Opinion ID: 667242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Grounds for Compensatory Damages

Text: 28 Missouri Pacific contends that the district court relied upon uncertain calculations of Overbrook's actual damages stemming from: (1) the cost of using its own trucks to haul grain from its Overbrook and Michigan Valley elevators to its Scranton elevator; and (2) the cost of throughputting the grain a second time at the Scranton elevator. 29 First, Overbrook's calculation of the cost of using its own trucks was based on the testimony of Overbrook's general manager, Larry Coffman. Coffman's figures were a rough approximation of the cost. After a reduction in Coffman's figures by the district court, the court awarded damages based on unit costs of 2.8 cents per bushel for in-house trucking. This calculation was not unreasonable in light of outside trucking costs, which ranged from 4.5 to 6.2 cents per bushel. 30 The calculation of throughput costs could have been more clearly explained. Overbrook calculated its elevator throughput cost by adding all the costs associated with its elevators (except loan expense and depreciation) for each year, and dividing each year's cost by the bushels of grain received by the cooperative in that year. While this method of calculation may have been generous to Overbrook, the trial court had heard a substantial volume of evidence on damages, and in light of the railroad's election to assume the risk that some damages would be assessed, we are not inclined to second guess the trier of fact on these details. Whiteley v. OKC Corp., 719 F.2d 1051, 1058 (10th Cir.1983) (strong showing of abuse of discretion necessary before reviewing court will reverse excessive verdict). Overbrook's Cross-Appeal