Moxley v. Cole

736 So. 2d 249, 1999 WL 44761
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 3, 1999
Docket97-1582
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 736 So. 2d 249 (Moxley v. Cole) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moxley v. Cole, 736 So. 2d 249, 1999 WL 44761 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

736 So.2d 249 (1999)

Brian P. MOXLEY, Plaintiff— Appellee,
v.
Lee COLE & Safeway Insurance Company, Defendants— Appellants.

No. 97-1582.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

February 3, 1999.
Writ Denied May 7, 1999.

*250 David A. Johnson, Pineville, for Brian P. Moxley.

Melissa D. Broussard, Lafayette, for Lee Cole et al.

BEFORE: THIBODEAUX, SAUNDERS, and WOODARD, Judges.

THIBODEAUX, Judge.

Brian Moxley, plaintiff, filed suit against Lee Cole and his insurer, Safeway Insurance Company (Safeway), for damages sustained to his vehicle in an accident. At the time of the accident, Brian's mother, Ms. Sybil Moxley, was driving his vehicle. Safeway appeals the trial court's judgment in Mr. Moxley's favor, awarding him $3,670.00 for the value of his vehicle, $2,000.00 for loss of use, all outstanding storage costs, $5,000.00 in penalties, $4,945.00 in attorney fees, and $416.55 for expenses. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

I.

FACTS

On January 31, 1997, Ms. Sybil Moxley was driving a vehicle belonging to her son, Brian, in a southerly direction on Louisiana Highway 107, approaching the intersection of West Bryant Road near Marksville, Louisiana, in Avoyelles Parish. At the same time, the defendant, Mr. Cole, was driving his vehicle westbound on West Bryant Road. It is controlled by a stop sign at its intersection with Highway 107. Attempting to cross Highway 107 to enter a private driveway near the intersection, Mr. Cole failed to obey the stop sign. He *251 collided with the Moxley vehicle in Ms. Moxley's lane of travel on Highway 107.

On February 3, 1997, Safeway received a notice of loss from Ms. Sybil Moxley. She informed Safeway that the emergency medical personnel thought that Mr. Cole had suffered a heart attack during the accident. Safeway began an investigation to determine its liability for the accident in view of the possibility that its insured's alleged heart attack may have caused the accident. If true, this fact would give it a complete defense to the plaintiffs claim.

Meanwhile, later in February, Safeway secured an appraisal of the vehicle. It established that the estimated cost of repair, $4,579.46, exceeded the estimated value of the vehicle, $3,670.00. However, Safeway did not notify the plaintiff that his vehicle was a total loss until April 15, 1997. On February 18, 1997, Safeway informed the plaintiff that his vehicle needed to be moved in order to stop the storage fees from accruing and that Safeway would only be responsible for the wrecker and storage fees through February 19, 1997.

On April 7, 1997, Safeway received Mr. Cole's medical records from Huey P. Long Hospital. Because the records did not indicate that Mr. Cole had suffered a heart attack, Safeway accepted liability for the accident and, on April 15, 1997, sent the plaintiff a draft of $3,120.00 with a written offer to settle. Two days later, the plaintiffs attorney returned the settlement draft and made formal demand for loss of use of the vehicle, penalties, and attorney fees. On April 24, 1997, Safeway extended a second offer to settle for $3,120.00 and forwarded a second draft. On May 1, 1997, the plaintiff requested unconditional tender for the undisputed portion of the property damage claim. Safeway extended a third settlement offer, on May 15, 1997, adding $300.00 for loss of use in exchange for salvage.

On May 29, 1997, Brian Moxley filed a Petition for Damages arising out of the accident. The defendants in the suit were Mr. Cole and his automobile liability insurer, Safeway. The plaintiff alleged damages for the loss of use of his vehicle and property damages to his vehicle. Additionally, he alleged he was entitled to an award of penalties and attorney fees against Safeway, based on La.R.S. 22:658 and La.R.S. 22:1220.

The case was tried on August 11, 1997. The trial court took the matter under advisement and on August 28, 1997, issued written reasons for judgment, finding in favor of the plaintiff and awarding him $3,670.00 for the cash value of his vehicle, $2,000.00 for loss of use damages, all outstanding storage costs, $5,000.00 in penalties, $4,945.00 attorney fees, and $416.55 for expenses. The trial court signed a written judgment on September 22, 1997.

Safeway partially satisfied the judgment by paying the plaintiff $3,670.00, the actual cash value of his vehicle and legal interest and then filed a Notice of Suspensive Appeal.

Assignments of Error

Appellants allege the following assignments of error:

1. The trial court abused its discretion in awarding Mr. Moxley the sum of $2,000.00 for the loss of use of his vehicle.
2. The trial court erred in assessing Safeway with storage fees beyond February 19, 1997.
3. The trial court erred in assessing storage fees in the amount of $9.00 per day when no evidence was presented regarding the daily rate of storage.
4. The trial court erred in finding that Safeway violated the provisions of La.R.S. 22:658 and erred in assessing Safeway with attorney fees and expenses under La.R.S. 22:658.
5. In the event this court finds that the trial court properly assessed Safeway with attorney fees and expenses, Safeway contends that the *252 trial court abused its discretion in awarding excessive attorney fees.
6. The trial court erred in finding that Safeway violated the provisions of La.R.S. 22:1220 and erred in assessing penalties against Safeway under La.R.S. 22:1220.
7. In the event this court finds that the trial court properly assessed Safeway with penalties, Safeway contends that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding excessive penalties in the amount of $5,000.00.

II.

LAW AND DISCUSSION

Loss of Use of Vehicle

The evidence in the record establishes that the plaintiff was uncertain whether his vehicle was a "total loss" until April 15, 1997, when Ms. Betty Thomassee, the Safeway claims adjuster, notified him, through his attorney, of that fact. Damages for the loss of use of a vehicle, which is a total loss, are only recoverable for a reasonable time after the plaintiff learns that the vehicle is a total loss. Williams v. Louisiana Indem. Co., 26,887 (La.App. 2 Cir. 6/21/95); 658 So.2d 739; Bonner v. La. Indem. Co., 607 So.2d 915 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1992); Rosenthal v. Mid-American Indem. Co., 572 So.2d 613 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1990). A reasonable time to replace the destroyed vehicle is a period of thirty days after discovery that the car is a total loss. Williams, 658 So.2d 739; Bonner, 607 So.2d 915. The time from the date of the accident until notice of the total loss is recoverable. Bonner, 607 So.2d 915; Rosenthal, 572 So.2d 613. The measure of loss of use damages is normally the cost of renting a substitute vehicle, but the award need not be restricted to rental. Williams, 658 So.2d 739.

Considering these facts and law, the plaintiff had until May 15, 1997 to secure a replacement vehicle. The accident occurred on January 31, 1997. The trial court awarded $2,000.00 for the period of 103 days, or approximately $19.42 per day. That amount is well within the discretion of the court. See Romco, Inc. v. Broussard, 528 So.2d 231 (La.App. 3 Cir.), writ denied, 533 So.2d 356 (La. 1988). In Romco, the court held $20.00 per day was reasonable.

Storage Fees

(1) Beyond February 19, 1997

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
736 So. 2d 249, 1999 WL 44761, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moxley-v-cole-lactapp-1999.