Liberty Homes, Inc. v. Epperson
| Citation | 581 So.2d 449 |
| Parties | 1991-1 Trade Cases P 69,480, 14 UCC Rep.Serv.2d 1105 LIBERTY HOMES, INC. v. Darniece B. EPPERSON and Fred R. Epperson. 89-1728. |
| Decision Date | 11 April 1991 |
| Court | Supreme Court of Alabama |
James B. McNeill, Jr. and Barry R. Bennett of Hobbs & Hain, Selma, for appellant.
William J. Gamble and Frank C. Wilson III of Gamble, Gamble, Calame & Wilson, Selma, for appellees.
Darniece B. and Fred R. Epperson sued Liberty Homes, Inc. (hereinafter "Liberty"), seeking damages for breach of express and implied warranties and damages under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, 15 U.S.C.A. §§ 2301-12, in connection with the sale of a new mobile home. After a trial, a jury awarded the Eppersons $194,174.70. The trial court denied Liberty's motion for j.n.o.v., new trial, or remittitur. Liberty appeals. We affirm.
During the summer of 1985, the Eppersons visited Harlan Trailer Sales, Inc., a Liberty mobile home dealer. John Harlan, owner of Harlan Trailer Sales, Inc., told the Eppersons that he sold only Liberty homes, and he recommended that they view certain mobile homes that were manufactured by Liberty that were on display in Leeds, Alabama.
The Eppersons returned to Harlan's office, which contained a Liberty plaque and brochures illustrating the types of homes Liberty manufactured. The Eppersons gave Harlan certain specifications for a custom-built Liberty double-wide mobile home, which was to have certain changes from a standard production model, including changing room sizes, adding a fireplace, changing the kitchen and bathroom arrangement, and adding a closet. Harlan assured the Eppersons that he would handle all arrangements for their special order.
On July 11, 1985, a Liberty salesman filled out an on-line production order for the Eppersons' home. Liberty knew the home was to be specially manufactured for the Eppersons, because the on-line production order identified the Eppersons as the customers. This production order was attached to a clip-board and travelled with the home as it went down the production line.
Once the home was manufactured, it was delivered in two separate sections to the Harlan Trailer Sales lot, where the Eppersons saw it for the first time. On July 25, 1987, the Eppersons signed an agreement to purchase the mobile home. The contract specified that the purchase price was $25,982.50, and it incorporated a security agreement. Long-term financing was provided by Green Tree Acceptance, Inc., and the monthly payments were $319.82.
Upon Harlan's recommendation, the Eppersons contacted Bruce Carswell who hooked up the electrical system to the mobile home. The Eppersons moved in on August 2, 1987.
While moving into the home, Mr. Epperson received an electrical shock when he leaned against the metal frame of a living room window, located on the front of the mobile home. Marie Griggs, a friend of the Eppersons who helped them move, was also shocked when she leaned on the front door frame. Bruce Carswell went to the Eppersons' home to investigate the problem and was shocked when he touched the front door handle.
Once Harlan was notified of the problem, he sent William Stockman, an employee of Alabama Electric Company, to correct it. Stockman hooked to the door and window frame a meter that measures voltage. The meter indicated that a 150-volt electric current was running through the frames. Believing that a "hot" wire was in contact with the frames and causing them to carry electrical current, Stockman replaced the wire with a "jumper wire" that rerouted the current away from the frames. Harlan paid Stockman for making the repairs and sent the bill to Liberty. In September 1985, the GFI receptacle (an electrical outlet) in the master bathroom broke. Harlan's workers replaced the receptacle.
Throughout the first year in their new home, the Eppersons noticed dimming of the lights. Mrs. Epperson stated that the power supply to the vacuum cleaner, toaster, and television would also fluctuate. Although the Eppersons notified Harlan about the power fluctuation, the problem was never remedied.
In February 1986, the home started to buckle in the center where the two sections of the home where joined. Harlan releveled the home in order to stop the buckling. Harlan was also called to repair a leak in the roof over the children's bedroom; however, the leak was never repaired to the Eppersons' satisfaction.
