Opinion ID: 1764507
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: is the verdict dismissing the cross-claim of stella against the bank erroneous?

Text: Stella's argument under this issue is that if the Bank breached its contract and did not deliver the property to the appellees as the jury found, then the damages from a taking of property must be attributable to the Bank. We cannot accept this argument in the light of the facts and circumstances surrounding the instant case. The appellees' complaint against the Bank is for a breach of contract, i.e., failure to deliver property purchased by the appellees. It is clear from the evidence that the Bank did not take part in the taking of any property or the damaging of property. The argument raised in Stella's brief is that the damages for the taking of property must be attributable to the Bank because: ... the bank must be able to perform the contract if they breached it. If they were unable to perform it, the defense would have been inability to perform. That defense was never raised. If they could perform, then they wrongfully converted the property and stand accountable to the Plaintiffs [for the taking of property] ... We do not accept this argument because it would impose liability on the Bank for the taking of propertyproperty that Stella admits to having takenbecause the Bank did not argue that it was unable to deliver that property. The fact is clear that the Bank could not deliver it because Stella had taken it. The appellees' brief explains that their theory of the Bank's liability is not for taking or damaging of property. Based on the above facts, the dismissal of Stella's cross-claim against the Bank was not erroneous.