Opinion ID: 1298511
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The racketeering claim

Text: The court of appeals recognized that even if Drew's complaint sought relief for property damage, the racketeering count was not time barred by the products liability two-year statute of limitations. Instead, the seven-year statute of limitations found in A.R.S. § 13-2314(H) applies. See memo. decision at 10. The court of appeals, however, affirmed the dismissal of the racketeering claim because the complaint did not allege a motive for pecuniary gain and felonious conduct. Id. at 11 (citing Pickrell, 136 Ariz. at 594-95, 667 P.2d at 1309-10). Our review of the record shows that the trial judge dismissed the racketeering claim for the same reason he dismissed the breach of warranty claims  because the two-year limitations period on products liability actions expired. Focusing on the technical requirements for pleading a racketeering claim, the court of appeals evidently seized on an issue not argued in the trial court. To whatever extent the racketeering claim was deficiently pleaded, Drew still had ample time to amend the complaint if the pleading issue had been raised in the trial court. See generally, Rule 15, Ariz.R. Civ.P., 16 A.R.S. We do not believe it proper for an appellate court to affirm a dismissal on grounds pertaining to the technical sufficiency of the pleadings when such grounds had not been argued in the trial court and the insufficiency may have been cured if the problem had been properly and timely raised. See Rules 1 and 15(a)(1), Ariz.R.Civ.P., 16 A.R.S. DISPOSITION We vacate the memorandum decision of the court of appeals. The trial court erred by dismissing the complaint; we reverse the judgment and remand this matter to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. To the extent Gates v. LaBelle's is inconsistent with this opinion, it is disapproved. GORDON, C.J., and CAMERON, MOELLER and CORCORAN, JJ.