Opinion ID: 2281968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: TEAM'S Injury

Text: TEAM contends that it was assigned Crush'sthe original purchaser'sclaim for breach of express warranty. The only rights or interests an assignee acquires are those the assignor had at the time the assignment was made. Barker v. Danner, 903 S.W.2d 950, 955 (Mo. App.1995). Because an assignee merely steps into the shoes of the assignor, an assignee must allege facts showing that the assignor would be entitled to relief. Louisiana Farmers' Protective Union v. Great Atlantic & Pac. Tea Co. of America, Inc., 131 F.2d 419, 423 (8th Cir.1942); see also Adams v. Cossa, 294 S.W.3d 101, 105 (Mo.App.2009) (An assignee steps into the shoes of its assignor; it acquires no greater rights than those held by the assignor at the time of the assignment.). According to the plaintiffs, Renaissance owned the T1055 and was assigned the warranty on it. TEAM never owned the T1055 but later was assigned Crush's right of action for breach of express warranty. Therefore, Renaissance must plead and prove that it suffered harm due to Vermeer's breach. TEAM, on the other hand, must plead and prove that Crush suffered harm due to Vermeer's breach. TEAM fails to do so. In its petition, TEAM alleges that its actual damages include lost business, lost business opportunities, lost profits, and expenses. It does not plead or attempt to prove any injury to Crush. Instead, it merely cites Uhlmann's testimony about how he was injured. As stated in the previous section, each entity must independently prove the elements of its claim and independently establish its own damages. Uhlmann's testimony that he himself was losing money is insufficient to show injury to Crush. TEAM fails to show the harm Crush suffered as a result of the T1055's alleged failure to function as warranted. [18] Summary judgment in favor of Vermeer on TEAM's breach of express warranty claim is proper. [19] 2. Breach of Implied Warranties In addition to their breach of express warranty claims against the manufacturer, Renaissance and TEAM bring breach of implied warranty claims against the dealer. [20] They argue that Great Plains breached the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose because the T1055 was fit neither for its ordinary purpose of terrain leveling nor for its particular purpose of rock excavation in a limestone quarry. Even though neither plaintiff was a party to the sales contract with Great Plains, they contend they are entitled to relief for the implied warranty claims under the same theories that would allow them to recover for the express warranty claimsnamely, that Crush either transferred the T1055 and its warranty to Renaissance or later distributed its warranty claims to Uhlmann, who then assigned them to TEAM.