Rumford v. Valley Pest Control, Inc.

629 So. 2d 623
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedSeptember 24, 1993
Docket1910975, 1911156 and 1911624
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 629 So. 2d 623 (Rumford v. Valley Pest Control, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rumford v. Valley Pest Control, Inc., 629 So. 2d 623 (Ala. 1993).

Opinion

629 So.2d 623 (1993)

Charles L. RUMFORD and Joanna Rumford
v.
VALLEY PEST CONTROL, INC.
William L. RAWLINS and Patsy Rawlins
v.
VALLEY PEST CONTROL, INC.
Charles L. RUMFORD and Joanna Rumford
v.
William L. RAWLINS, et al.

1910975, 1911156 and 1911624.

Supreme Court of Alabama.

June 30, 1993.
As Modified on Denial of Rehearing September 24, 1993.

*625 Dinah P. Rhodes of Blankenship, Robinson & Rhodes, P.C., Huntsville, for Charles L. Rumford and Joanna Rumford and on application for rehearing.

H. Harold Stephens of Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C., Huntsville, for Valley Pest Control, Inc.

Aubrey O. Lammons of Lammons and Bell, Huntsville, for William L. Rawlins and Patsy Rawlins.

George K. Williams and Charles H. Pullen of Watson, Gammons & Fees, P.C., Huntsville, for Sherry Dinges.

INGRAM, Justice.

The plaintiffs, Charles L. Rumford and Joanna Rumford, appeal from summary judgments entered in favor of the defendants, William L. Rawlins and Patsy Rawlins, Sherry Dinges, and Valley Pest Control, Inc. ("Valley"). The Rawlinses appeal from the summary judgment entered on their cross-claim against Valley. Although these three appeals were taken at different times, they all arose from the same litigation and related to the same transaction. Therefore, we have consolidated these appeals for decision.

The Rumfords purchased a house from the Rawlinses. Sherry Dinges was the Rawlinses' agent in the transaction. Two years before the sale of the house, Valley had treated the house for termite infestation. Two years after they had purchased the house, the Rumfords discovered that it was infested with termites and that fungus and mildew were growing on the floor joists under the house.

The Rumfords sued Valley, Dinges, and the Rawlinses, seeking damages for negligence, wantonness, fraud, breach of contract, and conspiracy. The Rawlinses filed a cross-claim against Valley, alleging that Valley was responsible for any damages the Rawlinses might be required to pay the Rumfords.

The trial judge first entered a summary judgment in favor of Valley on all of the *626 claims brought against it, including the cross-claim. He then entered a summary judgment in favor of Dinges and the Rawlinses on the claims brought by the Rumfords. The trial judge gave no specific reasons for entering the summary judgments.

A summary judgment is proper when "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Rule 56(c)(3), A.R.Civ.P. To overcome a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the nonmoving party must present substantial evidence supporting its claims and creating a genuine issue of material fact. Ala.Code 1975, § 12-21-12. To satisfy the "substantial evidence test," the nonmoving party is required to present "evidence of such weight and quality that fair-minded persons in the exercise of impartial judgment can reasonably infer the existence of the fact sought to be proved." West v. Founders Life Assurance Co. of Florida, 547 So.2d 870, 871 (Ala.1989). When the trial court gives no specific reasons for entering a summary judgment, we will affirm the judgment if there is any ground upon which the judgment can be based. Yarbrough v. C & S Family Credit, Inc., 595 So.2d 880, 881 (Ala. 1992).

On February 16, 1988, the Rumfords contracted to purchase a house from the Rawlinses. The transaction was closed on March 16, 1988. In October 1990, the Rumfords discovered that part of the house was infested with termites and that fungus and mildew were present on the floor joists under the house. This litigation was commenced on January 22, 1991.

In 1986 the Rawlinses contracted with Valley to treat the house for termite infestation. Later, before putting the house on the market, Mr. Rawlins replaced a piece of molding near the chimney that showed evidence of termite infestation. The Rumfords also presented evidence that Valley had treated the house for termites in 1989 without the Rumfords' knowledge.

