Opinion ID: 2118115
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Plaintiff last asserts defendant was negligent in excavating straight down the Hotle structure footings, thereby removing lateral support.

Text: Unquestionably Rathje did so excavate. On the other hand Mr. Cooper, general contractor, testified to the effect weight of the Hotle building wall pushed the dirt down and cracks appeared because of failure to support the wall. Actually no witness, other than Cooper, expressed any opinion as to the asserted cause of damage to the Hotle structure. On this issue Cooper's testimony alone does not suffice. He was not present while the excavating was in progress and did not see the soil condition during that time. His conclusion was at best speculative, and supported by no other competent and persuasive evidence relative to causation. Trial court found absence of proof sufficient to sustain this final allegation of negligence, and on the record made there is no alternative for us but to agree. See Covell v. Sioux City, 224 Iowa 1060, 1066-1067, 277 N.W. 447. IX. We are persuaded and now hold, trial court's findings of fact have adequate evidentiary support, and despite plaintiff's protestations to the contrary, the judgment entered did not result from application of an erroneous rule of law. Affirmed.