Robinson Helicopter Co., Inc. v. Dana Corp.

102 P.3d 268, 22 Cal. Rptr. 3d 352, 34 Cal. 4th 979, 2004 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 11271, 2004 Cal. LEXIS 12219

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: December 23, 2004
• Docket: S114054
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion

BROWN, J.

In this case, we decide whether the economic loss rule, which in some circumstances bars a tort action in the absence of personal injury or physical damage to other property, applies to claims for intentional misrepresentation or fraud in the performance of a contract. Because plaintiff Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc.’s (Robinson) fraud and intentional misrepresentation claim, with respect to Dana Corporation’s (Dana) provision of false certificates of conformance, is an independent action based in tort, we conclude that the economic loss rule does not bar tort recovery.

Facts

The underlying facts are undisputed and largely immaterial to this question of law. We therefore adopt our statement of facts from that of the Court Appeal.¹

Robinson is a manufacturer of helicopters. Its R22 model is a two-seat helicopter used as a primary trainer for pilots. The R44 model is a heavier model used for a wide variety of purposes. Both of these models use sprag clutches manufactured by Dana’s Formsprag division. The sprag clutch on a helicopter functions like the “free wheeling” clutch mechanism on a bicycle where the rider transmits power to the rear wheel by operating the pedals, but when the rider stops pedaling, the wheel continues to rotate. A sprag clutch is primarily a safety mechanism. If a helicopter loses power during flight, the sprag clutch allows the rotor blades to continue turning and permits the pilot to maintain control and land safely by the “autorotating” of the rotor blades.[²] [f] [] At all relevant times, Dana’s Formsprag division was the only manufacturer of the sprag clutches that Robinson required for its R22 and R44 helicopters.

All aircraft manufacturers in the United States, including Robinson, must obtain a “type certificate” from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The type certificate freezes the design as of the date the certificate is issued. Every aircraft made pursuant to the certificate must be produced exactly in accordance with that certificate. Any proposed changes must first be submitted to and approved by the FAA. The components of the sprag clutch must be ground to precise tolerances, measured in thousandths of an inch, to avoid distortions that lead to cracking and failure. Pursuant to the type certificate issued to Robinson by the FAA for the R22 and R44 models, the parts of the sprag clutches, including the sprag ears, were required to be ground at a particular level of hardness to assure their metallurgical integrity. The required level of hardness of the R22 and the R44 clutches, pursuant to the type certificates, was described as “50/55 Rockwell” (50/55).

Between 1984 and July 1996, Robinson purchased 3,707 sprag clutches from Dana. Each was ground to the required 50/55 level of hardness. There were only three incidents of cracking or failure of these sprag ears, a rate of 0.03 percent. In July 1996, Dana changed its grinding process to a higher, “61/63 Rockwell” (61/63) level of hardness. Dana did not notify Robinson or the FAA of this changed[³] After such change was made in the grinding process, Dana nonetheless continued to provide written certificates to Robinson with each delivery of clutches that the clutches had been manufactured in conformance with Robinson’s written specifications (which specifications prohibited unapproved changes in Dana’s manufacturing process).[]

In October 1997, again without notifying either Robinson or the FAA, Dana changed its grinding process back to the 50/55 level of hardness that was required by its contract with Robinson. Beginning in early 1998, the sprag clutch ears that had been ground at the 61/63 level of hardness and sold to Robinson experienced a failure rate of 9.86 percent.[] This compared with a failure rate for clutches manufactured before July 1996 of 0.03 percent and 00.0 percent for clutches manufactured after October 1997.

Between August 24, 1998, and November 30, 1998, Robinson sent several letters to Dana reporting that 11 clutch assemblies with cracked sprags had been returned to Robinson from its operator customers. Each of these assemblies was ultimately traced to serial numbers of Dana sprag clutches that had been sold to Robinson during the period that Dana was grinding the clutches to the higher 61/63 level of hardness. On November 30, 1998, during a conference call between Robinson and Dana officials, Dana disclosed, for the first time, that it had used the 61/63 hardness level in its manufacturing process during the period July 1996 to October 1997.

