GERALD T HEATON V PRISTINE HOME BUILDERS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
GERALD T. HEATON and JONNA HEATON,
UNPUBLISHED
October 27, 2009
Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,
v
BENTON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, d/b/a
GREAT LAKES SUPERIOR WALLS,
No. 285805
Shiawassee Circuit Court
LC No. 06-003972-CK
Defendant-Appellant/CrossAppellee,
and
PRISTINE HOME BUILDERS, DANIEL J.
BONAWITT, GRAIG’S HOME DESIGN
SERVICES, L.L.C., and CRAIG W. THORTON,
Defendants.
Before: Murray, P.J., and Markey and Borrello, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Plaintiffs filed this action for damages asserting that defendants’ negligence caused the
foundation of their home to shift during its construction. Defendant Benton Construction
Company, doing business as Great Lakes Superior Walls (Great Lakes), appeals by right the
judgment entered after a jury verdict finding it 60 percent negligent and defendants Pristine
Home Builders (Pristine) and Daniel J. Bonawitt (Bonawitt), 40 percent negligent. Great Lakes
also appeals the trial court’s order granting partial remittitur of the $272,500 jury award in
plaintiffs’ favor to $195,000, as the amount the evidence showed that plaintiffs’ home
diminished in value. Great Lakes contends it should have been granted judgment as a matter of
law, but if not, the jury’s verdict should have been reduced to $77,500, the cost of repairing the
damage to plaintiffs’ home. Plaintiffs cross appeal the trial court’s order granting remittitur and
the trial court’s determination of a reasonable attorney fee for case evaluation sanctions. We
affirm but reverse the trial court’s order granting remittitur and remand for entry of judgment for
plaintiffs consistent with the jury’s verdict.
Plaintiffs Gerald T. Heaton and Jonna Heaton entered a contract with defendant Pristine,
operated by defendant Bonawitt, a licensed builder, to build their retirement home at Scenic Lake
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in Shiawassee County. Bonawitt subcontracted with defendant Great Lakes (hereinafter,
defendant) to design, manufacture, and install pre-cast concrete foundation walls for the home.
During the construction of the home the foundation walls twice shifted, first in September 2005
after the retaining foundation wall was partially backfilled and again in October 2005 after shear
(supporting) walls were installed on the advice of defendant and further backfilling. Plaintiffs
sued under theories of breach of contract, express and implied warranties, and negligence.
Defendants Pristine and Bonawitt were defaulted. The other defendants, except Great Lakes,
settled. The case was tried to a jury on the issues of defendant’s liability and damages; Bonawitt
participated at trial without counsel on the issue of damages only. Ultimately, the case was
submitted to the jury only on plaintiffs’ negligence theory.
Defendant first argues that the trial court erred by not granting one of its dispositive
motions for judgment as a matter of law. Specifically, the trial court denied defendant’s motion
for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10), denied defendant’s motions for directed
verdict after opening statement and at the close of plaintiffs’ proofs and denied defendant’s
motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV). Our review of the trial court’s
decision regarding each of these motions is de novo. Diamond v Witherspoon, 265 Mich App
673, 680-681; 696 NW2d 770 (2005).
Defendant’s motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) tested the factual sufficiency of plaintiffs’
claim. Maiden v Rozwood, 461 Mich 109, 120; 597 NW2d 817 (1999). The trial court was
required to consider the substantively admissible evidence the parties submitted in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. at 120-121; MCR 2.116(G)(5). If the evidence the parties
proffer does not establish that a disputed material issue of fact remains for trial and that a party is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law, summary disposition is appropriate. MCR 2.116(C)(10),
(G)(4), (I)(1); Maiden, supra at 120.
When reviewing a trial court’s decision on a motion for a directed verdict, this Court
must view the evidence presented up to the point of the motion and all legitimate inferences from
the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party to determine whether a fact
question existed. Zantel Marketing Agency v Whitesell Corp, 265 Mich App 559, 568; 696
NW2d 735 (2005). A trial court properly grants a directed verdict only when no factual question
exists upon which reasonable minds could differ. Diamond, supra at 681. Similarly, a motion
for JNOV should be granted only when there was insufficient evidence presented to create an
issue of fact for the jury. Merkur Steel Supply Inc v Detroit, 261 Mich App 116, 123; 680 NW2d
485 (2004). This Court must view the testimony and all legitimate inferences drawn from the
testimony in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. at 682; Forge v Smith, 458
Mich 198, 204; 580 NW2d 876 (1998). “If reasonable jurors could honestly have reached
different conclusions, the jury verdict must stand.” Diamond, supra at 682.
