Opinion ID: 1822071
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Claims for Damage to the Kitchen Floor

Text: In August 1987, the Koches filed a claim with State Farm based on damage to the vinyl floor in their kitchen. Robinson visually inspected the damage, taking photographs of the floor and taking measurements to determine the amount of vinyl flooring needed for a repair. Thereafter, Robinson estimated the approximate replacement cost of the damaged floor (based upon his 16 years of personal experience), without consulting price books or manuals. The following day, Robinson sent the Koches a check for $248.97 (the estimated replacement cost of $348.97, less the $100 deductible). Four to six weeks later, the Koches notified Robinson that they thought the amount was insufficient to replace the floor. Robinson testified that he told the Koches to get an estimate to determine if the amount of the check that he had sent them to replace the damaged floor was inadequate. The Koches, on the other hand, allege that Robinson told them to have the floor repaired and send him the bill and that he would pay it. Ms. Koch testified that the original floor was of the best quality flooring available at that time. She further testified that when she went to the seller and installer of the original floor to purchase the replacement flooring and found that the original flooring had been discontinued, she again requested the best quality flooring available at that time. Thereafter, in February 1988, the Koches submitted a bill to Robinson for installation of the new floor in the amount of $731.91. Upon receipt of the bill, because of the discrepancy between the cost of the new flooring and Robinson's estimate, Robinson contacted another flooring contractor to check on the price to replace the Koches' flooring. Robinson confirmed that the exact pattern of the Koches' original flooring was no longer in production, but he discovered that the manufacturer of that particular flooring had replaced it with a floor covering under a different name. By using the cost of the replacement product, Robinson adjusted his earlier estimate, increasing it by $189.75; and in March 1988, he forwarded the Koches a check for this additional amount. [5] Including this second check, the total amount paid by State Farm to the Koches totalled $438.72 ($538.72 less the $100 deductible) $193.19 less than the total expenses the Koches had incurred for replacing their floor. Because it was less, the Koches brought claims alleging breach of contract, bad faith, and misrepresentation.