Court Opinion

ID: 2735901
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-23 13:04:15.934423+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:25:52.532200
License: Public Domain

In the
                           Missouri Court of Appeals
                                     Western District

                                                  
RANDY SPALDING,                                   
                                                     WD76369
               Respondent,                           OPINION FILED:
v.                                                
                                                     September 23, 2014
STEWART TITLE GUARANTY                            
COMPANY,                                          
                                                  
               Appellant.                         
                                                  

                 Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri
                        The Honorable Michael W. Manners, Judge

                          Before Division Two: Victor C. Howard, P.J.,
                       James Edward Welsh, and Anthony Rex Gabbert, JJ.

       Stewart Title Guaranty Company appeals the circuit court's judgment in favor of Randy

Spalding after a jury trial on his claims for breach of contract and vexatious refusal to pay in

regard to a title insurance policy. Stewart Title contends that the circuit court erred: (1) in

denying its motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding the verdict because the

suit on the title insurance policy was time barred under the five year statute of limitations for

breach of contract, (2) in refusing to give its proposed instruction concerning its statute of

limitations defense, (3) in denying its motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding
the verdict because Spalding failed to make a submissible case as to the existence and amount of

the damages for the breach of contract, (4) in admitting evidence from appraiser Brian Reardon

regarding the damages sustained from the title defect under the policy, and (5) in giving

Instruction No. 7, which defined the measure of damages in accordance with the highest and best

use of the property. Further, Stewart Title asserts that, if this court reverses the circuit court's

judgment regarding the breach of contract claim, then the circuit court necessarily erred in failing

to grant Stewart Title's motions for directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or

new trial on the vexatious refusal to pay claim. We affirm.

        Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, the evidence

established that, in 2003, Spalding contracted to buy approximately 419 acres of property in the

City of Lake Winnebago, Cass County, Missouri. The land was bound by 167th Street, the

existing Lake Winnebago Dam, and Missouri Route 291, and much of the land is in a federally-

designated flood area. Spalding and his wife formed an entity named Spalding Land Company

(SLC) to take title to the property in February 2003. The land was in receivership at the time of

the acquisition, and SLC acquired the land for $1,510,000.

        Stewart Title issued a policy of title insurance to SLC on February 12, 2003, in the

amount of $1.7 million, insuring the property as described in Schedule A of the policy. Pursuant

to the policy, Stewart Title insured against loss or damage sustained or incurred by SLC by

reason of ""[t]itle to the estate or interest described in Schedule A being vested other than as

stated therein;" "[a]ny defect in or lien or encumbrance on the title;" "[u]nmarketability of the

title;" and "[l]ack of a right of access to and from the land." The policy stated that it was "a

contract of indemnity against actual monetary loss or damage sustained or incurred by the

insured claimant" with liability not to exceed the lesser of "(i) the Amount of Insurance stated in

                                                   2
Schedule A; or, (ii) the difference between the value of the insured estate or interest as insured

and the value of the insured estate or interest subject to the defect, lien or encumbrance insured

against by this policy."

        After purchasing the land, Spalding began talking with various people about developing

the land. In 2005, Matt Bowen, John Bowen, and Scott Westlake created a new company named

South Winnebago Partners (SWP). SWP began working with Spalding and SLC on plans for

developing the property. The parties developed a plan to expand the existing Lake Winnebago

into the flood area on the property to create new lake front lots and traditional lots with lake-

access rights.1 In 2007, pursuant to an amended and restated operating agreement, SWP became

one of the two members of SLC, along with Spalding. SWP also became the manager of SLC.

The agreement recognized that the property was Spalding's contribution to SLC and that

"services" were SWP's contribution to SLC.

        At some point, SLC sought (and later eventually obtained) a permit from the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers to partially remove the existing dam, to construct a new dam and spillway,

and to expand Lake Winnebago. SLC also contracted with HNTB to be the land planner and

with Olsson and Associates to perform engineering work. Further, SWP acquired options to

purchase on surrounding parcels of land that might be needed for the project. Moreover, SLC

presented its plan to the Lake Winnebago Homeowners Association and the City of Lake

Winnebago, and both entities were supportive of the plan.

        1
          SLC had two different plans for development of the property. The 2006 Plan called for development of
between 354 to 365 lots. The 2007 Plan called for the development of 154 lake front lots and 231 traditional lots
with lake access rights.

