Vogel v. Carolina International, Inc.

711 P.2d 708, 42 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 769, 1985 Colo. App. LEXIS 1406
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 14, 1985
Docket83CA1097
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 711 P.2d 708 (Vogel v. Carolina International, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vogel v. Carolina International, Inc., 711 P.2d 708, 42 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 769, 1985 Colo. App. LEXIS 1406 (Colo. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinions

KELLY, Judge.

In this action for conversion and outrageous conduct, the defendant, Carolina International, Inc., doing business as Century Housing Corporation (Century), appeals from a judgment entered on a jury verdict in favor of plaintiffs, Gary Vogel (Vogel) and Kitchen Kraft Manufacturing, Inc. (Kitchen Kraft). Century argues that the trial court erred in denying its motion for directed verdict, in submitting issues under improper instruction, in allowing the issue of exemplary damages to go to the jury, in failing to set aside the award of exemplary damages, and in failing to dismiss Vogel’s claim for outrageous conduct. We affirm.

The evidence shows that Vogel was the sole shareholder, president and general manager of Kitchen Kraft, a corporation which manufactured wooden cabinets. In December 1979, Kitchen Kraft entered into an oral contract with Century to manufacture and deliver cabinets for structures being built by Century.

After several months of doing business together, it appearing that Kitchen Kraft was having financial difficulties, Century’s president contacted Kitchen Kraft and offered financial assistance. Kitchen Kraft accepted the offer and a loan was negotiated for an amount in excess of $10,000. As a result of this transaction, Century learned that Kitchen Kraft was in debt to the extent of $65,000. Kitchen Kraft exe[711]*711cuted a promissory note and a security agreement describing equipment serving as collateral. A second loan of over $2,000 was later made by Century to Kitchen Kraft. Both promissory notes were payable on April 17, 1981.

On March 9, 1981, Century’s general manager set up an appointment for Vogel to come to Fort Morgan on March 11 to meet with him to discuss the possible relocation of Kitchen Kraft. When Vogel arrived in Fort Morgan, he was advised by Century personnel that the general manager had gone to Wyoming on an emergency. In fact, the general manager had gone to the Kitchen Kraft facility in Windsor, Colorado, with several trucks, to pick up Kitchen Kraft’s equipment. Vogel was not informed about Century’s conduct and did not discover it until his return to Kitchen Kraft.

During Vogel’s visit in Fort Morgan, he had a conversation with Century’s president, who informed him that payment of the promissory notes on April 17, 1981, would be satisfactory. Century assured Vogel that it did not feel insecure about the notes and did not expect payment until the following month on the date the notes were due.

Meanwhile, at the Kitchen Kraft plant, Century’s general manager told Kitchen Kraft’s employees that Vogel had agreed to move the plant to Fort Morgan. The Century employees cut the telephone lines and pulled other lines from the wall so that no calls could be made to Vogel. They then proceeded to take all the office equipment that would fit into the trucks. No attempt was made to differentiate between secured property and unsecured property.

When Vogel returned, he found that there was nothing left with which to operate the business. There was not a tool remaining, nor any tables, saws, or hammers in the factory with which to manufacture cabinets. Vogel testified that, as a consequence, he suffered severe emotional depression, accompanied by vomiting, fever, and an inability to function. His testimony was confirmed by that of his wife.

The trial court denied the defendants’ motion for directed verdict at the close of the evidence, overruled defendants’ objections to numerous instructions, and declined to give the defendants’ four tendered instructions. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Kitchen Kraft on the conversion claim for $18,743.36 actual damages and $73,000 exemplary damages. It also returned a verdict in favor of Vogel for outrageous conduct for $16,040. Century’s post-trial motions were denied.

I.

Century first contends that the trial court erred in submitting the issues to the jury and in denying its motion for directed verdict at the close of the evidence. We disagree.

A.

Century’s initial argument is that the trial court erred in denying its motion for summary judgment. The denial of a motion for summary judgment is not reviewable. Manuel v. Fort Collins Newspapers, Inc., 631 P.2d 1114 (Colo.1981).

B.

Relying on § 4-9-503(1), C.R.S., and the provisions of its security agreement, Century argues that its taking of Kitchen Kraft’s property was a lawful repossession of equipment listed in the security agreement. Although the jury was instructed that Century had legal cause to be insecure, Century objects to the further language in that instruction that Century had a legal right to repossess, “unless the right to repossess was waived by the conduct of [Century].” There was, says Century, no evidence of waiver on which to base such an instruction. The argument lacks merit.

A waiver is a voluntary abandonment of a known right, with the intent that such right shall be surrendered and such persons be forever deprived of its benefit. Transamerica Corp. v. Merrion, 127 Colo. 100, 255 P.2d 391 (1953). Waiver requires a clear, unequivocal, and decisive act of a [712]*712party showing such purpose. Colorado Bank & Trust Co. v. Western Slope Investments, Inc., 36 Colo.App. 149, 539 P.2d 501 (1975). Whether inconsistent actions of the parties manifest an intent to waive is a factual determination, Cordillera Corp. v. Heard, 200 Colo. 72, 612 P.2d 92 (1980), and questions of fact are for the jury. Short v. Kinkade, 685 P.2d 210 (Colo.App.1983).

Here, the evidence shows that at the time it made the loans Century was aware of Kitchen Kraft’s many financial difficulties. However, Century continued to advance credit and to do business as usual throughout the relationship. Century gave no indication to Kitchen Kraft that it was going to change its course of conduct or that it would no longer tolerate Kitchen Kraft’s financial difficulties. Indeed, it is undisputed that the notes were not yet due and that Century reassured Vogel that it would be satisfied if the notes were paid when due, and this occurred at the very time it was repossessing the collateral in lieu of payment of the promissory notes. On this state of the evidence, the issue of waiver was properly submitted to the jury.

C.

Century also contends that, because Kitchen Kraft did not respond to Century’s notice of intent to retain secured property within the required 21 days, as required by § 4-9-505(2), C.R.S., Kitchen Kraft waived the right to possession of the collateral, and the trial court should have directed a verdict as to the claim of conversion. This argument also lacks merit.

Under § 4-9-505(2), C.R.S., a creditor may retain the collateral in satisfaction of the debt if the creditor gives written notice to the debtor of this intention, and if the debtor fails to object after notice. Brown v. Baker, 688 P.2d 943 (Alaska 1984).

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Vogel v. Carolina International, Inc.
711 P.2d 708 (Colorado Court of Appeals, 1985)

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Bluebook (online)
711 P.2d 708, 42 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 769, 1985 Colo. App. LEXIS 1406, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vogel-v-carolina-international-inc-coloctapp-1985.