Opinion ID: 887161
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Did the District Court err in calculating damages?

Text: ¶ 22 Stevens argues that the District Court erroneously interpreted the law of damages for tort and breach of contract. It contends that the court should not have awarded Roosevelt the full pecuniary value of a replacement roof, but should have deducted an amount that reflects the value actually realized by Roosevelt during the nine years for which it used the roof. Roosevelt responds that this is a question of the application of law to the facts presented at the damages hearing. It asserts that, having introduced no evidence of the diminution in value of the roof resulting from its defects or the value actually realized through use of the roof, Stevens may not challenge the damages awarded. Roosevelt also notes that Stevens failed to provide a transcript of the damages hearing, which prevents this Court from determining what evidence, if any, Stevens did offer regarding the appropriate deduction in damages. ¶ 23 Stevens argues that the proper damages measure in tort claims involving property damage is either the diminution in market value, or the cost of repair. The District Court concluded, however, that Roosevelt's nine years of using the roof should not be used as a deduction. Stevens must provide this Court with the record necessary for determining the merits of this appeal. Rules 9(b), 10(a), M.R.App.P.; see Huffine v. Boylan (1989), 239 Mont. 515, 517, 782 P.2d 77, 78 (dismissing an appeal when the appellant failed to provide the transcript that was necessary for resolution of the issue raised on appeal). Stevens did not provide this Court with a transcript of the damages hearing. Without a transcript of the damages hearing, this Court cannot determine whether Stevens presented any evidence of the value that Roosevelt realized by utilizing the roof for nine years. Without such evidence, the District Court lacked a factual basis to determine the proper amount by which to offset the full cost of replacing the roof. The record contains no indication of what evidence was before the District Court at the damages hearing. Such information is essential to the resolution of this issue. Stevens has not supplied us with a record by which to assess the District Court's conclusion, and we will not speculate as to what the evidentiary bases for its decision may have been. Stevens's argument with respect to the District Court's calculation of damages pursuant to contract law fails for the same reason. ¶ 24 Roosevelt asks this Court to award attorney fees on appeal. Roosevelt asserts that Stevens's failure to provide a transcript indicates that the sole purpose behind this appeal is further delay; therefore, such a sanction is warranted. We disagree. Although a transcript of the damages hearing is required to determine the validity of the damages award, a transcript is not necessary to determine whether the District Court abused its discretion in imposing sanctions pursuant to Rule 37, M.R.Civ.P. For this issue, the record suffices. Moreover, although we affirm the Rule 37 sanction imposed by the District Court, Stevens's arguments on this issue are not so frivolous as to warrant this Court imposing sanctions pursuant to Rule 32, M.R.App.P. Accordingly, Roosevelt's request for attorney fees is denied. ¶ 25 The District Court did not abuse its discretion when it struck Stevens's defenses pursuant to Rule 37(b), M.R.Civ.P., and entered judgment in favor of Roosevelt. The appellant failed to present any evidence that could establish that the District Court abused its discretion in calculating the damages it awarded to Roosevelt. Accordingly, we affirm. We concur: KARLA M. GRAY, C.J., BRIAN MORRIS, JIM RICE and JOHN WARNER, JJ.