Court Opinion

ID: 4250458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-02-28 21:48:33.706711+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:21.867774
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                 No. 15-1766
                            Filed February 7, 2018

JEFFREY ANDERSON,
     Plaintiff-Appellant,

vs.

ANDERSON TOOLING, INC.,
DEAN E. ANDERSON, and
CAROL A. ANDERSON,
     Defendants-Appellees.
___________________________

ANDERSON TOOLING, INC.,
    Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

LORI J. ANDERSON and
FABRICATION AND
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.,
      Defendants-Appellants.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Jefferson County, Myron L. Gookin,

Judge.

      Appellants appeal from adverse parts of the jury’s verdicts and the district

court’s denial of their motion for a new trial in this civil action. AFFIRMED IN

PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED.

      Steven Gardner of Denefe, Gardner & Zingg, P.C., Ottumwa, for appellants.

      Steven E. Ballard and Abigail L. Brown of Leff Law Firm, L.L.P., Iowa City,

for appellees.

      Heard by Doyle, P.J., and Tabor and McDonald, JJ.
                                          2

DOYLE, Judge.

       Appellants Jeffrey Anderson, his wife Lori Anderson, and their business

Fabrication and Construction Services, Inc. appeal adverse parts of the jury’s

verdicts found in favor of Anderson Tooling, Inc. and its owners, Dean and Carol

Anderson. Appellants challenge several aspects of the jury’s verdicts and the

court’s denial of their motion for a new trial, among other things. We affirm in part,

reverse in part, and remand.

       I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

       Dean Anderson and Jeff Anderson are brothers. Dean is married to Carol

and Jeff to Lori. In or about 1996, Dean and Carol started their business, Anderson

Tooling, Inc., also called ATI for short. ATI has many facets, but its primary focus

is “rigging”—moving large and heavy manufacturing machines around the country.

The company does more than just move machinery, it also provides turnkey

machine installation. ATI also operates what is essentially a salvage yard for big,

unwanted manufacturing machinery and parts. Unlike many of its competitors, if

a client needs a big machine removed and no longer wants it, ATI may accept the

machinery as a portion of its compensation for the machine’s removal.

       In 2005, Dean asked Jeff to come work for ATI. ATI was in need of

organization—particularly with respect to its bookkeeping—and Jeff, who had a

master’s degree in business administration, had experience managing

manufacturing facilities. Jeff had also performed some consulting work for ATI in

the past. Dean, Carol, Jeff, and Lori met at Jeff and Lori’s home to talk about

details of Jeff’s employment. Jeff took notes of the conversation in a note book.
                                             3

Jeff’s and Dean’s initials appear on the first page of the notes.1 The notes indicate

a base salary of $52,000 and provide:

The notes do not define profit or otherwise explain the use of the word.

         Jeff began working for ATI.         Lori also began working for ATI as a

bookkeeper. Jeff worked for ATI until Dean fired him in 2011.

         Jeff   subsequently     sued    ATI,    Dean,   and   Carol,   asserting   four

claims: violation of Iowa Wage Payment Collection Law, breach of contract,

tortious discharge, and interference with contractual relations.        ATI, Dean, and

Carol answered, asserted affirmative defenses, and made counterclaims against

Jeff for conversion, intentional interference with contracts, interference with a

prospective business advantage, breach of fiduciary duty, and misappropriation of

trade secrets. ATI then sued Jeff’s wife Lori and Jeff’s business Fabrication &

Construction Services, Inc., also called “FabCon,” asserting claims of breach of

fiduciary duty by Lori, conversion, intentional interference with contracts,

interference with prospective business advantage, and conspiracy. The lawsuits

were consolidated for trial.

         A jury trial commenced May 13, 2015. Differing accounts of events leading

to Jeff’s firing were given by Jeff and Dean, among others. Jeff claimed ATI, by

way of Dean and Carol, concealed profits to keep from having to pay Jeff a

percentage of that profit. Jeff asserted that when he called Dean and Carol out on

1
    Both Dean and Carol deny that Dean initialed the notes.
                                         4

this, they fired him rather than paid him, in breach of his contract and Iowa law.

