Harriman v. United Dominion Industries, Inc.

2005 SD 18, 693 N.W.2d 44, 22 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 557, 2005 S.D. LEXIS 18

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: February 2, 2005
• Docket: None
• Status: Published

Opinions

GILBERTSON, Chief Justice.

[¶ 1.] John Carl Harriman entered into an oral agreement to sell service bodies for Feterl Manufacturing. The duration of the contract was never discussed by the parties. United Dominion Industries, Inc. (UDI) purchased Feterl Manufacturing and sought to reduce Harriman’s commission structure. Dissatisfied with UDI’s final commission proposal, Harriman resigned and brought suit alleging a joint venture between the parties, the wrongful termination of a permanent employment contract, fraud and deceit. At a jury trial on the matter, Harriman prevailed on his claim of wrongful termination of a permanent employment contract and was awarded past and future damages. The verdict was reversed on UDI’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The trial court held the agreement between Harriman and Feterl Manufacturing was within the statute of frauds, and Harri-man’s claim failed for lack of a writing containing essential terms and signed by Feterl Manufacturing. Affirmed.

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

[¶ 2.] In 1988, John Carl Harriman (Harriman) began negotiating with United Dominion Industries, Inc.’s (UDI) predecessor, Feterl Manufacturing Company (Feterl Manufacturing), to produce and sell a line of service bodies.¹ Harriman proposed Feterl Manufacturing would manufacture the service bodies based on detailed line drawings, plans and photos of two models provided by Harriman. Harri-man would be responsible for product development and all sales, and would be compensated on a commission basis. After several meetings, Feterl Manufacturing and Harriman entered into an oral agreement on August 10, 1988 and at that time Harriman filled out- an employment application.

[¶ 3.] The terms of the agreement between Harriman and Feterl. Manufacturing were never fully developed or reduced to writing. The oral agreement called for Harriman to be paid commissions on the difference between the price each unit was sold for and the net sales price.² Harri-man began work on August 22, 1988. From August 22, 1988, until 1997, Harri-man was the sales representative for service bodies. He also contributed ideas and expertise in designing several new service body models. He also participated in Feterl Manufacturing’s health, dental and retirement plans, and was listed as an employee for Internal Revenue Service purposes.

[¶ 4.] The duration of the employment agreement was never discussed by the parties. Several documents in Feterl Manufacturing’s possession, including W-2 statements and accounting department records, detailed some of the terms of the agreement including how the commission rate was structured. However, none of the documents contained any reference to the duration of the employment agreement.

[¶ 5.] In July of 1997 a series of corporate changes began in which Feterl Manufacturing was sold first to UDI, then a merger between UDI and SPX was executed, and finally the company was acquired by Feterl Acquisition Corporation n/k/a Feterl Manufacturing Corporation. At each successive sale, Harriman’s commission structure was altered. The final alteration of the commission structure occurred in December 1999, and resulted in Harriman resigning from Feterl Manufacturing in February 2000.

[¶ 6.] On February 18, 2000, Harriman filed suit against UDI.³ In his complaint, Harriman alleged a joint venture between the parties, the wrongful termination of a permanent employment contract, fraud and deceit. In its answer UDI contended Harriman was an employee-at-will subject to discharge at any time, and that Harri-man’s claim was barred by the statute of frauds.

[¶ 7.] On May 21, 2001, UDI moved for summary judgment based on Harriman’s status as an employee-at-will who was terminable at any time, and that the statute of frauds barred recovery. UDI’s motion was denied by the trial court. It its opinion letter, the court noted that the denial was necessary as factual disputes relating to whether or not the employment agreement fell under the statute of frauds needed to be fully developed and determined at trial.

[¶8.] Harriman moved for summary judgment on the issues of (1) whether there was an initial contract between Fet-erl Manufacturing and Harriman separate and apart from any employer/employee relationship and (2) fraud and breach of contract. The trial court, the Honorable Boyd L. McMurchie presiding, granted the motion for summary judgment on the issue of the separate contract. Judge McMurchie denied the motion as to the claim of fraud and breach of contract.