Defendant argues it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law because, although
plaintiffs couched their complaint in terms of negligence, the case was actually a products
liability claim for failure to warn. Defendant contends that the undisputed facts establish that it
furnished a “product,” pre-cast concrete foundation walls. See Fenton Area Public Schools v
Sorensen-Gross Const Co, 124 Mich App 631, 639; 335 NW2d 221 (1983), noting that
MCL 600.2945 does not define “product” but a dictionary defines “‘product’ as ‘a thing
produced by labor.’” Here, the undisputed facts established defendant’s “product” was neither
defective nor the cause of the foundation movement at issue. Rather, the foundation shifted
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because Bonawitt failed to initially install shear walls, and then subsequently installed shear
walls that were inadequately designed or constructed. The lynchpin of defendant’s argument is
that Bonawitt was a “sophisticated user” of defendant’s foundation walls, having been a licensed
builder since 1997, and experienced in all phases of construction, including the use of shear
walls. Consequently, defendant argues, under MCL 600.2947(4) it had no duty to warn Bonawitt
of the need for shear walls. Finally, defendant correctly notes that the question of duty is one for
the trial court to decide as matter of law, citing Antcliff v State Employees Credit Union, 414
Mich 624, 640; 327 NW2d 814 (1982) (“It is well-settled law that the question of duty is to be
resolved by the court rather than the jury.”). For these reasons, defendant argues, the trial court
erred by not granting one of its dispositive motions for judgment as a matter of law.
The statutes pertinent to this issue provide:
(g) “Product” includes any and all component parts to a product.
(h) “Product liability action” means an action based on a legal or equitable theory
of liability brought for the death of a person or for injury to a person or damage to
property caused by or resulting from the production of a product.
(i) “Production” means manufacture, construction, design, formulation,
development of standards, preparation, processing, assembly, inspection, testing,
listing, certifying, warning, instructing, marketing, selling, advertising, packaging,
or labeling.
(j) “Sophisticated user” means a person or entity that, by virtue of training,
experience, a profession, or legal obligations, is or is generally expected to be
knowledgeable about a product’s properties, including a potential hazard or
adverse effect. An employee who does not have actual knowledge of the
product’s potential hazard or adverse effect that caused the injury is not a
sophisticated user. [MCL 600.2945(g), (h), (i) and (j).]
***
(4) Except to the extent a state or federal statute or regulation requires a
manufacturer to warn, a manufacturer or seller is not liable in a product liability
action for failure to provide an adequate warning if the product is provided for use
by a sophisticated user. [MCL 600.2947(4).]
The trial court denied defendants motion for two reasons: (1) plaintiffs’ claim was not
one of products liability but rather one for ordinary negligence, and (2) under the facts of the
case, Bonawitt was not a “sophisticated user” as contemplated by the statute. “This Court
reviews de novo the interpretation and application of statutes as questions of law.” Gilliam v HiTemp Products Inc, 260 Mich App 98, 108; 677 NW2d 856 (2003). “In addition, we review the
trial court’s factual findings that support its legal holdings for clear error.” Detroit v
Ambassador Bridge Co, 481 Mich 29, 35; 748 NW2d 221 (2008).
First, we accept defendant’s argument that its pre-cast concrete foundation walls were a
“product” within the meaning of the products liability statutes. Second, for purposes of our
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analysis of this issue, we accept defendant’s assertion that even though plaintiffs’ claim was one
of ordinary negligence, it still could come within the broad definitions of “product liability
action” and “production” in MCL 600.2945(h) and (i). Splicing these two definitions together,
they would read, pertinent to this case: “‘Product liability action’ means an action based on a
legal . . . theory of liability brought for . . . damage to property caused by or resulting from the
assembly, inspection, . . . warning, [or] instructing [regarding the use of] a product.” Thus, the
fact that plaintiffs’ theory of liability was one of negligence does not preclude it from coming
within the statutory definition of a products liability action because negligence is “a legal . . .
theory of liability brought for . . . damage to property.” Further, the essence of plaintiffs’ claim
was that defendant negligently failed to warn, inspect, or instruct regarding using its foundation
walls with appropriately designed and constructed shear walls.