Conversely, Dean and Carol claimed Jeff was fired for mismanaging ATI and

taking money from ATI he was not due.          They also asserted he gave ATI’s

customer list and rate information to FabCon, Jeff’s business, which FabCon, Jeff,

and Lori used to compete with ATI and later sold to another competitor.      After

hearing almost two weeks of testimony and receiving over one hundred and sixty

exhibits, the matter was submitted to the jury on June 3, 2015. The jury was given

two verdict forms with some sixty-eight special interrogatories, along with the

court’s instructions. The first verdict form concerned Jeff’s claims against ATI,

Dean, and Carol. With respect to Jeff’s claim that ATI violated the Iowa Wage

Payment Collection Law, the jury found ATI did not owe Jeff for unpaid profit-

sharing or for accrued vacation. On Jeff’s breach-of-contract and intentional-

interference-with-a-contract claims, the jury found Jeff did not have a contract with

ATI with which to breach or interfere. However, the jury did find Jeff was an

employee of ATI and was discharged by ATI for pursuing unpaid wages, causing

Jeff damages. On the line for “lost earnings from discharge to present,” the

foreperson wrote, “$52,000 + 37,387.01 = 89,387.” The jury also awarded Jeff

$5000 for past emotional-distress damages on the claim. The jury found ATI owed

Jeff money, but that neither Dean nor Carol abused the corporate privilege.

Finally, the jury awarded Jeff $52,000 in punitive damages against ATI, Dean, and

Carol.

         The second verdict form concerned ATI’s claims against Jeff, Lori, and

FabCon. The jury found no conversion of ATI’s property by Jeff, Lori, or FabCon.

However, the jury found ATI had prospective business relationships with which Jeff
                                         5

intentionally and improperly interfered to ATI’s detriment and caused ATI damages

of $336,072.54. Though the jury found that both Lori and FabCon knew of ATI’s

prospective relationships, the jury found only FabCon intentionally and improperly

interfered with the potential relationships, but that the interference did not cause

ATI not to enter into any of the prospective relationships. Additionally, the jury

found no breach of fiduciary duty by Lori, but it found Jeff breached his fiduciary

duty to ATI and caused ATI damages of $436,225.18. The jury also found Jeff

misappropriated ATI’s trade secrets, but the misappropriation did not cause ATI

damages. On ATI’s conspiracy claim, the jury answered as follows:

      The jury found the conduct of Jeff, Lori, and FabCon constituted willful and

wanton disregard of the rights of ATI, Dean, and Carol, but it awarded no punitive

damages. Lastly, the jury found the conduct of Jeff, Lori, and FabCon was not

directed specifically at ATI, Dean, and Carol.
                                           6

       Thereafter, the court entered a judgment in favor of Jeff against ATI of

$94,387.10 in compensatory damages plus $52,000 in in punitive damages. The

court also entered judgment in favor of ATI against Jeff of $772,297.72 in

compensatory damages.           Several post-trial motions were subsequently filed,

including motions by Jeff for judgment notwithstanding the verdicts and for a new

trial. ATI filed an Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.904(2) motion to enlarge, amend,

or modify the court’s judgment entry, as well as a motion for a judgment

notwithstanding the verdict. It also filed a motion requesting that the judgment on

the verdict against Jeff be entered against Jeff, Lori, and FabCon jointly and

severally. Following a hearing on all of the motions, but for a few items, the court

overruled and denied the parties’ post-trial motions. Relevant here, the court

amended and modified its judgment entry to provide judgment in favor of ATI and

against Jeff, Lori, and FabCon, both jointly and severally, in the amount of

$772,297.72, based upon the jury’s finding that Lori and FabCon conspired with

Jeff in his wrongful conduct.

       Jeff, Lori, and FabCon appeal, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence

to support some of the jury’s verdicts against them. They also assert the jury’s

verdict was inconsistent in several respects, entitling them a new trial or a

judgment notwithstanding the verdict.          Finally, they argue the court erred in

sustaining ATI’s rule 1.904(2) motion to add Lori and FabCon to the judgment as

jointly and severally liable for the judgment amount.

       II. Scope and Standard of Review.

       “We review the denial of a motion for new trial based on the grounds

asserted in the motion.”    Fry v. Blauvelt, 818 N.W.2d 123, 128 (Iowa 2012).
                                            7

Similarly, our review of the denial of a motion notwithstanding the verdict “is limited

to those grounds raised in the directed verdict motion.” Pavone v. Kirke, 801

N.W.2d 477, 487 (Iowa 2011). If a motion is based upon a legal question, such as

whether a verdict is inconsistent, we review for correction of errors at law. See id.

at 496. But, if a motion is based on a discretionary ground, our review is for an

abuse of discretion. See id. at 487.

