United First Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. White-Stevens, Ltd.

833 P.2d 170, 253 Mont. 242, 49 State Rptr. 490, 1992 Mont. LEXIS 137
CourtMontana Supreme Court
DecidedJune 4, 1992
Docket91-373
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 833 P.2d 170 (United First Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. White-Stevens, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United First Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. White-Stevens, Ltd., 833 P.2d 170, 253 Mont. 242, 49 State Rptr. 490, 1992 Mont. LEXIS 137 (Mo. 1992).

Opinions

JUSTICE McDONOUGH

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

White-Stevens, Ltd., and Thomas Stevens appeal from a judgment of the Fourth Judicial District Court, Missoula County, in favor of United First Federal Savings and Loan Association. We reverse. We frame the following issues for appeal:

1. Whether the District Court erred in admitting expert testimony; and

2. Whether the District Court erred in awarding United First Federal contractual damages.

Thomas Stevens, a professional appraiser and member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, prepared two appraisal reports on two properties in Missoula, Montana. The appraisals were prepared at the request of the Curran family (herein Curran). The first report was submitted on November 3,1983, for a building located at 800 Kensington. According to the report, the value of the property in 1983, was $1,600,000. The second report was submitted on February 8,1984, for an unimproved 6 acre tract located at the corner of Russell and 34th Street. According to the report the value of the [244]*244property was $960,000. At the time of the appraisals, Stevens was a partner in White-Stevens, Ltd.

The prospective lender, United First Federal (UFF) reviewed the reports, and relied on the accuracy of the reports in making its decision to grant loans to Curran, secured by the appraised properties. On April 17,1984, UFF loaned Curran approximately $600,000, secured by a trust indenture on the 6 acre tract. On August 31, 1984, UFF loaned Curran $975,000, secured by a trust indenture on the Kensington property. The loan amounts were 61-62% of the appraised market values and were well below the industry average loan to value ratio of 70-75%.

Curran defaulted on both loans before the end of 1984. UFF judicially foreclosed each obligation and security as a mortgage. On December 10, 1985 the District Court entered a foreclosure decree. A default judgment was entered against the Currans which included interest, costs, and attorney fees. At the sheriff’s sale, UFF bid $850,000 for the Kensington property, and $200,000 for the 6 acre tract. As a result of the sheriff’s sale, a deficiency judgment of February 5,1986, in the amount of $848,067, was entered against the Currans. UFF has exhausted every alternative in attempting to collect the debt. Curran did not redeem either property. UFF later sold the Kensington property for $775,000. UFF has not been able to sell the 6 acre tract.

UFF brought an action against White-Stevens, Ltd. and Thomas Stevens for damages arising from negligent misrepresentations of the appraisals of real property. A bench trial commenced on December 21, 1990. The District Court entered judgment on April 17, 1991, awarding UFF $848,067. This appeal followed.

The standards of review are set out below as we discuss each issue.

I

Whether the District Court erred in admitting expert testimony.

Questions of evidence are discretionary with the trial court. The scope of review of discretionary acts by the trial court is whether or not the trial court’s determination was a misuse or abuse of discretion. Steer, Inc. v. Dept. of Revenue (1990), 245 Mont. 470, 803 P.2d 601.

Stevens argues the District Court improperly allowed expert testimony at trial, in violation of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure. During discovery, Stevens’ counsel propounded interrogatories to UFF requesting UFF identify the names of persons they expected to [245]*245call as experts at trial. UFF responded, stating they would be calling Steven Alan Hall as an expert. UFF did not supplement its original answer to interrogatories. It is clear that under Rule 26(b)(4)(A)(i), M.R.Civ.P., UFF was required to disclose the names of experts it intended to call at trial.

Rule 26(b)(4)(A)(i), M.R.Civ.R, provides:

A party may through interrogatories require any other party to identify each person whom the other party expects to call a an expert witness at trial, to state the subject matter on which the expert is expected to testify, and to state the substance of the facts and opinions to which the expert is expected to testify and a summary of the grounds for each opinion. (Emphasis added.)

Rule 702, M.R.Evid, which governs expert testimony provides:

If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education may testify thereto in the form of opinion or otherwise.

The Commissioner’s Comments to Rule 702, discuss two standards in determining when testimony is expert in nature. The standard involved under the facts here is concerned with whether or not the subject matter requires expert testimony. Former § 93-401-27(9), RCM (1947) (superseded), admitted expert opinion when a case involved questions of “science, art, or trade, when he is skilled therein”. This section has been interpreted to include matters not within the range of ordinary training or intelligence. The modern rule admits expert testimony to aid the trier of fact to understand facts and draw correct conclusions. The Commissioner’s Comments note that the modern rule intends to encompass both statements of the rule.

Nicholas Kaufman, Ken Staninger, and James Benn (whose testimony in part presented opinion evidence of Barney Olson, an appraiser hired by UFF) were called to testify at trial on behalf of UFF. UFF argues that neither Kaufman nor Staninger nor Olson, were identified as experts because they were not expected to testify as experts nor did they testify as such. We treat each witness separately.

Kaufman

Nicholas P. Kaufman, a land use consultant with the engineer[246]*246ing firm of Sorenson and Co., was subpoenaed by UFF and testified on their behalf. UFF hired Sorenson and Co. to study the flood proofing problems on the 6 acre tract in an effort to market the property. During direct examination, counsel for UFF stated:

I have the intention of inquiring of you and asking you about what was available to you or to anyone who would have looked at the public record as of that date that related to flood-proofing or flood control issues on this property.

Stevens’ counsel objected on the grounds that Kaufman was an ■undisclosed expert. UFF counter-argued that Kaufman would be testifying to historical facts and would not be giving his opinion. The objection was overruled.

Counsel for UFF then asked Kaufman,

Based on your review of the records ... what did your analysis and investigation of the records show to you or tell you about this property.

Counsel for Stevens repeated his objection. UFF argued it was really a summary of facts in the public record. Stevens’ counsel counter-argued that without an expert to interpret the record, best evidence of public records are certified copies, and that interpreting public records is expert testimony. The objection was overruled.

Kaufman went on to present an analysis of the appropriate city council minutes, flood insurance rate maps, flood plain maps, and several sections of the flood plain ordinance.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
833 P.2d 170, 253 Mont. 242, 49 State Rptr. 490, 1992 Mont. LEXIS 137, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-first-federal-savings-loan-assn-v-white-stevens-ltd-mont-1992.