Nevertheless, we conclude that the trial did not err by ruling based on the facts of this
case that Bonawitt was not a sophisticated user as contemplated by the statute. A “sophisticated
user” is one who “by virtue of training, experience, [or] a profession, . . . is or is generally
expected to be knowledgeable about a product’s properties, including a potential hazard or
adverse effect.” MCL 600.2945(j). Here, although Bonawitt was a licensed builder engaging in
home construction since 1997, he testified that he had built only twelve houses under his license
and had never used the type of foundation that Great Lakes provided. In Bonawitt’s words, he
“built like one and a half houses a year, adequate to support my family.” Further, Bonawitt
testified that he relied on various subcontractors and engineers for their expertise regarding
various aspects of construction. He also testified that he relied on a “Builder Guideline
Booklet,” which is subtitled “Site Preparation and Framing Attachment Requirements,” that
Great Lakes provided him. Specifically, Bonawitt read page 36 of this booklet that addressed
shear walls as stating that with respect to plaintiffs’ home, shear walls were not necessary
because no continuous span of the foundation was greater than 42 feet. This page of defendant’s
booklet also warns: “Shear walls may need to be individually reviewed by an engineer.”
Bonawitt testified he had graduated from high school and had some college-level credits. These
facts establish that Bonawitt did not have the education, experience, or professional standing that
defendant’s own builders’ booklet warns may be necessary regarding the use of shear walls to
support its foundation walls. Consequently, because we find no error in the trial court’s ruling
that Bonawitt was not a “sophisticated user” as defined in MCL 600.2945(j), the “sophisticated
user” defense provided for in MCL 600.2947(4) is inapplicable.
Moreover, MCL 600.2947(4) only limits product liability with respect to a duty to
provide an “adequate warning” to sophisticated users where not otherwise required by state or
federal statute or regulation. Plaintiffs’ theory of liability was much broader than simply the
failure to provide an adequate warning. It included a claim for breach of a duty to provide
adequate instructions regarding the need for shear walls, and for defendant’s active participation
with Bonawitt in devising the shear walls that subsequently failed to adequately support the
foundation walls. Plaintiffs’ theory of the case, supported by the evidence, is best characterized
as an “application of the basic rule of the common law, which imposes on every person engaged
in the prosecution of any undertaking an obligation to use due care, or to so govern his actions as
not to unreasonably endanger the person or property of others.” Clark v Dalman, 379 Mich 251,
261; 150 NW2d 755 (1967); see also Johnson v A & M Custom Built Homes of West Bloomfield,
PC, 261 Mich App 719, 722; 683 NW2d 229 (2004), and Osman v Summer Green Lawn Care,
209 Mich App 703, 707-708; 532 NW2d 186 (1995), overruled in part on other grounds Smith v
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Globe Life Ins Co, 460 Mich 446, 455 n 2; 597 NW2d 28 (1999). Applying the appropriate legal
analysis to the facts of this case we conclude the trial court did not err in denying defendant’s
motions for judgment as a matter of law based on its claim to a sophisticated user defense under
MCL 600.2947(4).
Next, defendant argues that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury regarding its
claim to a sophisticated user defense. This Court reviews de novo claims of instructional error.
Lewis v LeGrow, 258 Mich App 175, 211; 670 NW2d 675 (2003). To preserve an instructional
issue for appeal, a party must request the instruction before instructions are given and must
object on the record before the jury retires to deliberate. MCR 2.516(C); Leavitt v Monaco
Coach Corp, 241 Mich App 288, 300; 616 NW2d 175 (2000). Here, defendant points only to an
oblique comment by defense counsel after the jury was instructed that the Court of Appeals is
“nitpicky” and that “this is actually a products liability case and products liability instructions
should apply . . . .” Defendant fails to show where in the record counsel requested that the trial
court give the jury a specific instruction on its claim to a sophisticated user defense. The failure
to timely and specifically object precludes appellate review absent manifest injustice. Bouverette
v Westinghouse Electric Corp, 245 Mich App 391, 403; 628 NW2d 86 (2001). No manifest
injustice occurred here because as we have earlier concluded, the trial court properly ruled as a
matter of law that Bonawitt was not a sophisticated user within the meaning of MCL 600.2945(j)
and MCL 600.2947(4).
Both parties appeal the trial court’s partial grant of remittitur. Defendant contends the
trial court abused its discretion by only reducing the jury verdict in plaintiffs’ favor from
$272,500 to $195,000. Defendant asserts that the jury’s verdict should have been reduced to the
cost of repairing the damage to plaintiffs’ home, which Great Lakes argues was $77,500.