       III. Discussion.

       A. Sufficiency of Evidence.

       The district court should grant a motion for a directed verdict—or a motion

notwithstanding the verdict based upon the earlier motion for a directed verdict—

if substantial evidence does not support the elements of the claim.               See id.

Additionally, the trial court can grant a new trial if the jury’s verdict “is not sustained

by sufficient evidence, or is contrary to law.” Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.1004(6). On appeal,

the record evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party,

taking “into consideration all reasonable inferences that could be fairly made by

the jury.”    Pavone, 801 N.W.2d. at 487.            “Substantial evidence” exists if

“reasonable minds would accept the evidence as adequate to reach the same

findings. Where reasonable minds could differ on an issue, directed verdict is

improper and the case must go to the jury.” Id. (citations omitted). Consequently,

if the issue was properly raised before the district court, we must determine if the

court correctly found substantial evidence existed to submit the issue to the jury.

See id. “Ultimately, ‘we are reluctant to interfere with a jury verdict’ or the district

court’s consideration of a motion for new trial made in response to the verdict.”

Fry, 818 N.W.2d at 128 (citations omitted). Likewise, appellate courts are loath to
                                         8

interfere with the jury’s assessment of damages, as such assessments are

traditionally in the jury’s purview. See Sallis v. Lamansky, 420 N.W.2d 795, 799

(Iowa 1988).

       1. Jury’s No-Contract Finding.

       Jeff first argues the court erred in not granting his motion for a new trial

because the jury’s interrogatory answer finding that he did not have a contract of

employment with ATI was not supported by and directly contrary to the evidence

at trial. He submits that “[a]ll parties admitted there was an agreement; their only

disagreement was as to the terms of the contract.”

       All employment relationships are contractual in nature.         Even at-will

employment is contractual. See Godfrey v. State, 898 N.W.2d 844, 874 (Iowa

2017) (explaining “employment contracts are presumed to be at-will under Iowa

law”); Anderson v. Douglas & Lomason Co., 540 N.W.2d 277, 281 (Iowa 1995)

(observing “the doctrine of employment at-will is merely a gap-filler, a judicially

created presumption utilized when parties to an employment contract are silent as

to duration”); Toney v. Casey’s Gen’l Stores, Inc., 372 N.W.2d 220, 222 (Iowa

1985) (recognizing tort of interference with a contractual relationship for an

employment contract at will). But sometimes shorthand references in the case law

seem to suggest at-will employment exists “in the absence of a valid employment

contract.” See Phipps v. IASD Health Servs. Corp., 558 N.W.2d 198, 202 (Iowa

1997); see also Theisen v. Covenant Med. Ctr., Inc., 636 N.W.2d 74, 79 (Iowa

2001) (“The doctrine of employment-at-will, well-established in Iowa law, permits

an employer or employee who is not under contract to terminate employment at

any time for any lawful reason.”). In this case, the parties agreed Jeff was an
                                          9

employee of ATI. It is evidence from the parties’ closing arguments and the related

instructions and interrogatories provided to the jury that the fighting question was

not the existence of the underlying employment relationship but whether Jeff and

ATI entered into a contract involving profit-sharing terms. Viewing the evidence in

light favorable to ATI, we find no error in the court’s denial of Jeff’s motion for new

trial.

         The jury was instructed that a “contract is an agreement between two or

more persons to do or not do something” and that the

         existence of a contract requires a meeting of the minds on the
         material terms. This means the parties must agree upon the same
         things in the same sense. You are to determine if a contract existed
         from the words and acts of the parties, together with all reasonable
         inferences you may draw from the surrounding circumstances.

See also Schaer v. Webster Cty., 644 N.W.2d 327, 338 (Iowa 2002) (“For a

contract to be valid, the parties must express mutual assent to the terms of the

contract.”). While a reasonable juror could have found Jeff’s written notes to be a

valid contract between Jeff and ATI regarding profit-sharing, the evidence also

supports a finding to the contrary. Importantly, the notes are vague, hand-written,

and, unclear as to what constituted “profits.” The jury could reasonably find there

was not mutual assent to the profit-sharing terms of the employment agreement

and therefore no valid contract between Jeff and ATI concerning profit-sharing.

