstar. In sealing the documents, the District Court found that Qualcomm’s services was “not a charge-back item as anticipated by Section 376.12(h).” The Owner-Operators appeal this ruling. They argue that § 376.12(h) entitles them to Qualcomm’s pricing lists because the documents would reveal the profits Landstar made on charge-backs related to Qualcomm’s services.
Qualcomm asserts the District Court’s ruling was correct. Qualcomm maintains that if third-party vendors’ confidential pricing is disclosed “into the public market and into the hands of competitors,” then “vendors’ incentives to provide pricing discounts and their ability to tailor pricing and other terms to individual customer needs would be destroyed.”
“We review the ultimate decision of whether to grant a preliminary injunction for abuse of discretion, but we review de novo determinations of law made by the district court en route.” Teper v. Miller, 82 F.3d 989, 993 (11th Cir.1996).
Here, the New Lease provides that Qualcomm’s services cost “$65 per month ... and $0.0003 per eharaeter/$0.02 per message when more than 60,000 charter/messages [sic] are used by [the Owner-Operator] in any month.” Lease, Appendix C (Doc. 237). The $65 per month charge is analogous to a flat-fee. As discussed above, § 376.12(h) requires Lands-tar to provide copies of “documents which are necessary to determine the validity of the charge,” so that the Owner-Operators can ascertain “how the amount of each item is to be computed.” Landstar is required to do so, even if those documents reveal Qualcomm’s pricing list. See, e.g., Rocor, 2000 WL 35512897, at *1 (finding that motor carrier must provide documents to show how a flat-fee was computed). Qualcomm offers no authority that § 376.12(h) should be read to allow flat-fee charge-backs without documents showing how the flat-fee was computed. We are persuaded that the District Court erred in sealing Qualcomm’s documents.
V
The Owner-Operators appeal from the District Court’s order granting Landstar’s motion in limine regarding unjust enrichment. The Owner-Operators argue that 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(l)’s provision for “injunctive relief’ includes the equitable remedies of restitution and disgorgement. Landstar maintains that the District Court’s decision should be affirmed “because it correctly rejected the remedy proposed by Plaintiffs as inconsistent with the plain language of Section 14704(a)(2).”
“[W]e review the district court’s grant of a motion in limine for abuse of discretion.” Mercado v. Orlando, 407 F.3d 1152, 1156 (11th Cir.2005). Interpretations of federal statutes are reviewed de novo. Murrell, 368 F.3d at 1285.
Section 14704(a)(1) provides for “injunc-tive relief.” See supra note 8. Neither the term “restitution,” nor “disgorgement” appear in the statute. If § 14704(a)(1)
The Owner-Operators cite to the Savings Clause, 49 U.S.C. § 13103, for the proposition that the district court can impose broad equitable remedies for violations of the Truth-in-Leasing regulations. We disagree. The Savings Clause provides that, “[ejxcept as otherwise provided in this part, the remedies provided under this part are in addition to remedies existing under another law or common law.” Id. If the Savings Clause invoked all equitable powers, Congress would not have specifically provided for “injunctive relief’ in § 14704(a)(1). See, e.g., Fulfillment Servs., Inc. v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 2006 WL 1061892, at *8 (D.Ariz. April 19, 2006) (explaining that the purpose of the Savings Clause “is to preserve all existing rights not inconsistent with those” the statute creates) (citing Penn. R. Co. v. Sonman Shaft Coal Co., 242 U.S. 120, 123, 37 S.Ct. 46, 61 L.Ed. 188 (1916)).
We conclude, therefore, that the District Court did not err in concluding that § 14704(a)(1) does not authorize restitution or disgorgement in providing for “injunc-tive relief.”
VI
There is no dispute that the District Court correctly ruled that injunctive relief was available on a class-wide basis in this case. The District Court denied in-junctive relief at the conclusion of trial because it determined that Landstar had “discontinued” violating § 376.12. The Owner-Operators assert that, because Landstar violated the regulations, the District Court “erred by failing to order in-junctive relief.” We agree.
The district court’s determination not to issue injunctive relief is reviewed for abuse of discretion, Palmer v. Braun, 287 F.3d 1325, 1329 (11th Cir.2002); however, a court “by definition abuses its discretion when it makes an error of law.” Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 100, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996) superseded by statute on other grounds, 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e).