Plaintiffs, on the other hand, argue on cross appeal that after the foundation shifted the second
time, the house could be restored to its pre-damage condition only by tearing down what had
been erected at that time and rebuilding. The evidence at trial showed that plaintiffs had already
expended $220,000 to $250,000, so the cost of repair would certainly have exceeded that
amount. Thus, the jury properly added the $77,500 plaintiffs incurred to partially repair their
home to the $195,000 the home lost in value even with the partial repairs. Because the evidence
supported the jury’s verdict, plaintiffs assert the trial court abused its discretion by granting
remittitur. We agree.
When a jury awards damages that appear excessive because of the influence of passion or
prejudice, or the jury award is clearly or grossly excessive, a court may grant a new trial.
MCR 2.611(A)(1)(c)-(d). Alternatively, a trial court may offer the prevailing party an
opportunity to consent to judgment in the highest amount the court finds is supported by the
evidence. MCR§ 2.611(E)(1). This Court reviews a trial court’s decision regarding a motion for
remittitur or new trial for an abuse of discretion. Palenkas v Beaumont Hospital, 432 Mich 527,
531; 443 NW2d 354 (1989). An abuse of discretion occurs when a court chooses an outcome
that is outside the range of principled outcomes. McManamon v Redford Twp, 273 Mich App
131, 138; 730 NW2d 757 (2006).
Analysis of this issue must start with the principle that the adequacy of the amount of the
damages is generally a matter for the jury to decide. Kelly v Builders Square, Inc, 465 Mich 29,
35; 632 NW2d 912 (2001). Moreover, a verdict should not be set aside merely because the
method the jury used to compute damages cannot be determined. Diamond, supra at 694. This
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Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Wiley v Henry
Ford Cottage Hosp, 257 Mich App 488, 499; 668 NW2d 402 (2003). “A trial court’s order of
remittitur is governed by MCR 2.611(E)(1).” Palenkas, supra at 531. Accordingly, remittitur is
justified only “if the jury verdict is ‘excessive,’ i.e., if the amount awarded is greater than ‘the
highest amount the evidence will support.’” Id., quoting MCR 2.611(E)(1).
Both parties cite Baranowski v Strating, 72 Mich App 548; 250 NW2d 744 (1976),
regarding the proper measure of damages in a negligence action for damages to real property. In
that case, the plaintiffs sought damages in a contract and negligence action against a builder after
the foundation of the plaintiffs’ home settled because of unsuitable soil. This Court affirmed the
trial court’s assessment of damages ($20,600) as the amount of the loss in value because the cost
of repair—$50,000 to place the home on a secure footing—was far greater than its loss in value.
The Court opined: “[T]he measure of damages to real property in a negligence suit where the
damage cannot be repaired is the difference between the market value of the property before and
after the injury; where the damage can be repaired and the cost of repair is less than the value of
the property prior to the injury, cost of repair is the proper measure.” Id. at 562. Before stating
this general rule, the Court was careful to note “that there is and should be no fixed rule for
measuring compensation in cases such as this.” Id. Pertinent to the instant case, the Baranowski
Court rejected the defendants’ claim that the measure of the cost of repair was the plaintiffs’
expenses to partially cure the problem ($5,508). Id. at 563. Rather, “the measure of cost of
repair is . . . what expense would be necessary to put the house in the condition it would have
been in had defendants not breached the duty they owed to the plaintiffs.” Id.
As to damages, the trial court instructed the jury consistent with M Civ JI 51.05:
In this case the Plaintiffs claim damages to their home. If you decide that
Plaintiff is entitled to such damages, the amount should be measured by the lesser
of the reasonable expense of necessary repairs to the property which was damaged
or the difference between the fair market value of the property immediately before
the occurrence and its fair market value immediately after the occurrence.
As noted above, the evidence adduced at trial would have permitted the jury to find that
the damage to the home caused by the second foundation shift was essentially irreparable.
Engineer Scott Walkowicz testified regarding the dilemma plaintiffs faced:
When we were approached by Mr. Heaton he was at that point, already
having problems with his house. His primary interest was whether or not the
house could reasonably be saved or repaired and brought back to a condition that
you would expect for a newly constructed house. So we went through, did field
work, and as we were going through there some of the observations that we
made—I’m not sure if I should state those—but ultimately it came down to the
opinion that it would be a very, very difficult thing[,] if not impossible[,] to repair
the house to the condition that it should’ve been prior to having moved, and that
was due to a number of reasons; that there was lesser or kind of partial repairs
whereby we can stabilize it and have reasonable confidence that it wouldn't move
again or move further. Those were our two ultimate opinions.
