Marquez v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.

625 S.W.2d 52, 1981 Tex. App. LEXIS 4373
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 18, 1981
Docket16641
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 625 S.W.2d 52 (Marquez v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Marquez v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 625 S.W.2d 52, 1981 Tex. App. LEXIS 4373 (Tex. Ct. App. 1981).

Opinions

[53]*53OPINION

BASKIN, Justice.

This is a suit for damages for breach of contract. Appellants (plaintiffs) appeal from a judgment notwithstanding the verdict in favor of appellee (Sears).

In April, 1975, plaintiffs entered into a written contract with Sears whereby Sears agreed “to provide the necessary treatment to protect the premises ... against the attack of subterranean termites for the sum of $169.00.” Sears also agreed the reinspection would be made at least once during the contract year and that any further treatment then found necessary would be performed free of charge. Sears agreed that for the additional sum of $25.00, it would extend the contract for one year, over a period of five years. Lastly, Sears provided in its contract and guarantee the following language:

“Sears further agrees that if new subterranean termite damage to the structure or contents occurs while this contract is in effect, then Sears will, upon notification and inspection, arrange for necessary repairs at its expense. New subterranean termite damage is that damage done by termites over and above existing damage at the time this contract was originally entered into (as indicated on the attached form), with live termites being found in the damaged area. The liability of Sears for repair shall not exceed $25,000.”

A few days later Sears treated the plaintiffs’ house for subterranean termites. Subsequently the plaintiffs extended their contract annually for each year relevant in this cause. There is no evidence that Sears returned to the house until called by one of the plaintiffs in April of 1976, at which time the house was treated once more. In November, 1977, plaintiffs, having noticed some insects on the screen door, again called Sears to complain of termite damage. Answering the complaint call, a Sears representative found some subterranean termite damage to the support posts in the carport of plaintiffs’ home, accompanied by the presence of live subterranean termites.. Sears once more sprayed plaintiffs’ house for termites, and about ten days later, a man from Sears returned and could find no live termites following the most recent treatment. He told one of the plaintiffs that Sears would replace the carport support posts which had been damaged by subterranean termites. Plaintiff declined to allow Sears to replace only the carport posts but demanded that all damaged wood in the house be replaced. Plaintiffs’ filed their lawsuit on December 29, 1977, alleging breach of contract, intentional and grossly negligent acts, and various unlawful and fraudulent representations under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, praying for damages of $20,000 for breach of contract including a demand for a $30,000 punitive damages trebled under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act to $90,000, plus $5,000 for attorney fees.

The primary testimony regarding plaintiffs’ damages was given by Pete Villa, a general contractor. Villa testified that he first inspected the house in June of 1979, a year and a half after suit was filed, at which time he saw some live termites and mud tunnels on the exterior of the house. He also saw some termite damage to the bedrooms and the window sills, underneath the house and on the west side of the house, as well as the damage to the posts in the carport. On June 16, 1979, he submitted a bid for repair of termite damage in the amount of $39,000, even though he conceded that he could not distinguish between Formosan termites, drywood termites, and subterranean termites, as he was not an authority on termites. He testified that the reasonable and necessary cost to repair the termite damage was $39,774, but he admitted that the bid was for a complete remodeling job. The remodeling job would include repair of anything that needed repair, such as electric wiring, plumbing and replacement of asbéstos siding, none of which were damaged by termites. He also recognized that there was some water damage, particularly around the bathroom, which would be repaired. Villa reiterated that his bid was not just to repair termite damage but was to remodel the whole house.

[54]*54A number of photographs were introduced into evidence to demonstrate termite damage. Most of the photographs had been taken by plaintiffs’ counsel just before trial in April, 1980, nearly two and a half years after institution of suit. Maria Marquez, one of the plaintiffs, testified that no photographs were taken at or near the time of filing suit and that some of the damage shown in the photographs in evidence was more severe than that which existed at or near the time suit was brought.

Upon trial of the case to a jury, the jury found, in answer to special issue number 1, that Sears failed to provide necessary treatment to protect the premises of the plaintiffs against attack from subterranean termites during the period April 11, 1975, to December 29, 1977; in answer to special issue number 2, that the failure of Sears so to provide treatment to protect the premises of plaintiffs against attack of subterranean termites was the proximate cause of plaintiffs’ damages to the premises; in answer to special issue number 3, that Sears failed prior to December 29,1977 to arrange for necessary repairs for new subterranean termite damage to plaintiffs’ premises according to the termite control contract; in answer to special issue number 4, that the failure of Sears to arrange for necessary repair was not the proximate cause of plaintiffs’ damages; in answer to special issue number 5, that the amount of money which would fairly and reasonably compensate plaintiffs for the damage to their premises proximately caused by the acts or omissions of Sears was $25,000.

Several additional special issues were answered by the jury favorably to plaintiffs’ contentions of deceptive trade practices. We need not consider them, however, as on oral argument, counsel for plaintiffs conceded that the plaintiffs had failed to make a case under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and asked that we consider the case as being for breach of contract only. We agree with plaintiffs that no case was made under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, both because there was no written notice by plaintiffs to Sears at least 30 days before filing suit of the complaint and the amount of damages claimed as required by Section 17.50(A) of the Act and because there was no damage caused by any deceptive trade practice.

Following the trial, plaintiffs filed Motion To Enter Judgment, wherein they asked the court to enter judgment in the amount of $25,000, trebled to $75,000, with attorneys’ fees as found by the jury, along with interest. Sears filed its Motion For Judgment Non Obstante Veredicto, or in the alternative, Motion to Disregard Findings on Special Issues. In that motion, Sears asked the court to enter a judgment non obstante veredicto on the ground that there was no evidence or alternatively insufficient evidence to support the findings to special issues numbers 1, 3, and 5 (and certain other special issues with which we do not concern ourselves now.) Alternatively, Sears thereby asked the court to disregard the findings to special issues numbers 1, 2, 3, and 5 on the grounds either of no evidence or of insufficient evidence. Thereafter, upon notice and hearing, the trial court granted the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and entered judgment for Sears, stating “that there is no evidence of probative force to sustain the verdict of the jury, and that an instructed verdict in favor of the Defendant would have been proper .... ” It is from such action of the trial court that plaintiffs appeal.

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Marquez v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.
625 S.W.2d 52 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1981)

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Bluebook (online)
625 S.W.2d 52, 1981 Tex. App. LEXIS 4373, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/marquez-v-sears-roebuck-co-texapp-1981.