The record shows that as early as 1983 the Rawlinses were aware of the presence of fungus and mildew under the house. Before the closing, the Rumfords asked the Rawlinses if the house had any problems with moisture. The Rawlinses informed the Rumfords that there were no such problems. Shortly before the closing, an inspector had informed the Rawlinses that there was a problem with moisture under the house and that a "French drain" should be installed. The Rawlinses had a French drain installed under the house. They informed the Rumfords that the drain had to be installed to bring the house "up to code." The Rumfords presented evidence that at all times before the closing, a padlock was on the door to the crawl space under the house, thus preventing them from inspecting that area.

As a condition of the sale contract, the Rawlinses were required to produce a letter stating that the property was free and clear from termite infestation and damage from such infestation. On March 10, 1988, the Rawlinses contracted with Valley to inspect the house and supply a "termite letter." During this inspection, Valley did not detect any active termite infestation. However, the record shows that two termite letters were produced. The first letter, dated March 10, 1988, referred to an attached graph showing the area of previous termite infestation and the extent of damage to the house. That letter also contained the following notation: "Moisture and fungus that need attention."

After the French drain was installed, the Rawlinses contacted Valley and asked them to produce a second termite letter. Without performing another inspection of the house, Valley produced a second letter. That letter, dated March 14, 1988, did not mention any problem with fungus or moisture, nor did it contain any reference to the prior termite infestation. The second letter was produced at the closing; the Rumfords were not aware of the existence of the first letter until October 1990.

We will first address the issues raised by the Rumfords in their appeal from the summary judgment entered in favor of Dinges and the Rawlinses. In the next part of the opinion, we will address the issues raised by the Rumfords in their appeal from the summary judgment in favor of Valley. Finally, we will discuss the issues raised by the Rawlinses *627 in their appeal from the summary judgment in favor of Valley on the cross-claim.

I. Rumford v. Rawlins and Dinges (1911624)

Dinges and the Rawlinses argue that the trial court properly entered the summary judgment on the claims against them because, they argue, the Rumfords' claims are barred by the statute of limitations.

One count in the Rumfords' complaint sought damages for negligence and wantonness by the Rawlinses; and one count alleged negligence by the Rawlinses. These claims are governed by the two-year statute of limitations provided in § 6-2-38, Ala.Code 1975.

"Generally, a cause of action for injury or damage to property accrues, so as to start the running of limitations, on the date of the injury or damage, and not upon the occurrence of the negligence itself, or the last known negligent act." 54 C.J.S. Limitations of Actions, § 176 (1987) (citing Alabama Power Co. v. Cummings, 466 So.2d 99 (Ala. 1985) (footnotes omitted) (emphasis added). "[T]he cause of action `accrues,' and the statute of limitations begins to run, `when, and only when, the damages are sustained.'" McWilliams v. Union Pacific Resources Co.,

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

Related

Utilities Board. of City of Opp v. Shuler Brothers, Inc.
138 So. 3d 287 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2013)
Walker v. Capstone Building Corp.
96 So. 3d 77 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2012)
Carr v. International Refining & Manufacturing Co.
13 So. 3d 947 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2009)
Ishler v. Commissioner
442 F. Supp. 2d 1189 (N.D. Alabama, 2006)
CertainTeed Corp. v. Russell
883 So. 2d 1266 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 2003)
Orkin Exterminating Co., Inc. v. Larkin
857 So. 2d 97 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2003)
Ex Parte Stonebrook Development, LLC
854 So. 2d 584 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2003)
Matthews Bros. Construction Co. v. Stonebrook Development, L.L.C.
854 So. 2d 584 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2003)
Matthews Bros. Construction Co. v. Stonebrook Development
854 So. 2d 573 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 2001)
Allied-Bruce Terminix Companies, Inc. v. Butler
816 So. 2d 9 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 2001)
Ex Parte Hill
730 So. 2d 214 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1998)
Dorsey v. Bowers
709 So. 2d 51 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1998)
Hill v. Metrospec, Inc.
730 So. 2d 209 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1997)
Bennett v. Cell-Pest Control, Inc.
701 So. 2d 1122 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1997)
Mueller Co. v. Trambeam Corp.
693 So. 2d 1380 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1997)
Hughes v. Hertz Corp.
670 So. 2d 882 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1995)
New Joy Young Rest., Inc. v. Dept. of Revenue
667 So. 2d 1384 (Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
629 So. 2d 623, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rumford-v-valley-pest-control-inc-ala-1993.