Opinion ID: 1290282
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Hubers' Claim for Specific Performance

Text: The Hubers also complain that they were improperly denied specific performance under the contract by the trial court. Specific performance would require the parties to perform their respective contractual promises. 71 Am.Jur.2d. Specific Performance § 211 (1973). The decision to grant the remedy of specific performance rests in the sound discretion of the trial court; we will not interfere unless we are shown the court's discretion was abused. Harrington v. Harrington, 365 N.W.2d 552, 558 (N.D.1985); Wolf v. Anderson, 334 N.W.2d 212, 215 (N.D.1983). Specific performance is an equitable remedy, and as such, equitable principles must apply. Wolf, 334 N.W.2d at 215. The persons seeking specific performance carry the burden of proving they are so entitled. Id. Any complaint requesting specific performance must clearly show that legal damages are inadequate. Id. The trial court concluded that Hubers have adequate remedies at law for damages. We agree. Hubers have failed to carry their burden of showing why monetary damages are inadequate in the instant case. In fact Mr. Huber, in his supplemental affidavit, has quantified his losses from the lack of irrigation over 17 years as $83,001. This only reinforces the trial court's conclusion that the Hubers have failed to support their claim for specific performance. We find the trial court did not abuse its discretion.