Opinion ID: 1267395
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: allstate's counter assignments of error

Text: The Court notes that, among other points, Allstate in the present case assigns as error the fact that the jury's verdict awarded the appellant $400.00 for the loss of use of his vehicle, and Allstate claims that there was no evidence to support such an award. The evidence which the appellant did adduce to support this was are the fact that he had bought a used car for $300.00 and paid $100.00 to fix it up. This Court agrees with Allstate that this evidence does not demonstrate loss of use or support the loss of use award. The basic measure of damages for loss of use of personal property is rental value, O'Dell v. McKenzie, 150 W.Va. 346, 145 S.E.2d 388 (1965), although as we have indicated above, other factors may be relevant. The cost of a replacement car is not one of those factors. Accordingly, the Court concludes that the $400.00 loss of use award contained in the jury verdict must be set aside. We have examined the remaining cross assignments and note that, even if they rise to the level of error, the error, if any, was not prejudicial.