Slaughter v. Guinn

571 So. 2d 876, 1990 La. App. LEXIS 2910, 1990 WL 202670
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 12, 1990
DocketNo. 89-728
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 571 So. 2d 876 (Slaughter v. Guinn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Slaughter v. Guinn, 571 So. 2d 876, 1990 La. App. LEXIS 2910, 1990 WL 202670 (La. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

GUIDRY, Judge.

Plaintiff, Steve Slaughter, d/b/a Steve Motors and Truck Parts, appeals a judgment of the trial court dismissing his suit for damages. We affirm.

We adopt the following recitation of facts as set out by the trial judge in his reasons for judgment:
“This litigation arises out of an auction sale conducted by defendant, GUINN BROTHERS AUCTIONEERS, INCORPORATED (defendant, or Guinn Brothers) in Alexandria on September 17, 1987. Defendant JOHN E. GUINN, president of Guinn Brothers, is a licensed auctioneer and sold the property auctioned on behalf of the corporation.
Although other property was sold at the auction, the major consignor of property was Tidelands Equipment, Inc. The plaintiff, STEVE SLAUGHTER, D/B/A STEVE MOTORS & TRUCK PARTS (plaintiff, or Slaughter) had some 25 items of property for sale at the auction and also purchased three 1983 Chevrolet Kodiak dump trucks for the total sum of $39,750. Only the purchase of the trucks is at issue in this suit.
These trucks were advertised for sale in the advance brochure (P-1) as 1983 Chevrolet Kodiak dump trucks and were also listed in the buyers guide (P-2) as 1983 Chevrolet Kodiak dump trucks (items 104, 105 and 106).
Shortly after the sale plaintiff discovered that the trucks were not 1983 models as advertised and sold, but one was a 1980 model and the other two were 1981 models. Plaintiff had pre-sold the vehicles and the first knowledge he had of a problem was on September 21, 1987, four days after the sale, when representatives of the buyer arrived in Alexandria to pick up the trucks. The next day, September 22, he received the titles in the mail from Guinn Brothers and discovered the discrepancy in the model years.
The evidence shows that there had been no change in the model of Chevrolet Kodiak dump trucks from 1979 to 1988, and, therefore, one could not tell the model year by simply looking at the truck. Slaughter acknowledged that he knew this. Further, the evidence shows that Slaughter is an experienced licensed dealer who has bought and sold used trucks since 1971 and on at least one previous occasion had bought Kodiak trucks.
The record reflects that although Guinn Brothers had in their possession the ti-[878]*878ties to the vehicles, the brochure and other advertisements were prepared from the list of property and vehicles furnished them by Tidelands. With reference to the description of the property to be sold, the following disclaimer of warranty appeared on the brochure:
‘NOTE:
While all information contained in this brochure and other advertising has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, neither the auction company, sellers or publisher shall be liable for any errors or for the correctness of descriptions. This brochure as is all printed matter regarding this sale is merely a guide and subject to additions or deletions. All purchases are made “as is, where is” based entirely on the personal inspection and/or opinion of the purchaser and without warranty or guarantee of any kind.’
Slaughter admitted at trial that he saw and read the above disclaimer.
The buyer’s guide also contained the following language with reference to warranty:
‘WARRANTY
There shall be no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, statutory or otherwise of any nature as to conformity to any safety or pollution standard or to any other standard or requirement of any applicable authority, law or regulation, or fitness for any particular purpose, or merchantability, or particular age, year of manufacture, model, make or condition, or any other warranty whatsoever. No sale shall be invalidated by reason of any defect or inaccuracy in any of the lots due to being incorrectly described in this listing catalog or any other advertising or statements by Auctioneer and/or Auctioneer’s agents or employees. All advertising material and statements made have been compiled from sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy thereof cannot be guaranteed or warranted by Auctioneer, Seller or publisher. Bidder acknowledges that it is his responsibility to inspect all equipment and to make his inquiries and judgment prior to bidding on any item or items.’
Finally, at the auction, before the bidding commenced, John Guinn, the auctioneer, made the following opening statement over a loud speaker:
‘We are in no way guaranteeing any description of anything. You’ll know this machinery as good as anybody else, you need to take a look at it and remember that when you buy it, you buy it as is, where is. Once you buy it, it does belong to you at that time. If you have any doubts about it, just don’t bid on it gentlemen, cause once you buy it and the bid’s struck down, it does belong to you.’
This suit was filed on October 13, 1987 after plaintiff was unsuccessful in attempting to halt the final disbursement of the funds of Guinn Brothers to Tidelands. The evidence shows that Guinn Brothers advanced monies to Tidelands prior to the sale, the date of the sale, and on September 25, 1987, three days after the dispute was made known to it.
The initial suit was filed only against John E. Guinn and Guinn Brothers. In this suit plaintiff sought to rescind the sale; order Guinn Brothers to return to plaintiff the price he paid for the trucks; together with interest, certain damages and attorney’s fees. After the court sustained the Exception of Lack of an Indispensable Party filed by the defendant, Tidelands Equipment, Inc. was made a party defendant by plaintiff. Tidelands filed an answer in proper person and was not represented by counsel at the trial. It would appear that Tidelands is insolvent.”

The trial judge, relying on Castille v. Folck, 338 So.2d 328 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1976); West v. Klumpp, 417 So.2d 125 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1982); Newbaker v. Lanier, 497 So.2d 355 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1986); and, Voitier v. Antique Art Gallery, 524 So.2d 80 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1988), writ denied, 531 So.2d 271 (La.1988), correctly found that plaintiff had no cause of action in redhibition against Guinn and Guinn Brothers (hereafter collectively referred to as Guinn [879]*879or defendants) as they were disclosed agents of Tidelands. This finding is not questioned on appeal.

On appeal, Slaughter argues that the trial court erred in not finding appellees guilty of fraud and/or gross negligence. Appellant contends Guinn should have been found liable for violating La.R.S. 37:3125 and 3132 and/or La.C.C. arts. 3017 and 3018 (statutes and articles attached as appendices numbered 1 and 2 respectively).

Appellant first argues that Guinn violated the provisions of La.R.S. 37:3132 when it failed to verify the information provided by Tidelands on their descriptive list against the titles in its possession and, as a result, is responsible for the loss occasioned by its neglect. We find no force in this argument. La.R.S. 37:3132 appears in Chapter 42 of the Revised Statutes governing the licensing and conduct of auctioneers. La.R.S. 37:3132 establishes a rule of conduct for auctioneers, the violation of which rule subjects the auctioneer to punishment under another provision of Chapter 42, i.e., La.R.S. 37:3123. La.R.S.

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Bluebook (online)
571 So. 2d 876, 1990 La. App. LEXIS 2910, 1990 WL 202670, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/slaughter-v-guinn-lactapp-1990.