Given two factual propositions where “each [is] supported by substantial evidence,

the one the jury chooses stands.” Gabelmann v. NFO, Inc., 571 N.W.2d 476, 481

(Iowa 1997). Accordingly, we find no error in the court’s denial of Jeff’s motion for

a new trial on this ground.
                                          10

       2. Jury’s Damage Determinations.

       Jeff, Lori, and FabCon also assert the jury’s determination that Jeff caused

substantial damages to ATI for his breach of fiduciary duty and interference was

not supported by substantial evidence, and the district court erred in not granting

them a new trial on this ground. Upon our review, we disagree.

       Jeff, Lori, and FabCon complain that the jury did not explain how the

damages it awarded was calculated, but they neither asked that the jury make

such findings on the verdict form, nor did they raise the issue after the jury’s verdict

but before the jury was dismissed. In fact, after the jury returned the verdicts,

counsel for ATI, Dean, and Carol informed the court “we agree that the verdict

forms do not contain procedural irregularities and that the jury should be released.”

Counsel for Jeff, Lori, and FabCon also advised the court “there are no

irregularities in the verdict forms that cannot be addressed with post trial motions

and the jury should be released.” Moreover, there is sufficient evidence in the

record from which the jury could have found ATI sustained damages in the

amounts the jury determined.

       At trial, ATI’s expert, a certified fraud examiner, testified that she completed

an examination of ATI’s bank and accounting records, and she formed an opinion

that Jeff breached his fiduciary duty to ATI and caused ATI damages of over 1.4

million dollars. Additionally, evidence was presented showing ATI had prospective

business relationships with several vendors with whom Jeff interfered and directed

business to FabCon rather than ATI, along with invoices for business well over the

amount found by the jury. Based upon that evidence, reasonable minds could

accept the evidence as adequate to reach the same findings. Substantial evidence
                                          11

supports the jury’s damage determinations. We therefore find no error in the

court’s declination to grant the plaintiffs a new trial, and we affirm on this issue.

       B. Inconsistent Verdicts.

       Whether a verdict is inconsistent is a question of law. See Pavone, 801

N.W.2d. at 487. A jury verdict is not inconsistent if it can be harmonized in a

reasonable manner “with the jury instructions, the evidence, and inferences the

jury could have drawn from that evidence.” Bryant v. Parr, 872 N.W.2d 366, 376

(Iowa 2015). But if, “under this analysis, two answers or findings by the jury would

compel the rendition of different judgments, the answers are inconsistent.” Id.

(citation omitted). A court may enter a judgment based on consistent answers but

may not do so when the interrogatory answers are inconsistent. Id. Consequently,

we would ordinarily first “determine if an inconsistency exists.” Id.

       1. Interference with Prospective Business Relationship.

       Jeff, Lori, and FabCon assert the jury’s finding that Jeff interfered with

prospective business relationships of ATI is inconsistent with its finding that Jeff’s

conduct was not directed specifically at ATI. ATI argues Jeff, Lori, and FabCon

failed to preserve error on this claim because they did not object to the verdict form

and did not object to an alleged procedural irregularity before the jury was

discharged. We agree.

       As noted earlier in this opinion, Jeff, Lori, and FabCon did not raise the issue

of inconsistent verdicts before the jury was released and, in fact, advised the court

“there are no irregularities in the verdict forms that cannot be addressed with post

trial motions and the jury should be released.” Error-preservation rules assist in

ensuring “the opposing party and the district court are alerted to an issue at a time
                                               12

when corrective action can be taken or another alternative pursued,” as well as

preserving precious “judicial resources by avoiding proceedings that would have

been rendered unnecessary had an earlier ruling on the issue been made.” Top

of Iowa Co-op. v. Sime Farms, Inc., 608 N.W.2d 454, 470 (Iowa 2000).

          In their brief, Jeff, Lori, and FabCon state they preserved error when they

“moved for directed verdict on this claim and filed a motion for new trial, a motion

for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and filed a timely notice of appeal.” We

note that a timely notice of appeal “has nothing to do with error preservation.” State

v. Lange, 831 N.W.2d 844, 846-47 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013); see also Thomas A.