                                                         3
          Things appeared to be progressing with the development plan until January 2006 when

Spalding received a telephone call from Paul Estes. Estes claimed that he owned a one acre tract

of land at the bottom of the lake proposed by SLC. Realizing that Estes's claim could preclude

the development of the lake, Spalding contacted Coffelt Title, the agent for Stewart Title which

had issued the title insurance policy to SLC. Coffelt Title responded with a letter to Spalding,

dated March 21, 2006, acknowledging Spalding's claim and advising Spalding to contact Stewart

Title regarding his claim.

          As it turned out, both SLC and Estes held deeds showing that they owned this one-acre

tract of land. Both SLC and Estes had purchased title insurance from Stewart Title, and both

Estes and Spalding contacted Stewart Title about a possible title defect. From April 2006 until

mid-June 2006, Stewart Title conducted an investigation to determine whether SLC or Estes

possessed good title to the one-acre tract of land. On June 16, 2006, Stewart Title completed its

investigation and determined that Estes owned the one-acre tract and that SLC did not. On

July 15, 2006, Spalding contacted Stewart Title, and SLC made a claim under the title insurance

policy.

          After discovering that SLC's title was defective, Stewart Title made an election under

paragraph 6 of the policy and chose to pay the loss suffered by SLC as a result of the defect.

Paragraph 6 provides:

          6. OPTIONS TO PAY OR OTHERWISE SETTLE CLAIMS;
          TERMINATION OF LIABILITY.

                 In case of a claim under this policy, the Company shall have the following
          additional options:

                 (a) To Pay or Tender Payment of the Amount of Insurance.

          ....

                                                  4
               (b) To Pay or Otherwise Settle With Parties Other than the Insured or With
       the Insured Claimant

               (i) to pay or otherwise settle with other parties for or in the name of an
       insured claimant any claim insured against under this policy, together with any
       costs, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the insured claimant which were
       authorized by the Company up to the time of payment and which the Company is
       obligated to pay; or

              (ii) to pay or otherwise settle with the insured claimant the loss or damage
       provided for under this policy, together with any costs, attorneys' fees and
       expenses incurred by the insured claimant which were authorized by the
       Company up to the time of payment and which the Company is obligated to pay.

               Upon the exercise by the Company of either of the options provided for in
       paragraphs (b)(i) or (ii), the Company's obligations to the insured under this
       policy for the claimed loss or damage, other than the payments required to be
       made, shall terminate, including any liability or obligation to defend, prosecute or
       continue any litigation.

Stewart Title informed SLC that "[t]he loss under the policy is measured as the 'difference

between the value of the insured estate or interest as insured and the value of the insured estate or

interest subject to the defect, lien or encumbrance insured against by this policy.'" Stewart Title,

therefore, claimed that SLC's loss "would be the difference in value between the property with

the 1 acre tract owned by Estes and the value of the property without that 1 acre tract." Stewart

Title told SLC that it would commission an appraisal to determine this difference.

       On July 3, 2007, Stewart Title sent a letter to SLC's counsel indicating that it completed

its appraisal and that such appraisal "measured the diminution in value at $10,000." Along with

its letter, Stewart Title enclosed a check in the amount of $10,000 to fully resolve the claim.

       On July 12, 2007, SLC returned Stewart Title's check and informed Stewart Title that

$10,000 did not adequately compensate SLC for its loss. The letter said:

                                                 5
        [W]e do believe that my client's loss is the difference in value of the land as
        insured, including the one (1) acre at issue, and the value of the land excluding the
        one (1) acre. Without the one (1) acre which is in question, the proposed Lake
        expansion cannot go forward, and Spalding Land Company LLC will suffer loss
        in the value of its land far greater than the amount of the insurance policy. With
        the defect corrected, and the one (1) acre in question included in the Spalding
        Land Company LLC tract, there would not be a loss to Spalding Land Company
        LLC. We do not believe that the appraisal provided accurately values the
        property with and without that one (1) acre.

SLC continued to suggest that, in lieu of paying the loss suffered by SLC as a result of its

defective title, Stewart Title purchase the one-acre tract from Estes. Estes had requested payment

of $387,000. To facilitate this approach, Spalding purchased and repeatedly renewed an option

to purchase the tract from Estes. However, Stewart Title continued to insist that SLC's loss was

only $10,000.

