Opinion ID: 2325159
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Unlawful Removal of Loam

Text: The defendant next challenges the award of damages for the removal of loam. It maintains there was evidence that in the sequence of road construction, loam spreading and seeding is normally done at the end of the project, and because it did not finish the road before the August 22, 2002 conveyance date, the loam would not have yet been spread. Thus, according to the defendant, the plaintiffs cannot collect damages for the loam, the road not being paved, or any other outstanding contract item that was not required to be completed by [the] August 22, 2002, conveyance date. The trial court found that the jury's verdict for removal of loam does have a factual basis. The court further found that the defendant's claim of impossibility of performance and commercial frustration effectuated by the plaintiff[s'] conveyance of the property on August 22, 2002 has no bearing on this portion of the plaintiff[s'] complaint for damages. We agree. The doctrines of impossibility of performance and commercial frustration presume the existence of a contract. See Appeal of Vicon Recovery Systems, Inc., 130 N.H. 801, 805, 547 A.2d 301 (1988) (doctrines of commercial frustration and impossibility of performance did not apply because the party's obligations did not arise out of a contract). Here, the plaintiffs sought damages for the removal of loam under a count of trespass. This count was separate and apart from the plaintiffs' breach of contract count and the defendant's obligations under the contract. Because the doctrine of commercial frustration does not apply to a plea of trespass, this defense is not available to the defendant. To the extent the defendant argues that the trial court should have granted remittitur as to the $14,400 verdict, we find no error. Whether remittitur should be granted is within the trial court's sound discretion. Blouin v. Sanborn, 155 N.H. 704, 707, 929 A.2d 194 (2007). Direct review of a damages award is the responsibility of the trial judge, who may disturb a verdict as excessive (or inadequate) if its amount is conclusively against the weight of the evidence. Id. The amount of the verdict is conclusively against the weight of the evidence only if no reasonable jury could have reached it. Id. Our task upon review is not to attempt to ascertain the one and only correct verdict. Id. Absent an unsustainable exercise of discretion, we will not reverse the trial court's decision. Id. The party seeking to modify the verdict bears a heavy burden. Id. Adelaide and Rick testified that the defendant removed loam from the property and that they did not see the loam returned to the property. This testimony was unrefuted. Further, Rick testified as to the cost of a cubic yard of unscreened loam in 2002. The plaintiffs' engineer testified as to his estimate of the amount of loam removed from the roadway. We conclude that the trial judge sustainably exercised his discretion by not disturbing the award of $14,400 for this removal.