Case ID: sw2d_633/html/0296-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CLEMENS, Senior Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Leslie LINDSEY, Respondent, v. Jeffery JOHNSON, Appellant.
    No. 44196.
    Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Division Three.
    April 27, 1982.
    Roy A. Walther, III, St. Louis, for appellant.
    Martin Lipsitz, St. Louis, for respondent.
   CLEMENS, Senior Judge.

Plaintiff-owner Leslie Lindsey took his car to defendant-mechanic Jeffery Johnson’s service station for repairs and have a motor replaced. While there for over six months the car was cannibalized and never repaired. Plaintiff sold the car for scrap.

In the court-tried case plaintiff got judgment for $500. Defendant appeals, contending solely there was no substantial value evidence. We rule that issue against defendant.

Replying to questions about the car’s fair market value plaintiff testified it was worth $2,000 to him.

Defendant cites Bridgeforth v. Proffitt, 490 S.W.2d 416[12 — 15] (Mo.App.1973) holding there was no evidence of fair market value where the owner testified only to what items cost or were worth. Not so here; the owner went further and testified to the car’s fair market value. An owner may so testify without further qualification. Casada v. Hamby Excavating Co., Inc., 575 S.W.2d 851[1-3] (Mo.App.1978).

And there was further evidence of plaintiff’s damages. A veteran auto repairman testified the cost of repairing plaintiff’s car would be $1,800. Such testimony is relevant in determining an owner’s damage. Jack L. Baker Cos. v. Pasley Mfg. & Distrib. Co., 413 S.W.2d 268[7] (Mo.1967), and Hayes v. Dalton, 257 S.W.2d 198[2-3] (Mo.App.1953).

We hold there was substantial evidence to support the trial court’s judgment.

Affirmed.

REINHARD, P. J., and SNYDER and CRIST, JJ., concur.