Lewis v. Lawless Homes, Inc.

984 S.W.2d 583, 1999 Mo. App. LEXIS 116
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 2, 1999
DocketNos. 73741, 73805
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 984 S.W.2d 583 (Lewis v. Lawless Homes, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lewis v. Lawless Homes, Inc., 984 S.W.2d 583, 1999 Mo. App. LEXIS 116 (Mo. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

KATHIANNE KNAUP CRANE, Judge.

Plaintiff Jeff Lewis filed a negligence action against defendants, Lawless Homes, Inc., and Dave Pilla, to recover damages he incurred when his backhoe was damaged [585]*585while in their care. The trial court awarded plaintiff $8,174.49. Both parties appeal. Defendants contend that the trial court erred in finding that defendants failed to exercise ordinary care when the backhoe was in defendants’ possession and in awarding damages based on the cost of repair. Plaintiff contends the trial court erred in failing to award lost profits in the amount of $2,355.00. We affirm the finding of liability, affirm the award of damages for cost of rental and towing in the amount of $945.00, and affirm the denial of damages for lost profits. We reverse that part of the damage award based on cost of repair and remand for a new trial on the amount of damages for the injury to the backhoe.

We view the facts in the light most favorable to the judgment. On January 6, 1997 plaintiff, a sub-subcontractor of Kastner Plumbing, was working at defendant Lawless Homes, Inc.’s Hunter’s Green subdivision removing loose rock from the ditches with his backhoe. The backhoe, which had been purchased in March, 1996, when it was ten years old, was in good working condition when he left it on the site that evening. The next morning defendant Lawless Homes’ site superintendent telephoned Tom Kastner, an employee of Kastner Plumbing, and asked if Lawless Homes could use plaintiffs backhoe until plaintiff arrived at the site. Kastner relayed the request to plaintiff who agreed, as long as defendant did not dig with it. Defendant’s employee and co-defendant, Dave Pilla, moved the backhoe to a hole containing some loose rock. Pilla testified that when he attempted to pick up the rock he discovered the backhoe was not operating properly and he could not extend the arm.

When plaintiff arrived a short time later, he saw that the boom was broken off. Plaintiff called Tom Kastner. They inspected the backhoe and saw a clean break on the boom. They both testified that it would take a great deal of stress beyond ordinary use to cause the break. The site superintendent telephoned Lawless Homes’ construction manager, Rob Lawless, and told plaintiff and Kast-ner that Rob Lawless said to fix it and to see if plaintiff could get a rental tractor to finish the job. The backhoe was transported that evening to Washington Tractor to be repaired.

Cliff Pund, an employee of Washington Tractor, testified that he inspected the backhoe the next morning. The extended part of the boom was broken off and the extender and cylinder were bent. He testified that the break was a “fresh, shiny break clean through”, that there was no rust at the break site, and that normal use would not cause such a break. To repair the backhoe, he had to replace the damaged parts. The cost of repair was $7,217.00. In addition, plaintiff paid $200.00 for towing and $745.00 for six days rental of another backhoe to finish the Lawless Homes job.

Plaintiff filed a three count petition to recover damages for negligent damage to personal property against defendant Lawless Homes, Inc. in respondeat superior (Count I), against defendant Dave Pilla (Count II), and both defendants jointly (Count III). The cause was tried to the court. Neither party requested findings of fact or conclusions of law and none were made. The trial court entered judgment in plaintiffs favor on Count III against defendants jointly and severally and awarded damages of $8,174.49 representing the cost of repairs, towing and rental. Both parties appeal.

DISCUSSION

As a preliminary matter, we must address our jurisdiction of this appeal. The trial court did not dismiss or otherwise dispose of Counts I and II, the separate negligence counts against Lawless Homes, Inc., individually, and Dave Pilla, individually, which it should have done. See Straatman v. Straatman, 780 S.W.2d 709, 711 (Mo.App.1989). However, the parties agree that the entry of judgment on Count III against both parties jointly and severally precludes any further relief against either party under Counts I and II which sought the same relief against each party separately. The judgment on Count III implicitly disposes of Counts I and II and allows us to consider this appeal. See Strubberg v. Roethemeyer, 941 S.W.2d 557, 560 (Mo.App.1997); Podlesak v. Wesley, 849 S.W.2d 728, 730 (Mo.App.1993).

[586]*586On appeal of a court-tried case, we will sustain the judgment of the trial court unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, unless it is against the weight of the evidence, unless it erroneously declares the law, or unless it erroneously applies the law. Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32 (Mo. banc 1976); Rule 73.01(c). Where the trial court enters no findings of fact or conclusions of law, we assume that the trial court resolved all issues of fact in accordance with the result reached. Rule 73.01(a)(3).

A. Defendants’Appeal

1. Liability

For their first point, defendants contend that no substantial evidence supported the award of damages because defendants had exercised reasonable care while the backhoe was in their possession. We disagree.

Plaintiff proceeded on a theory of negligent bailment. A legal bailment is defined as “a contract resulting from the delivery of a thing by the bailor to the bailee on condition that it be restored to the bailor in accordance with his directions as soon as the purpose for which it was bailed is satisfied.” Temple v. McCaughen & Burr, Inc., 839 S.W.2d 322, 326 (Mo.App.1992). The bailee has the duty to exercise ordinary care with respect to the bailed article. Id. The bailee’s exercise of ordinary care is an issue of fact rather than of law. Id. “[T]he burden of going forward with the evidence is on the bailee, while the burden of proof remains with the bailor.” Id. Upon proof of loss, plaintiffs allegation that the backhoe was damaged because defendants failed to use reasonable care raised an inference of negligence under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, thereby shifting the burden to defendants to go forward with evidence of due care. Kinder v. Fantasy Coachworks, Ltd., 762 S.W.2d 533, 534 (Mo.App.1988).

Because a loss was shown, plaintiff made prima facie showing of negligence under res ipsa loquitur which is sufficient to support a verdict in his favor. Id. The trial court could reject defendants’ testimony that Pilla used due care and find for plaintiff on the inference of negligence arising from the facts shown. Id. Point one is denied.

2. Damages

In their second point, defendants contend that the trial court erroneously declared and applied the law in calculating damages according to the cost of repair.

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984 S.W.2d 583, 1999 Mo. App. LEXIS 116, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lewis-v-lawless-homes-inc-moctapp-1999.