Opinion ID: 874449
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Summary Judgment on the Tort Claims

Text: Partout asserts the district court erred in granting summary judgment on his fraud claims. The district court granted summary judgment based on Partout's failure to establish the essential elements of fraud. Fraud requires: (1) a statement or a representation of fact; (2) its falsity; (3) its materiality; (4) the speaker's knowledge of its falsity; (5) the speaker's intent that there be reliance; (6) the hearer's ignorance of the falsity of the statement; (7) reliance by the hearer; (8) justifiable reliance; and (9) resultant injury. Maroun v. Wyreless Sys., Inc., 141 Idaho 604, 615, 114 P.3d 974, 985 (2005) (citing Lindberg v. Roseth, 137 Idaho 222, 226, 46 P.3d 518, 522 (2002)). In this case, Partout failed to produce sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on his fraud claims against Harper. Fraud requires that a representation is made and that the hearer relies on the representation. Id. Yet, Partout fails to produce any evidence or make any allegation that Harper made any representation to him prior to his purchase of the property. [5] In his opposition to summary judgment, Partout supported the representation element of fraud by citing to Harper's appraisal report. However, Harper submitted an excerpt from Partout's deposition wherein Partout admits he never received his own copy of the appraisal and that no one showed him a copy of the appraisal prior to purchasing the house. Partout has failed to produce any contrary evidence. Therefore, because Partout has failed to show Harper made him any representation which he relied upon, he has failed to establish an essential element to his case. Thus, we affirm the dismissal of Partout's fraud claims against Harper. [6]