Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit


11-18-2008

Koenig Eng Inc v. Cent Transp Intl Inc
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 07-3134




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                                                                 NOT PRECEDENTIAL


                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT


                                          _________

                                         No. 07-3134
                                         _________


                               KOENIG ENGINEERING, INC.,

                                                        Appellant,
                                              v.

                 CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                                   Appellee.
                                   ___________________

                         Appeal from the United States District Court
                           for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                                Civil Action No. 05-CV-04957
                                 (Honorable J. Curtis Joyner)

                                    __________________

                       Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                                    on October 27, 2008

                 Before: McKEE, NYGAARD, and MICHEL* Circuit Judges



                                 (Filed November 18, 2008 )


___________________

* Honorable Paul R. Michel, Chief Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit, sitting by designation.
                                   OPINION OF THE COURT


McKEE, Circuit Judge


       Koenig Engineering Inc. appeals the district court’s judgment in favor of Central

Transport International Inc. (“CTI”), and the denial Koenig’s motion for a new trial. For the

reasons that follow, we will affirm.

       Because we write primarily for the parties, it is not necessary to recite the facts or

procedural history of this case except insofar as may be helpful to our brief discussion. Koenig

argues that the district court’s judgment in favor of CTI should be reversed because Koenig

established a prima facie claim under the “Carmack Amendment.” Pursuant to that amendment,

a party must plead and prove “(1) delivery of goods to the initial carrier in good condition, (2)

damage of the goods before delivery to their final destination, and (3) the amount of damages.”

Beta Spawn, Inc. v. FFE Transportation Services, Inc., 

, 223 (3d Cir. 2001).

       The district court concluded that Koenig did not satisfy the first prong of that inquiry

because it did not establish that the goods were delivered to the initial carrier in good condition.

In its succinct but thorough “Decision” dated May 2, 2007, the district court explained that

conclusion and the legal reasoning supporting the grant of summary judgment. We have

reviewed the record and can add little to the district court’s explanation. Accordingly, we will

affirm substantially for the reasons set forth by the district court in its May 2, 2007, Decision.

       Koenig also argues that the district court erred in denying its motion for a new trial.



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Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(a) provides:




       A new trial may be granted to all or any of the parties and on all or part of the issues...in
       an action tried without a jury, for any of the reasons which rehearings have heretofore
       been granted in suits in equity in the courts of the United States. On a motion for a new
       trial in an action tried without a jury, the court may open the judgment if one has been
       entered, take additional testimony, amend findings of fact and conclusion of law or make
       new findings and conclusions, and direct the entry of a new judgment.


       A new trial should be granted where (1) the new evidence is material and not merely

cumulative, (2) could not have been discovered before trial through the “exercise of reasonable

diligence,” and (3) would probably have changed the outcome of the trial. Compass Technology,

Inc. v. Tseng Laboratories, Inc., 

, 1130 (3d Cir. 1995).

       We review the order denying a new trial for an abuse of discretion. Allied Chemical

Corp. v. Daiflon, Inc., 

, 36 (1980); Roebuck v. Drexel University, 

, 735

(3d Cir. 1983).

       Here, the district court concluded that CTI’s Answer informed Koenig that the condition

of the torque converters at the time of delivery would be an issue at trial. The district court was

therefore not persuaded by Koenig’s attempt to argue “surprise,” and neither are we. We

conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying a new trial.

       For all of the above reasons, we will affirm the district court’s judgment for CTI and its

denial of Koenig’s motion for a new trial.




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