Smart Marketing Group Inc. v. Publications International Ltd.

Before WOOD, EVANS, and SYKES, Circuit Judges.

Online commerce has ballooned in importance over recent years, and it is no surprise that automobile dealers are among those who are interested in exploiting its possibilities. This case, brought under the diversity jurisdiction, involves an effort by two companies to develop programs that would deliver location-specific, brand specific, internet sales leads to auto dealers. Publications International Ltd. (“Publications”) ran a website that collected the raw sales leads, and Smart Marketing Group (“Smart”) promised to develop programs that would market that information to auto dealers. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Publications terminated the agreement, and Smart sued for breach of contract. A jury saw things Smart’s way and awarded it $5.6 million in damages. Given the deference we owe to the jury, we refrain from disturbing its verdict on liability. Its damages award, however, finds such slim support in the evidence that we conclude that there must be a new trial limited to damages.