Although it was a disputed issue, the record reflects that substantial evidence was presented at trial demonstrating that the higher failure rate of Dana’s sprag clutches manufactured during the July 1996 to October 1997 period was due to the higher hardness level to which they had been ground. Fortunately, these clutch failures did not result in any helicopter accident and there were no incidents of injury or property damage that were caused by any clutch defect or failure, nor did any of the defective clutches cause any damage to other parts of the helicopters in which they had been installed.

Nonetheless, Robinson was ultimately required by the FAA and its British equivalent, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the United Kingdom’s Department of Transport [], to recall and replace all of the faulty clutch assemblies (i.e., those manufactured with Dana’s sprag clutches ground to the higher hardness level of 61/63 rather than the 50/55 level required by the Robinson specifications). This led to a total claimed expense to Robinson of $1,555,924, which represented the cost of (1) replacement parts, and (2) substantial employee time spent investigating the cause of the malfunctioning parts and the identification and replacement of parts on helicopters that had already been sold to customers.

There were approximately 990 sprag clutches that were ultimately identified as having been manufactured at the higher nonconforming level of hardness. It was important to Robinson that the defective clutches be identified as soon as possible so that it could effect full replacements before any accident might occur. Although Dana had disclosed on November 30, 1998, that it had previously changed the hardness level, it did not provide Robinson with the necessary serial and lot number information until February 12, 1999, despite repeated demands therefor.[⁴]

When this information was finally provided and Robinson was able to identify the clutch assemblies that had to be replaced, it submitted the necessary orders to Dana,[⁵] together with a request that the issue as to which party would bear the cost of such replacement parts be left for later determination. Dana, however, disputed any liability, and, in fact, claimed that Robinson’s problems were due to its own inadequate designs that placed too much stress on the clutch assemblies. Dana refused to ship any new clutches except on a COD or other assured payment basis.

Having no alternative, Robinson went forward, incurred the costs described above, purchased the new clutches, and effected the necessary replacements. It then filed this action alleging causes of action for breach of contract, breach of warranty and negligent and intentional misrepresentations. After a nine-day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Robinson for $1,533,924 in compensatory damages and $6 million in punitive damages. The jury found that Dana had not only breached its contract with Robinson and the warranties made thereunder, but also had made false misrepresentations of fact and had knowingly misrepresented or concealed material facts with the intent to defraud. The award of punitive damages was based on this latter finding.[⁶]

Dana appealed. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment on the contract and warranty causes of actions. However, applying the economic loss rule, the Court of Appeal held that because Robinson suffered only economic losses, it could not recover in tort. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal reversed the judgment in part, based on the misrepresentation claims. As a result, the Court of Appeal held the punitive damages award could not be maintained.

Robinson seeks review of the Court of Appeal’s application of the economic loss rule to its fraud and intentional misrepresentation claims.

Discussion

Robinson contends the Court of Appeal erred in its decision because the economic loss rule does not bar its fraud and intentional misrepresentation claims. We conclude that, with respect to Dana’s provision of false certificates of conformance, Robinson is correct.

We begin with a brief background on the economic loss rule. Economic loss consists of “ ‘ “ ‘damages for inadequate value, costs of repair and replacement of the defective product or consequent loss of profits— without any claim of personal injury or damages to other property. . . ’ [Citation.]” (Jimenez v. Superior Court (2002) 29 Cal.4th 473, 482 [127 Cal.Rptr.2d 614, 58 P.3d 450].) Simply stated, the economic loss rule provides: “ ‘ “[W]here a purchaser’s expectations in a sale are frustrated because the product he bought is not working properly, his remedy is said to be in contract alone, for he has suffered only ‘economic’ losses.” ’ This doctrine hinges on a distinction drawn between transactions involving the sale of goods for commercial purposes where economic expectations are protected by commercial and contract law, and those involving the sale of defective products to individual consumers who are injured in a manner which has traditionally been remedied by resort to the law of torts.” (Neibarger v. Universal Cooperatives, Inc. (1992) 439 Mich. 512 [486 N.W.2d 612, 615], fns. omitted.) The economic loss rule requires a purchaser to recover in contract for purely economic loss due to disappointed expectations, unless he can demonstrate harm above and beyond a broken contractual promise. (Redarowicz v. Ohlendorf (1982) 92 Ill.2d 171 [65 Ill.Dec. 411, 441 N.E.2d 324, 327].) Quite simply, the economic loss rule “prevents] the law of contract and the law of tort from dissolving one into the other.” (Rich Products Corp. v. Kemutec, Inc. (E.D.Wis. 1999) 66 F.Supp.2d 937, 969.)

