Arnold v. Day

2007 WY 86, 158 P.3d 694, 2007 Wyo. LEXIS 94, 2007 WL 1491738
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedMay 23, 2007
Docket06-160
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 2007 WY 86 (Arnold v. Day) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arnold v. Day, 2007 WY 86, 158 P.3d 694, 2007 Wyo. LEXIS 94, 2007 WL 1491738 (Wyo. 2007).

Opinion

HILL, Justice.

[¶ 1] Appellants, George L. Arnold and George L. Arnold, P.C. (Arnold), contend that the district court erred in granting a judgment in favor of the Appellees, Kristeen and Mark Day (Days). The dispute in this case arose because the odor of permanent solution migrated from the Days' hair salon (Hair West), into the common areas of their condominium office spaces, as well as into Arnold's law offices. Arnold developed and began marketing the condominium office space in 1985, and allowed the unit below his law offices to be sold to the Days in 1992, for use as a hair salon. Arnold noticed the odor problem shortly after the Days occupied the building in 1992, and the problem continued through the day of trial. In his complaint, Arnold sought relief on three theories: (1) breach of contract; (2) nuisance; and (8) trespass. The district court granted judgment in favor of the Days on all theories. In this appeal, Arnold challenges only that part of the judgment that dealt with breach of contract. We will affirm.

ISSUES

[¶ 2] Arnold raises these issues:

I. [Day] waived the affirmative defense of impracticability of performance.
IL The trial court erred in sua sponte applying the affirmative defense of impracticability of performance without first affording [Arnold] notice and an opportunity to be heard concerning the affirmative defense.
III. The district court erred in finding that [the Days] should be discharged from the performance of their promise and agreement to keep foul odors from [Arnold's] premises due to impracticability of performance.

The Days posit these issues for our consideration:

I. Should the appeal be dismissed for the failure of [Arnold] to bring a complete record to this Court for review?
II. Do the findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the trial court, on their face, reveal any clear error of law?

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

[¶ 8] Arnold filed his complaint in the district court on October 5, 2000. On October 23, 2000, the Days filed their answer and counterclaim. On September 7, 2004, the case was dismissed without prejudice because no substantial or bona fide action had been performed in the case since September 30, 2008. Arnold asked that the complaint be reinstated, and by order entered on October 1, 2004, it was reinstated to the district court's docket.

[¶ 4] On March 15, 2005, Arnold filed a one-page motion for partial summary judgment contending that there were no genuine issues of material fact with respect to the migration of odors from the Days' salon into the common areas used by both parties, as *696 well as into Arnold's law offices. Furthermore, he asserted that he was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on his claims for breach of contract, trespass, and nuisance. That motion was supported by the affidavits of seven of Arnold's clients, who stated under oath that they could smell the odors in the common area and in Arnold's offices. The summary judgment motion was not immediately taken up by the district court, and eventually it was supplemented by affidavits from Mr. Arnold and Britt C. Arnold.

[¶ 5] The Days filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion for summary judgment on April 4, 2005. Attached to that memorandum were the affidavits of the Days, in which they detailed the "extreme measures" they had employed over the years to remedy the problem with odors. These efforts included: (1) Replacing the existing windows with windows that could be opened; (2) installing exhaust fans; (8) adopting the use of a line of perm solutions that reduced the pungent smell associated with those products; (4) patching holes in walls and ceilings, replacing insulation, and sealing electric covers to prevent leakage of fumes through the electrical system; (5) replacing the heating system and repairing the vent work to the heating system; (6) placing commercial air fresheners in common areas (which were removed by Arnold because he did not like that smell); (7) placing door strips around their door and giving door strips to Arnold; (8) hiring a contractor to run a bore scope (with fiber optic camera) through the ventilation system to look for holes and cracks (none were found); (9) replacing all filters in the ventilation system with charcoal filters and providing Arnold with charcoal filters to use (after consulting with other hair salons that operated in spaces similar to Hair West); (10) using an air ionizer and giving an air ionizer to Arnold (which he refused). In summary, the Days asserted that their efforts to eliminate the perm smell "have been comprehensive and effective. If Mr. Arnold and his clients are smelling odors from the salon it is through some fault of his own."

[¶ 6] On June 14, 2005, the Days filed their amended answer and counterclaim generally denying Arnold's allegations and raising the defense of failure to mitigate damages, and the affirmative defenses off (1) The Memorandum of Agreement was executed by [the Days] under duress and is null and void; (2) The Memorandum of Agreement is unconscionable and void or voidable at [the Days'] instance; (8) [Arnold has] failed to act in good faith under the Memorandum of Agreement.

[¶ 7] For the sake of clarity, we note here that the Memorandum of Agreement is a three-page document that Arnold and the Days used to spell out the "understanding" they reached at the time Arnold agreed, as a part of his consideration for the agreement, to "refrain from objecting to the issuance of a conditional use permit for Hair West and to submit a letter of recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Board on or before the scheduled time of its hearing Monday, February 83, 1992." The Days were buying the condominium space from its current owner who was in bankruptey. Arnold asserts that, had he objected to the conditional use permit, it would have been denied. In the first nine paragraphs of the agreement it is agreed that: (1) Arnold will be responsible for the irrigation system, in season; (2) the Days will be responsible for plowing the parking lot, in season; (8) the parties shared responsibility for spring and fall planting; (4) Arnold was to contribute a shed to the condominium association, and the Days a tractor mower with accessories; (5) the parties were to share mowing, trimming, application of herbicides, and watering; (6) the Days were to pay for lighting the signage from dusk to 10:30 p.m., and Arnold was to pay for cleaning the entry onee a week and to keep a mat on the tile; (7) the parties were to share the expense of replacing a fence; (8) the placement of signage was detailed; and (9) bookkeeping responsibility for the association was to be alternated annually. The following paragraphs wrapped up the agreement:

10. Importantly, you will take such steps as are necessary to ensure that chemicals and other odors do not escape into the entry area or the upstairs unit. Certain mandatory steps will be required at the outset including compliance with governmental rules and regulations and *697 the installation of an adequate ventilation system.
11.

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Bluebook (online)
2007 WY 86, 158 P.3d 694, 2007 Wyo. LEXIS 94, 2007 WL 1491738, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arnold-v-day-wyo-2007.