Madison Silos, Division of Martin Marietta Corp. v. Wassom

215 N.W.2d 494, 14 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 52, 1974 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 1248
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedFebruary 20, 1974
Docket56021
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 215 N.W.2d 494 (Madison Silos, Division of Martin Marietta Corp. v. Wassom) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Madison Silos, Division of Martin Marietta Corp. v. Wassom, 215 N.W.2d 494, 14 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 52, 1974 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 1248 (iowa 1974).

Opinion

RAWLINGS, Justice.

Action by plaintiff, Madison Silos, Division of Martin Marietta Corporation (Madison) for balance claimed due on contract. Cross-petition by defendant, Merritt Wassom JWassom) for damages resulting from fall of plaintiff built silo. Plaintiff appeals from judgment on jury verdict for defendant cross-petitioner. We affirm.

March 21, 1969, the parties hereto entered into a contract for construction of a Nutri-Matic (sealed stave) silo by Madison on Wassom’s Sac County farm. It was built that summer.

July 14, 1970, a severe windstorm swept through Sac County causing the silo to fall. It was thereby demolished and other structures and personalty on Wassom’s farm attendantly damaged.

December 1, 1970, Madison commenced an action against Wassom for balance claimed due on the silo purchase price.

March 5, 1971, Wassom answered and cross-petitioned for $9999 damages based on breach of implied warranty for a particular purpose; breach of implied warranty of merchantability; and negligent construction.

March 18, 1971, Madison filed reply and answer to the above cross-petition.

April 26, 1971, Madison submitted an interrogatory asking that Wassom detail damages claimed as the result of the silo fall.

July 23, 1971, Wassom filed an itemized answer disclosing $96,985 total damages claimed.

June 6, 1972, trial commenced. Immediately after the jury had been empaneled Wassom submitted an amendment to his cross-petition thereby increasing damages sought from $9999 to $96,985.

Madison orally contended the amendment (1) was not timely; (2) sought consequential and incidental damages not previously pled; and (3) if allowed would be prejudicial to plaintiff.

At the same time Madison requested a continuance based on unavailability of a structural engineer witness essential to Madison’s cause in the event Wassom should be allowed to so amend.

In opposing Madison’s continuance motion Wassom asserted his interrogatory answer clearly advised Madison regarding actual damages sought; at considerable expense to Wassom he had arranged for trial presence of two engineer witnesses; Madison’s attorney had previously asked Was-som’s counsel about a continuance due to unavailability of a witness to which said counsel agreed providing another case be advanced for trial but apparently this was *497 not done. Wassom’s attorney further stated, “If counsel wants to make a motion in proper form setting forth what his witness would say if he were called depending upon the form of the motion I probably would confess the motion as to what the witness would say.”

Trial court permitted Wassom’s amendment and denied Madison’s motion for continuance.

At close of all evidence Madison unsuccessfully moved to strike from jury consideration the warranty of fitness issue and all evidence regarding incidental or consequential damages sought.

The jury awarded $73,485.25 to cross-petitioner Wassom, later reduced to $71,985 by trial court.

In support of a reversal Madison here contends trial court erred in (1) permitting Wassom to amend his cross-petition; (2) denying Madison’s motion for a continuance; (3) submitting to jury the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose issue; (4) giving an instruction which failed to distinguish direct and consequential damages sought by Wassom; and (5) failing to grant a remittitur because the jury award was without adequate evidential support, and excessive.

I. First to be considered is Wassom’s motion to dismiss this appeal. In support thereof it is claimed Madison’s brief fails to comply with Iowa Rules Civ. Proc., Rule 344(a)(4) (First), The Code, 1971. As instantly applied that rule provided, in essence, appellant’s opening brief shall contain, in separately numbered divisions, a statement of error relied on with reference to record pages and lines showing how the error arose. But see revised Iowa Rules Civ.Proc., rule 344(a) (1-5), The Code 1973.

Briefly stated, we find no plausible basis upon which to grant the drastic relief instantly sought by cross-petitioner Wassom.

On the other hand it should be understood that only by close adherence to applicable rules of appellate procedure may counsel avoid what could be time-consuming, costly or even disastrous results.

II. As aforesaid Madison claims trial court erroneously permitted Wassom to amend his cross-petition by substantially increasing the ad damnum after selection of the jury.

Iowa Rules Civ.Proc., rule 88 has at all times concerned stated and now provides:

“Any pleading may be amended before a pleading has been filed responding to it. The court, in furtherance of justice, may allow later amendments, including those to conform to the proof and which do not substantially change the claim or defense. The court may impose terms, or grant a continuance with or without terms, as a condition of such allowance.”

Thus our prior opinions relating to the above rule are applicable.

In that respect we have repeatedly held trial courts have broad discretion as to permitting or denying amendments and unless that discretion is clearly abused this court will not interfere; allowance of amendments is the rule not the exception; but those offered after responsive pleadings have been filed should not be permitted if they materially change the issues. See e. g., Smith v. Village Enterprises, Inc., 208 N.W.2d 35, 37 (Iowa 1973); Twin Bridges Truck City, Inc. v. Halling, 205 N.W.2d 736, 739 (Iowa 1973); Stom v. City of Council Bluffs, 189 N.W.2d 522, 529-530 (Iowa 1971).

As previously indicated Madison maintains Wassom originally sought redress related only to the silo fall and his damage increasing amendment served, in effect, to inject new issues into the case because consequential or indirect damages were thereby also sought. We are not so persuaded.

By his original cross-petition Wassom alleged, inter alia, (1) Madison so negligently constructed the silo that it was de *498 fective and would not withstand ordinary-winds; and (2) Madison breached an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Although relatively nominal lump sum damages were thereupon prayed, it still remains direct and consequential or incidental damages were thereby sought. See generally 22 Am.Jur.2d, Damages, § 83; 25 C.J.S. Damages § 25; The Code 1971, §§ 554.2714, 554.2715.

Additionally, Wassom’s answer to Madison’s interrogatory, given almost one year before trial began, reveals both parties hereto were then aware of the increase in damages claimed by Wassom. Although the delay in amending his cross-petition is not approved it is evident Madison was not caught by surprise. Furthermore, Madison has shown no prejudice flowing from trial court’s allowance of Wassom’s amendment.

We find no requisite cause to reverse on this assignment.

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

Related

Ragan v. Petersen
569 N.W.2d 390 (Court of Appeals of Iowa, 1997)
Van Wyk v. Norden Laboratories, Inc.
345 N.W.2d 81 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1984)
DEPT. OF GEN. SERV. v. RM Boggs Co., Inc.
336 N.W.2d 408 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1983)
Department of General Services, State of Iowa v. R.M. Boggs Co.
336 N.W.2d 408 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1983)
Pudwill v. Brown
294 N.W.2d 790 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1980)
Michael v. Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative
292 N.W.2d 417 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1980)
Wiedenfeld v. Chicago & North Western Transportation Co.
252 N.W.2d 691 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1977)
Maier v. Illinois Central Railroad Company
234 N.W.2d 388 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1975)
Atlantic Veneer Corporation v. Sears
232 N.W.2d 499 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1975)
State v. McCray
231 N.W.2d 579 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1975)
Moll v. Moll
231 N.W.2d 769 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 1975)
Dickman v. Truck Transport, Inc.
224 N.W.2d 459 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1974)
State v. Harris
222 N.W.2d 462 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1974)
Jacobson v. Benson Motors, Inc.
216 N.W.2d 396 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1974)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
215 N.W.2d 494, 14 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 52, 1974 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 1248, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/madison-silos-division-of-martin-marietta-corp-v-wassom-iowa-1974.