As set forth above, Landstar violated § 376.12(d) by failing to disclose that the Powertraek fees would be deducted from the Owner-Operators’ compensation. See supra II.A. Landstar also violated § 376.12(h) by failing to provide documentation relating to how charge-back items were computed. See supra III. Therefore, we conclude that this case should be remanded with instructions to determine whether injunctive relief is appropriate concerning these alleged violations.
VII
The Owner-Operators argue that, under 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2), monetary damages are based on the profit that Landstar made from charge-back items. Landstar contends that damages must be measured by “actual damages.” Landstar maintains that “Plaintiffs must show that, but for the violation, they would have made different choices, and, thereby, saved
We review the trial court’s determination that damages were not proved under the ' clearly erroneous standard. Anderson v. Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573, 105 S.Ct. 1504, 84 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985). Interpretations of federal statutes, however, create issues of law which are reviewed de novo. Murrell, 368 F.3d at 1285.
The District Court’s ruling that the Owner-Operators must prove actual damages is correct because it is supported by the plain language of the statute. A carrier “is hable for damages sustained by a person as a result of an act or omission of that carrier or broker in violation [of the regulations].” 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2) (emphasis added). See supra note 5. This standard requires proof that the Owner-Operators sustained an injury as a result of Landstar’s failure to comply with § 376.12. Such proof goes beyond simply pointing to Landstar’s undisclosed profits. Rather, it requires owner-operators to show how they sustained damages because of the violations. See, e.g., Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass’n v. New Prime, Inc., 339 F.3d 1001, 1012 (8th Cir.2003) (explaining that a finding of damages by a motor carrier under § 14704(a)(2) requires examination of “offsets, advances, and other items”). The Owner-Operators’ argument that it is entitled to Landstar’s undisclosed profits is akin to statutory or presumed damages, rather than sustained damages as required by § 14704(a)(2).
Those courts that have considered this issue have reached the conclusion that § 14704(a)(2) requires evidence of actual damages. See, e.g., Rivas v. Rail Delivery Serv., Inc., 423 F.3d 1079, 1083 (9th Cir.2005) (“Plaintiffs concede that the regulatory violations for which they sought in-junctive relief caused them no injury. Because the Truth-in-Leasing violations caused them no injury, Plaintiffs did not have Article III standing to bring suit against Defendant motor carriers for those violations.”); Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass’n v. Arctic Exp., Inc., 288 F.Supp.2d 895, 908 (S.D.Ohio 2003) (plaintiffs must “adduce evidence ... sufficient to allow the fact finder to make a just and reasonable estimate of ... damages actually suffered”) (emphasis in original); Owner-Operator Indep. Drivers Ass’n v. Swift Transp. Co., 2006 WL 2521183, at *4 (D.Ariz. Mar. 30, 2006) (finding plaintiffs must show actual damages); Hall v. Aloha Intern. Moving Servs., Inc., 2002 WL 1835469, at *14-15 (D.Minn. Aug. 6, 2002) (same); Robertson v. N. Am. Van Lines, Inc., 2004 WL 5026265, at *4 (N.D.Cal. Apr. 19, 2004) (same); Kellander v. Davidson Bros., 2003 WL 25267577, at *5 (Pa. Ct. C.P. June 18, 2003) (same); Fed. Proc. Forms § 66:191, Prayers for Relief ¶ 9 (2007) (suggesting that the proper prayer for relief is “for all actual damages for violations of 49 C.F.R. pt. 376 pursuant to 49 U.S.C.A. § 14704(a)(2)”) (emphasis added).
To support their theory of damages, the Owner-Operators rely on state court cases that interpret the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Act (“Florida’s Act”). For example, they cite, Turner Greenberg Assoc. v. Pathman, 885 So.2d 1004, 1008 (Fla.App.Ct.2004), for the proposition that under the Florida Act the proper measure of “actual damages” is undisclosed profits. This Circuit has defined actual damages differently: “To recover actual damages, consumers must show that they suffered a loss because they relied on an inaccurate or incomplete disclosure.” Turner v. Beneficial Corp., 242 F.3d 1023, 1028 (11th
The Owner-Operators also argue that Landstar violated the “Actual Payment Clause” of the leases when it failed to reimburse the Owner-Operators for undisclosed profits. The District Court correctly concluded that this damage theory is based on a breach of a lease provision, not a violation of § 376.12. Because the Owner-Operators failed to bring a breach of contract claim, this issue is not properly before the Court.
