Guideone Insurance Co. v. U.S. Water Systems, Inc.

950 N.E.2d 1236, 2011 Ind. App. LEXIS 1005, 2011 WL 2276777
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 8, 2011
Docket49A05-1009-CT-569
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 950 N.E.2d 1236 (Guideone Insurance Co. v. U.S. Water Systems, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Guideone Insurance Co. v. U.S. Water Systems, Inc., 950 N.E.2d 1236, 2011 Ind. App. LEXIS 1005, 2011 WL 2276777 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinions

OPINION

BRADFORD, Judge.

Appellant/Cross-Appellee/Plaintiff Gui-deone Insurance Company appeals the trial court’s order granting partial summary judgment in favor of Appellee/Cross-Ap-pellant/Defendant Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. Guideone also appeals the trial court’s order dismissing Guideone’s claims against Appellee/Defendant U.S. Water Systems Inc. On cross-appeal, Lowe’s contends that the trial court abused its discretion in making certain evidentiary rulings. Lowe’s also contends that the trial court erred in granting partial summary judgment in favor of Guideone. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 8, 2006, homeowners Michael Schafstall and Andrew Alexander went to a Lowe’s store to purchase a reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system [1240]*1240(“water system”). At some point prior to completing the purchase, Schafstall and Alexander obtained a half-sheet flyer that read as follows:

All installation services are guaranteed by Lowe’s warranty.
Customer will receive any warranty provided by a manufacturer of the goods installed. Lowe’s warrants that the installation services will be performed by an independent subcontracted installer in a good and workmanlike manner. Lowe’s warranty for installation services shall extend for a period of one year from the date the certificate of completion is signed by customer or for such greater period as may be required by applicable law.
See Installed Sales Contract or Presentations Folders for details.

Appellant’s App. p. 68.

In completing the purchase of the water system, Schafstall signed an Indiana Itemized Installed Sales Contract (“Sales Contract”), as well as an Addendum to Installed Sales Contract (“Addendum”). The Addendum set forth the detailed warranty terms, and provided, in relevant part, as follows:

Lowe’s does warrant that the Installation services will be performed by the Installer in a good and “workmanlike manner.” Lowe’s warranty for Installation Services shall extend for a period of one year from the date the Certification of Completion is signed by Customer.... Customer agrees that its sole and exclusive remedy against Lowe’s for a warranty claim is reinstallation in a good and workmanlike manner, including the repair and replacement of any Goods if and to the extent reasonably necessary to correct the defective Installation Services. Customer shall have no warranty claim or remedy against Lowe’s for loss or damage caused by normal wear or tear, loss or damage which had not been reasonably mitigated, loss or damage caused by acts of God, incidental or consequential damages for lost profits, sales, injuries to persons or property, or any other incidental or consequential damages.

Appellee Lowe’s App. p. 15 (emphasis added).

Lowe’s contracted with U.S. Water to install the water system in Schafstall and Alexander’s home. The water system was installed on May 17, 2006. Approximately twelve hours later, Schafstall and Alexander awoke to the sound of running water. Schafstall and Alexander found that the water supply line was disengaged from the water system, and that water was “flowing out” onto the kitchen floor. Appellant’s App. p. 34.

The next day, U.S. Water employee Gregg Adams came to Schafstall and Alexander’s home. Adams opined that the water system was installed correctly and that the “leak” was caused by a “fitting failure.” Appellant’s App. p. 35. The leak resulted in approximately $115,000 in water damage to Schafstall and Alexander’s home. Guideone compensated Schafstall and Alexander for the damage pursuant to the terms of their homeowner’s insurance contract, and on November 9, 2006, Gui-deone filed suit against Lowe’s and U.S. Water seeking to recoup the $115,000 paid to Schafstall and Alexander.

Louis Inendino, a registered professional engineer employed by Rimkus Consulting Group, hooked the water system up to the water line in his office in Indianapolis for a period of one week beginning on June 15, 2010. On July 20, Guideone filed its Second Motion for Summary Judgment relating to the issue of liability, arguing that Lowe’s should be held liable as a matter of law because it had breached its [1241]*1241warranty that the water system would be installed in a good and workmanlike manner. On July 30, 2010, Lowe’s filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment relating to the scope of its potential liability, arguing that consequential damages were not available under the specific terms of the warranty, and as a result, its potential liability should be limited to the replacement cost of the water system. On August 16, 2010, U.S. Water filed a Motion to Dismiss, arguing that the economic loss doctrine precluded Guideone from recovering from U.S. Water.

On August 28, 2010, Lowe’s moved to strike Indendino’s affidavit, which Gui-deone had designated as evidence in support of its motion for summary judgment. On August 27, 2010, Guideone moved to strike the affidavit of U.S. Water President Mark Timmons, which Lowe’s had designated as evidence in support of its motion for partial summary judgment. The trial court conducted a hearing on all pending motions on August 30, 2010.

On September 2, 2010, the trial court issued an order in which it (1) granted Guideone’s motion for summary judgment relating to the issue of liability; (2) granted Lowe’s motion for partial summary judgment relating to the scope of its liability; (3) granted in part and denied in part U.S. Water’s motion to dismiss; (4) denied Lowe’s motion to strike Indendino’s affidavit; and (5) granted Guideone’s motion to strike Timmons’s affidavit. The trial court determined that U.S. Water was liable to Guideone in the amount $.01 and dismissed U.S. Water from the case. The trial court also determined that because the scope of Lowe’s liability was limited to the value of the water system and its installation, Lowe’s was liable to Guideone in the amount of $320 for the value of the water system and $.01 for the installation. This appeal follows.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION I. Guideone’s Claims on Direct Appeal

A. Whether Schafstall had the Authority to Bind Alexander to the Warranty Contract

Guideone maintains that the trial court erred in granting Lowe’s motion for partial summary judgment and U.S. Water’s motion to dismiss because one of its underlying co-insureds, Alexander, was not bound by the contract between Lowe’s and Schaf-stall. Specifically, Guideone claims that Alexander was not bound by the warranty contract because he was not a party to the contract that was signed by Lowe’s and Schafstall. Lowe’s and U.S. Water, on the other hand, maintain that Alexander was bound by the warranty contract because in purchasing the water system, Schafstall acted as Alexander’s agent, or at the very least, Alexander ratified the purchase.

1. Actual or Apparent Authority

In general, a principal will be bound by a contract entered into by the principal’s agent on his behalf only if the agent had authority to bind him. Gallant Ins. Co. v. Isaac, 751 N.E.2d 672, 675 (Ind.2001). The agent’s authority to enter into a contract on his principal’s behalf will typically be either actual or apparent.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
950 N.E.2d 1236, 2011 Ind. App. LEXIS 1005, 2011 WL 2276777, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/guideone-insurance-co-v-us-water-systems-inc-indctapp-2011.