Watson v. Bettinger

658 S.W.2d 756, 1983 Tex. App. LEXIS 4927
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedSeptember 7, 1983
DocketNo. 2-83-053-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 658 S.W.2d 756 (Watson v. Bettinger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Watson v. Bettinger, 658 S.W.2d 756, 1983 Tex. App. LEXIS 4927 (Tex. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

OPINION

ASHWORTH, Justice.

Robert W. Watson, the builder, entered into a sales contract for the sale of a residence. The contract was not consummated and the purchasers brought suit alleging violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Watson appeals from an adverse judgment.

Judgment affirmed.

Watson’s points of error allege no evidence and insufficient evidence to support the answers of the jury to certain special issues, requiring a brief recitation of the testimony.

Watson had been in the residential and commercial construction business for a number of years. In 1977, he constructed the residence which is the subject of this lawsuit. Prior to completion of construction, problems developed with shifting of the foundation due to soil conditions. Repairs were made and the construction completed, but similar problems occurred again and existed at the time Watson agreed to sell the house to the Bettingers.

There were never any personal negotiations between the Bettingers and Watson, and all dealings were made through real estate agents. On May 11, 1978, a written [758]*758sales contract was the product of the negotiations. The contract provided for a sales price of $44,500.00, earnest money deposit of $500.00, and a closing date of June 30, 1978. The contract also contained special provisions which play a significant part in this case and are as follows:

Latent defects to be completely repaired. Where bricks are cracked, bricks are to be replaced, roof line over garage to be straightened, all cracks inside and outside of home to be repaired. Purchaser reserves right to inspect property with builder prior to closing. Seller to furnish Purchaser with Buyers Ten Year Protection Plan as sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders, and known as HOW, at time of closing. Purchaser to be furnished with a copy of the Foundation Engineer’s report prior to closing. Parties to be aware that the closing date is very important as time is of the essense [sic] for the purchaser to give sufficient notice to his landlord of his intent to vacate.

There was testimony that Watson attempted to make the repairs provided for in the contract, but was unable to complete them. The closing date of June 30, 1978, came and passed, and the HOW warranty was never provided. The Bettingers filed suit alleging breach of contract and violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).

Trial was to a jury. The breach of contract cause of action was dropped, and in answer to special issues, the jury found that Watson represented the house had characteristics, or qualities, or approval it did not have; that Watson made an express warranty to repair the house; that the misrepresentation and failure to repair were producing causes of $7,500.00 in damages and a $3,000.00 attorney fee for the trial. Judgment was rendered for treble damages of $22,500.00 and $3,000.00 attorney’s fee.

Watson presents nine points of error. Points of error one and two allege there was no evidence and factually insufficient evidence that Watson ever made any representations at all to the Bettingers, or that Watson ever falsely represented that the house had been repaired, or that Watson failed to furnish the Bettingers with a HOW warranty at time of closing. Point of error three alleges there was no evidence Watson represented the house had characteristics, or qualities, or approval which it does not have, and the trial court should have granted his Motion for Judgment Non Obstante Yerdicto and Motion for New Trial.

In considering no evidence points of error, it is the obligation of this court to review only the evidence which tends to support the findings, and we must give effect to all reasonable inferences that may be drawn properly from the findings, and we must disregard all contrary or conflicting evidence. Tom Benson Chevrolet, Inc. v. Alvarado, 636 S.W.2d 815 (Tex.App.—San Antonio 1982, writ ref’d n.r.e.).

When factual insufficiency points of error are raised, it is the obligation of this court to examine all the evidence, including any evidence contrary to the findings of the jury to the special issues. If the evidence supporting the findings is so weak or the evidence to the contrary is so overwhelming that the findings should be set aside, then a new trial should be ordered; however, if the evidence does support the findings of the jury, then we must affirm the judgment. Tom Benson Chevrolet, Inc., supra.

As appellant points out, there were never any negotiations between the parties themselves. We must therefore look to the contract itself to determine if it is sufficient to justify the answers of the jury. The contract provides that latent defects are to be completely repaired, cracked bricks replaced, straighten roof line over garage, repair all cracks, and furnish HOW warranty-

There is no question that Watson attempted to repair the house. He contends that since some repair work was done, that his obligation under the contract was satisfied, even though the repairs were not successful. He also contends that the house is [759]*759incapable of being repaired, and therefore he is relieved of his obligation to do so.

Regardless of lack of personal negotiations- or representations, ease or difficulty of repairs, it still remains unquestioned that Watson agreed to make the necessary repairs and furnish the HOW warranty. Such agreement is a representation that the repairs are capable of being performed within the time specified. The representations proved to be untrue and sufficient evidence exists in the record to justify the answers of the jury to the special issues involved. Appellant’s points of error one, two, and three are overruled.

In answer to special issue number five, the jury found that the house in question was not repaired. Appellant’s points of error . four and five contend there was no evidence and factually insufficient evidence that Watson failed or refused to make repairs to the house. Point of error number six alleges that since there was no such evidence, the court should have granted Watson’s Motion for Judgment Non Ob-stante Verdicto and his Motion for New Trial.

Appellant’s argument apparently is that since he made attempts to repair the house in question, he cannot be found to have breached a warranty to repair. Appellant cites several cases holding that a warranty to repair cannot be breached until a needed repair exists, is brought to the attention of the warrantor, and he fails to furnish the necessary repairs. We agree with the holdings in those cases, but the fact situation in the instant case is different.

Watson contracted to make certain repairs. He tried, apparently in good faith, to make the repairs he represented he would make, but unfortunately was unable to do so. It remains established that the repairs contemplated by the contract were not made. There is sufficient evidence in the record to justify the answer of the jury to special issue number five. Appellant’s points of error four, five, and six are overruled.

Points of error seven, eight, and niné are directed to the jury findings on damages. Number seven contends that since the Bet-tingers abandoned their cause of action based on breach of contract, there was no recognizable measure of damages available and the court should have granted Watson’s motion for instructed verdict.

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Bluebook (online)
658 S.W.2d 756, 1983 Tex. App. LEXIS 4927, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/watson-v-bettinger-texapp-1983.