Bristol Village, Inc. v. Louisiana-Pacific Corp.

170 F. Supp. 3d 488, 2016 WL 1126565
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedMarch 21, 2016
Docket1:12-CV-263 EAW
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 170 F. Supp. 3d 488 (Bristol Village, Inc. v. Louisiana-Pacific Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bristol Village, Inc. v. Louisiana-Pacific Corp., 170 F. Supp. 3d 488, 2016 WL 1126565 (W.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, United States District Judge

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Bristol Village, Inc. (“Bristol” or “Plaintiff’) brought this action against defendant Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (“LPC”), concerning a dispute that a product called “TrimBoard” did not function properly on Plaintiffs property. LPC previously manufactured TrimBoard, which is a hardboard product sold for use as exteri- or trim. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 1; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 1). Presently before the Court is LPC’s motion for summary judgment directed to Plaintiffs claims for breach of express warranty and violation of New York’s General Business Law § 349. (Dkt. 77). For the following reasons, LPC’s motion for [493]*493summary judgment is granted in part and denied in part.

BACKGROUND

On September 12, 2002, Plaintiff contracted with Purcell Construction (“Purcell”) to serve as the general contractor on a construction project to build an assisted living facility in Clarence Center, New York, called Bristol Village. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 3; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 3). Thereafter, on March 3, 2003, Purcell entered into a subcontract with Northern Roofing & Construction (“Northern”) for the installation of siding, board trim and accessories, and metal flashings, at Bristol Village, k. - at ¶ 4; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 4). The TrimBoard installed at Bristol Village was not sold directly to Plaintiff. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 6; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 6). Rather, the TrimBoard was purchased in November 2003 by either Purcell or Northern. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶¶ 5, 10; Dkt. 99 at ¶¶ 5,10).

Plaintiff contends that prior to its selection of the TrimBoard product, Cannon Design (“Cannon”), its architect, provided it with LPC marketing material, which represented that TrimBoard was suitable for use where any nonstructural trim lumber is required, and made representations relating to its durability and suitability for use as an exterior trim product. (Dkt. 77-5, Ex. 6 at 136:16-17; 189:2-18; 189:20-190:3). Plaintiff contends that it relied on these representations, and that the Bristol Village Board of Directors selected the Trim-Board product to be used in construction of the facility. (Id. at 44:12-17; 21:16-22:9). It is undisputed that Plaintiff considered alternatives before selecting the Trim-Board product. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 9; Dkt. 99 at ¶9).

Construction on the Bristol Village facility was completed and the certificate of occupancy was issued in 2003. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶¶ 11-12; Dkt. 99 at ¶¶ 11-12). The facility was in use in 2003. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 13; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 13).

The TrimBoard came with a warranty that stated, in relevant part, as follows:

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) warrants its TrimBoard ... for a period of ten years from the date of installation under normal conditions of use and exposure, providing the trim is properly stored, installed, maintained, and protected as specified in LP’s Application Instructions. Should the product fail within ten years of the date of installation, LP ... will compensate the owner for repair and replacement of the affected trim no more than twice the original purchase price of the affect,ed trim if failure occurs within ten years.
* * *
NOTICE: THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
* * *
LP’s liability shall be limited to the remedies set forth above and LP shall not be liable for any other damages or losses, including but not limited to incidental and consequential damages. The remedies set forth above are the purchaser’s exclusive remedies.

(Dkt. 77-7 at 71) (emphasis added).

Plaintiff contends that it discovered deteriorating TrimBoard during a Department of Health inspection in 2009 (Dkt. 77-5, Ex. 5 at 30:11-21), and discovered further deterioration several months following the inspection (id. at 39:20-40:14). Plaintiff contends that Michael Helbringer, the President of Bristol Village, first discussed the deterioration with Cannon, Purcell, and Bristol Village’s Board of Directors. (Dkt. 77-5, Ex. 6 at 94:21-95:7).

[494]*494In May 2011, Plaintiff submitted a warranty claim to LPC. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 18; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 18). LPC contends that it investigated the claim and identified both compensable and non-compensable damages. (Dkt. 77-6 at ¶¶ 6-9). Specifically, LPC contends that its investigator, Vernon Tilley, determined the total number of linear feet of each TrimBoard width that had sustained compensable damages, multiplied the total number of linear feet for each width by two times the then-current price of trim per linear foot, and added those figures to arrive at a total amount of $7,200.84. (Id. at ¶ 10). LPC contends that the non-compensable portions of the Trim-Board included portions that were incorrectly installed by Plaintiffs contractor, and correct installation was required for coverage under the warranty. (Id. at ¶¶ 9, 11). LPC offered to compensate Plaintiff in the amount of $7,200.84 for the Trim-. Board, purportedly in accordance with the terms of the warranty. (Dkt. 77-1 at ¶ 20; Dkt. 99 at ¶ 20).

In support of its assertion that the TrimBoard was incorrectly installed, LPC contends that Plaintiff never determined if Northern installed the TrimBoard in compliance with the TrimBoard installation instructions, or if the TrimBoard was installed in accordance with the required building code. (Dkt. 77-5, Ex. 5 at 64:3-14; Dkt. 77-5, Ex. 6 at 53:7-20; 78:15-22; 100:16-23; 109:11-17; 113:17-23). Further, LPC contends that Bristol’s facilities director, Krieg Larson, testified that at least part of the reason the TrimBoard failed was because it was improperly installed and maintained. (Dkt. 77-5, Ex. 5 at 82:8-15). In response, Plaintiff contends that Mr. Larson testified that the Trim-Board was rotting, regardless of whether it was installed properly. (Id. at 82:16-22).

Plaintiff maintains that the TrimBoard installation instructions are misleading, incomplete, and in one instance, contrary to good construction practices. (Dkt. 98-6 at 16-17). Plaintiff further asserts that the instructions do not address what should be done to TrimBoard’s ends, and that Trim-Board swells excessively and irreversibly, and rots even where it is installed in accordance with the installation instructions. (Id.). Finally, Plaintiff contends that LPC failed to conduct adequate testing to determine the long-term performance of Trim-Board and failed to take steps to improve product performance. (Dkt. 98-5 at 14-15).

Plaintiff rejected LPC’s $7,200.84 offer because it believed the offer was not adequate, due to the significant deterioration of the TrimBoard and the resulting damages to other portions of the building. (Dkt. 77-7, Ex. 6 at 131:4-15). Plaintiff contends that the estimated cost of removal and replacement of the TrimBoard is $275,600, and it previously spent $5,000 in order to patch TrimBoard that had deteriorated. (Dkt. 99 at ¶¶ 20-21). Plaintiff also contends that TrimBoard’s failure caused damages to the underlying wall components of Bristol Village, including the oriented strand board wall sheathing. (Id. at ¶ 33).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
170 F. Supp. 3d 488, 2016 WL 1126565, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bristol-village-inc-v-louisiana-pacific-corp-nywd-2016.