        With the dispute unresolved with Stewart Title, SLC ceased operations and assigned this

claim along with the land in question to Spalding. On June 9, 2011, Spalding filed suit against

Stewart Title asserting claims for breach of contract and vexatious refusal to pay in regard to a

title insurance policy. After a jury trial, the circuit court entered an amended judgment for

Spalding in the amount of $1,100,000 on the policy, penalties in the amount of $110,150, and

attorney fees in the amount of $81,000. Stewart Title appeals.

        In its first point on appeal, Stewart Title contends that the circuit court erred in denying

its motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding the verdict because the suit on the

title insurance policy was time barred under the five year statute of limitations for breach of

contract. Stewart Title asserts that the title insurance policy is a contract of indemnity that

contains no unconditional promise to pay as required to bring this case within the ten year statute

of limitations.

                                                  6
         The running of the applicable statute of limitations is an affirmative defense. The party

asserting the affirmative defense of the running of the applicable statute of limitations bears the

burden of not only pleading it but also proving it as a matter of law. Townsend v. E. Chem. Waste

Sys., 234 S.W.3d 452, 462 (Mo. App. 2007). "Thus, unless the party asserting the affirmative

defense of the running of the statute of limitations proves its defense, as a matter of law," the

circuit court does not err in denying the party's motion's for directed verdict or judgment

notwithstanding the verdict. Id.; Fleshner v. Pepose Vision Inst., 304 S.W.3d 81, 95 (Mo. banc

2010).

         Stewart Title asserts that, pursuant to section 516.120(1), RSMo 2000, "[a]ll actions upon

contracts, obligation or liabilities" must be brought within five years. If, however, the action is

upon any writing for the payment of money, the action must be commenced within ten year.

§516.110(1), RSMo 2000. Stewart Title contends that the five-year statute of limitations under

section 516.120(1) applies in this case because the title insurance policy at issue is a contract of

indemnity that contains no unconditional promise to pay as required to invoke the ten-year

statute of limitations.

         Regardless of whether the five-year or ten-year statute of limitations applies in this case,

the facts established that Spalding filed his suit against Stewart Title less than five years after

Stewart Title breached the title insurance policy, giving rise to the cause of action. "[I]n and

action for breach of contract, the statute of limitations begins to run when the right to sue

thereupon arises." Loeffler v. City of O'Fallon, 71 S.W.3d 638, 642 (Mo. App. 2002) (citing

Ballwin Plaza Corp. v. H.B. Deal Constr. Co., 462 S.W.2d 687 (Mo. 1971)). Once Stewart Title

determined that SLC's title was defective, it acted consistent with its contractual obligations. It

made an election to pay SLC for its "actual monetary loss or damage." This was Stewart Title's

                                                   7
right under the policy. It was not until July 3, 2007, when Stewart Title sent a letter to SLC's

counsel indicating that it completed its appraisal of the property and included a check for

$10,000 to fully resolve the claim under the title insurance policy that Spalding's claim for

breach of contract accrued. The claim for breach of contract did not accrue until Stewart Title

allegedly failed or refused to adequately compensate SLC for "the actual monetary loss or

damage" as required under the title insurance policy. Until that time, SLC had no reason to sue

Stewart Title. Cf. Loeffler, 71 S.W.3d at 643 (cause of action for breach of contract accrued, at

the earliest, when homeowner received letter from city's insurance company denying liability for

damages to homeowner's property not when plaintiff became aware that her property was

damaged). Spalding filed his petition with the circuit court asserting its claim against Stewart

Title for breach of contract on June 9, 2011. Thus, Spalding's claims would have been timely

under both the five and ten-year statute of limitations in that it was filed less than five years after

Stewart Title's letter of July 3, 2007.

        To the extent that Stewart Title argues that the statute of limitation began to run at the

moment that SLC learned of the possible title defect because that is when damages were capable

of ascertainment,2 that argument also fails. The mere existence of a possible title defect did not

give rise to any cause of action against Stewart Title in this case. The title insurance policy at

issue did not guarantee SLC good title or protect SLC against potential claims. Rather, the

        2
            Section 516.100, RSMo 2000, provides:

                  Civil actions, other than those for the recovery of real property, can only be commenced
        within the periods prescribed in the following sections, after the causes of action shall have
        accrued; provided, that for the purposes of sections 516.100 to 516.370, the cause of action shall
        not be deemed to accrue when the wrong is done or the technical breach of contract or duty
        occurs, but when the damage resulting therefrom is sustained and is capable of ascertainment, and,
        if more than one item of damage, then the last item, so that all resulting damage may be recovered,
        and full and complete relief obtained.

