Opinion ID: 2642474
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: ¶1 This appeal arises from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District’s (CUWCD) January 7, 2003 agreement (Agreement) to improve irrigation structures belonging to Upper East Union Irrigation Company (UEU), East River Bottom Water Company (ERB), and Timpanogos Canal Company (TCC) (collectively, Canal Companies) in exchange for rights to the increased water flow arising from the improvements. CUWCD failed to complete its CUWCD v. UEU et al. Opinion of the Court obligations under the Agreement. After negotiations with the Canal Companies broke down, CUWCD filed a declaratory action to establish its contractual rights. ¶2 The district court ruled that because CUWCD breached its obligations under the Agreement, UEU and ERB were entitled to enforce the bargained-for damages provisions, resulting in the loss of CUWCD’s prospective water rights. CUWCD appeals, asserting that the district court erred by: (1) granting summary judgment in favor of the Canal Companies, (2) failing to recognize that UEU and ERB received the benefit of their bargain, (3) refusing to reconsider its summary judgment ruling, (4) rejecting CUWCD’s claims that its performance was excused under the doctrine of impracticability, (5) failing to recognize CUWCD’s tender of cash in lieu of performance, and (6) refusing to allow CUWCD to amend its pleadings to add allegedly necessary parties. ¶3 We affirm the judgment of the district court in its entirety. Specifically, we hold that CUWCD’s breach was material because UEU and ERB did not receive the benefit of their bargain. And the breach was not excused by the doctrine of impracticability or CUWCD’s tender of cash in lieu of performance. Therefore, the district court appropriately entered summary judgment in favor of UEU and ERB and was under no obligation to reconsider its ruling. Finally, the district court did not abuse its discretion when it refused to allow CUWCD to amend its pleadings to join allegedly necessary parties.