Weston v. Camp's Lumber & Building Supply, Inc.

135 P.3d 331, 205 Or. App. 347, 2006 Ore. App. LEXIS 563
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedMay 3, 2006
Docket0205-05172; A123726
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 135 P.3d 331 (Weston v. Camp's Lumber & Building Supply, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Weston v. Camp's Lumber & Building Supply, Inc., 135 P.3d 331, 205 Or. App. 347, 2006 Ore. App. LEXIS 563 (Or. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

EDMONDS, P. J.

Plaintiffs initiated this civil action for damages against a lumber retailer, Camp’s Lumber & Building Supply, Inc. (Camp), and the lumber manufacturers or wholesalers, Friesen Lumber Company (Friesen), Portae, Inc. (Portae), and Taylor Lumber Company (Taylor) (collectively, the lumber defendants), that provided the lumber used to construct plaintiffs’ residence.1 Plaintiffs asserted claims for damages under multiple legal theories, alleging that the lumber inspected and provided by the lumber defendants contained a wood-boring beetle larvae that, through infestation, compromised the structural integrity of their residence. The lumber defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that plaintiffs’ claims, regardless of how they were couched, were product liability claims barred by ORS 30.905(1) (2001), amended by Or Laws 2003, ch 768, § 1, the statute of ultimate repose for such claims. The trial court agreed with the lumber defendants and entered a limited judgment dismissing the claims against them. Plaintiffs appeal that judgment, arguing that ORS 30.905 (2001) does not apply to their claims and that, in any event, their claims were brought within the time limits established by that statute. For the reasons discussed below, we reverse the trial court’s grant of summary judgment as to plaintiffs’ Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) claim and reverse, in part, as to their claim against Camp for breach of warranty; we otherwise affirm.

We assume, for purposes of reviewing the trial court’s grant of summary judgment, the truth of the facts set forth in the affidavits of plaintiffs’ lay and expert witnesses, and any uncontroverted facts set forth by defendants. ORCP 47 C. In 1993, plaintiffs began construction of their dream house. Plaintiffs acted as their own general contractors and chose Camp as their lumber supplier. Plaintiffs relied on Camp to select lumber suitable for the framing of their house. Camp informed plaintiffs that it was unnecessary to use kiln-dried lumber, and instead told plaintiffs that Camp could [351]*351supply green lumber that was graded “standard or better” and would be suitable for the construction of their residence. The lumber was purchased and delivered to plaintiffs’ property during a four-week period from the end of May to late June 1993.

Unbeknownst to plaintiffs, the lumber that was delivered to their property (and manufactured by Friesen, Portae, and Taylor) contained golden buprestid beetle larvae. The golden buprestid beetle, a wood-boring beetle, is a destructive forest pest in the Pacific Northwest. Its larvae can take up to 50 years to develop into adulthood. During this time, the larvae excavates and can cause serious structural damage to the lumber in which it is embedded. When the adult beetles emerge from the lumber, they are capable of boring through surrounding building components (such as roofing and interior and exterior finishes).

Golden buprestid beetle larvae can be destroyed by kiln-drying lumber before it is shipped to a consumer. However, once infested lumber is used in a building, it is difficult, if not impossible, to control the infestation and to prevent continued larval development and adult emergence. To eliminate the infestation, the infested lumber and any lumber that is suspected of infestation must be removed and replaced.

In 2002, in the course of correcting problems with synthetic stucco siding on their house, plaintiffs found evidence of the golden buprestid larvae and beetles in their residence. The larvae and beetles had bored through the building materials of plaintiffs’ house; according to plaintiffs’ experts, the beetles will continue to do so for the next 20 to 30 years. As a result, the structural integrity of plaintiffs’ house is compromised. To remedy the problem, plaintiffs must destroy the structure and then have it rebuilt. According to plaintiffs, “[t]his is the only way to ensure that: (1) golden buprestids are removed from plaintiffs’ home; (2) all existing structural damage is repaired; (3) there will be no future risk of continued golden buprestid infestation and damage; and (4) the home will be insurable.”

Plaintiffs commenced this action in May 2002— more than eight years after their purchase of defendants’ [352]*352lumber in June 1993. Initially, they alleged claims in negligence, violation of the UTPA, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of express warranty.2 In April 2003, plaintiffs added a trespass claim to their action. Defendants subsequently moved for summary judgment, arguing, among other propositions, that all of plaintiffs’ claims are barred by ORS 30.905 (2001), the statute setting forth limitation periods for bringing product liability claims. At the hearing on defendants’ motions, the trial court ruled:

“[T]he gravamen of the pleadings of the Complaint all sound in product liability and [ ] they do not sound — the gravamen of Trespass is not there, the gravamen of negligence is not there on a factual basis, and the eight-year statute [of ultimate repose in ORS 30.905(1) (2001)] governs and summary judgment is granted.”

The court then clarified that its ruling “would also include the Unfair Trade Practices Act and the warranty claims.” Subsequently, the court entered a limited judgment dismissing plaintiffs’ claims against the lumber defendants.

On appeal, plaintiffs challenge the trial court’s grant of summary judgment on a number of grounds. Initially, plaintiffs argue that ORS 30.905 (2001) does not apply to any of their claims. They contend that their UTPA and breach of warranty claims are governed by the UTPA and Uniform Commercial Code statutes of limitations, respectively, and are not subject to the limitation periods set forth in ORS 30.905 (2001). Similarly, they contend that their trespass, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation claims do not arise from a product defect or failure to warn of the defect, but from the release of destructive pests onto plaintiffs’ property. Thus, according to plaintiffs, the gravamen of those claims is not based on a product defect or failure to warn, and ORS 30.905 (2001) is inapplicable.

Next, plaintiffs argue that, even if ORS 30.905 (2001) applies to their claims, their claims were timely under that statute. According to plaintiffs, the eight-year limitation period in ORS 30.905(1) (2001) does not require that all [353]*353claims be filed within eight years of the date of purchase of the product.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
135 P.3d 331, 205 Or. App. 347, 2006 Ore. App. LEXIS 563, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weston-v-camps-lumber-building-supply-inc-orctapp-2006.