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Plaintiffs chose to stabilize, but not repair the foundation, and partially repair other
damage to the structure at a cost of $77,500. Plaintiffs’ real estate expert, Robert Vertalka,
testified that the value of plaintiffs’ home even after these partial repairs had still diminished by
$195,000. Vertalka testified:
Counsel
And I want to make sure that we understand whether that one
hundred and ninety-five thousand dollar loss includes any of the
costs that the homeowner would incur to partially cure or stabilize
the problem with the foundation.
Vertalka
It does not.
Counsel
So any costs the homeowner incurred to stabilize or partially cure
would be in addition to this loss in value?
Vertalka
That’s correct.
Based on this evidence and Baranowski, supra at 563, we conclude defendant’s argument
that the jury award should have been reduced to $77,500 is without merit. Consequently,
defendant’s final argument that the trial court erroneously awarded case evaluations sanctions
must also fail.
Further, we agree with plaintiffs that because the evidence supported the jury’s award,
the trial court abused its discretion by granting remittitur. Palenkas, supra at 531; McManamon,
supra at 138; MCR 2.611(E)(1). In general, a defendant found negligent is liable for all injuries
resulting directly from his wrongful act, whether foreseeable or not, if the damages were the
legal and natural consequences of his conduct and might reasonably have been anticipated.
Ensink v Mecosta County Gen Hosp, 262 Mich App 518, 524; 687 NW2d 143 (2004), quoting
Sutter v Biggs, 377 Mich 80, 86-87; 139 NW2d 684 (1966). In this case, viewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to plaintiffs, Wiley, supra at 499, the jury could have found: (1) that the
cost of repair (complete rebuild after damage) was in excess of $272,500, (2) that the $77,500
plaintiffs expended to stabilize the home was necessary to render it habitable and marketable,
and (3) the true damages to plaintiffs as a result of defendant’s negligence was the sum of the
cost to stabilize and the loss of the house’s market value despite the repairs and after
stabilization. In the light most favorable to plaintiffs, the evidence supported the jury’s verdict
and was consistent with the trial court’s instruction. Because the evidence strongly supported the
jury’s award, the trial court abused its discretion by granting remittitur. MCR 2.611(E)(1);
Palenkas, supra at 531; McManamon, supra at 138.
The final issue on appeal is plaintiffs’ claim that the trial court abused its discretion when
awarding case evaluation sanctions by determining that a reasonable hourly attorney fee rate was
$185 and $70 per hour for paralegal services. We disagree.
When case evaluation sanctions are appropriate, the actual costs to be charged are the
costs taxable in any civil action plus a reasonable attorney fee. MCR 2.403(O)(6); Dessart v
Burak, 470 Mich 37, 40; 678 NW2d 615 (2004). Here, plaintiffs had the burden of establishing
the reasonableness of the requested attorney fee. Smith v Khouri, 481 Mich 519, 528-529; 751
NW2d 472 (2008). The trial court must determine a reasonable attorney fee based on a
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reasonable hourly or daily rate for services necessitated by the rejection of the evaluation.
MCR 2.403(O)(6)(b); Dessart, supra at 40. The determination of a reasonable hourly rate for an
attorney fee to include in a sanction is within the trial court’s discretion. Zdrojewski v Murphy,
254 Mich App 50, 73; 657 NW2d 721 (2002). The trial court abuses its discretion when its
decision is outside the range of reasonable and principled outcomes. Smith, supra at 526.
In determining a reasonable hourly rate for an attorney fee, MCR 2.403(O)(6)(b), “a trial
court should begin its analysis by determining the fee customarily charged in the locality for
similar legal services.” Smith, supra at 530. In doing so, “trial courts have routinely relied on
data contained in surveys such as the Economics of the Law Practice Surveys that are published
by the State Bar of Michigan.” Id. In this case, the trial court rejected plaintiffs’ requested
hourly attorney fee rate of $225, which was in the 75th percentile of such a State Bar study.
Instead, the trial court determined that because the instant case was not overly complex, a
reasonable attorney fee rate in the court’s locality was closer to the median hourly rate of $195
according to same study. We conclude that the trial court’s decision was within the range of
reasonable and principled outcomes, thus, not an abuse of discretion. Smith, supra at 526.
We affirm but reverse the trial court’s order granting remittitur and remand for entry of
judgment for plaintiffs consistent with the jury’s verdict. We do not retain jurisdiction. Because
plaintiffs have prevailed regarding the issues on which defendant appealed, they may tax costs
pursuant to MCR 7.219.
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Stephen L. Borrello
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