Because the power supply continued to be inconsistent, the Eppersons again contacted Harlan, who told them he would no longer help them because he believed their warranty had expired. When asked for a copy of the wiring diagram to their home, Harlan suggested that they call Mr. Steve Carroll of Liberty. According to the Eppersons, Mr. Carroll denied that any wiring diagram existed. Mr. Carroll denies ever having this telephone conversation with the Eppersons.
On the morning of January 13, 1988, Mrs. Epperson heard a "staticky radio sound" coming from the living room window area, and saw blue sparks shooting out from around the window. Mr. Epperson turned the power supply off and used his foot and a hammer to knock the plasterboard away. Behind the insulation he found melted, smouldering wires and scorched insulation and 2 by 4's. Mr. Stockman came to the home and cut the burned wires and installed a temporary system so that the plugs and lights would work.
Mr. Epperson alleges that Harlan denied responsibility based upon his belief that the warranty had expired. Epperson also alleges that Mr. Steve Carroll of Liberty promised he would send someone to the Eppersons' home to make repairs. No Liberty representative came. Harlan and Carroll deny having any conversation with the Eppersons.
Carroll finally sent Mr. Gary Chancey to the Eppersons in response to a letter by Mrs. Epperson concerning the sparks and the scorched wall materials. Chancey claimed he was not qualified to make the wiring repairs and suggested that Epperson get the same person who had made the temporary repairs to make permanent wiring changes, and he said it would be done at Liberty's expense. Epperson took Chancey's advice and got Stockman to make the repairs, with Liberty's knowledge.
During the summer of 1988, the power supply in the kitchen began fluctuating, and in September the entire rear half of the home lost power. A-1 City Electric Company fixed the problem temporarily. The Eppersons again contacted Liberty in order to get a wiring diagram for their home, but they never received a response.
In October 1988, the Eppersons' attorney wrote Liberty, and Liberty sent Mr. Tommy Law, a repairman, to investigate the situation. According to the Eppersons, Mr. Law stated that their mobile home would have to be completely rewired and that they should find alternative housing while the repairs were being made. Shortly after Law's visit, the Eppersons rented and moved into a friend's single-wide mobile home. The Eppersons incurred the cost of hooking up utilities to their rental home, storing extra furniture, and paying rent. Living in the smaller home was an inconvenience, because the conditions were very cramped and there was a lack of privacy.
In addition to the cramped living conditions, Mrs. Epperson worried about the possibility that the home could catch fire and worried that if it did she might not be able to get her children out of the home. The Eppersons installed battery-powered smoke detectors and conducted family fire drills.
Having made 37 payments on their home to Green Tree Acceptance, Inc., the Eppersons ceased making payments. Their double-wide home was repossessed, and Green Tree sued the Eppersons for the balance of their loan. The Eppersons reached a settlement with Green Tree.
On November 18, 1988, the Eppersons sued Liberty, alleging breach of contract, breach of express and implied warranties, and fraud. At the close of the evidence, the Eppersons amended their complaint to allege implied fraud and to seek damages under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Liberty argues that the trial court erred when it allowed the Eppersons to amend to add their fraud claim so as to make the pleadings conform to the evidence. Amendments to a complaint should be liberally allowed; A.R.Civ.P. 15(b). Amendments to a complaint will be disallowed only when prejudice to the other party results. McElrath v. Consolidated Pipe & Supply Co., 351 So.2d 560 (Ala.1977). In the present case, fraud was alleged in the original complaint. Liberty could not have been prejudiced by the amendment, which merely restated the claim based upon the facts originally alleged. Thus, the trial court did not err in allowing the amendment. Bracy v. Sippial Electric Co., 379 So.2d 582 (Ala.1980).
Liberty argues that damages for mental anguish can not be awarded on a claim for relief is based upon fraud. It is not necessary to address that contention, however, because the Eppersons were entitled to receive damages for mental anguish based upon their...
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