[¶ 9.] Trial on the matter commenced August 18, 2003, before the Honorable David R. Gienapp. The trial court instructed the jury that Harriman had to prove that the contract entered into by the parties was either an agreement to enter into a permanent employment contract, or an agreement to enter into a joint venture. To prove a joint venture, the trial court instructed the jury that Harriman had to establish all six of the following:

The Plaintiff has the burden of proving each of the elements of a joint venture which are:

1) an intent to enter into a joint venture,

2) an agreement, express or implied, among members of a group,

3) a common purpose to be carried out by the group,

4) a joint pecuniary interest in that purpose,

5) an equal right to a voice in the direction and control of the group, and

6) a right to share in the profit and a duty to share in the losses.

If the Plaintiff fails to prove one or more of these elements, your verdict must be for the Defendants on the joint venture claim.

On the issue of a joint venture, the jury found five of the six elements were present, but not the fifth element of “an equal right to a voice in the direction and control of the group.” Therefore the jury found no joint venture existed. The jury returned a verdict for Harriman against UDI on the issue of breach of a permanent employment contract, and awarded past damages of $586,359.43 and future damages of $121,240. UDI moved for directed verdict, which was denied.

[¶ 10.] UDI filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (j.n.o.v.) contending the contract claim was barred by the statute of frauds. In its memorandum opinion, the trial court noted the issue was raised by UDI’s pre-trial motion for summary judgment, but genuine issues of material fact were in dispute prior to trial that required denying UDI’s motion at that time. The trial court noted that there was no dispute between the parties that the original agreement between Harriman and Feterl Manufacturing was to enter into an oral contract. The trial court determined there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to support the jury’s verdict that the contract was for lifetime or permanent employment. Instead, the evidence indicated the contract was tied to other contingencies that extended the period of the contract beyond one year. The trial court concluded that the contract fell within the statute of frauds. Due to the absence of a writing signed by UDI or its predecessors denoting the duration of the contract, Harriman’s claim was barred by the statute of frauds. UDI’s motion for j.rno.v. was granted.

[¶ 11.] Harriman appealed two issues:

1. Whether the trial court erred when it granted UDI’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict on UDI’s assertion that the statute of frauds, SDCL 53-8-2(1), bars Harri-man’s contract claim.

2. Whether the trial court erred when it instructed the jury that all six elements of a joint venture must exist in order for Harriman to prevail on that issue.

By notice of review, UDI appealed the following:

3. Whether UDI was the employer of Harriman;

4. Whether Harriman was an employee-at-will;

5. Whether Harriman is estopped from claiming he was an employee; and

6. Whether Harriman proved all of the elements of a contract.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

[¶ 12.] This Court’s standard of review on motion for judgment notwithstanding tbe verdict (j.n.o.v.) is well settled. Bridge v. Karl’s Inc., 538 N.W.2d 521, 523 (S.D.1995) (citation omitted). “We review the testimony and evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict or the nonmoving party, ‘then without weighing the evidence [we] must decide if there is evidence which would have supported or did support a verdict[.]’ ” Gilkyson v. Wheelchair Exp., Inc., 1998 SD 45, ¶ 7, 579 N.W.2d 1, 3 (citing Bland v. Davison County, 1997 SD 92, ¶ 26, 566 N.W.2d 452, 460 (quoting Sabag v. Continental, 374 N.W.2d 349, 355 (S.D.1985))). We review the trial court’s ruling on j.n.o.v. by the abuse of discretion standard. Id. (citation omitted). “The trial court’s decisions and rulings on such motions are presumed correct and this Court will not seek reasons to reverse.” Veeder v. Kennedy, 1999 SD 23, ¶ 25, 589 N.W.2d 610, 617 (quoting Border States Paving, Inc., v. S.D. Dep’t of Transp., 1998 SD 21, ¶ 10, 574 N.W.2d 898, 901) (citations omitted).

[¶ 13.] “We review jury instructions as a whole, and error is not reversible unless prejudicial.” Burhenn v. Dennis Supply Co., 2004 SD 91, ¶ 11, 685 N.W.2d 778, 782 (citing Buxcel v. First Fidelity Bank, 1999 SD 126, ¶ 13, 601 N.W.2d 593, 596). The party contending error has the burden of demonstrating the instruction given was in error and that the error was prejudicial. Knudson v. Hess, 1996 SD 137, ¶ 6, 556 N.W.2d 73, 75 (citing Sybesma v. Sybesma, 534 N.W.2d 355, 359 (S.D.1995)) (citation omitted). “Prejudicial error is that which in all probability must have produced some effect upon the jury’s verdict and is harmful to the substantial rights of the party assigning it.” Kjerstad v. Ravellette Publications, Inc., 517 N.W.2d 419, 426 (S.D.1994) (citing State v. Michalek, 407 N.W.2d 815, 818 (S.D.1987)).