We hold, therefore, that the District Court correctly concluded that the Owner-Operators have to prove actual damages. However, because the District Court failed to require Landstar to provide documentation under § 376.12(h) related to profits on charge-backs, the Owner-Operators did not have the opportunity to demonstrate that they had sustained actual damages. The Owner-Operators also did not have the opportunity to prove whether they had sustained actual damages for Landstar’s failure to comply with § 376.12(d). Therefore, this matter must be remanded for an evidentiary hearing to permit the Owner-Operators to produce evidence of any actual damages sustained by Landstar’s violations of § 376.12(d) and (h).
VIII
The Owner-Operators also appeal from the District Court’s decertification of the class. After ruling that the Owner-Operators had to prove actual damages, the District Court decertified the class. It explained that “decertification is appropriate because the determination of the remaining issue of damages in this case on a class-wide basis is unfeasible, unmanageable, and would not be superior to individual actions.” “A district court’s denial of class certification will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion.” Jones v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 977 F.2d 527, 531 (11th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 961, 113 S.Ct. 2932, 124 L.Ed.2d 682 (1993).
“It is primarily when there are significant individualized questions going to liability that the need for individualized assessments of damages is enough to preclude 23(b)(3) certification.” Klay v. Humana, Inc., 382 F.3d 1241, 1260 (11th Cir.2004). “Of course, there are also extreme cases in which computation of each individual’s damages will be so complex, fact-specific, and difficult that the burden on the court system would be simply intolerable ... but we emphasize that such cases rarely, if ever, come along.” Id. (internal citations omitted).
The Owner-Operators argue that since their theory of damages is based on “the charge-back differential” {e.g., Landstar’s profits from charge-backs), damages for the entire class would be “easily calculated by computer” and would take “no more than four hours.” The Owner-Operators’ argument fails because, as discussed above, the correct measure of damages is actual damages, not Landstar’s profits from charge-backs. Thus, each class member will have to offer evidence as to his or her actual damages, offset against any counterclaims. See Heaven v. Trust Co. Bank, 118 F.3d 735, 738 (11th Cir.1997) (holding that class member’s potential exposure to a defendants’ counterclaim is a proper factor to consider); see also New Prime, 339 F.3d at 1012 (holding that district court properly denied class certification of owner-operators because damages under § 14704(a)(2) requires individual fact findings). Classes have been decertified in Truth-in-Lending cases where actual damages had to be proven. See Turner, 242 F.3d at 1026 (affirming the district court’s denial of
Damages for each class member may be different. Because the Owner-Operators failed to establish that actual damages can be easily calculated for all class members, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in decertifying the class for actual damages.
IX
On cross-appeal, Landstar argues that the District Court erred in denying its motion to dismiss on the ground that the proper statute of limitations for damages under 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2) is four years. Landstar maintains that 49 U.S.C. § 14705(c)
There is no reason for this Court to rewrite a statute because of an alleged scrivener error unless a literal interpretation would lead to an absurd result. See United States v. Ron Pair Enter., Inc., 489 U.S. 235, 242, 109 S.Ct. 1026, 103 L.Ed.2d 290 (1989) (“The plain meaning of legislation should be conclusive, except in the ‘rare cases [in which] the literal application of a statute will produce a result demonstrably at odds with the intentions of its drafters.’ ”) (citations omitted); In re Lehman, 205 F.3d 1255, 1256 (11th Cir.2000) (“There was no error in the decision that a literal application of the language of the statute would violate Congressional intent and would produce an absurd result.”).
There is no absurd result imposing different statute of limitations for two different types of claims arising out of § 14704. Thus, for § 14704(a)(2), the default four-year statute of limitations under 28 U.S.C. § 1658(a)
X
Landstar also asks on cross-appeal that, if this Court finds that Landstar violated the regulations, then the District Court be instructed to “revisit its original class certification decision so that the parties can brief whether ... the key questions can be resolved on a class-wide basis.”