                                                        8
policy indemnified SLC against "actual monetary loss or damage sustained or incurred by the

insured claimant who has suffered loss or damage by reason of the matter insured against by the

policy."

         Although SLC was put on notice in early 2006 about Estes's possible ownership claim to

the one-acre tract of land, it took until June 16, 2006, for Stewart Title to complete its

investigation and determine that an actual defect existed with SLC's title to the property. Until

that determination was made, SLC did not suffer an "actual monetary loss or damage" and could

not seek indemnification from Stewart Title.3 In a case involving a contract of indemnity against

loss, the claim accrues when the indemnitee sustains actual loss. Burns & McDonnell Eng'g Co.,

Inc. v. Torson Constr. Co., Inc., 834 S.W.2d 755, 758 (Mo. App. 1992). Thus, the earliest that

damages could have possibly been ascertained was on June 16, 2006. Until that date, SLC did

not sustain any actual loss, which would trigger Stewart Title's duty to indemnify. Spalding filed

his petition with the circuit court asserting its claim against Stewart Title for breach of contract

on June 9, 2011. Thus, Spalding's claim would have been timely under both the five and ten-

year statute of limitations if the June 16, 2006, date was truly the date that the damages could

have been ascertained. But, as stated previously, SLC had no reason to sue Stewart Title until,

July 3, 2007, when Stewart Title allegedly failed or refused to adequately compensate SLC for

"the actual monetary loss or damage" as required under the title insurance policy.

         Moreover, to the extent that Stewart Title asserts in its second point on appeal that the

circuit court erred in refusing to give Stewart Title's proposed instruction to the jury concerning

         3
           Stewart Title relies on Hopmeirer v. First Am. Title Ins. Co., 856 S.W.2d 387, 388 (Mo. App. 1993), in
support of its contention that the statute of limitations began to run once Spalding and SLC were on notice of the
potential title defect. In Hopmeirer, the title insurance policy at issue guaranteed the policyholder good title.
Accordingly, the policy was breached when the policyholder discovered that he did not possess good title. In this
case, the breach of contract did not occur until Stewart Title failed to pay the "actual monetary loss or damage."

                                                         9
its statute of limitations defense, its point is without merit. "Whether a jury was properly

instructed is a question of law this Court reviews de novo." Hayes v. Price, 313 S.W.3d 645, 650

(Mo. banc 2010). Stewart Title asserts that the evidence supported the submission of the

instruction in that a jury could have reasonably found that the injury and substantial damages

were capable of ascertainment more than five years prior to the suit when SLC learned of Estes's

title defect in January 2006, recognized it as a problem, and took steps to contact Stewart Title's

agent, Coffelt Title, about the possible claim. As discussed previously, even if the five-year

statute of limitations applied in this case, the statute of limitations did not begin to run when

Spalding became aware of the possible title defect; rather, it began to run when Stewart Title

failed or refused to adequately compensate Spalding for "the actual monetary loss or damage" as

required under the title insurance policy. "To be charged to the jury, an issue submitted in an

instruction 'must be supported by substantial evidence from which the jury reasonably could find

such issue.'" Kauzlarich v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co., 910 S.W.2d 254, 258 (Mo.

banc 1995) (citation omitted). The circuit court did not err in refusing to submit Stewart Title's

instruction regarding its statute of limitations defense.

       In two of its points on appeal, Stewart complains about the insufficiencies of the

testimony of Spalding's appraiser in regard to damages. In one point, Stewart Title asserts that

the circuit court erred in denying its motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding

the verdict because Spalding failed to make a submissible case as to the existence and amount of

the claimed damage for breach of contract. Stewart Title argues that Spalding's only evidence of

damages came from his appraiser, Brian Reardon and contends that the circuit court should have

granted its motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding the verdict because (1)

Reardon's appraisal was based on a lake development plan that Spalding and SLC had

                                                  10
abandoned, (2) Reardon's appraisal was based upon a plan that included uninsured parcels of

land that were never owned by SLC or Spalding, and (3) Reardon provided no basis for a rational

and non-speculative estimate of damage arising from the title defect under the policy. In another

point on appeal, Stewart Title asserts that the circuit court erred in admitting the testimony from

Reardon regarding damages because his testimony was inadmissible as speculative, unreliable,

and unsupported by the facts because it was based on assumptions contrary to the facts in

evidence, including "the existence of a governmental permit to create a lake development, title

insurance coverage and ownership of all required property, and the availability of financing."

