Opinion ID: 1759354
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Charges Appearing on Statement of Account

Text: Phipps set forth a calculation of damages in which he did not include several of the charges which Skyview included in its statement of account for Phipps. The trial court awarded damages based on Phipps' calculation of damages. Skyview claims the trial court erred in not deducting these additional charges from Phipps' damage award. Skyview claims the $100 charge for Cost for Missed Load was properly deducted from any amounts owned to Phipps because under the terms of the agreement, Phipps was liable for any missed load, no matter what the reason. This charge was deducted because Phipps did not pick up the next load assigned to him 50 miles away from the Maryland jobsite. However, the agreement provides that the trucker is liable for [t]rip interruption when the trucker violates this Agreement in such a manner as to fail to complete transportation of commodities in transit. There is no provision regarding failure to pick up the next load. Furthermore, Skyview terminated the agreement upon the unloading of Phipps' truck at the Maryland site. Phipps would be under no obligation to pick up the next load once the agreement was already terminated. Skyview claims it was proper to charge against Phipps an early termination service charge, costs of license plates and permits, and loss of escrow. The agreement provides for such charges in the section entitled Rights on early termination. However, the agreement provides for such charges only when the trucker breaches the agreement. In the present case, Skyview breached the agreement. Thus, these are not appropriate charges to be made against Phipps' account. Skyview also claims it was proper to charge Phipps $2,159.52 for the 1997 total annual costs of license plates and permits, while crediting Phipps' account for a total of $900 that had been deducted from Phipps' earnings on a weekly basis and applied toward the cost of these license plates and permits. This would result in Phipps' being held responsible for $1,259.52 in unused license plate and permit costs. The terms of the agreement as set forth in the handbook provide that the trucker is responsible for the unused portion of license plate and permit costs if the trucker terminates the agreement early. In the present case, Skyview terminated early. Thus, the charges for license plates and permits are not appropriate. Because the damages awarded by the trial court for amounts due on the settlement sheets were supported by evidence and bear a reasonable relationship to the elements of the damages proved, the trial court's action in this respect will not be disturbed on appeal.