Opinion ID: 1814261
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Mixing Actual Rents and Fair Rental Value

Text: The record reflects that actual cow-calf rents on the ranch pastureland exceeded the fair rental value of that land. In light of the principles governing constructive trusts, it would be inequitable to not allow the estate to recover for actual rents where those rents are known to be greater than the fair rental value of the property. To allow the appellees to limit their liability to fair rental value, rather than what they actually received, would amount to allowing them to earn a windfall from their wrongful conduct. This, equity will not allow. As stated in Schepers v. Lautenschlager, 173 Neb. 107, 112 N.W.2d 767 (1962), an agent who breaches a fiduciary duty cannot profit from that breach.