Opinion ID: 1414388
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: release and settlement agreement

Text: The district court found that in July 1985, Sutherland began to change the Apartments from monthly rental units to an overnight lodging facility for tour groups. Consequently, Sutherland breached the release and settlement agreement when he did not use his best efforts to rent the Apartments. Therefore, the district court concluded that Sutherland was unjustly enriched by the sum of $15,480, the amount of rental subsidy which the Copelands paid to Sutherland for the vacancies during July and August 1985. On appeal, Sutherland contends that no evidence sustains the district court's finding that he did not use his best efforts to rent the Apartments during July and August 1985. He maintains that the only people with personal knowledge of the rentals were himself and Jack Griffin, the Apartments' manager. Griffin testified that Sutherland did not talk to him about evicting tenants until August 1985. Sutherland also testified that the conversion did not begin until September 1985. However, Brown testified that when he and Sutherland visited the property in mid-September 1985, it was nearly vacant. Brown further stated that Sutherland told him that the Apartments were vacated 60 to 90 days prior to their visit to facilitate the conversion to a motel operation. Moreover, a summary of an October 1985 conversation between the Copelands and the Griffins, introduced into evidence at trial, contradicted Jack Griffin's trial testimony. The summary indicated that Sutherland ordered the Apartments emptied and no new rents taken after July 1, 1985. This court will not set aside findings of fact unless clearly erroneous. NRCP 52(a). Moreover, when the evidence conflicts, we will not disturb the factual findings of the trial court. Sherman Gardens Co. v. Longley, 87 Nev. 558, 562, 491 P.2d 48, 51 (1971). Although the evidence conflicts on this issue, the record supports the district court's ruling that in July 1985, Sutherland breached the release and settlement agreement. Accordingly, the trial court correctly entered judgment in favor of the Copelands for $15,480.