In Jimenez v. Superior Court, supra, 29 Cal.4th 473, we set forth the rationale for the economic loss rule: “ ‘The distinction that the law has drawn between tort recovery for physical injuries and warranty recovery for economic loss is not arbitrary and does not rest on the “luck” of one plaintiff in having an accident causing physical injury. The distinction rests, rather, on an understanding of the nature of the responsibility a manufacturer must undertake in distributing his products.’ [Citation.] We concluded that the nature of this responsibility meant that a manufacturer could appropriately be held liable for physical injuries (including both personal injury and damage to property other than the product itself), regardless of the terms of any warranty. [Citation.] But the manufacturer could not be held liable for ‘the level of performance of his products in the consumer’s business unless he agrees that the product was designed to meet the consumer’s demands.’ [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 482.)

In Jimenez, we applied the economic loss rule in the strict liability context. We explained the principles surrounding the economic loss rule in that context: “[Rjecovery under the doctrine of strict liability is limited solely to ‘physical harm to person or property.’ [Citation.] Damages available under strict products liability do not include economic loss, which includes ‘ “ ‘damages for inadequate value, costs of repair and replacement of the defective product or consequent loss of profits—without any claim of personal injury or damages to other property. . . ’ [Citation.] [f] . . . [<j[] In summary, the economic loss rule allows a plaintiff to recover in strict products liability in tort when a product defect causes damage to ‘other property,’ that is, property other than the product itself. The law of contractual warranty governs damage to the product itself.” (Jimenez v. Superior Court, supra, 29 Cal.4th at pp. 482-483.) We have also applied the economic loss rule to negligence actions. (See Aas v. Superior Court (2000) 24 Cal.4th 627, 640 [101 Cal.Rptr.2d 718, 12 P.3d 1125]; Seely v. White Motor Co. (1965) 63 Cal.2d 9 [45 Cal.Rptr. 17, 403 P.2d 145].)

In support of its argument that the economic loss rule does not apply to its case, Robinson argues that its claims for fraud and deceit were based on an independent duty that Dana breached. In Erlich v. Menezes (1999) 21 Cal.4th 543, 551 [87 Cal.Rptr.2d 886, 981 P.2d 978], we held that a party’s contractual obligation may create a legal duty and that a breach of that duty may support a tort action. We stated, “[C]onduct amounting to a breach of contract becomes tortious only when it also violates a duty independent of the contract arising from principles of tort law. [Citation.]” (Ibid.)

We went on to describe several instances where tort damages were permitted in contract cases. “Tort damages have been permitted in contract cases where a breach of duty directly causes physical injury [citation]; for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in insurance contracts [citation]; for wrongful discharge in violation of fundamental public policy [citation]; or where the contract was fraudulently induced. [Citation.]” (Erlich v. Menezes, supra, 21 Cal.4th at pp. 551-552.) “[I]n each of these cases, the duty that gives rise to tort liability is either completely independent of the contract or arises from conduct which is both intentional and intended to harm. [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 552; see also Harris v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 70, 78 [17 Cal.Rptr.2d 649] [“when one party commits a fraud during the contract formation or performance, the injured party may recover in contract and tort”].)