ANALYSIS AND DECISION

[¶ 14.] 1. Whether the trial court erred when it granted UDI’s motion for j.n.o.v. on UDI’s assertion that the statute of frauds, SDCL 53-8-2(1), bars Harriman’s contract claim of permanent employment.

[¶ 15.] The statute of frauds is codified at SDCL 53-8-2. It provides in relevant part:

The following contracts are not enforceable by action unless the contract or some memorandum thereof is in writing and subscribed by the party to be charged or his agent, as authorized in writing:

(1) An agreement that by its terms is not to be performed within a year from the making thereof[.]⁴

SDCL 53-8-2(1). The role of the statute of frauds is evidentiary in nature, and serves to remove uncertainty by requiring “written evidence of an enforceable obligation.” ⁵ Jacobson v. Gulbransen, 2001 , 623 N.W.2d 84, 90 (quoting Sabhari v. Sapari, 1998 SD 35, 576 N.W.2d 886, 893, n. 9). SDCL 58-8-2(1) does not “prohibit the making of a contract that by its terms is not to be performed within one year, but merely makes such contract invalid unless reduced to writing.” Tróvese v. O’Meara, 493 N.W.2d 221, 222 (S.D.1992) (quoting Brown v. Wisconsin Granite Co., 47 S.D. 635, 639, 201 N.W. 555, 556 (1924)).

[¶ 16.] Harriman contended that the contract entered into by the parties was for permanent employment. Harri-man testified that he believed he had a job at Feterl Manufacturing up until he elected to retire or the service body line was no longer profitable. In his deposition, Har-riman suggested his retirement would occur at age sixty-five. At trial he testified that he might have elected to continue to work until age seventy-five. Harriman gave his year of birth at his deposition as 1940, suggesting a contract of either seventeen or twenty-seven years in duration.

[¶ 17.] Leon Feterl, the owner of Fet-erl Manufacturing in 1988, testified at trial that the agreement between Feterl Manufacturing and Harriman was not permanent in nature, and that either party could have elected to terminate the relationship at any time. Feterl testified that the arrangement would have continued as long as it was profitable for Feterl Manufacturing and as long as Harriman liked the arrangement.

[¶ 18.] Harriman argued that these statements can be interpreted to mean that a contract for permanent or lifetime employment was intended by the parties. Harriman argued that because it was possible for Harriman to have died prior to the end of the first year of the contract, it was possible for the contract to be completed within one year of its making. Therefore, the contract would not fall within the statute of frauds.

[¶ 19.] There is no question that the parties entered into an oral contract. However, no duration or term was ever discussed at the initial meetings between Harriman and representatives of Feterl Manufacturing. Harriman was able to introduce several writings at trial that conclusively showed the commission structure, but no writings were introduced that showed the duration of the employment contract.

[¶ 20.] Even when viewed in the light most favorable to Harriman as the non-moving party, it is clear from the record that the parties did not intend a permanent or lifetime contract. Rather, the parties intended a contract of some unspecified term of years tied to contingencies other than Harriman’s lifetime. Because the contract was intended to be more than one year in duration, that is until Feterl Manufacturing or Harriman no longer liked the arrangement, or Harriman elected to retire, it falls within the statute of frauds. Lacking a writing signed by UDI or Feterl Manufacturing that contained the duration term, Harriman’s claim is barred by the statute of frauds.

[¶ 21.] 2. Whether the trial court erred when it instructed the jury that all six elements of a joint venture must exist in order for Harriman to prevail on that issue.

[¶ 22.] We recently set forth six elements necessary to establish a joint venture. A.P. & Sons Constr. v. Johnson, 2003 SD 13, ¶ 13, 657 N.W.2d 292, 295. These six elements include:

(1) an intent to enter into a joint venture;

(2) an agreement, express or implied, among members of the group; and

(3) a common purpose to be carried out by the group;

(4) a joint pecuniary interest in that purpose;

(5) an equal right to a voice in the direction and control of the group; and

(6) a right to share in the profits and a duty to share in any losses.

