Grand View Windows, Inc. v. Brandt

2013 WI App 95, 837 N.W.2d 611, 349 Wis. 2d 759
CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedJuly 30, 2013
DocketNos. 2012AP8 and 2012AP746
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 2013 WI App 95 (Grand View Windows, Inc. v. Brandt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Grand View Windows, Inc. v. Brandt, 2013 WI App 95, 837 N.W.2d 611, 349 Wis. 2d 759 (Wis. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

KESSLER, J.

¶ 1. This is a consolidated appeal involving three parties and multiple claims and cross-claims. The issues on appeal all stem from a dispute over a home improvement contract between Christina Brandt f/k/a Christina Lepianka ("Brandt") and Grand View Windows, Inc. ("Grand View"). We affirm in part and reverse in part.

BACKGROUND

¶ 2. On August 26, 2004, Brandt and Grand View entered into two home improvement contracts — one for the installation of new siding and one for the installation of new windows. The siding contract is the source of this dispute. Work under the siding contract was to begin within "2-4 weeks" of signing. Grand View did not begin the project until October 7, 2004, when Grand View removed the siding from the east and west ends of Brandt's home. However, Grand View did not return to Brandt's home until approximately a week and a half later. During that week, the sides of Brandt's home were left exposed. Grand View completed the siding work on October 30, 2004.

¶ 3. On November 11, 2004, Grand View filed suit against Brandt, alleging that Brandt had refused to make a final payment in the amount of $9100 for the completed siding work. Brandt counterclaimed, alleging that Grand View had breached the contract by not completing the siding work. Brandt also alleged that Grand View violated twelve provisions of Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 110, the Home Improvement Practices Act.

[766]*766¶ 4. Grand View's commercial liability insurer, American Family, moved to intervene. The trial court granted the motion. American Family moved for summary judgment against Grand View, arguing that it had no liability for the " 'claims and causes' alleged by" Brandt. The trial court denied the motion. Brandt filed a third-party complaint against American Family based on American Family's commercial liability insurance policy with Grand View.

¶ 5. Eventually, American Family renewed its motion for summary judgment, following the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision in Stuart v. Weisflog's Showroom Gallery, Inc., 2008 WI 86, 311 Wis. 2d 492, 753 N.W.2d 448 ("Stuart II"). American Family argued that it was not liable for Brandt's ATCP violation claims against Grand View because Grand View's actions were not "occurrences" under the insurance policy. Relying on Stuart II, the trial court agreed with American Family and concluded that the American Family policy did not cover the ATCP violations alleged against Grand View.

¶ 6. Ultimately, Grand View's breach of contract claim against Brandt was dismissed.1 A trial on Brandt's counterclaims took place from June 27, 2011 to June 29, 2011. At the close of evidence, the trial court [767]*767dismissed all of Brandt's claims except for her claim of breach of contract and her claims under Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 110.02(11), which prohibits misrepresentations in order to induce contract entry or payment, and §ATCP 110.02(7)(c), which requires home improvement contractors to give customers timely notice if a delay in performance is to occur.

¶ 7. The special verdict form addressed several questions of damages. As to the breach of contract claim, the jury found that Grand View breached the contract, and answered the damages question as follows:

(2) What sum of money, if any, will fairly compensate Ms. Brandt for any damages that were a natural and probable consequence of Grand Views [sic] breach of the Home Improvement Contract?
Damages sustained prior to October 31, 2004? [Answer:] $1900[.]
Damages sustained after October 31, 2004? [Answer:] $0[.]
TOTAL: $1900[.]

¶ 8. The jury found that Grand View did not violate Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 110.02(11) (misrepresentations to induce contract or payment), but did find that Grand View failed to provide a timely notice of an impending delay in the contract performance, thereby violating Wis. Admin. Code §ATCP 110.02(7)(c). The jury found that Brandt's damages "due to Grand Views [sic] violations of ATCP Chapter 110" were $250.

¶ 9. Following the trial, the trial court issued an "Order For Judgment," which, as relevant to this appeal, stated the following:

[768]*768Grand View Windows, Inc. breached its contract with Christina Brandt.
Judgment on the Verdict in the amount of $1,900 for damages sustained by Christina Brandt prior to October 31, 2004 for Grand View Window[s], Inc.'s breach of contract, together with all allowable costs and interest under [Wis. Stat. §] 814.04, shall be awarded to Christina Brandt and against Grand View Windows, Inc. for breach of contract.
No damages were sustained due to Grand View Window[s], Inc.'s breach of contract after October 31, 2004.
Judgment on the Verdict in the amount of $180.00 for Christina Brandt and against Grand View Windows, Inc. and American Family Insurance Company in order to reasonably compensate Ms. Brandt for damage to her picnic table and railings, together with all allowable costs and interest under [Wis. Stat. §] 814.04.
Grand View Windows, Inc. did not make false, deceptive or misleading representations in order to delay performance of the contract with Christina Brandt in violation of ATCP 110.02(11).
Grand View Windows, Inc. failed to give Christina Brandt timely notice of an impending delay in its contract performance in violation of ATCP 111.02(7)(c).
An amount of $250, including $1,900, for a total of $2,150, will fairly compensate Christina Brandt for the losses she suffered due to Grand View Windows, Inc.'s violations of ATCP Chapter 110.
Judgment on the verdict in the amount of $4,300 for Christina Brandt and against Grand View Windows Inc., pursuant to § 100.20, Stats., for Grand View Windows, Inc.'s violation of ATCP 110, together with her actual attorneys fees and litigation costs, to be determined by the Court.
[769]*769That pursuant to § 100.20, Stats., Christina Brandt is a prevailing party.
That the Court shall determine separately the actual attorneys fees and litigation costs to be awarded to Christina Brandt as the prevailing party[.]

(Some formatting altered.)

¶ 10. The trial court addressed multiple motions after the verdict challenging many aspects of the trial court's order for judgment. We discuss only those relevant to this appeal. Grand View argued that there was insufficient evidence for the jury's $250 pecuniary loss award to Brandt for Grand View's Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 110 violation. American Family argued that it was entitled to statutory costs against Brandt pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§814.02(2), 814.035(2) and 814.036 (2011-12),2 on the grounds that it was a "successful party" in the litigation. Brandt filed a motion for attorney's fees in the amount of $227,603.71, based on the $250 pecuniary loss award for Grand View's ATCP violation.

[770]*770¶ 11. The trial court issued a written order on the motions after the verdict and a separate written order on attorney's fees. In its order on the motions after the verdict, the trial court found:

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Bluebook (online)
2013 WI App 95, 837 N.W.2d 611, 349 Wis. 2d 759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/grand-view-windows-inc-v-brandt-wisctapp-2013.