Opinion ID: 1098433
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: did the final decree excuse contract performance until it was reversed?

Text: LeBleu and Coatings argue in their second issue that the Chancellor's Final Decree was binding on all parties until it was reversed and thus LeBleu and Coatings do not owe Murphy for anything during the period of time that the case was on appeal. This Court finds this issue without merit. When a judgment is reversed it is as if such judgment never existed. See Generally General Contract Corporation v. Leggett, 224 Miss. 262, 80 So.2d 762 (1955). In General Contract Corp., an action in replevin, this Court reversed the decision of the lower court and ordered Leggett to restore not only the value of the vehicle, but also the Court ordered Leggett to pay General Contract Corp. the additional value of the subject vehicle's depreciation while the case was on appeal. 224 Miss. at 263, 80 So.2d at 763; See Also 5B C.J.S. Appeal and Error § 1950 (1963) which states: The effect of a general and unqualified reversal of a judgment, order, or decree is to nullify it completely and to leave the case standing as if such judgment, order, or decree had never been rendered. .. . (Several of Mississippi's neighbor states have adopted this proposition. Starnes v. Holloway, 779 S.W.2d 86, 95 (Tex. App. 1989); Franklyn Gesner Fine Paintings, Inc. v. Ketchum [259 Ga. 3], 375 S.E.2d 848, 849 (Ga. 1989); Ex Parte Riley, 464 So.2d 92, 94 (Al. 1985); Lowe v. Morrison [270 Ark. 668], 606 S.W.2d 569, 571 (Ark. 1980); and O'Brien v. O'Brien, 347 So.2d 1288, 1289-90 (La. App. 1977).) When this Court reversed the decision of the Chancellor it was as if the lower judgment never existed. The Consultant Agreement was in full effect with accrued back payments were due to Murphy for the months that LeBleu and Coatings held the painting contract at Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station while this case was on appeal. The Chancellor found that at the time of the hearing on remand LeBleu and Coatings still had the painting contract so Murphy was due his fee for the number of months the case was pending (37 months at $2,000.00 per month is $74,000.00).