A.P. & Sons Constr., 2003 SD 13, ¶ 13, 657 N.W.2d at 295 (citing Stallings v. Owens, 2002 SD 63, ¶ 11, 646 N.W.2d 272, 278) (quoting Weins v. Sporleder, 1997 SD 111, ¶ 44, 569 N.W.2d 16, 28). All six elements must be met in order to establish the existence of a joint venture. Id. (citing Ethan Dairy Products v. Austin, 448 N.W.2d 226, 228 (S.D.1989)).

[¶ 23.] Harriman contends the trial court erred when it instructed the jury that all six elements had to exist in order to establish a joint venture. Harriman cites Stallings, 2002 SD 63, ¶ 11, 646 N.W.2d at 277 for the proposition that the trial court should have instructed that “most, if not all” of the elements had to be estabhshed. The language in Stallings does imply that all six elements need not be estabhshed. However, our holding in AP. & Sons Constr. makes it clear that all six elements must be satisfied in order to establish a joint venture. 2003 SD 13, ¶ 13, 657 N.W.2d at 295 (citing Ethan Dairy Products v. Austin, 448 N.W.2d 226, 228 (S.D.1989) (citing 48A CJS Joint Ventures § 10 (1981) (stating “usually all of these elements must be present for a joint venture to exist; but no one of the elements essential to the creation of a joint venture is alone sufficient to establish such.”))).

[¶ 24.] The trial court instructed the jury correctly on the six required elements of a joint venture, specifying that all six elements must exist. The trial court did not err, as it correctly stated the law for the jury. Absent error in the trial court’s instructions to the jury there can be no prejudicial error to Harriman.

[¶ 25.] It is not necessary to reach the issues appealed by UDI given our holdings in Issue 1 and Issue 2. Affirmed.

[¶ 26.] KONENKAMPand MEIERHENRY, Justices, concur. [¶ 27.] ZINTER, Justice, concurs with a writing. [¶ 28.] SABERS, Justice, dissents.

1 . A service body is intended to be mounted onto a truck chassis, and generally includes some or all of the following components: a crane, compressor and a tool compartment.

2 . The net sales price was computed at actual cost of materials plus ten percent, plus inbound freight, actual cost of direct labor, plus overhead, plus thirty-five percent office overhead and profit. In addition, Harriman was to receive fifty percent of the chassis mark up and fifty percent of the profit on parts.

3 . Harriman’s final amended complaint was filed against UDI, Inc., United Dominion Industries, Limited, United Dominion Holdings, Inc., Feterl Mfg. Co., Core Industries, Inc., SPX, and Feterl Acquisition Corp., n/k/a Fet-erl Manufacturing Corp. The defendants were related through a complex corporate structure, and in the event a verdict was returned in favor of Harriman the jury was called upon to determine which of the corporate entities were liable for damages.

4 . SDCL 53-8-2 also precludes enforcement of other types of agreements absent a writing, including an agreement in contemplation of marriage, an agreement for the sale of real estate or an interest in real estate longer than one year in duration, and certain types of agreements for the loan of money or for an extension of credit.

5 . The underlying rationale for the statute of frauds may be found in the purposes for which the "Act for Prevention of Frauds and Perjuries” was adopted by the English Parliament in the late 1600s. Kiely v. St. Germain, 670 P.2d 764, 768 (Co. 1983) (citing An Act for Prevention of Fraud and Perjuries, 29 Car. 2, c. 3 (1677)). The statute was enacted to combat the perpetration of fraud via perjury. Id. Widespread perjury became a significant problem when English common law was changed to no longer preclude the enforcement of oral contracts. C.R. Klewin, Inc. v. Flagship Properties, Inc., 220 Conn. 569, 600 A.2d 772, 775 (1991) (citations omitted). At that time, English law allowed juries to decide a case based on their own personal knowledge rather than on the evidence introduced at trial. Id. The statute of frauds placed a limitation on this discretion by requiring a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement was sought. Id.

At least three justifications are advanced for the continued use of the statute of frauds in modern times (1) as an evidentiary function to combat perjury, (2) for its cautionary effect of impressing upon the parties the significance of their agreement, and (3) as a channeling device that distinguishes enforceable contracts from unenforceable contracts. Wior v. Anchor Industries, Inc., 669 N.E.2d 172, 174 (Ind.1996) (citation omitted).