Carroll v. Grabavoy

396 N.E.2d 836, 77 Ill. App. 3d 895, 33 Ill. Dec. 309, 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 940, 1979 Ill. App. LEXIS 3465
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedOctober 26, 1979
Docket78-182
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 396 N.E.2d 836 (Carroll v. Grabavoy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carroll v. Grabavoy, 396 N.E.2d 836, 77 Ill. App. 3d 895, 33 Ill. Dec. 309, 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 940, 1979 Ill. App. LEXIS 3465 (Ill. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE STOUDER

delivered the opinion of the court:

The plaintiffs, Belva and Henry Carroll, commenced this action by filing a two-count complaint in the circuit court of Will County. Named as defendant was G. Nicholas Grabavoy, a dentist. In count I of their complaint, the Carrolls alleged the breach of an express warranty by the defendant that he would provide Mrs. Carroll with dentures which would be attractive, pleasing, and which would fit well. In count II, the plaintiffs sought damages from the defendant on the ground of breach of an implied warranty of fitness for the purpose for which the dentures had been purchased. The case was tried without a jury and the trial court entered judgment against the defendant in the amount of $775. The court was silent as to which count the judgment referred to, or whether it was rendered on both counts.

On October 29, 1976, plaintiff Belva Carroll and her husband, plaintiff Henry, met with defendant Dr. Grabavoy, a dentist duly authorized to practice dentistry in the State of Illinois, concerning the purchase of a new set of dentures for Mrs. Carroll. At that time, Mrs. Carroll explained that she was dissatisfied with her. existing dentures as they were too loose and that she had had some unhappy experiences with her previous dentist. One of several conflicts in testimony exists concerning other statements allegedly made at that initial interview. The plaintiffs testified that the defendant specifically promised and guaranteed to provide Mrs. Carroll with dentures which would be “attractive,” “fit well,” and which would be “pleasing” to her. They further stated that they would not have entered into an agreement with the defendant if these promises had not been made to them. The defendant testified that he never promised the plaintiffs anything other than that he would do his best and further stated that he attempted to persuade Mrs. Carroll to allow him to adjust her existing dentures. The plaintiffs nonetheless employed Dr. Grabavoy to produce a new set of dentures.

Defendant Grabavoy then began the process of producing the new dentures. Pursuant to the custom and practice of the profession he prepared a set of wax dentures, which Mrs. Carroll tried on during her appointment of December 6, 1976. A conflict of testimony exists regarding the interaction which occurred at that time. Mrs. Carroll testified that the wax dentures were unsatisfactory but that the defendant told her not to worry as the actual dentures would be satisfactory. The defendant testified that he explained to Mrs. Carroll the importance of making sure she was pleased with the dentures and upon her return from her visual inspection, Mrs. Carroll was pleased and satisfied, and gave him the authority to proceed and have the dentures made from the wax impressions.

On December 16, 1976, the new dentures were delivered. Mrs. Carroll testified that they were too full for her mouth, the tooth size was much too large, that there was a substantial over-bite, and that the dentures caused her much pain and both plaintiffs testified as to the amount of difficulty the defendant had in placing the new dentures in Mrs. Carroll’s mouth. The defendant explained that several adjustments might be necessary in order to minimize discomfort and have the dentures settled and scheduled Mrs. Carroll’s next appointment for December 20,1976, explaining that this would be the first of at least three successive weekly appointments. He also stated that the new dentures should be used continuously, notwithstanding any distress which might be experienced. There is a conflict of testimony concerning the prescription defendant gave Mrs. Carroll for distress. She testified she was told to place denture cream on the dentures while defendant testified he advised her to rub her gums with this cream.

Mrs. Carroll did not return to the defendant’s office on December 20, 1976, and there is a conflict in testimony concerning this missed appointment. When she returned to his office on January 3, 1977, she had approximately one-quarter inch of substance on her gums and dentures which defendant removed. The defendant testified that this alone would cause the dentures to be ill-feeling and produce irritation and that Mrs. Carroll admitted she had not worn the dentures as instructed. Adjustments were made and further adjustments were made on January 4,1977. On January 6,1977, Mrs. Carroll again returned to the defendant’s office and expressed her unhappiness and a conflict in testimony exists concerning defendant’s statement that he found approximately M-inch of substance on the dentures.

Mrs. Carroll testified that the problems with the dentures were not corrected, that the defendant stated there was nothing further he could do, and that she then returned the dentures. The defendant testified that he told Mrs. Carroll that she should give the dentures an opportunity to be worn correctly, reminded her of the importance of having failed to come in as scheduled, and that he would continue to make adjustments as necessary.

At this time, the plaintiffs demanded new dentures or their money back and defendant refused. Plaintiffs had paid $385 for the upper dentures, s390 for the lower dentures, and $92 for other related services. It is uncontroverted that Mrs. Carroll developed severe mouth sores and blisters, bloody gums and mouth swellings.

There was no allegation of negligence on the part of defendant concerning his work on the dentures nor that he had failed to use the degree of care and skill which would ordinarily be exercised by dentists providing dentures. Thus the action is different from the typical complaint sounding in malpractice in that it rests solely upon the breach of the alleged warranties.

In count I of their complaint, plaintiffs allege that defendant breached the contract between the parties by making dentures which fail to comply with the alleged express oral warranties. As it is unclear from the record whether plaintiffs contend that these express warranties related to the dentures as goods or to the defendant’s performance in producing the dentures, we shall consider both of these theories.

Considering first the allegation of breach of an express warranty relating to the dentures as goods, the relevant statutory authority is section 2 — 313 of the Uniform Commercial Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 26, par. 2 — 313). This section describes express warranties in three categories dealing with affirmation of facts or promises, descriptions, and samples or models. The provisions, however, apply only expressly to warranties by a seller to a buyer in connection with a sale of goods. (See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 26, par. 2 — 102; Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 26, par. 2 — 313). Therefore it becomes necessary for us to consider whether this is such a situation.

The Supreme Court of Illinois specifically addressed this question in resolving the propriety of optometric retail taxation. Analogizing to the medical and dental professions, the court stated that if a physician furnished medicine or dressings, he did not come within the designation of those involved in a calling which would result in the imposition of the tax. Likewise the court indicated the same reasoning applied to a dentist, even though his calling required the furnishing of “inlays, fills, or crowns, or even false teeth, if necessary to a completion of the dental service.” (Babcock v.

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396 N.E.2d 836, 77 Ill. App. 3d 895, 33 Ill. Dec. 309, 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 940, 1979 Ill. App. LEXIS 3465, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carroll-v-grabavoy-illappct-1979.