Court Opinion

ID: 9790977
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:02:32.207975+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:32.985931
License: Public Domain

McFADDEN, Justice Pro Tern.,
dissenting:
The district court awarded $5,000 in general damages to the Mayrs and $7,500 in general damages to the Zanders. The appellant and respondents agree that these general damages were awarded for mental anguish resulting from breach of the construction contract.1 However, appellant argues that the district court erred in awarding damages for mental anguish stemming from breach of the construction contract, while respondents argue that the trial court acted correctly. The majority affirms the award. To that extent, I dissent.
The Restatement of Contracts states the general rule regarding damages for mental anguish due to breach of contract. In Umphrey v. Sprinkel, 106 Idaho 700, 712, 682 P.2d 1247, 1259 (1983), Idaho has adopted the Restatement provision verbatim:
“In actions for breach of contract, damages will not be given as compensation for mental suffering, except when the breach was wanton or reckless and caused bodily harm and where it was the wanton or reckless breach of a contract to render a performance of such a character that the defendant had reason to know when the contract was made that the breach would cause mental suffering *134for reasons other than mere pecuniary loss.” Restatement of Contracts § 341 (1932).
See also Hatfield v. Max Rouse & Sons Northwest, 100 Idaho 840, 847, 606 P.2d 944, 951 (1980). The general rule articulated in the Restatement has been widely adopted. See Mack v. Hugh W. Comstock Associates, Inc., 225 Cal.App.2d 583, 37 Cal.Rptr. 466, 469 (1964); Grok v. Broad-land Builders, Inc., 120 Mich.App. 214, 327 N.W.2d 443, 444-45 (1982); Fiore v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 144 N.J.Super. 74, 364 A.2d 572, 573 (N.J.Sup.Ct. Law D. 1976); Rogowicz v. Taylor & Gray, Inc., 498 S.W.2d 352, 355 (Tex.Civ.App.1973). See generally D. Dobbs, Handbook on the Law of Remedies § 12.4 (1973).
In line with the general rule, the majority view is that damages for mental anguish may not be recovered after breach of a construction contract. See Mack v. Hugh W. Comstock Associates, Inc., supra; Groh v. Broadland Builders, Inc., supra; Fiore v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., supra; Rogowicz v. Taylor & Gray, Inc., supra. Although some courts have allowed recovery for mental anguish stemming from breach of a construction contract, see B & M Homes, Inc. v. Hogan, 376 So.2d 667, 671-73 (Ala.1979); Hill v. Sereneck, 355 So.2d 1129, 1131-32 (Ala.Civ.App.1978), I can see no justification for Idaho to deviate from the majority view which we adopted in Umphrey v. Sprinkel, supra. Accordingly, I would reverse the district court’s award of general damages. Further, because general damages were improperly awarded, the award of $10,000 in attorney fees is clearly excessive and must be reconsidered.

. Although appellant and respondents agree that the general damage award was intended to compensate for mental anguish, damages for mental anguish are special damages. See D. Dobbs, Handbook on the Law of Remedies § 12.3 (1973). Special damages must be pled with particularity. I.R.C.P. 9(g). It should be noted that the counterclaim filed by the respondents did satisfy the requirements of I.R.C.P. 9(g).