Sanchez v. Alonso

615 P.2d 934, 96 Nev. 663, 1980 Nev. LEXIS 673
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 14, 1980
DocketNo. 10537
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 615 P.2d 934 (Sanchez v. Alonso) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sanchez v. Alonso, 615 P.2d 934, 96 Nev. 663, 1980 Nev. LEXIS 673 (Neb. 1980).

Opinion

[665]*665OPINION

By the Court,

Manoukian, J.:

In this appeal and cross-appeal from a judgment in favor of appellant, we recognize two issues as having merit. They are: (1) Whether the damages awarded were inadequate as a matter of law; and (2) Whether the trial court erred in awarding attorney’s fees to appellant.

In 1972, appellant Sanchez, John Sankovich and Art Fife formed a partnership called Esquire Properties. Sanchez acquired Fife’s interest two years later. Dr. Edwards joined the partnership in 1974 as a limited partner. Each of the three partners owned a one-third interest although Dr. Edwards would only make a contribution of $50,000 above the original investment. The assets of the partnership consisted of property on Washington Street in Reno.

The partnership decided to construct an office building on the Washington Street property in 1974. Appellant obtained an interim loan from the First National Bank in the amount of $500,000 and signed on behalf of the partnership. Due to a poor occupancy rate, appellant was unable to obtain permanent financing.

Appellant also owned Sanchez Construction Company which was to build the office building and to receive ten percent of construction costs. The profit was to be $65,000 on the $650,000 building. Appellant made advances on behalf of the partnership and was to receive one-third contributions from each of the two other partners.

In March of 1976, appellant desired to sell his interest and offered to sell to Sankovich for $80,000 and the assumption of all debts. The sale did not materialize. Sankovich, the accountant for the partnership, mentioned the opportunity to another client, respondent Alonso. Respondent’s attorney would later inform appellant that respondent was interested.

Appellant testified that he offered respondent the same terms as were offered to Sankovich. After apparently clearing up some misunderstandings as to how much was owed to the bank on the loan, respondent asked his attorney to draw up the [666]*666papers. Because he was busy, respondent’s attorney purportedly asked appellant’s attorney to prepare the papers. Due to some construction problems, the sale price was reduced to $50,000. A promissory note reflecting this amount with twelve percent interest was drafted as were an assignment of appellant’s interest in the partnership and an agreement by respondent to assume underlying debts.

When the papers were sent to respondent, he asked his attorney to make several changes.1 The interest rate was reduced to nine and one-half percent per annum and the $10,000 owed to Sanchez Construction was struck. Other wording of the agreement was modified. After the note, assignment, and agreement were signed, respondent left for Spain on June 25 to attend to his deceased father’s estate matters.2 No payments have been made according to the agreement. Appellant filed an action only on the $50,000 note on June 29, 1976, the expiration date of the thirty day note. Respondent answered claiming that appellant had misrepresented that he had full title to the Washington Street property. Respondent also alleged that appellant failed to inform respondent that there was an IRS lien and a lien by a subcontractor on the property. Respondent counterclaimed on these bases and also on the basis that appellant had represented that Dr. Edwards and his wife were no longer involved in the partnership and that respondent and Sankovich were to acquire one-half interest each in the property.

In October of 1976, appellant also filed suit on the agreement whereby he was to be indemnified by Sankovich and respondent against construction liabilities.3 The total against which appellant was indemnified was $133,324.65. At the trial on the consolidated actions, appellant stated that he was unaware of the IRS lien. Sankovich, appellant’s accountant, had allegedly failed to file tax returns for past years. Additionally, any variance between the actual amount owed to creditors and the amount listed in the agreement were due to Sankovich’s failure to update the list.

The amount claimed by appellant in the complaints was [667]*667$50,000 on the note and $133,324.65 on the agreement. San-kovich was a named defendant, as he had signed the indemnification agreement, but subsequently filed bankruptcy and was dismissed from the suit. The jury rendered a verdict for appellant in the amount of $91,662.32, exactly one-half of the claimed amount. The trial court concluded that $50,000 of the award represented the amount due on the note and the balance was the amount on the agreement. Thus, the court allowed appellant attorney’s fees on the note in the amount of $10,000.

Appellant appealed and now argues that he should have recovered the entire amount alleged. Respondent cross-appealed claiming appellant breached a warranty of title and also was unable to convey any interest in the property. He also claims that appellant was not entitled to attorney’s fees on the note as the jury award could have been attributed just as logically to a recovery on the indemnification agreement. We find respondent’s contentions to be without merit and affirm as modified.

1. The Alleged Inadequacy of the Verdict.

According to the agreement, Sankovich and respondent agreed to indemnify appellant against the payment of creditors and the respective amounts as listed and attached to the agreement. The agreement provided that Sankovich and respondent would “jointly and severally keep and save harmless and indemnify [appellant] of, from and against the payment of any and all legal liabilities incurred during and for the construction of [the Washington Street building]. ...” This included the amount owed to First National Bank and to the listed contractors and materialmen along with interest and penalties due. Respondent had the right to settle or dispute claims and San-kovich and respondent were to defend any suits by creditors against appellant.

Appellant argues that the verdict of $91,662.32 did not adequately compensate him for his losses. Because this was an agreement to indemnify, appellant contends, he need not demonstrate actual damages in order to recover. In the context of this case, we agree.

This case involves an indemnification against all liabilities. Here, the indemnitee has a complete right of action when he becomes legally liable for damages. Jones, v. Child, 8 Nev. 121, 125 (1872). See Continental Casualty Co. v. Farrow, 79 Nev. 428, 386 P.2d 90 (1963). The cause of action arises where, [668]*668as here, the indemnitor fails to perform in accordance with the contract. Respondent and Sankovich were to indemnify appellant against any liabilities and would also have to defend actions against appellant. The fact that a review of the record reveals that appellant had only paid ten of the seventeen listed creditors,4 is irrelevant. Although these amounts, which included interest for some, totalled $36,599.83, appellant was not required to prove that any payment had been made. Under the instant indemnity contracts, the right of action accrued in favor of the appellant-indemnitee upon a demand from the creditors, whether or not appellant had sustained actual damage at the time. See Jones v. Child, 8 Nev. at 125; Levin v.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
615 P.2d 934, 96 Nev. 663, 1980 Nev. LEXIS 673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sanchez-v-alonso-nev-1980.