Triangle Dairy, Inc. v. Barolak
Triangle Dairy, Inc. v. Barolak
Opinion of the Court
We have carefully examined the record in this case and find that defendant Barolak at the commencement of this action had been engaged'for about six years in the distribution of milk; that the route now operated by him had formerly been built up by defendant’s brother, Jbhn- Barolak, now deceased, and was purchased from the deceased brother’s estate; that his brother, prior to his death, had been purchasing milk from Allen Frederick; that after he purchased this route he continued to purchase milk from said Frederick, but later Mr. Frederick incorporated his company as the Frederick Dairy Company. This company went into the hands of a receiver and was operated by the receiver. The plaintiff in this case purchased the assets of the Frederick Dairy Company from the receiver. Allen Frederick, in March of 1934, incorporated the Frederick Company, one of the defendants herein, to engage in the milk and dairy business, and was duly
It is claimed by the plaintiff that the relationship of employer and employe existed between it and Barolak. We are unable to concur with plaintiff’s counsel in this regard. We find that the record shows that’ defendant Barolak was an independent contractor and in no sense an employe of the plaintiff. Having come to this conclusion, the only thing necessary to decide the issues in this case is the construction to be placed upon §2 of the Code of Fair Practices of the Milk Marketing Rules and Regulations for the Mahoning Valley Market Sales Area, effective March 1, 1934. This Code of Fair Practices, Exhibit F of said rules and regulations, has the general provision: “It shall be considered unfair,” and then sets forth a number of conditions, of which §2 is as follows;
“To bribe' or subsidize employes of other milk dealers or induce employes to leave milk dealers for the purpose of embarrassing such milk dealer or to secure his trade, nor permit any employe, or sell to any distributing broker, to cover the territory either directly or indirectly, on any route which he has covered as an employe of another milk dealer within one year following the termination of such employment.”
While this section could have been better composed, we believe the meaning is clear. The first part of this section is not disputed, to-wit, that it means first it is unfair to bribe or subsidize employes of other milk dealers, second or to induce employes to leave milk dealers for the purpose of embarrassing such milk dealer or to secure his trade. In our opinion, the intent as to the remainder of this section is also clear by leaving out the words “or sell to any distributing broker”, we believe answers this question. The remainder of the said section would then read as follows: “Nor permit any employe to cover the territory either directly dr indirectly on any route which he has covered as an employe of another milk dealer within one year following the termination of such employment.” We think the same words “or sell to any distributing broker” means any distributing broker who has been licensed as such under this law, that was formerly employed by a milk dealer. It would be considered unfair for any other milk dealer to sell milk to such distributing broker to be sold by him on the route which he covered as an employe of his former employer.
In our opinion, this construction clears up the confusion that has apparently existed in the mind of counsel for the plaintiff.
Having come to the conclusion that under the evidence in this record that the relationship of employer and employe never existed between the plaintiff and Barolak, we do not see what right plaintiff has to interfere with him in distributing milk as a distributing broker to his own customers. These customers never belonged to the plaintiff but at all times covered by the matters set forth in this petition have been the customers of Barolak. We do not see how the plaintiff in this case has in. any way been injured by Barolak purchasing his milk for distribution to his own customers from any source that he desires.
It is admitted by counsel for plaintiff that there is no evidence in this record that either Barolak or the Frederick Company has violated any provision of the- Code as to price in connection with the purchase
Having reached these conclusions, the court therefore find that the plaintiff is not entitled to the relief prayed for. The injunction granted in this case below is hereby dissolved and the petition in this case dismissed. Final judgment is rendered in favor of the defendant at plaintiff’s costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.