McElhannon v. Ford

2003 NMCA 091, 73 P.3d 827, 134 N.M. 124
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 16, 2003
Docket22,547
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 2003 NMCA 091 (McElhannon v. Ford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McElhannon v. Ford, 2003 NMCA 091, 73 P.3d 827, 134 N.M. 124 (N.M. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION

ALARID, Judge.

{1} This case requires us to decide if summary judgment was properly entered against the purchasers of a new home who sued a seller-general contractor for failure to disclose that the home was built without permits required by the Construction Industries Licensing Act (CILA), NMSA1978, §§ 60-13-1 to -58 (1967, as amended through 2001). We also address the entry of summary judgment in favor of the subcontractor who allegedly proceeded with construction in the absence of permits required by the CILA. Finally, we address the liability of a public utility company to the purchasers for alleged negligence in complying with requirements imposed on utilities by the CILA.

BACKGROUND

{2} Defendant-Appellee, Rick Ford, is a licensed New Mexico general contractor. In January 1996, Ford applied for a general construction permit for a residence to be constructed at 18 Jenkins Road, Clayton, New Mexico. The application and proposed plans indicated that the home was to be constructed using steel framing. Construction Industries Division (CID) rejected the application, citing a policy requiring plans for metal-framed buildings to be reviewed and stamped by a licensed mechanical engineer. Defendants-Appellees, Ford and his wife, Freída Kae Ford (Fords), decided to build the home without obtaining a general construction permit from CID. The Fords hired Defendant-Appellee, Don Holland (Holland), a licensed electrical and mechanical contractor, to install the electrical system. Defendant-Appellee, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), provided electricity and gas to the home.

{3} After the home was completed, the Fords put it on the market, knowing that CID had not issued a permit to erect a steel frame structure and that CID had not issued a certificate of occupancy for the home. In May 1997, Plaintiffs-Appellants, W.C. and Patricia McElhannon (McElhannons), and the Fords entered into a purchase agreement for the home. The purchase agreement recited that the McElhannons were purchasing the home

upon PURCHASER(S) own examination and judgment and not by reason of any representation made to PURCHASER(S) by SELLER(S) or agent for SELLER(S) as to its condition, size, location, value, future value, income therefrom or as to its production. PURCHASER(S) further accept(s) property in present condition including but not limited to, roof, all plumbing, electrical and all mechanical equipment.

{4} Because the McElhannons financed the purchase through the Veteran’s Administration, federal law, 38 U.S.C. § 3705 (1991), required that the purchase agreement include a one-year warranty. The purchase agreement included the following provision:

The dwelling located on the property identified above is constructed in substantial conformity with the plans and specifications (including any amendments, thereof, or changes and variations therein) which have been approved in writing by ... the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on which the ... Secretary or Veterans Affairs based the valuation of the dwelling. However, this warranty shall apply to such instances of substantial nonconformity to which the Purchaser(s)/Owner(s) or his or her (their) successors or transferees shall have given written notice to the Warrantor within 1 year from the date of original conveyance of title to such Purchaser(s)/Owner(s)....
This warranty shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, all other rights and privileges which such Purchaser(s)/Owner(s) may have under any other law or instrument^]

{5} The MeElhannons occupied the home in July 1996. They noticed a number of defects, including problems with the foundation. In the course of investigating the construction of the home, the MeElhannons discovered that CID had no record of the issuance of a general construction permit or a certificate of occupancy for the home.

{6} In October 1999, the MeElhannons filed suit against the Fords, Holland, and PNM. The complaint asserted claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of warranty, rescission, and unfair trade practices. Following discovery, the Defendants moved for summary judgment. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Defendants and against the MeElhannons with the sole exception of the MeElhannons’ breach of warranty claim against the Fords. Pursuant to Rule 1 — 054(B)(1) NMRA 2003, the trial court expressly determined that there was no just reason for delay in entering final judgment on the grant of partial summary judgment against the Fords. The MeElhannons filed a timely notice of appeal. DISCUSSION

1. Summary Judgment in Favor of the Fords

a. Fraud by Affirmative Representation

{7} In the trial court, the Fords argued there was no factual basis for the McElhannons’ fraud claim because there was no evidence that the Fords affirmatively misrepresented any facts about the home. The Fords’ assertion that the record contained no evidence of an affirmative misrepresentation by the Fords was sufficient to make out a prima facie case of entitlement to summary judgment. See Blauwkamp v. Univ. of N.M. Hosp., 114 N.M. 228, 232, 836 P.2d 1249, 1253 (Ct.App.1992) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 331, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (Brennan, J., dissenting); for proposition that summary judgment is appropriate where movant shows that nonmoving plaintiffs evidence is insufficient to establish an essential element of the plaintiffs ease; recognizing that defendant need not affirmatively disprove plaintiffs claim to demonstrate prima facie case of entitlement to summary judgment). In response, the MeElhannons argued that the Fords made an affirmative misrepresentation of fact when they warranted in the purchase agreement that the home was constructed in accordance with approved plans and specifications. A dispositive flaw in the MeElhannons’ argument is that the warranty clearly refers to approval by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, not to approval by CID. Thus, the warranty in the purchase agreement was not rendered false by the fact that the Fords had not obtained CID approval of the plans. The MeElhannons failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the Fords made an affirmative misrepresentation. Accordingly, summary judgment on the MeElhannons’ claim of fraud by affirmative misrepresentation is affirmed.

b. Fraudulent Nondisclosure

{8} The Fords’ motion for summary judgment did not address fraud by nondisclosure, even though this theory of fraud clearly is recognized in New Mexico, Krupiak v. Payton, 90 N.M. 252, 561 P.2d 1345 (1977), and was pleaded in the McElhannons’ complaint.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2003 NMCA 091, 73 P.3d 827, 134 N.M. 124, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcelhannon-v-ford-nmctapp-2003.