Court Opinion

ID: 9776303
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:30:12.766836+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:36.729117
License: Public Domain

BURGESS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. Although the majority does not use the word “overrule”, that is what they do when they “decline to follow” this Court’s decision in Wickersham Ford, Inc. v. Orange County, 701 S.W.2d 344 (Tex.App. — Beaumont 1985, no writ). Being the lone remaining member of the court that decided Wickersham Ford, I would continue to follow it.
As the majority correctly notes, prejudgment interest is recoverable in a suit on quantum meruit, provided the measure of recovery is fixed by the conditions existing at the time the injury is inflicted. City of Ingleside v. Stewart, 554 S.W.2d 939, 946-947 (Tex.Civ.App. — Corpus Christi 1977, writ refd n.r.e.). However, the majority then relies upon a contract ease from the Texar-kana Court as support for the refusal to allow prejudgment interest. The majority faults Base-Seal for “its own failure to comply with the law” yet completely absolves Jefferson County concerning the transaction and ignores the fact that Base-Seal offered to issue a credit if Jefferson County would return nine unused 55-gallon drums. Therefore, from an equitable analysis, neither party ultimately had entirely “clean hands”; yet at the time of the transaction both parties believed it to be proper. It was undisputed that Jefferson County had taken Base-Seal’s product and used it. In August 1988 Jefferson County knew it was not going to pay for the materials. Base-Seal filed suit in late August 1989 and Jefferson County plead a general denial in September 1989. It was not until October 1992 that Jefferson County filed an amended answer admitting it had received Base-Seal’s material worth $8,371.00, yet still claiming nothing was owed. Finally in October 1993 Base-Seal received a judgment for the materials; which Jefferson County did not appeal. If anyone is being penalized in this matter it is Base-Seal. Jefferson County, having taken and used the material could have and should have confessed judgment on the quantum meruit issue at the earliest practical time (September or October 1989) and left the attorneys fees and prejudgment interest issues for appeal. If equities are to be *789weighed, they weigh so heavily in Base-Seal’s favor, the failure to award prejudgment interest amounts to an abuse of discretion. The legal rate of interest is the appropriate measure for prejudgment interest on a claim in quantum meruit. Davidson v. Clearman, 391 S.W.2d 48, 51 (Tex.1965). See Tex.Rev.Civ.StatAnn. art. 5069-1.03 (Vernon 1987). I would reform the judgment to include $2,833.98 attorney fees, and also to include $2,771.12 prejudgment interest. Because the majority fails to do so, I must respectfully dissent.