Gast v. Rogers-Dingus Chevrolet

585 So. 2d 725, 1991 WL 164836
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 21, 1991
Docket89-CA-1218
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 585 So. 2d 725 (Gast v. Rogers-Dingus Chevrolet) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gast v. Rogers-Dingus Chevrolet, 585 So. 2d 725, 1991 WL 164836 (Mich. 1991).

Opinion

585 So.2d 725 (1991)

Kimberly Dawn GAST and Kim Alan Gast
v.
ROGERS-DINGUS CHEVROLET.

No. 89-CA-1218.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

August 21, 1991.

*726 John S. Knowles, III, Brantley & Knowles, Jackson, for appellant.

Christopher A. Tabb, Brandon, for appellee.

Before HAWKINS, P.J., and PRATHER and ROBERTSON, JJ.

HAWKINS, Presiding Justice, for the Court:

Problems flowing from purchase of a used automobile are the basis of this action by Kim Alan and Kimberly Dawn Gast (Gasts) for breach of warranty and damages. The trial court set aside a jury verdict awarding damages and rendered a judgment notwithstanding the verdict in favor of Rogers-Dingus. We affirm.

I.

On April 10, 1986, the Gasts purchased from Rogers-Dingus Chevrolet a 1981 Pontiac Trans-Am automobile with a mileage reading of 58,644 for $5,200.00 plus sales tax of $156.00. The Gasts simultaneously purchased a General Motors Insurance Corporation Mechanical Repair Plan or MIC Repair Plan and an extended warranty on the vehicle. Rogers-Dingus assisted the Gasts in their financing through their "dealer arrangement" with Citizens Bank of Rankin County. Pursuant to this arrangement, Rogers-Dingus financed the purchase, except $550.00 paid by the Gasts as a down payment, procured from the Gasts an installment note in the total sum of $9,042.46 evidencing the unpaid portion of the purchase price and finance charges, and obtained a security interest in the vehicle. The documents were then assigned to Citizens Bank.

*727 The Gasts were assured by agents of Rogers-Dingus that the Trans-Am was a "good running car," yet from day one the Gasts encountered a series of mechanical problems with the vehicle. The tachometer was not working on the day of purchase, and Rogers-Dingus agreed to make the necessary repair. The speedometer cable broke within a month of the purchase with a mileage reading of 59,931 miles. The water pump soon ceased operation. This item, however, was replaced by friends of Mr. Gast because it was not covered by the extended warranty agreement.

The vehicle subsequently underwent repairs by Rogers-Dingus for a burned valve. In July, Mrs. Gast discovered a short in the turbo light, for which Rogers-Dingus replaced a fuse. On August 2, the automobile caught on fire resulting in severe damage to the under body and the turbo. Rogers-Dingus rebuilt the engine and replaced the turbo. Additional repairs were made to the vehicle in September.

The extended warranty paid $2,350.00 of the repair bills, the Gasts paid $686.00, and Rogers-Dingus absorbed the remaining $719.00. Rogers-Dingus, Mr. Gast and Ron Dear, an agent of Citizens Bank, met subsequent to the September repairs. At that time the Gasts no longer wanted the Trans-Am. Rogers-Dingus would not agree to a trade-in, and the bank desired assurance of payment. As a result of this meeting, Rogers-Dingus reassured the Gasts that the Trans-Am would be correctly fixed and the Gasts borrowed from Citizens Bank the amount necessary to pay their part of the repair bill. Citizens Bank made these funds available as an additional advance secured by their lien on the Trans-Am.

In February, 1987, the vehicle again required engine and turbo repairs. Rogers-Dingus made the repairs and the Gasts paid the $50.00 deductible required by the extended warranty agreement. The odometer showed a mileage reading of 65,448, and the Gasts refused to make further payments to the bank on their note. The bank, with the Gasts consent, took possession of the vehicle and sold it. The sales proceeds were applied by the bank to the Gasts' note. At the time of trial, the Gasts still owed the bank $6,000 or $7,000.

On August 26, 1987, suit was filed by Mrs. Gast against Rogers-Dingus for breach of implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The complaint was subsequently amended to include Mr. Gast as a co-plaintiff. Rogers-Dingus answered, denying breach of warranty and stated that the vehicle, while used, was in good mechanical condition and fit for personal transportation when sold. The cause was tried in September, 1989.

The jury returned a verdict for the Gasts in the sum of $5,819.54. Rogers-Dingus timely moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (j.n.o.v.) alleging that the Gasts failed to prove:

(a) The vehicle was unmerchantable when sold;
(b) The value of the vehicle when sold;
(c) The value of the vehicle at time of purchase according to Rogers-Dingus' representations;
(d) There was anything mechanically wrong with the automobile when purchased;
(e) Rogers-Dingus was provided a reasonable opportunity to cure the alleged defects;
(f) A non-conformity which substantially impaired the value of the vehicle; and
(g) Revocation of acceptance.

The trial court heard the motion and found that the Gasts failed to show revocation of acceptance, and failed to present evidence of damages in the manner required by law. The trial court thus sustained the motion of Rogers-Dingus, voided the judgment in favor of the Gasts, and granted Rogers-Dingus a judgment of dismissal notwithstanding the verdict. Aggrieved, the Gasts appeal asserting:

The trial court erred in entering a judgment notwithstanding the verdict based on the alleged failure of plaintiffs to show a revocation of acceptance of the vehicle and the failure to present evidence of damages in the manner required by law.

*728 II.

On appeal from a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs (Gasts), disregard evidence on the part of defendant (Rogers-Dingus) in conflict with that favorable to plaintiffs (Gasts), and if the evidence and reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom would support a verdict for plaintiffs (Gasts), the jury verdict must be reinstated. Rester v. Morrow, 491 So.2d 204 (Miss. 1986); Black v. Peoples Bank and Trust Company, 437 So.2d 26, 28 (Miss. 1983); Gee v. Hawkins, 402 So.2d 825 (Miss. 1981); Blackwell v. Dairymen, Inc., 369 So.2d 511 (Miss. 1979); Pay Master Oil Mill Co. v. Mitchell, 319 So.2d 652, 657 (Miss. 1975).

The Gasts' complaint and theory of recovery is based on breach of the implied warranties of merchantability under Miss. Code Ann. § 75-2-314 (Supp. 1990) and fitness for a particular purpose under Miss. Code Ann. § 75-2-315 (Supp. 1990). Section 75-2-314 provides in part:

(1) A warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind....
(2) Goods to be merchantable must be at least such as
* * * * * *
(c) are fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used... .

Section 75-2-315 provides in part:

Where the seller at the time of contracting has reason to know any particular purpose for which the goods are required and that the buyer is relying on the seller's skill and judgment to select or furnish suitable goods, there is an implied warranty that the goods shall be fit for such purpose... .

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
585 So. 2d 725, 1991 WL 164836, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gast-v-rogers-dingus-chevrolet-miss-1991.