With respect to situations outside of those set forth above, we stated: “Generally, outside the insurance context, ‘a tortious breach of contract . . . may be found when (1) the breach is accompanied by a traditional common law tort, such as fraud or conversion; (2) the means used to breach the contract are tortious, involving deceit or undue coercion; or, (3) one party intentionally breaches the contract intending or knowing that such a breach will cause severe, unmitigable harm in the form of mental anguish, personal hardship, or substantial consequential damages.’ [Citation.] Focusing on intentional conduct gives substance to the proposition that a breach of contract is tortious only when some independent duty arising from tort law is violated. [Citation.] If every negligent breach of a contract gives rise to tort damages the limitation would be meaningless, as would the statutory distinction between tort and contract remedies.” (Erlich v. Menezes, supra, 21 Cal.4th at pp. 553-554.)

Robinson’s misrepresentation and fraud claims were based on (1) Dana’s provision of false certificates of conformance, (2) Dana’s failure to provide the serial numbers of affected clutches until five months after the clutches failed, and (3) Robinson’s claim that a Dana employee redacted reference to the hardness of the clutches on a list of products requested by Robinson. At trial, the jury found that Dana had (1) made false representations of material fact, (2) knowingly misrepresented or concealed material facts with intent to defraud, (3) and by clear and convincing evidence was guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice in its intentional misrepresentations and concealments.

For purposes of our decision, we focus solely on the fraud and misrepresentation claim based on Dana’s provision of the false certificates of conformance. The elements of fraud are: (1) a misrepresentation (false representation, concealment, or nondisclosure); (2) knowledge of falsity (or scienter); (3) intent to defraud, i.e., to induce reliance; (4) justifiable reliance; and (5) resulting damage. (Lazar v. Superior Court (1996) 12 Cal.4th 631, 638 [49 Cal.Rptr.2d 377, 909 P.2d 981].) By issuing false certificates of conformance, Dana unquestionably made affirmative representations that Robinson justifiably relied on to its detriment. But for Dana’s affirmative misrepresentations by supplying the false certificates of conformance, Robinson would not have accepted delivery and used the nonconforming clutches over the course of several years, nor would it have incurred the cost of investigating the cause of the faulty clutches. Accordingly, Dana’s tortious conduct was separate from the breach itself, which involved Dana’s provision of the nonconforming clutches. In addition, Dana’s provision of faulty clutches exposed Robinson to liability for personal damages if a helicopter crashed and to disciplinary action by the FAA. Thus, Dana’s fraud is a tort independent of the breach. (Erlich v. Menezes, supra, 21 Cal.4th at pp. 553-554.)

We hold the economic loss rule does not bar Robinson’s fraud and intentional misrepresentation claims because they were independent of Dana’s breach of contract. (See Erlich v. Menezes, supra, 21 Cal.4th at pp. 552-554.)⁷ Because Dana’s affirmative intentional misrepresentations of fact (i.e., the issuance of the false certificates of conformance) are dispositive fraudulent conduct related to the performance of the contract, we need not address the issue of whether Dana’s intentional concealment constitutes an independent tort.

California’s public policy also strongly favors this holding. “[C]ourts will generally enforce the breach of a contractual promise through contract law, except when the actions that constitute the breach violate a social policy that merits the imposition of tort remedies.” (Freeman & Mills, Inc. v. Belcher Oil Co. (1995) 11 Cal.4th 85, 107 [44 Cal.Rptr.2d 420, 900 P.2d 669] (conc. & dis. opn. of Mosk, J.).) Similarly, “ ‘[c]ourts should be careful to apply tort remedies only when the conduct in question is so clear in its deviation from socially useful business practices that the effect of enforcing such tort duties will be ... to aid rather than discourage commerce.’ ” (Erlich v. Menezes, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 554.) “In pursuing a valid fraud action, a plaintiff advances the public interest in punishing intentional misrepresentations and in deterring such misrepresentations in the future. [Citation.] Because of the extra measure of blameworthiness inhering in fraud, and because in fraud cases we are not concerned about the need for ‘predictability about the cost of contractual relationships’ [citation], fraud plaintiffs may recover ‘out-of-pocket’ damages in addition to benefit-of-the bargain damages.” (Lazar v. Superior Court, supra, 12 Cal.4th at p. 646.) In addition, “California also has a legitimate and compelling interest in preserving a business climate free of fraud and deceptive practices.” (Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. v. Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1036, 1064 [80 Cal.Rptr.2d 828, 968 P.2d 539].) Needless to say, Dana’s fraudulent conduct cannot be considered a “ ‘socially useful business practice[].’ ” (Erlich v. Menezes, supra, 21 Cal.4th at p. 554.) As one court stated, “Simply put, a contract is not a license allowing one party to cheat or defraud the other.” (Grynberg v. Citation Oil & Gas Corp. (S.D. 1997) 1997 SD 121 [573 N.W.2d 493, 501].) Allowing Robinson’s claim for Dana’s affirmative misrepresentation discourages such practices in the future while encouraging a “business climate free of fraud and deceptive practices.” (Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., at p. 1064.)