The issues here concern summary judgment motions, other pre-trial motions, and judgment, all of which were litigated and decided in 2006 and 2007, years after the
Pursuant to Rule 28.1(c)(4) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure,
Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, we REVERSE the District Court’s order on summary judgment that Landstar complied with 49 C.F.R. § 376.12(d). We AFFIRM the District Court’s conclusion that, under § 376.12(h), Landstar is required to provide documentation related to charge-back items, but REVERSE the District Court’s finding that Landstar provided those documents. We also REVERSE the District Court’s order sealing Qualcomm’s documents because they are required to be disclosed under § 376.12(h). We REMAND this case with instructions that the District Court allow the Owner-Operators to seek injunctive relief concerning the violations of § 376.12(d) and (h).
As to the issue of damages, we AFFIRM the District Court’s ruling that the Owner-Operators have to prove actual damages under 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2), but REMAND the case with instructions that there be an evidentiary hearing to permit the Owner-Operators an opportunity to produce evidence of actual damages, if any exists. We also AFFIRM the District Court’s ruling decertifying the class as to actual damages.
We AFFIRM the District Court’s ruling that the statute of limitations under 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2) is four years.
AFFIRMED, in part, REVERSED, in part, and REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
. See 49 C.F.R. § 376.11 (providing that "the authorized carrier may perform authorized transportation in equipment it does not own only under the following conditions: (a) Lease. There shall be a written lease grant
. LCAPP stands for "Landstar Contractors' Advantage Purchasing Program.”
. 49 C.F.R. § 376.12(d) provides:
(d) Compensation to he specified. The amount to be paid by the authorized carrier for equipment and driver’s services shall be clearly stated on the face of the lease or in an addendum which is attached to the lease. Such lease or addendum shall be delivered to the lessor prior to the commencement of any trip in the service of the authorized carrier. An authorized representative of the lessor may accept these documents. The amount to be paid may be expressed as a percentage of gross revenue, a flat rate per mile, a variable rate depending on the direction traveled or the type of commodity transported, or by any other method of compensation mutually agreed upon by the parties to the lease. The compensation stated on the lease or in the attached addendum may apply to equipment and driver’s services either separately or as a combined amount.
. 49 C.F.R. § 376.12(h) provides:
*1283 (h) Charge-back items. The lease shall clearly specify all items that may be initially paid for by the authorized carrier, but ultimately deducted from the lessor's compensation at the time of payment or settlement, together with a recitation as to how the amount of each item is to be computed. The lessor shall be afforded copies of those documents which are necessary to determine the validity of the charge.
. 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(2) provides: "Damages for violations. — A carrier or broker providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 is liable for damages sustained by a person as a result of an act or omission of that carrier or broker in violation of this part."
. "This ruling, along with the class certification determination, are the subjects of Lands-tar’s cross-appeal.”
. On appeal, there is no dispute that the literal compliance standard is the appropriate standard to use.
. 49 U.S.C. § 14704(a)(1) provides:
Enforcement of order. — A person injured because a carrier or broker providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 does not obey an order of the Secretary or the Board, as applicable, under this part, except an order for the payment of money, may bring a civil action to enforce that order under this subsection. A person may bring a civil action for in-junctive relief for violations of sections 14102 and 14103.
. Rule 52(c) provides:
If a party has been fully heard on an issue during a nonjury trial and the court finds against the party on that issue, the court may enter judgment against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue. The court may, however, decline to render any judgment until the close of the evidence. A judgment on partial findings must be supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law as required by Rule 52(a).
. The Owner-Operators are raising this issue concerning only the Original Lease, as opposed to the New Lease.
. 49 U.S.C. § 14705(c) provides: "(c) Damages.—A person must file a complaint with the Board or Secretary, as applicable, to recover damages under section 14704(b) within 2 years after the claim accrues.”
. 28 U.S.C. § 1658(a) provides: "Except as otherwise provided by law, a civil action arising under an Act of Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of this section may not be commenced later than 4 years after the cause of action accrues.”
. Rule 28.1(c)(4) provides: "Appellee’s Reply Brief. The appellee may file a brief in reply to the response in the cross-appeal. That brief must comply with Rule 28(a)(2)-(3) and (11) and must be limited to the issues presented by the cross-appeal.”
