Bucksaw Resort, L.L.C. v. Mehrtens

414 S.W.3d 39, 2013 WL 6065091, 2013 Mo. App. LEXIS 1380
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 19, 2013
DocketNo. WD 75877
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 414 S.W.3d 39 (Bucksaw Resort, L.L.C. v. Mehrtens) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bucksaw Resort, L.L.C. v. Mehrtens, 414 S.W.3d 39, 2013 WL 6065091, 2013 Mo. App. LEXIS 1380 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

ANTHONY REX GABBERT, Judge.

Eugene Mehrtens (“Broker”) appeals the circuit court’s judgment following a jury verdict in favor of Bucksaw Resort, LLC (“Bucksaw”) on Bucksaw’s negligent failure to procure insurance claim. Broker raises four points on appeal. In his first two points on appeal, Broker argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motions for directed verdict and motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict because Bucksaw failed to make a submissi-ble case for negligent failure to procure insurance on two grounds. In his first point, Broker argues that Bucksaw failed to make a submissible case because Bucksaw failed to show that Broker did not procure the agreed upon insurance. In his second point, Broker argues that Bucksaw failed to make a submissible case because Bucksaw failed to show that its damages were proximately caused by Broker’s negligence. In his third point on appeal, Broker argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motions for directed verdict and motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict because Bucksaw failed to establish that it was damaged because the jury’s verdict of $54,000 was satisfied by Bucksaw’s settlement with the insurance companies. In his last point on appeal, Broker argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to amend the judgment because Broker was entitled to a reduction in the judgment in the amount of Bucksaw’s settlement with the insurance companies because the settlement proceeds covered all of the damages Bucksaw claimed at trial and, therefore, constituted a double recovery. We reverse and remand the circuit court’s judgment.

Statement of Facts

The evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict shows that James Moritz, owner of Bucksaw, purchased Bucksaw on October 31, 2006. Bucksaw produces income from fishing tournaments, family reunions, seasonal slip rentals of boats, sales at both the restaurant and marina, and rental of its forty-room lodge and six cabins. It also has a 100 site RV park on its premise. Prior to the October 31, 2006 closing, Moritz’s lending bank required him to obtain property insurance for the premise. Broker, an independent insurance broker who had sold insurance since 1985, had written insurance for Bucksaw’s prior owner. The prior owner referred Broker to Moritz.

Moritz first met Broker at Bucksaw’s restaurant prior to the closing. Broker provided Moritz a copy of the prior owner’s policy. They discussed the coverage on the docks, marina, the parking lot, fencing, all of Bucksaw’s personal property, the pavilions, the rigging shop, the forty-room lodge, and six cabins. They also took a personal tour of the area during which Moritz pointed out the areas that he wanted covered by insurance. Moritz advised Broker that he wanted all the property, including the parking lot, fencing, [42]*42and riprap1 to be covered. Moritz also discussed that he wanted Bucksaw to have coverage for loss of business income. He wanted all of these things to be covered from flood damage as well.

Broker procured an insurance policy from Federal Insurance Company (“Federal”) and an insurance policy from XL Specialty Insurance Company (“XL”). Broker explained that there was not one insurance company that would insure what was on the water and what was on the land. Broker later testified at trial, however, that the Federal policy was written broadly enough to cover everything.

In 2007, Bucksaw experienced a flood. The water rose over the parking lot and up against a wall at the marina. It covered the boat launch and required Bucksaw to build a levee so that people could travel from the lodge to the marina. As a result of the flood, Bucksaw lost business income. Additionally, the chairs in its pavilion were damaged. The rock covering the parking lot disappeared. The fencing washed away, and the riprap washed away in some spots.

Moritz contacted Broker following the flood. Broker asked Moritz to provide information in order to pursue an insurance claim. Bucksaw received several letters from XL2 explicitly stating that the policy did not include coverage for the fences and the land. In one letter, XL advises that the policy does not cover loss of business income. However, in a later letter, XL indicates that the policy does cover loss of business income. With regards to Bucksaw’s buildings, XL’s letters contended that because the damages to the buildings did not exceed the policy deductible, no further action was required by XL.

Moritz also received several letters from Federal3 dealing with his business income claims. One letter states that Federal needed more business information to calculate how much business income was lost. Another letter states that there was business income on the floating property listed in the policy. There is no language in the letters or in the definition of floating property dealing with the pavilion chairs, parking lot, riprap, or fencing.

Bucksaw filed a four-count petition against Federal, XL, and Broker. In the first two counts, Bucksaw asserted breach of contract claims against the two insurance companies. In the third count, Bucksaw asserted a claim of reformation against all three defendants. In the fourth count, Bucksaw asserted a claim of negligence against all three defendants claiming that each defendant had a duty to provide the insurance appropriate for the marina and with coverages represented to Bucksaw, including all structures, improvements, and business interruption.

After filing suit but before trial, Bucksaw settled with both insurance companies. An offer of proof was made outside the presence of the jury to show that the stipulated amounts of the respective settlements were $24,000 paid by XL and $97,100 paid by Federal. After the settlement, both insurance companies were dismissed with prejudice from the lawsuit. Bucksaw then continued its negligent failure to procure insurance suit against Broker.

[43]*43At trial, the court did not allow evidence of the settlement to be introduced to the jury. The court did allow the Broker to put on evidence to show that the two insurance companies had paid Bucksaw for damages. At the close of Bucksaw’s evidence and again at the close of all evidence, Broker moved for a directed verdict. The trial court denied the motions. The jury entered a verdict in favor of Bucksaw in the amount of $54,000. The trial court entered judgment upon the jury’s verdict for the full amount. Subsequently, Broker filed his motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or, in the alternative, motion to amend the judgment, which the court also denied. Broker appeals.

Standard of Review

Review of a denied motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict is essentially the same standard of review as for a denial of a motion for directed verdict. Crawford, v. Shop ‘N Save Warehouse Foods, Inc., 91 S.W.3d 646, 650 (Mo.App.2002). “A case may not be submitted unless legal and substantial evidence supports each fact essential to liability.” Sanders v. Ahmed, 364 S.W.3d 195, 208 (Mo. banc 2012) (citation omitted). “Whether plaintiff made a submissible case is a question of law subject to de novo review.” D.R. Sherry Constr., LTD. v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co.,

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Bluebook (online)
414 S.W.3d 39, 2013 WL 6065091, 2013 Mo. App. LEXIS 1380, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bucksaw-resort-llc-v-mehrtens-moctapp-2013.