Opinion ID: 2167246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: affidavit of marland

Text: Finally, in their sixth assignment of error, the Boneses argue the district court erred in admitting and considering the affidavit of Marland. In his affidavit, Marland, who was Agri Affiliates' expert, stated that in his opinion, Agri Affiliates appropriately exposed and marketed the Boneses' property, used due diligence to find a buyer at the full listing price and, in fact, found such a buyer in Keller. Marland further opined that there was no misrepresentation or breach of fiduciary duty on the part of [Agri Affiliates] in its representation of the [Boneses]. The Boneses contend that Marland's affidavit violated Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-1334 (Reissue 1995) in that it was not based upon personal knowledge and included both hearsay and legal conclusions. Section 25-1334 states that [s]upporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify as to the matters stated therein. In their brief, the Boneses assert the following: While [Agri Affiliates] may rely on the Marland affidavit to oppose [the Boneses'] Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court inappropriately relied on the affidavit in granting summary judgment in favor of [Agri Affiliates]. Brief for appellants at 32. Thus, this court is concerned only with the district court's reliance on this affidavit with respect to its granting of Agri Affiliates' motion for summary judgment and not with respect to the overruling of the Boneses' motion. Ordinarily, the erroneous admission of evidence in a summary judgment hearing is not reversible error if other relevant evidence, admitted without objection or properly admitted over objection, sustains the trial court's necessary factual findings. Stiver v. Allsup, Inc., 255 Neb. 687, 587 N.W.2d 77 (1998). Assuming, arguendo, that the district court did improperly admit and rely upon Marland's affidavit in granting Agri Affiliates' motion for summary judgment, such is not prejudicial error requiring reversal. This court has already concluded, without reliance on Marland's affidavit, that the record is sufficient to sustain the district court's granting of summary judgment in favor of Agri Affiliates. The Boneses' sixth assignment of error is without merit.