Dana urges this court to apply the economic loss rule to Robinson’s fraud and intentional misrepresentation claims in light of the public policy of promoting predictability in contracts in commercial transactions. Dana contends Robinson’s fraud and misrepresentation claims are not independent of the contract but are simply part of the alleged breach of contract. We disagree.

A breach of contract remedy assumes that the parties to a contract can negotiate the risk of loss occasioned by a breach. “ ‘[W]hen two parties make a contract, they agree upon the rules and regulations which will govern their relationship; the risks inherent in the agreement and the likelihood of its breach. The parties to the contract in essence create a mini-universe for themselves, in which each voluntarily chooses his contracting partner, each trusts the other’s willingness to keep his word and honor his commitments, and in which they define their respective obligations, rewards and risks. Under such a scenario, it is appropriate to enforce only such obligations as each party voluntarily assumed, and to give him only such benefits as he expected to receive; this is the function of contract law.’ ” (Applied Equipment Corp. v. Litton Saudi Arabia Ltd. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 503, 517 [28 Cal.Rptr.2d 475, 869 P.2d 454].) However, “[a] party to a contract cannot rationally calculate the possibility that the other party will deliberately misrepresent terms critical to that contract.” (Tourek et al., Bucking the “Trend”: The Uniform Commercial Code, the Economic Loss Doctrine, and Common Law Causes of Action for Fraud and Misrepresentation (1999) 84 Iowa L.Rev. 875, 894.) No rational party would enter into a contract anticipating that they are or will be lied to. “While parties, perhaps because of their technical expertise and sophistication, can be presumed to understand and allocate the risks relating to negligent product design or manufacture, those same parties cannot, and should not, be expected to anticipate fraud and dishonesty in every transaction.” (Id. at p. 909.) Dana’s argument therefore proposes to increase the certainty in contractual relationships by encouraging fraudulent conduct at the expense of an innocent party. No public policy supports such an outcome.⁸

Nor do we believe that our decision will open the floodgates to future litigation. Our holding today is narrow in scope and limited to a defendant’s affirmative misrepresentations on which a plaintiff relies and which expose a plaintiff to liability for personal damages independent of the plaintiff’s economic loss. In addition, “[i]n California, fraud must be pled specifically; general and conclusory allegations do not suffice. [Citations.] ‘Thus “ ‘the policy of liberal construction of the pleadings . . . will not ordinarily be invoked to sustain a pleading defective in any material respect.’ ” [Citation.] [f] This particularity requirement necessitates pleading facts which “show how, when, where, to whom, and by what means the representations were tendered.” ’ ” (Lazar v. Superior Court, supra, 12 Cal.4th at p. 645.) We trust the trial courts of this state to enforce this pleading requirement.

Conclusion

Had Dana simply been truthful and declined to provide a certificate for the nonconforming orders, Robinson could have refused to accept them, thereby avoiding the damages it later suffered when it had to mitigate and replace the defective clutches. Dana’s action denied Robinson this opportunity. Because the Court of Appeal erred by applying the economic loss rule to Robinson, we reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.⁹

George, C. J., Kennard, J., Baxter, I., Chin, J., and Moreno, J., concurred.

