Opinion ID: 1965068
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Damages Instruction Given by Trial Court

Text: Nielsen further claims that the trial court erred by giving instruction No. 11, which Nielsen claims allowed the jury to speculate on the issue of damages. Instruction No. 11 defined damages as the difference between the value to Streeks of the seed crop at maturity had the seed been suitable and the value of the actual crop received at harvest, less any savings, plus added expenses. The instruction given by the court was an appropriate measure of damages under the circumstances of this case. In an action for fraud a party may recover such damages as will compensate him for the loss or injury actually caused by the fraud and place the defrauded party in the same position as he would have been in had the fraud not occurred. Forker Solar, Inc. v. Knoblauch, 224 Neb. 143, 154, 396 N.W.2d 273, 281 (1986). See, also, Alliance Nat. Bank v. State Surety Co., 223 Neb. 403, 390 N.W.2d 487 (1986). Because of Nielsen's nondisclosure, Streeks could not perform the contract with May and was damaged as a result. Instruction No. 11 correctly states the law, was not misleading, and was supported by the pleadings and the evidence. Thus, there is no prejudicial error necessitating reversal. See Doe v. Gunny's Ltd. Partnership, supra.