       We review the circuit court's denial of a motion for directed verdict and denial of a

motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict under the same standard. Holmes v. Kansas

City Mo. Bd. of Police Comm'rs ex rel. Its Members, 364 S.W.3d 615, 621 (Mo. App. 2012).

"This Court must determine whether the plaintiff presented a submissible case by offering

evidence to support every element necessary for liability." Fleshner, 304 S.W.3d at 95.

"Evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, giving the plaintiff all

reasonable inferences and disregarding all conflicting evidence and inferences." Id. We "will

reverse the jury's verdict for insufficient evidence only where there is a complete absence of

probative fact to support the jury's conclusion." Dhyne v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 188
S.W.3d 454, 457 (Mo. banc 2006). Moreover, "[i]n general, the trial court has discretion to

admit or exclude expert testimony; absent a showing of discretional abuse, we will not interfere

with such decisions on appeal." Thomas v. Festival Foods, 202 S.W.3d 625, 627 (Mo. App.

2006). "However, the issue of whether an expert's opinion is supported by facts in evidence is a

question of law, reviewed de novo and without deference to the trial court's ruling." Id.

                                                 11
       Spalding presented evidence of damages through Brian Reardon, a licensed appraiser

with Bliss & Associates. Reardon conducted an appraisal of the land at issue and determined

that the estimate of damages as of February 15, 2007, was:

       Insured Property                                        $5,700,000
       Insured Property Subject to Defect                      $1,600,000
       Damages                                                 $4,100,000

This valuation stemmed from the proposed lake development that was in progress when SLC

learned of the title defect. Stewart Title asserts that, because Reardon reached his damage

opinion by considering and valuing a 2007 lake development plan with 385 lots that included

parcels never insured under the title insurance policy and never owned by Spalding or SLC, the

evidence failed to provide a reasonable basis for a fact finder to determine what, if any, portion

of Reardon's opinion establishes or quantifies damages attributable to the title defect in the

insured property.

       As a general rule, however, "questions as to the sources and bases of the expert's opinion

affect the weight, rather than the admissibility of the opinion, and are properly left to the jury."

Glaize Creek Sewer Dist. of Jefferson Cnty. v. Gorham, 335 S.W.3d 590, 593 (Mo. App. 2011)

(citation and internal quotation marks omitted). "Any weakness in the factual underpinnings of

the expert's opinion or in the expert's knowledge goes to the weight that testimony should be

given and not its admissibility." Mathes v. Sher Express, L.L.C., 200 S.W.3d 97, 111 (Mo. App.

2006) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). "In general, the expert's opinion will be

admissible, unless the expert's information is so slight as to render the opinion fundamentally

unsupported." Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

       Thus, to the extent that Stewart Title contends that Reardon's damage estimates were

based in part upon the inclusion of uninsured and nonowned parcels of land in the 2007 lake

                                                  12
development plan, such was an issue for the jury to weigh in considering Reardon's opinion on

valuation of the property. Moreover, the jury heard evidence that SWP, SLC's manager, had

acquired options to purchase these parcels of land and that SWP could have exercised its options

if the development plan had gone forward. Further, Stewart Title cross-examined Reardon

extensively about whether the inclusion of nonowned parcels of land would in any way change

his appraisal, and Reardon acknowledged that it "could." Reardon agreed that, if Spalding had to

purchase property from others to construct his lake plan, it could change the costs in his appraisal

report. Thus, Stewart Title pointed out the shortcomings in Reardon's testimony, and it was up to

the jury to weigh Reardon's testimony.

