US Lumber, Inc. v. Fisher

523 N.W.2d 87, 1994 S.D. LEXIS 165, 1994 WL 559007
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 12, 1994
Docket18402
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 523 N.W.2d 87 (US Lumber, Inc. v. Fisher) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
US Lumber, Inc. v. Fisher, 523 N.W.2d 87, 1994 S.D. LEXIS 165, 1994 WL 559007 (S.D. 1994).

Opinions

HENDERSON, Retired Justice (on reassignment).

PROCEDURAL HISTORY/ISSUES

Alleging rescission, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit in an action commenced January 29, 1991, U.S. Lumber and its owners (Plaintiffs) sought to negate their purchase of a partnership interest from Charles F. Fisher (Fisher), who counterclaimed demanding the final installment of the purchase through a promissory note. Concluding that Plaintiffs elected the remedy of rescission, the trial court dismissed the non-rescission actions in the complaint. Thereafter, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Fisher. The trial court also awarded Fisher prejudgment interest at a rate of fifteen percent (15%). On appeal, Plaintiffs raise the following issues:

I. Did the trial court err by dismissing the non-rescission claims?
II. Do alleged errors warrant a new trial?
III.Did the trial court err in awarding 15% prejudgment interest?

We affirm the dismissal of the non-rescission claims, but reverse the prejudgment interest rate.

FACTS

On May 21, 1990, U.S. Lumber, a South Dakota corporation owned by Roger and Sandra Duba, contracted to purchase Fisher’s fifty percent (50%) partnership interest in two Deadwood, South Dakota gaming operations (Goodtime Novelty and Jackpot Charley’s) for $1,500,000. Under the terms of the agreement, U.S. Lumber was to pay Fisher $50,000 upon execution of the agreement and $950,000 at closing. The balance of $500,000 was due on or before January 10, 1991. Roger Duba (Duba), an experienced businessman with a master’s degree in business, signed the agreement as president and guarantor. He also completed a promissory note guaranteeing payment of the final $500,-000.

Several weeks prior to the signing of this agreement, Fisher told Duba that the partnership owned 217 slot machines and was committed to purchase an additional 100. On Fisher’s recommendation, Duba spent considerable time with both Fisher’s partner and accountant to review documents on expenses and revenues. Duba learned that each machine netted over $30 per day, the partnership was earning in excess of $200,000 per month, and expenses for two operations were about $15,000 a month. Duba claims he was led to believe that there were other buyers who were interested in acquiring Fisher’s interest, and that he “had just hours in which to make a decision or the business would be sold to someone else.” According to his testimony, on at least three occasions prior to April 30, 1990, Duba asked Fisher for the partnership’s 1989 tax return, cash flow statements, and expenses and revenues. He was told the documents had not been prepared and when the 1989 tax return was prepared, he would be given a copy. Duba never received the documentation he requested. Nevertheless, Duba insisted on finalizing the deal before Memorial Day; and, on May 21, 1990, the parties executed the [89]*89contract to purchase Fisher’s ownership and promissory note.

In December of 1990, Duba determined that the monthly business expenses prior to U.S. Lumber’s acquisition were in excess of $75,000 per month for Goodtime Novelty and $20,000 per month for Jackpot Charley’s. (Fisher concedes that the $15,000 per month expense figure was understated.) On December 27, 1990, Duba, on behalf of U.S. Lumber, sent Fisher a letter rescinding the agreement and offering to restore to Fisher everything of value received from him. The letter requested the return of “all of the funds that have been paid, the obligations paid on behalf of the partnership, and the guaranties and mortgages executed by any or all of us.” Fisher soon rejected U.S. Lumber’s demands for rescission.

Plaintiffs filed a complaint, alleging rescission, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit. Fisher counterclaimed for the final installment of $500,000 plus interest, and sought foreclosure of a mortgage on the. Du-bas’ property in Deadwood which had been given as security. Fisher asserted that the Plaintiffs’ December 27 letter constituted an irrevocable election to pursue the remedy of rescission, and made a motion to dismiss or for partial summary judgment on the remaining claims of fraud, misrepresentation, and punitive damages. Trial court granted the Motion to Dismiss the non-rescission actions.

The jury found that Fisher did not fraudulently induce Plaintiffs to enter into the contract, but found Plaintiffs in default on the promissory note. Fisher was awarded the principal of $500,000, plus prejudgment' interest at 15%. Plaintiffs appeal the dismissal of the non-rescission claims and the interest amount.

DECISION

I. Plaintiffs elected their remedy.

“If a buyer has been defrauded, .he has an election of remedies available to him. He can either rescind the contract, restore what he received and recover back what he paid, or he may affirm the agreement and sue for monetary damages.” Holmes v. Couturier, 452 N.W.2d 135, 137 (S.D.1990). Essentially, the complaining party has the right to a choice or “election” of remedies. O’Connor v. King, 479 N.W.2d 162 (S.D.1991). This principle of law is deeply-rooted in this state by precedent dating back nearly one hundred years to Davis v. Tubbs, 7 S.D. 488, 64 N.W. 534 (1895). Election of remedies is not simply a rule of procedure; rather, it is based upon substantive law, birthed in the existence of contracts and the rights derived from those contracts. As we stated in S & S Trucking v. Whitewood Motors, Inc., 346 N.W.2d 297, 301 (S.D.1984):

It is a well-recognized rule of contract law that once a party rescinds a contract, as Whitewood did here by its termination, the contract is extinguished and there is no longer any right of recovery under the contract provisions.

Recently, in Tucek v. Mueller, 511 N.W.2d 832 (S.D.1994), Tucek was entitled to sue for damages for fraud and deceit; Tucek also had the right to sue for rescission. In other words, she had the right to the remedy of her choice; however, the trial court deprived Tucek of that choice and restricted her remedy to rescission. We reversed. . Herein, when Plaintiffs voluntarily informed Fisher by the December 27 letter that they were acting to “rescind that certain Agreement dated the 21st day of May, 1990,” Plaintiffs unequivocally elected their remedy. They reaffirmed their election of rescission in paragraph XV of their Complaint, stating that they “did thereby rescind said agreement by letter dated December 27, 1990.” Once elected, Plaintiffs were not entitled to sue under alternative theories of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

From Davis to Tucek, dust has 'not had time to settle on this oft-used principle. It has lived on. The trial court did not err in dismissing Plaintiffs’ additional tort claims.

II. Plaintiffs are not entitled to a new trial.

Special Interrogatory A(l) was posed to the jury as follows:

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US Lumber, Inc. v. Fisher
523 N.W.2d 87 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1994)

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Bluebook (online)
523 N.W.2d 87, 1994 S.D. LEXIS 165, 1994 WL 559007, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/us-lumber-inc-v-fisher-sd-1994.