Tillman v. Davidson

501 So. 2d 1067, 1987 La. App. LEXIS 8483
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 21, 1987
DocketNo. 18391-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 501 So. 2d 1067 (Tillman v. Davidson) 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
Tillman v. Davidson, 501 So. 2d 1067, 1987 La. App. LEXIS 8483 (La. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

LINDSAY, Judge.

Plaintiffs appeal from a ruling by the trial court which sustained exceptions of prescription in their suit in tort and in redhibition. Plaintiffs sued for damages and other relief because of termite infestation in the home which plaintiffs purchased from the defendants, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Moore, with the aid of Century 21-Roberts Realty and Barbara Carter, real estate agents, following a termite inspection alleged to have been negligently performed by Claude Davidson, d/b/a Davidson Exterminating Service.

At the outset, we note that following the trial court’s ruling on the exception of prescription filed by Mr. and Mrs. Moore, no final judgment was signed. The trial judge filed a “ruling on exceptions” in which he stated that the exceptions of prescription filed by Mr. and Mrs. Moore, and by Claude Davidson, d/b/a Davidson Exterminating Service, were sustained. However, this “ruling” is an opinion and is not a final judgment on the exception filed by Mr. and Mrs. Moore. Therefore, because no final judgment sustaining the exceptions filed by Mr. and Mrs. Moore has been entered, that portion of this case is not before this court for consideration.

However, following the filing of the trial court’s “ruling on exceptions,” a final judgment was signed by the trial court sustaining the exception of prescription filed by Claude Davidson, d/b/a Davidson Exterminating Service and dismissing plaintiffs’ first supplemental and amending petition as to that defendant. Plaintiffs perfected an appeal from that judgment and it is that judgment which is before this court for review.

Our review of the judgment of the trial court sustaining the exception of prescription filed by Claude Davidson d/b/a Davidson Exterminating Service reveals that plaintiffs have failed to state a cause of action against Davidson in redhibition and that the claim against Davidson in tort has not prescribed.

FACTS

In 1982, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Moore engaged Century 21-Roberts Realty and Barbara Carter, real estate agents, to assist them in selling their home. In December of 1982 the plaintiffs, Mr. and Mrs. Morris A. Tillman, decided to purchase the home and a purchase contract was executed. In order to obtain financing, a termite certificate was required. The real estate agent, Barbara Carter, contacted Claude Davidson of Davidson Exterminating Service and requested a termite inspection and certificate stating that the home had been inspected for termites and that none were found. On February 17, 1983, Davidson inspected the house and issued his certificate stating that there were no termites. On February 28, 1983, the act of sale between plaintiffs and Mr. and Mrs. Moore was executed.

The Tillmans moved into the residence in early March, 1983. On March 27, 1983, they found termites in their home. The next day, the plaintiffs contacted Billy Cul-pepper of American Exterminating Company in order to have their home inspected. Mr. Culpepper located termites in the back door and in a column located at the front of the home. In order to visually determine that termites were present, Mr. Culpepper had to actually bore into the wood. When Mr. Davidson learned that termites had been discovered, he returned and made an [1069]*1069additional inspection. Although Mr. Davidson did not locate any termites, he contacted Jack Ray of the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture for another inspection. One of Mr. Ray’s responsibilities with the Department of Agriculture was to review the work of pest control operators. Mr. Ray found live termites in the back door and in the front column, confirming the results of Mr. Culpepper’s inspection.

There was no resolution of the problem and on March 26, 1984, Mr. and Mrs. Tillman filed a suit against Clause Davidson, d/b/a Davidson Exterminating Service, for damages, alleging his negligence in conducting the termite inspection on the home just prior to their purchase. Later, the attorney representing the plaintiff withdrew as counsel. Thereafter, in April, 1984, plaintiffs obtained new legal representation. On June 14, 1985, the plaintiffs filed a “First Amending and Supplemental Petition,” reasserting the original claim for damages due to negligence and asserting a cause of action in redhibition against the original defendant, Davidson, and adding as defendants, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Moore, vendors of the Tillman residence; Century 21-Roberts Realty, the real estate agency conducting the sale of the home; and Barbara Carter, the real estate agent who actually handled the sale.

Following the filing of the First Amending and Supplemental Petition, exceptions of prescription were filed by Mr. and Mrs. Moore, as well as Mr. Davidson, directed at the allegations of this petition. On March 3, 1986, a hearing was held on the exceptions of prescription. On March 6, 1986, the trial judge, accepting the position of the defendants as stated in their briefs, sustained the exceptions of prescription “to the amending petition” and dismissed the action against these parties “for redhibition.” Plaintiffs appeal the court’s ruling sustaining the exceptions of prescription.

As previously stated, the record fails to contain a signed judgment on the exception of prescription filed by the Moores. Therefore, the issue of prescription relative to the Moores is not before this court due to a lack of jurisdiction. LSA-C.C.P. Arts. 1911 and 2083; Succession of Velasquez-Bain, 471 So.2d 731 (La.App. 4th Cir.1985); Bordelon v. Dauzat, 389 So.2d 820 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1980); and First Homestead Fed. Savings and Loan v. Henry, 479 So.2d 644 (La.App. 1st Cir.1985), writ granted 481 So.2d 621 (La.1985), Motion for Clarification granted, 483 So.2d 146 (La.1986), Motion for Reconsideration Denied, 483 So.2d 1016 (La.1986), reinstated in Court of Appeal 492 So.2d 116 (La.App. 1st Cir.1986). Therefore, our review of this case is limited to whether the claims against Davidson in redhibition and negligence have prescribed.

A. REDHIBITION

We note on our motion that the plaintiffs have failed to state a cause of action against Davidson in redhibition. LSA-C.C.P. Art. 927; Succession of Wilson v. Wilson, 446 So.2d 526 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1984). Hence, the issue of prescription is moot.1

An exception of no cause of action concedes, for purposes of trial of the exception, the truth and correctness of the facts pled and may be sustained only when it is clearly shown the law affords no remedy to anyone for the particular grievance alleged. Meche v. Arceneaux, 460 So.2d 89 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1984). In this case, as regards Davidson, the pleadings establish five basic facts. First, Davidson was hired by the Moores’ realtor and paid by the Moores. Second, Davidson inspected the house for termites. Third, Davidson either negligently or falsely issued a certificate stating that he found the house free of termite infestation. Fourth, the Tillmans relied on this certificate in deciding to purchase the house. Last, the house was actually infested with termites.

[1070]*1070Additionally, an exception of no cause of action is a proper procedural device to assert that the law does not afford a remedy to a plaintiff because of a lack of privity of contract. Robinson v. North American Royalties, Inc., 463 So.2d 1384 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1985), modified on appeal, 470 So.2d 112 (La.1985).

The action of redhibition is based upon the breach of the seller’s

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501 So. 2d 1067, 1987 La. App. LEXIS 8483, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tillman-v-davidson-lactapp-1987.