       Stewart Title also contends that, because Spalding testified at trial that he now intends to

utilize a different lake development plan than the plan considered by Reardon, Reardon's

valuation of damages based upon the old development plan is no longer sufficient evidence of

the damages suffered by Spalding as a result of the breach of the title insurance policy. In

Reardon's appraisal, he assumed the lake development plan would have 154 "lake lots" and 231

"traditional lots," which was the plan that SLC was proceeding under at the time that Reardon

made his appraisal. Although Spalding's testified at trial that he now intended to develop the

property under a plan, which called for the development of 345 and 365 lots, the jury still had

before it Reardon's testimony regarding his appraisal of the land as a lake development plan

under the plan that SLC was proceeding under at the time of the appraisal. As stated earlier

"questions as to the sources and bases of the expert's opinion affect the weight, rather than the

admissibility of the opinion, and are properly left to the jury." Glaize Creek Sewer Dist., 335
S.W.3d at 593 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). "Any weakness in the factual

underpinnings of the expert's opinion or in the expert's knowledge goes to the weight that

                                                 13
testimony should be given and not its admissibility." Mathes, 200 S.W.3d at 111 (citation and

internal quotation marks omitted). Stewart Title had the opportunity and did cross-examine

Reardon about whether his valuation would change if the lake development plan changed.

       Stewart Title further contends that Reardon's opinion was based upon assumptions

contrary to the facts in evidence, including "the existence of a governmental permit to create a

lake development, title insurance coverage and ownership of all required property, and the

availability of financing." As of the effective date of Reardon's appraisal, numerous steps had

been taken on the lake development plan. The plan had been presented to the City of Lake

Winnebago and the Lake Winnebago Homeowners Association, and those entities had expressed

support for the development. Although Reardon testified at trial that he made the assumption

that Spalding or SLC could have obtained a permit for the lake development plan, in the

appraisal he specifically stated:

       The US Army Corps of Engineers issued a joint public notice with the Missouri
       Department of Natural Resources, Water Pollution Control Program in order to
       collect comments in deciding whether to grand [sic] Section 401 water quality
       certification. This public notice was issued on March 23, 2007, which is after the
       effective date of this report, but is tangible evidence that permitting process was
       well along as of the effective date.

Reardon acknowledged that he made the assumption that Spalding owned or had the right to buy

the property shown in the development and that he based that assumption on what Spalding told

him and upon legal descriptions of the property that were given to him. In addition, as noted

previously, the evidence established that SWP, SLC's managing member, had acquired options to

purchase the parcels surrounding the land that might be needed for development. Further,

Reardon testified that it made no difference in his appraisal whether it was financially possible

for Spalding or SLC to proceed with the lake development plan at the time of his appraisal

                                                14
because his market analysis established that the development plan was financially feasible. He

explained that the land could have been sold to someone else to proceed with the development.

All of these assumptions may have been weaknesses in the factual underpinnings of Reardon's

opinion, but such weaknesses go to the weight of his testimony and not to its admissibility.

Stewart Title had the opportunity to cross-examine Reardon extensively about his assumptions

and did so, but the record establishes that Reardon's assumptions were not so speculative,

unreliable, and unsupported by the evidence as to render his opinion inadmissible.

       Given Reardon's testimony, Spalding made a submissible case as to the existence and

amount of claimed damages for breach of contract. The circuit court, therefore, did not err in

denying Stewart Title's motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding the verdict.

Moreover, the circuit court did not err in admitting Reardon's testimony regarding the damages

sustained from the title defect under the policy.

       In its next point, Stewart Title asserts that the circuit court erred in giving the jury

Instruction No. 7 and in denying its motion for new trial because the instruction erroneously

defined the measure of damages in accordance with the highest and best use of the property

under condemnation law rather than the benefit of the bargain under contract law. Stewart Title

contends that, because the policy specified the applicable measure of damages as "actual

monetary loss or damage" based on the property "as insured," it was improper to base damages

on a nonexistent lake development.

       "Whether a jury is properly instructed is a matter of law subject to de novo review by this

court." Syn, Inc. v. Beebe, 200 S.W.3d 122, 128 (Mo. App. 2006). To reverse on grounds of

instructional error, the party challenging the instruction must show that the instruction misled,

misdirected, or confused the jury. Dhyne, 188 S.W.3d at 459. Further, "[t]he party offering the

                                                    15
erroneous instruction has the burden of showing that the erroneous instruction 'created no

substantial potential for prejudicial effect.'" Gorman v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 19 S.W.3d 725,

730 (Mo. App. 2000) (citation omitted). It is within the province of this court to determine the

prejudicial effect of the erroneous instruction. Id.

