Tindell v. Apple Lines, Inc.

478 N.W.2d 428, 1991 Iowa App. LEXIS 536, 1991 WL 273251
CourtCourt of Appeals of Iowa
DecidedOctober 29, 1991
Docket90-1743
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 478 N.W.2d 428 (Tindell v. Apple Lines, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tindell v. Apple Lines, Inc., 478 N.W.2d 428, 1991 Iowa App. LEXIS 536, 1991 WL 273251 (iowactapp 1991).

Opinion

HAYDEN, Judge.

Apple Lines, Inc. (Apple) is a South Dakota trucking company. On March 27, 1987, Apple entered into an equipment lease agreement with Tindell. Tindell agreed to lease a truck owned by Apple with the option to buy the truck at the end of the lease. The equipment lease called for monthly payments of $681.81 of which $100 would be held in escrow to be credited against the buyout. The equipment lease also provided if Tindell failed to make two consecutive payments or its money equivalent, for whatever reason, Apple would have the right to terminate the equipment lease and retain any sums of money accumulated in the buyout fund.

At the same time, Tindell entered into an operating lease and transportation agreement (operating lease) with Apple. Under the operating lease the parties agreed Tin-dell would be paid seventy-seven cents per mile for hauling Apple’s freight. The operating lease provided it was subject to can *430 cellation by either party upon thirty days’ written notice.

On March 31, 1988, Apple attempted to change the compensation rate from seventy-seven cents per mile. Apple reduced the rate to seventy-one cents per mile for loads over 1,300 miles and sixty cents per mile for deadhead miles. Tindell refused to sign the operating lease addendum and informed Apple he would not accept the rate reduction. Tindell did, however, accept loads and cash paychecks calculated at the rate of seventy-one cents per mile.

On November 4, 1987, Apple terminated both leases with Tindell without notice. Apple cited check-in call violations and late deliveries as reasons for the terminations. Apple claimed it was relieved of the thirty-day-notice provision contained in the operating lease because Tindell was delinquent in his accounts with Apple in an amount exceeding two lease payments. Therefore, under the terms of the equipment lease, Apple argued it could terminate both agreements without notice.

The trial court found Tindell had not missed two consecutive lease payments. Although Tindell’s accounts showed a deficit as of the date he was terminated, the trial court determined Apple had no justification for terminating Tindell’s leases without notice. The trial court reached its decision based on Apple’s breach of contract in: 1) reducing its compensation rates, 2) failing to give thirty days’ notice which caused Tindell to lose one month’s revenues, and 3) retaining Tindell’s buyout contingency fund. The trial court concluded Tindell’s damages for loss of net revenue were $4,927.23.

Apple appeals, claiming the trial court erred in determining the company breached its contracts with Tindell. Apple also claims the trial court erred in computing the amount of damages.

I. Scope of Review. This action was tried at law to the court. Findings of fact in jury-waived cases shall have the effect of a special verdict, Iowa R.App.P. 4., and are binding upon us if supported by substantial evidence. Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(1). We construe the trial court’s findings broadly and liberally. Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co. v. Voeltz, 431 N.W.2d 783, 785 (Iowa 1988). In case of doubt or ambiguity we construe the findings to uphold, rather than defeat, the trial court’s judgment. Id. We are prohibited from weighing the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. Id.

A finding of fact is supported by substantial evidence if the finding may be reasonably inferred from the evidence. In evaluating sufficiency of the evidence, we view it in its light most favorable to sustaining the court’s judgment. We need only consider evidence favorable to the judgment, whether or not it was contradicted.

Briggs Transp. Co. v. Starr Sales Co., 262 N.W.2d 805, 808 (Iowa 1978).

Evidence is substantial or sufficient when a reasonable mind would accept it as adequate to reach the same findings. Waukon Auto v. Farmers & Merchants Sav. Bank, 440 N.W.2d 844, 846 (Iowa 1989). Evidence is not insubstantial merely because it could support contrary inferences. Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co., 431 N.W.2d at 785.

By his pleadings, Tindell sought damages from Apple for breach of both the equipment lease and the operating lease. We address the alleged breach of the operating lease first.

II. Operating Lease. When Apple reduced the compensation rate the operating lease between these parties was exec-utory. The lease had been partly performed by both parties but not completely performed by either. An executory contract may be effectively modified by one party with the consent of the other. Davenport Osteopathic Hospital Association v. Hospital Service, 261 Iowa 247, 253, 154 N.W.2d 153, 157 (1967). The requisite consent may be either express or implied from acts and conduct. Id. Whether a contract has been modified by the parties is ordinarily a question of fact. Id.

We must determine whether Tindell at any time consented to a modification of *431 the compensation rate contained in the operating lease. The record reveals Tindell refused to sign the operating lease addendum. In addition, Tindell informed Apple he would not accept the rate reduction. Tindell accepted loads and cashed paychecks calculated at the reduced rate. We are satisfied, however, Tindell’s mere acceptance of loads and less compensation than prescribed in the operating lease did not constitute an implied consent to Apple’s attempt to modify it. By accepting payments under protest and continued performance on his part, Tindell reserved the right to recover for breach, if any, by Apple. Id. at 255, 154 N.W.2d at 158.

The question we must now resolve is whether Apple’s refusal to reimburse Tindell pursuant to terms of the operating lease was in fact a breach. An unjustified failure to perform all or any part of what is promised in a contract is a breach for which the aggrieved party is entitled to be compensated in damages. Id. at 262, 154 N.W.2d at 162. We conclude Apple’s failure to pay in accord with the operating lease constituted a breach. Each time Apple failed to remit the full amount due Tindell under the terms of the lease constituted a distinct and independent breach upon which an action would lie. Tindell elected to continue performance, deferring any action until there had been several breaches. This he had the right to do. Id. at 263, 154 N.W.2d at 163. The trial court found Tindell’s amount of damages resulting from the compensation rate reduction to be $1,770.27. We agree.

Additionally, under the terms of the operating lease, Tindell was entitled to thirty days’ written notice before the lease could be terminated. Apple did not comply with this provision of the lease.

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478 N.W.2d 428, 1991 Iowa App. LEXIS 536, 1991 WL 273251, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tindell-v-apple-lines-inc-iowactapp-1991.