1 Brackets together, in this manner [] without enclosing material, are used to indicate deletions from the opinion of the Court of Appeal; brackets enclosing material (other than publisher’s added parallel citations), are, unless otherwise indicated, used to denote our insertions or additions.

2 Robinson emphasizes that this is particularly important for the R22 model. Since it is used as a trainer, it engages in autorotation on a regular basis. A properly functioning sprag clutch is vital to the performance of this critical safety function.

3 It would appear that Robinson makes no claim in this case that Dana had any fraudulent intent in changing its grinding standard. []

4 Robinson placed great emphasis on this delay, contending that Dana had had the necessary information all along, but had withheld it. For example, the record reflects that there were two copies of a letter sent by Dana to Robinson, dated December 3, 1998, listing the hardness of the lots of sprag clutches sold to Robinson. The copy sent to Robinson did not show the serial numbers. The copy later discovered in Dana’s possession did reflect the serial numbers. Robinson draws the rather speculative inference that Dana knew those numbers on December 3, 1998, and must have “whited” them out. Dana’s officer, -however, testified that when he ultimately determined the serial numbers he simply added them to his copy of the December 3 letter, rather than preparing a new letter. Whatever the truth on this issue, the jury apparently accepted Robinson’s argument that Dana had intentionally withheld this information.

5 As already noted, Dana was Robinson’s sole supplier of the sprag clutches needed for the manufacture of its helicopters.

6 This ends our quotation from the Court of Appeal.

7 The dissent relies on Aas v. Superior Court, supra, 24 Cal.4th 627 and the concurring and dissenting opinion of Justice Brown in Jimenez v. Superior Court, supra, 29 Cal.4th 473, 490, for the contrary proposition that the economic loss rule should be broadly construed to bar tort recovery in every case where only economic damages occur. While the bright-line rule the dissent advocates has the advantage of being clear and easily applied, it is worth noting that the rule’s development in the context of product liability claims and its extension to claims for negligent breach of contract were not mere fortuities. Dealing with affirmative acts of fraud and misrepresentation raises different policy concerns than those raised by negligence or strict liability claims.

Aas was a negligence action brought by homeowners against the developer, contractor, and subcontractors who constructed their dwellings. The homeowners sought damages for construction defects that had not caused any property damage. (Aas v. Superior Court, supra, 24 Cal.4th at p. 632.) We concluded the defects must cause property damage prior to being actionable in negligence. (Id. at p. 650.) The language in Jimenez cited by the dissent deals with the propriety of applying the economic loss rule as a bar in strict liability actions “ ‘when no safety concerns are implicated because the damage is limited to the product itself.’ ” (Dis. opn., post, at pp. 999-1000, quoting Jimenez v. Superior Court, supra, 29 Cal.4th 473, 490 (conc. & dis. opn. of Brown, J.).) In both circumstances, “ ‘recourse ... in contract law to enforce the benefit of the bargain’ ” is sufficient. (Ibid.) In contrast, Robinson’s claims are based on Dana’s intentional and affirmative misrepresentations that risked physical harm to persons. Robinson’s helicopters are flown by and carry people. A properly functioning sprag clutch is vital to the safe performance of the aircraft, and compliance with the certificate requirement is part of an integrated regulatory scheme intended to ensure their safe operation. The economic loss rule is designed to limit liability in commercial activities that negligently or inadvertently go awry, not to reward malefactors who affirmatively misrepresent and put people at risk.

8 In footnote 1, the dissent argues our conclusion that Dana’s provision of false certificates of conformance is an independent tort will result in anomalous consequences. (Dis. opn., post, at p. 999.) We disagree. A decision to breach a contract and then acknowledge it has different consequences than a decision to defraud, and we fail to see how Dana’s actions could be deemed “commercially desirable.”

9 We only address the Court of Appeal’s application of the economic loss rule to Dana’s affirmative misrepresentation and do not decide any other issues. We remand for consideration of other issues raised below but not addressed by the Court of Appeal.