Blakely v. Powers

590 So. 2d 1286, 1991 WL 255263
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 22, 1991
DocketCA 90 1693
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 590 So. 2d 1286 (Blakely v. Powers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blakely v. Powers, 590 So. 2d 1286, 1991 WL 255263 (La. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

590 So.2d 1286 (1991)

Randy D. BLAKELY
v.
William POWERS, d/b/a Cooper Marine Services and Dominic Bonfanti, d/b/a Cooper Marine Services.

No. CA 90 1693.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

November 22, 1991.

Gregory Miller, Baton Rouge, for plaintiff.

E. Wade Shows, Baton Rouge, for defendants.

Before SHORTESS, LANIER and CRAIN, JJ.

LANIER, Judge.

This action is a suit in contract for redhibition of the sale of a boat, outboard motor, boat trailer and troll motor. La.C.C. art. 2520 et seq. One of the defendants filed a pleading entitled "IMPROPER JOINDER OF PARTY" asserting he was not the owner of the things sold and was "[I]mproperly adjoined ... as a party defendant in these proceedings." After a hearing, the trial court ruled that the exceptor was "not a proper party defendant in this suit" and dismissed the exceptor from the proceedings. The plaintiff-buyer took this devolutive appeal.

PROCEDURAL FACTS

On June 29, 1989, the plaintiff-buyer, Randy D. Blakely, filed this redhibitory action. For this appeal, the pertinent portions of the petition are as follows:

The petition of Randy D. Blakely, domiciled in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, respectfully shows:
1.
Made defendants herein are:
A. William Powers, d/b/a Cooper Marine, a resident of the Parish of Livingston, State of Louisiana.
*1287 B. Dominic Bonfanti, d/b/a Cooper Marine, a resident of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.
2.
On June 22, 1988, petitioner bought from defendant a boat, motor and trailer rig, as shown by a copy of the Purchase Contract annexed hereto and marked as Exhibit "A" for identification, which boat, motor and trailer rig were purchased by plaintiff for use as a pleasure craft and object to satisfy his personal and intellectual gratification needs.
3.
The boat, motor and trailer rig were delivered to plaintiff on June 23, 1988, at which time defendant contractually agreed to make any necessary and proper repairs and/or replacements on the motor as shown by a copy of the extended service program annexed hereto and marked as Exhibit "B" for identification.
. . . . .
10.
Plaintiff has made numerous attempts to have defendant satisfactorily rectify the mechanical problems associated with this boat, motor and trailer to no avail.
11.
The mechanical problems of boat and motor were due to redhibitory vices and defects that were peculiarly within the knowledge of defendant as seller and service representative, and were unknown to plaintiff. These vices and defects rendered the boat, motor and trailer rig absolutely useless for the purpose for which it was purchased.
WHEREFORE, plaintiff, Randy D. Blakely, prays for judgment in his favor and against defendant, Cooper Marine:
I. Rescinding the sale of the 1986 Ranger boat, model #390V, serial # RNG9359B686; 1986 Mercury motor, model 200 H/P, serial # OA913716; 1986 Ranger trailer, model 390V, serial # 18WRT2024G1D17577; 1988 Brute Motor Guide trolling motor, serial #2H59401Q; by the defendant to the plaintiff; and
II. For loss of personal and intellectual gratification, pleasure and enjoyment, as well as for aggravation, inconvenience and loss of use, all in an amount as is reasonable under the premises.
III. For the sum of FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO AND 84/100 ($5,172.84) DOLLARS, representing the amount of down payment plus subsequent payments made by plaintiff, with TWELVE (12%) PERCENT annual interest thereon from date of judicial demand until paid, all costs of preservation of this suit, reasonable attorney's fees to be determined by this Honorable Court, and all costs of court.

The heading of the act of sale and mortgage (Exhibit "A") referred to in paragraph 2 of the petition provides as follows:

Mortgagor (and Co-Mortgagor)—Name Vendor/Creditor (Seller Name and Address (include Parish and and Address) zip Code) Cooper Marine Randy D. Blakely 311 Range Ave. 10854 Carmel Dr. Denham Springs, La. Baton Rouge, LA 70818 70726
STATE OF LOUISIANA, PARISH OF Livingston
BE IT KNOWN THAT, on this 23rd day of the month June, 1988. Cooper Marine (Seller) hereinafter called the vendor and mortgagee, by William R. Powers/John C. Hancock (Representative of the Vendor) duly authorized to represent the vendor, for and in consideration of the price and sum hereinafter stipulated, *1288 does hereby sell, convey and deliver unto you, the purchaser and mortgagor, (and co-mortgagor, if any) Randy D. Blakely, domiciled in the Parish of EBR, State of Louisiana, here present, purchasing, accepting, and acknowledging due delivery thereof, the following described property to be located at 10854 Carmel Dr. (Street and Number), Baton Rouge (City or Town) in the Parish of EBR, State of Louisiana, under the agreements of this act of sale and mortgage. ("Mortgage" includes backs and fronts of parts A & B of this act of sale and mortgage.)

This document is signed by Blakely. The plaintiff-buyer specifically alleged that the owners and sellers of the property were William Powers and Dominic Bonfanti doing business as Cooper Marine.

On September 5, 1989, Powers filed his exception of "IMPROPER JOINDER OF PARTY" which alleged, in pertinent part, the following:

1.
Respondent shows that he is not an owner, principal, agent, director, officer, employee nor does [he] have any legal capacity with Cooper Marine.
2.
Respondent shows that Cooper Marine Services was at all times referred to in the petition owned by Davis & Hancock, Inc., a Louisiana corporation domiciled in the Parish of Livingston, State of Louisiana. Respondent is not an owner, principal, agent, director, officer, employee or shareholder of Davis & Hancock, Inc. having sold any and all interest that he may have had pursuant to agreement dated January 17, 1989.

On October 24, 1989, Blakely filed an amended petition that asserted the following:

"1.
Made defendants herein are:
A. Davis and Hancock, Inc. a domestic corporation, authorized to do, and doing business in this State; and
B. William Powers, a person of the full age of majority, and a resident and domiciliary of the Parish of Livingston.
1A.
Defendant, Davis and Hancock, Inc., was at all times relevant herein doing business, in an undisclosed capacity to the public, as Cooper Marine, a retail boating and pleasure craft outlet located in Denham Springs, Louisiana.
1B.
At all times relevant herein, defendant, William Powers, was a stockholder and officer of Davis and Hancock, Inc., who at no time disclosed his capacity as an officer and agent of the corporation to the plaintiff. To the contrary, he at all times represented himself as the owner of Cooper Marine, and therefore created the appearance that he was a sole proprietor doing business as Cooper Marine.

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590 So. 2d 1286, 1991 WL 255263, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blakely-v-powers-lactapp-1991.