Bott v. Idaho State Building Authority

835 P.2d 1282, 122 Idaho 471, 1992 Ida. LEXIS 142
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 7, 1992
Docket18540
StatusPublished
Cited by39 cases

This text of 835 P.2d 1282 (Bott v. Idaho State Building Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bott v. Idaho State Building Authority, 835 P.2d 1282, 122 Idaho 471, 1992 Ida. LEXIS 142 (Idaho 1992).

Opinion

BISTLINE, Justice.

This breach of contract case arises out of the dismissal of architects Bott, Berg, and Hoar (“BBH”) by the Idaho State Building Authority (“the Authority”) from a project to expand and modernize the Idaho State School for the Deaf and Blind located in Gooding, Idaho (“the Project”).

In January of 1985, BBH and the Authority entered into a contract (“the Agreement”) providing that BBH would provide architectural and certain other services for the project. The Agreement provided that the Authority would pay BBH 7.75% of the total construction cost plus an incentive fee equal to 10% of the amount by which the total construction cost was less than $8.2 million. Any “additional services” rendered by BBH were to be compensated at an hourly rate. According to the Agreement, BBH’s services were divided into the following phases: schematic design, design development, final documents and bidding, and construction. BBH was terminated before they were able to complete the construction phase.

After their termination, BBH brought suit seeking compensation for work they had completed in providing the project design. The parties’ theories at trial as articulated by the district court, were as follows:

The plaintiffs contended that they performed the architectural services that they were hired to perform but that repeated delays were caused when the [] Authority changed its mind and continually adjusted, in major ways, their designs. The defendant contended that the architects caused numerous delays and were difficult to work with and caused problems for themselves because they did not follow the ‘chain of command.’

Decision on Post-Trial Motions at 2.

At trial, the jury found unanimously that BBH had substantially performed under the contract until their termination, and *474 that the Authority had breached the contract. The jury awarded BBH damages of $201,542 less an offset of $2250 for a total verdict of $199,292. That jury award included amounts for schematic design work, the incentive bonus fee, and landscaping and interior design services.

The Authority filed several post-judgment motions. First, the Authority moved for judgment n.o.v. under I.R.C.P. 50(b), arguing that insufficient evidence supported BBH’s damages award. Second, the Authority moved for a new trial under three distinct theories, under I.R.C.P. 59(a)(5), (6), arid (7). Relying upon I.R.C.P. 59(a)(5), the Authority argued that the damages awarded to BBH were excessive and resulted from passion or prejudice; as an alternative to a new trial, the Authority requested a remittitur. Also under Rule 59(a)(5), the Authority argued that the set-off damages awarded to it were inadequate and resulted from passion or prejudice; as an alternative to a new trial, the Authority requested an additur. Under I.R.C.P. 59(a)(6), the Authority argued the evidence was not sufficient to sustain the verdict. Relying upon Rule 59(a)(7), the Authority also argued that the verdict was based upon prejudicial errors of law which occurred at trial.

The district court ruled that the Authority was not entitled to judgment n.o.v. The court granted a new trial confined to the issue of BBH’s damages, stating that it was not able to make a damage determination based on the record before it, for which reason it could not order a remittitur.

BBH requested costs, attorney fees and prejudgment interest. The Authority filed a motion in opposition to the request. The district court postponed ruling on that motion to await the outcome of the new trial which it had ordered. BBH appealed and the Authority cross-appealed. The main issues raised on appeal are:

I. Whether the district court erred in refusing to grant judgment n.o.v. in favor of the Authority.
II. Whether the district court erred in granting a motion for a new trial on the issue of damages, and not allowing a new trial on the issue of liability-
ill. Whether either party is entitled to attorney fees at trial or on appeal.
IV. Whether an award of prejudgment interest is appropriate.

I. THE MOTION FOR JUDGMENT N.O.V.

In response to the Authority’s request for judgment n.o.v. the district court ruled that “[t]he defendant is not entitled to a judgment n.o.v. on the issue of breach of contract. There is substantial evidence that would support the jury’s determination that the plaintiffs substantially performed the contract, were wrongfully terminated and were damaged as a result of the termination.” Decision on Post-Trial Motions at 4.

In determining on appeal whether a judgment n.o.v. should or should not have been granted, this Court applies the same standard as does the trial court, and grants no deference to that court’s views. Quick v. Crane, 111 Idaho 759, 727 P.2d 1187 (1986). This Court must review the record, drawing all inferences from the evidence in a light most favorable to BBH, to determine whether substantial evidence supports the jury verdict. However, in the present situation we cannot properly review the trial court's decision because the court misconstrued the Authority’s judgment n.o.v. motion, in particular, that portion of the Authority’s motion which asserts that “[tjhere is not sufficient evidence to support a substantial portion of Plaintiffs’ claims for damages, and the Defendant should be granted a Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict with respect to these damages under Rule 50(b) of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure.” R. at 201 (emphasis added).

The Authority’s main contention in its motion and on appeal is that, as a matter of law, based upon the evidence presented at trial, BBH is not entitled to damages for any alleged “additional services” performed by them, or for the incentive bonus. *475 The trial court only discussed BBH’s proof at trial on these issues in the context of the Authority’s new trial motion. Because the trial court did not discuss whether substantial evidence supported the jury’s award of damages to BBH, and only addressed the jury’s finding of liability, it did not adequately address the Authority’s motion for a judgment n.o.v. Therefore, we must remand for the trial court’s reconsideration of the Authority’s motion, in accordance with this opinion.

II. THE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL

In response to the Authority’s motion for a new trial based upon Rules 59(a)(5), (6) and (7), the court granted a new trial on the issue of damages only. A trial court may properly grant a motion for a new trial even though there is substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict and a judgment n.o.v. would be inappropriate. Quick, 111 Idaho at 767, 727 P.2d at 1195; see also Sheets v. Agro-West, Inc., 104 Idaho 880, 884, 664 P.2d 787, 791 (Ct.App.1983). The two motions serve distinct purposes and different standards govern their allowance. Quick.

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Bluebook (online)
835 P.2d 1282, 122 Idaho 471, 1992 Ida. LEXIS 142, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bott-v-idaho-state-building-authority-idaho-1992.