Mayes & Anuradha Vaitheswaran, Error Preservation in Civil Appeals in Iowa:

Perspectives on Present Practice, 55 Drake L. Rev. 39, 48 (Fall 2006) (explaining

that “[a]s a general rule, the error preservation rules require a party to raise an

issue in the trial court and obtain a ruling from the trial court”) (footnote omitted).

Furthermore, the motion for new trial filed after the jury’s verdict did not raise this

specific issue, nor does it appear the district was court asked to address the issue,2

nor did the district court address the issue in its ruling. We conclude Jeff, Lori, and

FabCon did not properly preserve this issue for our review. See Meier v. Senecaut,

641 N.W.2d 532, 537 (Iowa 2002) (“It is a fundamental doctrine of appellate review

that issues must ordinarily be both raised and decided by the district court before

we will decide them on appeal.”). Where error is not preserved on an issue there

is nothing for an appellate court to review. See State v. Manna, 534 N.W.2d 642,

644 (Iowa 1995).

2
    We have no transcript of the post-trial hearing.
                                           13

       But even assuming error had preserved upon the issue, we do not find the

verdicts to be inconsistent.       On the interference-with-prospective-business-

relationships claim, the jury found Jeff intentionally interfered with ATI’s

prospective relationships and caused damages of $336,072.54. However, under

the punitive damages special interrogatory, the jury was asked: “Was the conduct

of Jeffery Anderson, Lori Anderson and Fabrication & Construction Services, Inc.

directed specifically at Anderson Tooling, Inc., Dean Anderson and Carol

Anderson?” All six parties were listed in the one question. No one asked that the

names be split out so that the jury could specifically address Jeff’s conduct, Lori’s

conduct, and FabCon’s conduct, individually, against each of the opposing parties,

i.e., as against ATI, and Dean, and Carol, individually. Considering all the jury

instructions, the evidence, and inferences the jury could have drawn from that

evidence, we believe the answer asking about all three plaintiffs, combined,

differentiates the question from the singular question concerning Jeff, and thus the

jury’s answers are not necessarily inconsistent with each other. The answers do

not compel the rendition of different judgments, given the questions asked. We

find no inconsistency here.

       2. Jury’s Conspiracy Determinations.

       Similarly, Jeff, Lori, and FabCon argue the jury’s conspiracy findings were

inconsistent with the jury’s other factual findings, citing the jury’s determination that

ATI’s injury was “$0–duplication.” Though the issue was raised in their post-trial

motion for a new trial, there is no indication the alleged inconsistency was brought

to the court’s attention before the jury was instructed in the case or after the
                                          14

verdicts were given but before the jury was released. We do not find this issue

was preserved for appellate review.

       But, even assuming it was preserved, we find no merit in the claim. The

jury consistently found Jeff committed wrongdoing—interfering with ATI’s

prospective business relationships and breaching his fiduciary duties to ATI. The

jury determined Lori and FabCon conspired with Jeff “to appropriate funds and

projects belonging to [ATI],” and that ATI was damaged as a result of the

conspiracy. Nevertheless, the jury awarded no damages. In reading the verdict

form as a whole, we conclude the jury found that any damages resulting from the

conspiracy were duplicative of the damages it already found were caused by Jeff’s

breach of fiduciary duty and interference. A conspiracy finding did not require a

finding of any additional monetary damages to ATI. The jury recognized this by

adding the word “duplication” next to its finding of zero damages to ATI as a result

of the conspiracy. 3 There is no inconsistency here.

       C. Liability of Lori and FabCon.

       Finally, Lori and FabCon assert the district court erred in finding them jointly

and severally liable, based on the jury’s conspiracy findings, for the judgment

entered in favor of ATI. They take issue with the verdict form’s lack of specificity

as to what exactly Lori and FabCon conspired with Jeff to do, and they argue the

lack of information along with the jury’s award of no damages for the conspiracy

means the district court erred in amending and modifying its judgment to hold Lori

3
 The jury was instructed, “A party cannot recover duplicate damages. Do not allow
amounts awarded under one item of damage to be included in any amount awarded under
another item of damage.”
                                           15

and FabCon jointly and severally liable for the judgments against Jeff. Ultimately,

we conclude the district court erred in amending and modifying the judgment to

hold Lori and FabCon jointly and severally liable for the entire judgment entered in

favor of ATI and against Jeff.

