Opinion ID: 2604705
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Damages excluding those for emotional distress.

Text: First, we conclude that the district judge properly concluded that the Mackintoshes were not entitled to reimbursement for homeowner's insurance payments and late charge payments. The Mackintoshes argue that they were fraudulently induced into buying the house and, therefore, that they should be reimbursed for these house-related expenditures. However, the purchase of homeowner's insurance was discretionary, and the Mackintoshes were not compelled to buy the insurance. Furthermore, the late charge payments resulted from the Mackintoshes' own inability to pay their mortgage on time. Cal Fed was not enriched by these two expenditures, and the district court properly refused to award reimbursement to the Mackintoshes for these costs. With regard to the improvements, in a recision and restitution situation, a party should be reimbursed for the costs of any improvements made. See Garbark v. Newman, 155 Neb. 188, 51 N.W.2d 315, 325 (1952). See generally 66 Am.Jur.2d Restitution and Implied Contracts § 166 (1973). However, the improvements were eight years old, had a limited life use, and had been enjoyed by the Mackintoshes during those eight years. Therefore, we conclude that substantial evidence supported the district court's conclusion that the equities of the case demanded that no damages would be awarded to the Mackintoshes for the improvements.