Ozark Mountain Timber Products, Inc. v. Redus

725 S.W.2d 640, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 3716
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 3, 1987
Docket14517
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 725 S.W.2d 640 (Ozark Mountain Timber Products, Inc. v. Redus) 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
Ozark Mountain Timber Products, Inc. v. Redus, 725 S.W.2d 640, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 3716 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

*642 CROW, Chief Judge.

Defendants Ben Redus (“Redus”) and Westbend Hardwood Lumber, Ine. (“West-bend”) appeal from a judgment against them on a four-count petition filed by Ozark Mountain Timber Products, Inc. (“OMTP”). Defendants maintain that the trial court erred in allowing their attorney to withdraw two weeks before trial, and that the evidence was insufficient to support the judgment on three of the counts.

By defendants’ answer to the petition, the following facts were admitted.

Westbend, a California corporation, is licensed to do business in Missouri. Redus, president of Westbend, was at all pertinent times acting within the scope and course of his employment by Westbend. Beginning in June, 1981, OMTP, at the request of Westbend, performed “kiln drying and surfacing” on lumber owned by Westbend, and also provided storage and insurance for such lumber.

Having noted those facts, we now focus on the individual allegations of the separate counts.

Count I averred that the prices charged by OMTP for the above-mentioned services were “understood and agreed to” by West-bend, were “reasonable and proper,” and were “to be paid on demand.” Count I further alleged that as of August 9, 1982, Westbend owed OMTP $10,859.70 for such services, and that OMTP demanded payment of that sum on that date, but West-bend failed and refused to pay said sum then or at anytime thereafter. Count I prayed for judgment against Westbend, alone, for $10,859.70, with interest from August 9, 1982.

Westbend answered Count I by denying its allegations.

Count II pleaded that in February, 1982, OMTP and Redus agreed that Westbend would pay OMTP for storage of West-bend’s lumber before such lumber was removed from OMTP’s possession, and that none of Westbend’s lumber would be removed without payment. Count II added that during the period from July 26 through August 2, 1982, Westbend, at Re-dus’ direction, removed over 100,000 feet of its lumber from OMTP’s possession, giving OMTP a $2,669.55 check on July 27, and a $3,400.00 check on July 29. Both checks, said Count II, were drawn by Redus on a bank account of Westbend; upon presentation to the drawee bank, both checks were dishonored “due to insufficient funds.” Count II asserted that OMTP released the lumber to defendants relying on Redus’ representations that the checks would be paid upon presentation. Defendants, according to Count II, knew said representations were false, and intended that OMTP rely thereon in releasing said lumber. Count II prayed for judgment against both defendants for $6,069.55, the sum of the two checks.

Defendants’ answer admitted delivery of the two checks to OMTP, admitted both checks were dishonored because of insufficient funds, and denied the other allegations of Count II.

Count III of the petition repeated the allegations of Count II, and added that the conduct of defendants was willful, intentional and malicious. Count III prayed for $25,000 exemplary damages against Redus and $100,000 exemplary damages against Westbend.

Answering Count III, defendants denied that their conduct was willful, intentional or malicious.

Count IV of the petition, filed (with leave of court) while the suit was pending, alleged that OMTP, in 1979, entered into an agreement with defendants by which a “Straitoplaner” owned by OMTP was leased to defendants. Count IV averred that defendants owed OMTP $3,536.97 under such agreement, and prayed for judgment against each defendant in that amount.

Defendants filed no responsive pleading to Count IV.

While the suit was still in the pleading stage, Westbend filed an “amended counterclaim” consisting of 10 counts. That pleading alleged that N. Eugene Breuer (“Breuer”) was OMTP’s president and chief operating officer, and named him as a *643 “counterclaim defendant.” Several of the counts of the amended counterclaim sought relief against Breuer. For reasons that shall become apparent infra, we need not describe the individual counts of the amended counterclaim. It is sufficient merely to note that OMTP and Breuer, by their attorney, replied to each count of the amended counterclaim.

On May 24, 1985, defendants’ attorney, henceforth referred to as “C_,” sent a letter to the circuit clerk and to the attorney for OMTP and Breuer. The letter stated that the trial court had set the case for jury trial beginning August 8, 1985, at 10 a.m.

On July 25,1985, C_filed in the trial court a motion to withdraw as defendants’ attorney. The motion stated that C_, by letter accompanied by a copy of the motion, had advised Redus and Westbend of the decision to withdraw and of the necessity of obtaining representation promptly. That same day the trial court entered an order permitting C_ to withdraw. A copy of the motion and the order was mailed by the circuit clerk to Redus that date.

On August 8, 1985, the trial court called the case for trial. Breuer appeared in person and by attorney, and OMTP appeared by the same attorney. Redus failed to appear, and no attorney appeared for him or for Westbend.

The trial court, without the aid of a jury, heard OMTP’s evidence, which consisted of testimony by Breuer.

Identifying himself as the president and manager of OMTP, Breuer recounted that OMTP did business with Westbend during the years 1979 through 1982, and that in doing so OMTP dealt with Redus “throughout the whole experience.” As to the individual counts of the petition, we summarize first the testimony regarding Counts II and III.

Breuer testified that early in 1982, OMTP had some 100,000 feet of West-bend’s lumber in storage. Breuer explained that OMTP needed to use the warehouse space for other purposes, so he asked Redus to remove the lumber and pay the accrued charges. Redus, according to Breuer, agreed to pay for each load as it was taken out.

For the next several months, said Breuer, Redus “would pick up a load and give us a check for it, and those checks were always good.” On July 27, 1982, Redus picked up a load of lumber and gave OMTP the $2,669.55 check mentioned supra; two days later, Redus picked up another load, giving OMTP the $3,400.00 check mentioned supra. Both checks, as heretofore explained, were returned unpaid by the drawee bank, though when this occurred is not disclosed.

Breuer testified that around August 7 or 8, 1982, while he was on vacation, Redus picked up the final load of Westbend’s lumber from OMTP, amounting to roughly 50,-000 to 60,000 board feet. Redus, according to Breuer, said he forgot to bring a check, but would bring it the next day. Redus never delivered the check.

As we comprehend Breuer’s testimony, the amount due OMTP from Westbend for the final load was $4,790.15. We draw that inference because Breuer testified that the total amount due OMTP from Westbend as of August 9,1982, was $10,859.70, and that said sum included the two dishonored checks, which total $6,069.55. Deducting the latter figure from $10,859.70 leaves $4,790.15.

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Bluebook (online)
725 S.W.2d 640, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 3716, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ozark-mountain-timber-products-inc-v-redus-moctapp-1987.