Opinion ID: 1698470
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claims Against Hembree Motor Company

Text: Dodd's only argument with regard to the claims against Hembree Motors is that he presented substantial evidence to support his claim of fraudulent concealment. [2] Dodd argues that he presented substantial evidence that Hembree Motors knew of the Camaro's serious paint problems while the car was in its possession and that Hembree Motors did not disclose them when it sold the Camaro to Stephenson Chevrolet. Therefore, Dodd argues, Hembree Motors fraudulently concealed that the Camaro had been damaged. In support of his contentions, Dodd notes the October 1989 receipt for the delivery of the Camaro to Hembree Motors, which includes the statement: Car has serious paint problems all over. Factory. In reply, Hembree Motors cites the affidavit testimony of Robert L. Hembree, Jr., who stated that while the Camaro was in the possession of Hembree Motors, the Camaro was neither damaged nor repaired. Hembree Motors also contends that its inspection of the car upon its delivery to Hembree Motors revealed no damage to the vehicle and that in his affidavit Almon Truitt stated that he noticed no defect in the Camaro when he delivered it to Stephenson Chevrolet. To establish a prima facie case of fraudulent concealment of a material fact, a plaintiff must show (1) that the defendant had a duty to disclose a material fact, (2) that the defendant concealed or failed to disclose a material fact, (3) that the defendant's concealment or failure to disclose the material fact induced the plaintiff to act or to refrain from acting, and (4) that the plaintiff suffered actual damage as a proximate result. Soniat v. Johnson-Rast & Hays, 626 So.2d 1256 (Ala.1993); see Cornelius v. Austin, 542 So.2d 1220, 1223 (Ala.1989). Mere silence is not fraudulent in the absence of a duty to disclose. A duty to disclose may arise from the particular circumstances of the case, from a confidential relationship, or from a request for information. Hardy v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama, 585 So.2d 29, 32 (Ala.1991); King v. National Foundation Life Ins. Co., 541 So.2d 502 (Ala.1989). One may also recover for fraudulent concealment by showing active concealment of a material fact with an intent to deceive or mislead. § 6-5-103, Alabama Code 1975; Soniat v. Johnson-Rast & Hays ; Cornelius v. Austin ; Harrell v. Dodson, 398 So.2d 272, 276 (Ala.1981). Although Dodd presented substantial evidence that Hembree Motors knew of the Camaro's paint problems, Dodd failed to present substantial evidence that Hembree had a duty to disclose them. As with Stephenson Chevrolet, Dodd produced no evidence of any special circumstances or a confidential relationship. [3] Thus, the summary judgment is correct to the extent that the complaint alleges suppression of a material fact. Neither did Dodd present any evidence of knowing, active concealment of a material fact with an intent to deceive. Although the delivery receipt constitutes substantial evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could infer that Hembree Motors knew of the paint problems, the record contains no evidence to support the inference that Hembree Motors actively or knowingly concealed these problems with an intent to deceive. See Soniat, 626 So.2d at 1259; Cornelius, 542 So.2d at 1224-25; Harrell, 398 So.2d at 277. Moreover, Dodd cites no authority for the proposition that Hembree Motors, as opposed to Stephenson Chevrolet, had any obligation to disclose facts to him or that he is entitled to bring an action based on the failure of Hembree Motors to disclose those facts to Stephenson Chevrolet. Therefore, the trial court properly entered a summary judgment on Dodd's claim of fraudulent concealment against Hembree Motors. Because Dodd makes no argument in support of his claims against Hembree Motors alleging breach of express warranty, implied warranty of merchantability, or implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, the judgment is affirmed as to those claims. Young v. Serra Volkswagen, Inc., supra ; Bogle v. Scheer, 512 So.2d 1336 (Ala.1987).