Opinion ID: 1252037
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Damages for the Repair and Replacement of the Water and Sewer System

Text: The question raised by Issue No. 3 is whether or not the record contains sufficient evidence to sustain the jury's verdict and court's judgment of $89,500 for necessary repairs and replacement of the water and sewer system. Preliminarily, it should be noted that the appellant does not question whether or not there was a breach of the contract by the appellant or that the appellees were damaged thereby. In Zitterkopf v. Roussalis, Wyo., 546 P.2d 436, 438 (1976) we held that the general measure of damages for breach of contract is that amount which will compensate the damaged party for the loss which the full performance of the contract would have prevented or the breach of it has entailed, citing Woodburn Brothers v. Erickson, 97 U.S.App.D.C. 227, 230 F.2d 240 (10 Cir.1956); McBain v. Pratt, Alas., 514 P.2d 823, 65 A.L.R.3d 621 (1973); Taylor v. Colorado State Bank of Denver, 165 Colo. 576, 440 P.2d 772 (1968); Steel v. Eagle, 207 Kan. 146, 483 P.2d 1063 (1971); Prier v. Refrigeration Engineering Company, 74 Wash.2d 25, 442 P.2d 621 (1968); 25 C.J.S. Damages § 74, p. 843; 22 Am.Jur.2d, Damages § 47, p. 74. To the same effect, see Reynolds v. Tice, Wyo., 595 P.2d 1318 (1979). In the case at bar, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient for the jury to find that the water and sewer system installed by the appellant-defendant had to be repaired and replaced. The appellees-plaintiffs introduced repair billings which totaled $20,775.76. There was testimony of one of the appellees to the effect that additional work would have to be done on a gas line, which repair would total $1,800, and that pumps in the water system would have to be repaired or replaced, the cost of which would be $3,000. There was testimony stating the cost of repairing and redoing the septic system would be $63,900. Testimony was also elicited to the effect that the water system as installed was not of the same quality as that designed and to correct this everything from the curb stop should be replaced. The bid sheet [plaintiffs' Exhibit 61] establishes the cost of the materials necessary to make the repairs from the corporation stop to the curb stop to be: copper pipe, $150; corporation stops, $190; curb stops, $276, exclusive of the cost of PVC pipe between the corporation and curb stops. There was no testimony as to the labor costs involved. The total of these sums is $90,091.76. We therefore find that there is sufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict and the court's judgment entered thereon. Affirmed.