Terminix International, Inc. v. Lucci

670 S.W.2d 657
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 13, 1984
Docket04-81-00352-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by52 cases

This text of 670 S.W.2d 657 (Terminix International, Inc. v. Lucci) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Terminix International, Inc. v. Lucci, 670 S.W.2d 657 (Tex. Ct. App. 1984).

Opinion

OPINION

REEVES, Justice.

This is an appeal from a Deceptive Trade Practices Act case. Appellee was granted judgment for the recovery of the reasonable cost of repair as well as the permanent reduction of the market value of her home, treble damages, and attorney’s fees due to the breach of a termite control and guarantee contract entered into with appellants.

Appellee, Marie Lueci, early in 1976, discovered termite infestation in her home. Appellants, Sears Roebuck & Company, acting through TERMINIX INTERNATIONAL, INC., on February 26, 1976, entered into a termite control and guarantee contract with appellee. The home was satisfactorily treated and the termite infestation abated. The termite control and guarantee contract was for a period of one year with a right of renewal. The contract provided in part:

Sears further agrees that if new subterranean termite damage to the structure or contents occurs while this contract is in effect, then Sears will, upon notifica *660 tion and inspection, arrange for necessary repairs at its expense. New subterranean termite damage is that damage done by termites over and above existing damage at the time this contract was originally entered into (as indicated on the attached form), with live termites being found in the damaged area.

Appellee renewed and extended the contract. Sometime around September of 1978, appellee’s son discovered active termites in the upstairs bathroom. Appellants were notified a short time thereafter. There was a sharp dispute between the parties as to the extent of the new termite damage and the cost of its repair. Negotiations deteriorated and this lawsuit was instituted by appellee.

The appellee alleged that appellants breached their contract and the guarantees and warranties flowing therefrom resulting in a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The jury found for the appellee, and the court ruled that the actual damages found by the jury be trebled pursuant to TEX. BUS. & COM.CODE ANN. § 17.50(b)(1) (Vernon Supp.1982-1983) and that appellee recover her attorney’s fees.

SPECIAL ISSUES AND DAMAGES

Appellants contend the trial court erred in submitting special issue number fourteen, inquiring what sum of money would compensate appellee for “the permanent reduction, if any, in the market value of her home, resulting from new subterranean termite damage,” because such issue submitted an improper measure of damages. The issue, in pertinent part, provides:

What sum of money, if any, paid now in cash, do you find from a preponderance of the evidence would fairly and reasonably compensate Marie Lucci for her damages, if any, which you find from a preponderance of the evidence resulted from new subterranean termite damage to her home after March 1, 1976?
Answer separately in dollar and cents with respect to each of the following elements:
(a) reasonable and necessary cost of repairs
Do not include any expenditures heretofore made by Marie Lucci for repairs to her home or the value, if any, of the time spent by her in making such repairs.
We, the jury, answer: $6,415.00
(b) permanent reduction, if any, in the market value of her home
We, the jury, answer: $20,000.00
(c) reasonable and necessary expenditures, if any, made by Marie Lucci for repairs to her home.
We, the jury, answer: $50.00

Appellants objected to the submission of special issue number fourteen for the following reasons:

(a) No legally sufficient evidence of the reasonable and necessary cost of repairs for new subterranean damage;
(b) That portion of special issue fourteen that inquired as to whether there was a permanent reduction, if any, of market value of the plaintiff’s home for reason there is no legally sufficient evidence of probative force that any permanent reduction of market value, if any, is causally related to new subterranean termite damage in the plaintiff’s home.
(c) The inquiry as to permanent reduction in market value as a proper measure of damages for defects or repairs, which can be remedied without impairment to the building as a whole, is the reasonable cost of repair. No legally sufficient evidence by a qualified witness that appellee's home was structurally impaired so as to require any other measure of damages based upon any permanent reduction of market value.
(d) No legally sufficient evidence of the reasonable and necessary expenditures made by appellee for necessary repair of the new subterranean termite damage.

*661 In considering points of error connected with the submission of special issue number fourteen, we are limited to the objections and exceptions aforementioned. American Transfer & Storage Co. v. Reichley, 560 S.W.2d 196, 199-200 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

We will first consider appellants’ assertion that the proper measure of damages was a reasonable cost of repair. TEX. BUS. & COM.CODE ANN. § 17.50(b) (Vernon Supp.1982-1983) (Deceptive Trade Practices Act) establishes actual damages as the basic measure of damages to an aggrieved and successful consumer. In determining actual damages, appellants concede that the courts have approved both market value or the reasonable cost of repair. Jordan Ford, Inc. v. Alsbury, 625 S.W.2d 1 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1981, no writ); Jim Walter Homes, Inc. v. Castillo, 616 S.W.2d 630 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi 1981, no writ); Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland v. Stool, 607 S.W.2d 17 (Tex.Civ.App.—Tyler 1980, no writ). Consequently, if there was legal and sufficient evidence to warrant the submission of market value the court did not err in submitting it.

Appellants contend that the contract between the parties provided the method of ascertaining damages in the event of a controversy between the parties and this contractual method should have been used by the trial court. This contention was not brought forth in the exceptions made to the submission of special issue number fourteen, nor was a requested instruction submitted to the court on this method of computing damages. It was, therefore, waived. Cameron v. Terrell & Garrett, Inc., 618 S.W.2d 535 (Tex.1981).

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670 S.W.2d 657, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/terminix-international-inc-v-lucci-texapp-1984.