       The instruction given to the jury provided:

               If you find in favor of Plaintiff, you must award Plaintiff such sum as you
       believe was the difference between the fair market value of the entire insured
       property at the time the title defect was discovered and the fair market value of
       the insured property subject to the title defect. In determining the fair market
       value of the property, you may consider evidence of the value of the property
       including the highest and best use to which the property reasonably may be
       applied or adapted, the value of the property if freely sold on the open market, and
       generally accepted appraisal practices. You may give such evidence the weight
       and credibility you believe are appropriate under the circumstances. If you find
       that Plaintiff failed to mitigate damages as submitted in Instruction No. 8, in
       determining Plaintiff's total damages you must not include those damages that
       would not have occurred without such failure.

               The phrase "fair market value" as used in this instruction means the price
       that the insured property in question would bring when offered for sale by one
       willing but not obliged to sell it and when bought by one willing or desirous to
       purchase it but who is not compelled to do so.

The instruction is a modified version of MAI No. 9.02, which is the standard damage instruction

for eminent domain cases.

       Although Stewart Title contends that the measure of damages used in condemnation cases

does not apply to cases involving a breach of title insurance policy, the Missouri Supreme Court

has held otherwise. In Fohn v. Title Insurance Corporation of St. Louis, 529 S.W.2d 1, 4 (Mo.

banc 1975), the Missouri Supreme Court held that it was appropriate to borrow from the eminent

domain instruction, MAI No. 9.02, in measuring an insured's damages under a policy of title

insurance. Moreover, this court in Davis v. Stewart Title Guaranty Company, 726 S.W.2d 839,

                                                 16
853 (Mo. App. 1987), relying upon Fohn, affirmed the use of an instruction modified from MAI

No. 9.02 in a case alleging breach of a title insurance policy and vexatious refusal to pay.

        Stewart Title asserts, however, that the measure of damages developed for condemnation

cases based on the highest and best use do not apply in this case where the policy defines the

measure of damages. Pursuant to the policy, Stewart Title insured against loss or damage

sustained or incurred by SLC by reason of ""[t]itle to the estate or interest described in

Schedule A being vested other than as stated therein;" "[a]ny defect in or lien or encumbrance on

the title;" "[u]nmarketability of the title;" and "[l]ack of a right of access to and from the land."

The policy stated that it was "a contract of indemnity against actual monetary loss or damage

sustained or incurred by the insured claimant" with liability not to exceed the lesser of "(i) the

Amount of Insurance stated in Schedule A; or, (ii) the difference between the value of the insured

estate or interest as insured and the value of the insured estate or interest subject to the defect,

lien or encumbrance insured against by this policy."

        Stewart Title claims that the title insurance policy contains express limitations on the

measure of damage to the property "as insured" and a requirement of "actual monetary loss or

damage." Stewart Title, therefore, contends that the policy language prohibits consideration of

the highest and best use of the insured property. The policy language, however, is silent on the

issue. The "as insured" language that Stewart Title emphasizes refers to the condition of the title

and not to the property's use.4 Stewart Title insured a fee simple estate in land having the legal

description set forth in the policy's Schedule A. Thus, in the event that the policyholder is found

to possess some lesser interest, the policyholder is entitled to damages as measured by the

        4
            The same policy could be used to insure a life estate or a long term leasehold interest.

                                                            17
difference in the value of the insured estate or interest as insured (i.e. fee simple in land having

the legal description set forth in Schedule A) and the value of the insured estate or interest

subject to the defect." The policy says nothing about how this valuation is to be performed.

Thus, to the extent that Stewart Title contends that the property "as insured" under the policy is

undeveloped property, "not a lakefront-style resort complete with residential lots and amenities,"

its contention is without merit.

       The jury was instructed that, if it found in favor of the Plaintiff, that it had to award

"Plaintiff such sum as you believe was the difference between the fair market value of the entire

insured property at the time the title defect was discovered and the fair market value of the

insured property subject to the title defect." That indeed was the measure of damages. The

instruction merely informed the jury that, in determining the fair market value of the property,

the jury could consider "evidence of the value of the property including the highest and best use

to which the property reasonably may be applied or adapted, the value of the property if freely

sold on the open market, and generally accepted appraisal practices." While such language may

very well be surplusage and perhaps better left to argument, it is nonetheless an accurate

statement of the law. It could neither mislead nor confuse a jury.

