Opinion ID: 1759064
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: showing of fraud

Text: Appellant secondly contends that appellee failed to show an actionable case of fraud or deceit. It is, of course, axiomatic that where the trial court hears testimony ore tenus, that court's verdict will have the effect of a jury verdict and will not be disturbed on appeal unless plainly and palpably wrong. Hill v. Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church, 370 So.2d 1389 (Ala.1979). There is sufficient evidence to support the trial court's finding of fraud and deceit as defined by §§ 6-5-101 and 6-5-103, Code 1975. Taking the facts in a light favorable to appellee, he showed that appellant represented that he would sell the franchise; that he stated that, in fact, he had a buyer for the franchise; that, in fact, another franchise had been sold earlier to another investor in the Orlando area; that appellee relied on the representation to sell, and did not attempt to sell himself; that appellee is now damaged in that he is unable to sell the franchise without informing a prospective buyer that another franchise already exists in that area. The evidence was sufficient to show legal fraud or deceit. International Resorts, Inc. v. Lambert, 350 So.2d 391 (Ala. 1977). This proof is sufficient to support the finding by the trial court of fraud and deceit by appellant in this transaction. Appellant contends that the representation, if made, was at best only an opinion of appellant, and not actionable as a material existing fact. This argument may be disposed of by the words of this Court in Shepherd v. Kendrick, 236 Ala. 289, 181 So. 782 (1938): `It is material to observe that it is often fallaciously assumed that a statement of opinion cannot involve the statement of a fact. ... If the facts are not equally known to both sides, then a statement of opinion by the one who knows the facts best involves very often a statement of material fact, for he impliedly states that he knows facts which justify his opinion.' Quoting, Kefuss v. Whitley, 220 Mich. 67, 189 N.W. 76 (1922); see also, Scholz Homes, Inc. v. Hooper, 287 Ala. 628, 254 So.2d 328 (1971). In the instant case, any opinions of appellant in this regard were reasonably treated by appellee as existing facts. Cf. Fidelity & Casualty Company of New York v. J. D. Pittman Tractor Company, 244 Ala. 354, 13 So.2d 669 (1943).