Opinion ID: 887889
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Replacement Costs for the 40-ton Truck

Text: ¶32 St. Paul determined that the 40-ton truck had a replacement value of $126,000, and the District Court accepted this figure as the total amount to which Performance was entitled under the Rental Agreement. [4] Furthermore, because Yellowstone had paid Performance this amount (through St. Paul's insurance payment, plus the deductible payment, plus the truck's salvage value), the District Court concluded Performance had received the replacement value of the 40-ton truck. ¶33 In order to recover additional compensation, therefore, Performance must demonstrate that the District Court's finding that $126,000 is the total amount to which Performance was entitled is clearly erroneous. However, Performance has failed to produce any evidence on what the actual replacement value for the 40-ton truck is contra that reached by St. Paul and accepted by the District Court. Indeed, Magee admitted at trial that Performance never provided Yellowstone or St. Paul with any actual quotes of replacement vehicles. Performance reiterates its argument that the 40-ton truck was worth $250,000 and that Performance is entitled to that amount in total. For the reasons set out earlier, we reject this argument. Performance also relies on the testimony of the owner of the company, Lawrence Van Dyke, who stated that he did not believe the $114,500 could replace the truck in the condition it was in when first leased to Yellowstone. Yet, Van Dyke's statement is not evidence of what the truck's actual replacement value is. ¶34 Alternatively, Performance takes the position that because the Rental Agreement required Yellowstone to pay for the cost of replacement, Yellowstone had the burden of proving the cost of replacement at trial. We reject this inference. While it is true that Paragraph 3 obligated Yellowstone to pay any replacement costs due to damage to the 40-ton truck, we cannot read this as a corresponding requirement that Yellowstone is obligated to prove the cost of replacement at trial. Furthermore, Performance offers no legal support for this argument, which ignores the general rule that plaintiffs have the burden of proving, by competent evidence, the amount of damages to which they are entitled. See Smith v. Zepp, 173 Mont. 358, 370, 567 P.2d 923, 930 (1977); see also § 26-1-401, MCA (The initial burden of producing evidence as to a particular fact is on the party who would be defeated if no evidence were given on either side.). ¶35 Lastly, Performance suggests that Yellowstone procured insufficient insurance to cover the risk of loss on the 40-ton truck. Performance's position appears to be as follows: We did not receive $250,000 in damages; thus, the insurance must have been insufficient. However, Performance has failed to prove the existence of a term within the parties' Rental Agreement requiring Yellowstone to obtain insurance that would result in a $250,000 payment to Performance in the event that the 40-ton truck is destroyed. ¶36 As Performance has failed to make any showing of what the actual replacement cost for the 40-ton truck is, Performance has likewise failed to establish that the District Court's finding is clearly erroneous. As such, we cannot say that the District Court erred when it determined that Performance was not entitled to additional compensation for replacement of the 40-ton truck.