       Where, as here, no specific MAI instruction is directly applicable, "an MAI must be

modified to fairly submit the issues in a particular case, or where there is no applicable MAI so

that an instruction not in MAI must be given," the instruction given or modified "shall be simple,

brief, impartial, free from argument, and shall not submit to the jury or require findings of

detailed evidentiary facts." Rule 70.02(b). We acknowledge that the instruction given to the jury

may not have been a model of simplicity. In Fohn, the Missouri Supreme Court, in considering

the measure of damages in a title insurance defect case, noted that the issue "is one having a

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fixed answer in other areas calling for a determination of damages suffered by the loss of a

portion of a tract of land." 529 S.W.2d at 4. The Fohn court found:

        [I]n the area of eminent domain the pattern instruction to guide a jury in awarding
        damages (where part of property is taken) may be found in MAI-9.02. It, in part,
        provides: "You must award . . . such sum as you believe is . . . the difference
        between the fair market value of . . . (the) whole property immediately before the
        taking . . . and the value of . . . (the) remaining property immediately after such
        taking . . ." The "difference" thus found is accepted as the "loss" suffered by the
        owner of the land. The defendant has not suggested, nor has own research
        revealed any persuasive reason why the same approach should not be applicable
        in this instance. Not only does it appear to be the most fair and accurate method,
        but its adoption in title insurance cases would contribute toward uniformity in the
        area of assessment of damages.

Id. The MAI No. 9.02 eminent domain instruction in effect at the time the Fohn court issued its

opinion provided:

                You must award defendant such sum as you believe is [was] the difference
        between the fair market value of defendant's whole property immediately before
        the taking [on (insert date of appropriation)] and the value of defendant's
        remaining property immediately after such taking, which difference in value is the
        direct result of the taking and of the uses which plaintiff has the right to make of
        the property taken.5

Such instruction utilized in a title insurance defect case may be a better example of a Rule 70

modification than the instruction approved herein. But, as we stated earlier, the instruction given

        5
         The 2012 Revision of MAI No. 9.02, which is the instruction that Spalding modified for Instruction No. 7,
now provides:

                 You must award defendant such sum as you believe [was] is the difference between the
        fair market value of the entire property [immediately before the taking on (insert date of
        appropriation)] and the fair market value of the remaining [burdened] property [immediately after
        the taking]. In determining the fair market value of defendant's property, you may consider
        evidence of the value of the property including [comparable sales, capitalization of income,
        replacement cost less depreciation,] the highest and best use to which the property reasonably may
        be applied or adapted, the value of the property if freely sold on the open market, and generally
        accepted appraisal practices. You may give such evidence the weight and credibility you believe
        are appropriate under the circumstances.

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to the jury in this case was an accurate statement of the law, and it did not mislead nor confuse a

jury.

         Moreover, in this case, Spalding's expert testified about the highest and best use of the

property being the proposed lake development. Even Stewart Title's claim counsel

acknowledged that Stewart Title's appraiser considered the property's highest and best use as a

mixed use purpose with commercial and single-family residential. Based upon the evidence

presented, it was for the jury to determine fair market value, which was defined as "the price that

the insured property in question would bring when offered for sale by one willing but not obliged

to sell it and when bought by one willing or desirous to purchase it but who is not compelled to

do so." In making its determination about fair market value, the instruction merely allowed the

jury, but did not require it, to consider and weigh the evidence concerning the highest and best

use of the property. The circuit court, therefore, did not err in giving the jury Instruction No. 7

and in denying Stewart Title's motion for new trial.

         We, therefore, affirm the circuit court's judgment in favor of Spalding on his claims for

breach of contract and vexatious refusal to pay in regard to the title insurance policy.6

                                                                 /s/ JAMES EDWARD WELSH
                                                                 James Edward Welsh, Judge

All concur.

         6
           We need not address Stewart Title's last point on appeal, in which it asserted that, if we reverse the circuit
court's judgment regarding the breach of contract claim, then we would necessarily have to reverse the circuit court's
judgment on the vexatious refusal to pay claim. As we are affirming the circuit court's judgment on the breach of
contract claim, it is unnecessary for us to consider this point.

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