R & R Real Estate Co. v. C & N Armstrong Farms, Ltd.

854 N.E.2d 365, 2006 Ind. App. LEXIS 1796, 2006 WL 2506683
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 31, 2006
DocketNo. 33A01-0507-CV-294
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 854 N.E.2d 365 (R & R Real Estate Co. v. C & N Armstrong Farms, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
R & R Real Estate Co. v. C & N Armstrong Farms, Ltd., 854 N.E.2d 365, 2006 Ind. App. LEXIS 1796, 2006 WL 2506683 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

CRONE, Judge.

Case Summary

R & R Real Estate Company, LLC, and Leland Roberts (collectively, "R & R") appeal the denial of R & R's claim for grain bin rental damages and the denial of prejudgment interest. On cross-appeal, C & N Armstrong Farms, Ltd. ("C & N"), con[367]*367tends that R & R's appeal should be dismissed pursuant to Indiana Code Section 34-56-1-2 and that C & N should have received a setoff for the cost of repairing grain bins and a grain auger on R & R's property. We affirm.

Issues

We combine, restate, and reorder the parties' issues as follows:

I. Whether R & R's appeal should be dismissed pursuant to Indiana Code Section 34-56-1-2;
II. Whether R & R should have recovered damages for grain bin rental;
Whether C & N should have received a setoff for the cost of repairing grain bins and a grain auger on R & R's property; and TIL
IV. Whether R & R should have been awarded prejudgment interest.

Facts and Procedural History

The facts most favorable to the judgment indicate that in the fall of 2000, the parties orally agreed that C & N would pay $92.00 per acre to farm approximately 707 acres owned by R & R. The lease payment of $65,044 1 was due by December 1 of each farm year. The parties also agreed that C & N would pay $0.10 per bushel to store grain in nine bins located on R & R's property and would also "repair all bins and keep them in working condition." Appellants' App. at 70 (finding 4). The parties further agreed to take steps to enroll in the federal farm subsidy program and that each party would receive one-half of any subsidy payment.2 However, R & R refused to sign Form 515, the subsidy program enrollment form, for the 2002 farm year.

On December 10, 2002, R & R filed a one-count complaint against C & N for nonpayment of the lease for the 2002 crop year. On March 10, 2003, C & N filed its answer, affirmative defenses, and counterclaims. Counterclaim IV alleged that C & N had repaired grain bins and a grain auger on R & R's property and that R & R had been unjustly enriched thereby. Counterclaim V alleged that R & R had requested and received 717.9 bushels of corn from C & N but had failed to make payment. On May 5, 2003, after R & R signed Form 515 for the 2002 farm year subsidy, C & N presented to R & R a certified check in the amount of $12,500.

On December 2, 2003, C & N's president gave his counsel, on behalf of C & N, four checks totaling $47,179.86. The four checks were tendered to R & R's counsel on January 8, 2003, but R & R did not present the checks for payment. Ultimately, R & R accepted payment of $59,679.86 at mediation in March 2004.3

Also in March 2004, R & R filed a five-count amended complaint. Count I alleged nonpayment of the farm lease. Count II alleged that R & R had presented C & N's four lease checks for payment and that C & N had insufficient funds in its bank account. C & N filed its answer in May 2004.

A bench trial was held in January 2005. On April 14, 2005, the trial court issued findings of fact and the following conclusions thereon:

[368]*3681. [R & R] failed to mitigate any [prejudgment] interest damages by not negotiating tendered payments which were made to [it] by [C & NJ in the form of checks in the amount of $47,179.86. The delay in payment was not unreasonable given the various disputes that had arisen between the parties.
2. [R & R] failed to mitigate [its] damages by failing to sign the Federal Farm Program Form 515 until after the suit was filed.
3. [C & NJ paid to [R & R] Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($12,-500.00) by certified check on May 5, 2003, which was the earliest it could be paid because of [R & R's] refusal to sign the Form 515'8s.
4. [R & R is] due the sums of $65,044.00 for the 2002 farm year and $6,550.00 for one-half of the federal farm payment for a total due of $71,594.00. [C & N has] paid $59,679.86 leaving balance due and owing from [C & NJ to [R & RJ in the amount of Eleven Thousand Nine Hundred [Fourteen and] 14/100 Dollars ($11,914.14) under Count I of the Amended Complaint.
5. [R & RJ failed to carry the burden of proof regarding Counts II and III of the Amended Complaint and shall take nothing by way of these Counts. [Counts IV and V were resolved in earlier proceedings.]
6. [C & NJ has failed to carry [its] burden of proof regarding the equitable defenses contained in Counts II, III and IV of the Answer and counterclaim.
7. [R & R owes] to [C & NJ the sum of One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-one and 50/100 Dollars ($1,741.50) under Count V of [C & N's] Answer and Counterclaim and said amount should be set-off against the judgment awarded to [R & RJ.
8. That [C & NJ has established the equitable defense of failure to mitigate regarding [R & R's] claim for [prejudgment] interest.
[[Image here]]
[R & RJ shall be awarded a judgment against [C & NJ in the amount of Ten Thousand One Hundred Seventy-two and 64/100 Dollars ($10,172.64). Said judgment shall bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum.

Id. at Ti-78.

On May 18, 2005, R & R filed a motion to correct error. On May 20, 2005, C & N presented a check in the amount of $10,252.92 to the Henry County court clerk as payment of the judgment in favor of R & R. On May 24, 2005, the clerk issued to R & R a check in the amount of $10,252.92, which R & R deposited approximately two days later. After R & R's motion to correct error was deemed denied, this appeal and cross-appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision

Standard of Review

Where, as here, a party has requested special findings of fact and conclusions thereon pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A), we may affirm the judgment on any legal theory supported by the findings. Ralph E. Koressel Premier Elec., Inc. v. Forster, 838 N.E.2d 1037, 1045 (Ind. Ct.App.2005).

In reviewing the judgment, we first must determine whether the evidence supports the findings, and second, whether the findings support the judgment. Findings of fact are clearly erroneous when the record lacks any evidence or reasonable inferences from the evidence to support them. The judgment will be reversed if it is clearly erroneous. To determine whether the findings or judgment are clearly erroneous, we consider only the evidence favor[369]*369able to the judgment and all reasonable inferences flowing therefrom. We will not reweigh the evidence or assess witness credibility. Even though there is evidence to support it, a judgment is clearly erroneous if the reviewing court's examination of the record leaves it with the firm conviction that a mistake has been made.

Id.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
854 N.E.2d 365, 2006 Ind. App. LEXIS 1796, 2006 WL 2506683, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/r-r-real-estate-co-v-c-n-armstrong-farms-ltd-indctapp-2006.