       “Civil conspiracy is not in itself actionable; rather it is the acts causing injury

undertaken in furtherance of the conspiracy [that] give rise to the action.” Wright

v. Brooke Group Ltd., 652 N.W.2d 159, 172 (Iowa 2002).                   Consequently,

“conspiracy is merely an avenue for imposing vicarious liability on a party for the

wrongful conduct of another with whom the party has acted in concert.” See id.

       The jury was instructed that in order for ATI to recover on its conspiracy

claim, it had to prove Jeff “committed the wrongs of conversion, intentional

interference with a prospective business advantage, breach of fiduciary duty, or

misappropriation of trade secrets,” and that Lori and FabCon “participated in a

conspiracy with [Jeff] to appropriate funds and projects belonging to ATI.” The jury

found that Lori and FabCon participated in a conspiracy with Jeff “to appropriate

funds and projects belonging to [ATI].” The only tortious wrongs the jury found Jeff

to have committed were interference with ATI’s prospective business relationships

and his breach of fiduciary duties to ATI.

       A conspiracy to appropriate funds and projects belonging to ATI necessarily

falls outside the tort of interference with prospective business relationships. The

jury was instructed “‘prospective business relationship’ means a reasonable likely

business relationship of financial benefit to ATI.” “Likely” does not equate to funds

and projects already owned or in the possession of ATI. Therefore Jeff’s tortious

interference conduct cannot be the basis of a conspiracy to appropriate funds and
                                            16

projects belonging to ATI.4 Furthermore, we note the jury specifically found that

Jeff did not exercise wrongful control or dominion over property belonging to ATI.5

We find Lori and FabCon should not be held jointly and severally liable for that part

of the judgment pertaining to the jury’s damage award for Jeff’s intentional

interference with ATI’s prospective relationships.

       With regard to Jeff’s breach of fiduciary duty tortious conduct, the jury was

instructed “a fiduciary has a duty to disclose all material facts in dealing with the

other party to permit the other party to make an intelligent, knowing decision in

such dealings.” Specifically, Jeff “owed a fiduciary duty of loyalty to ATI to not

engage in any other service or business or to compete to the detriment of ATI,”

and “to act in all things wholly for the benefit of ATI.” The jury was instructed that

a breach of fiduciary duty also included the “misappropriation of profits, property,

business opportunities, and trade secrets of one’s employer.” The instructions

limited the scope of the conspiracy to the appropriation of funds and projects

belonging to ATI. The jury found that neither Jeff, Lori, nor FabCon exercised

wrongful control or dominion over property belonging to ATI. The jury found that

Jeff’s misappropriation of trade secrets caused no damage to ATI.                  As we

concluded above, Jeff’s interference with prospective business relationships does

not fall within the limited scope of the conspiracy.     In view of all the above, we fail

to see how Jeff’s breach of fiduciary duty to ATI falls within the scope of the

4
  The jury fund that Lori did not interfere with ATI’s prospective business relationships.
Although the jury found FabCon did interfere with ATI’s prospective business
relationships, it found that the interference did not prevent ATI from entering into any or
all of the relationships.
5
  The jury also found that Lori and FabCon did not exercise wrongful control or dominion
over property belonging to ATI.
                                          17

conspiracy as limited by the jury instructions. We find Lori and FabCon should not

be held jointly and severally liable for that part of the judgment pertaining to the

jury’s damage award for Jeff’s breach of fiduciary duty to ATI.

       Consequently, the district court erred in enlarging, amending and modifying

its judgment to provide judgment in favor of ATI and against Lori and FabCon, both

jointly and severally. Furthermore, the court erred in enlarging, amending, and

modifying its judgment to provide that Lori and FabCon be jointly and severally

liable for one-half of the court costs. We therefore reverse and remand for entry

of an order consistent with this opinion. We affirm the district court in all other

respects.

       IV. Conclusion.

       We find that the district court should not have amended and modified its

judgment to provide judgment in favor of ATI against Lori and FabCon, both jointly

and severally, and should not have taxed court costs to Lori and FabCon, jointly

and severally. We therefore reverse the district court in that respect and remand

for entry of an order consistent with this opinion. We affirm the district court in all

other respects. Court costs on appeal are assessed to Jeff.

       AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED.