Court Opinion

ID: 9775761
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:08:31.884996+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:30.880702
License: Public Domain

SMITH, Judge,
concurring and dissenting.
I fully concur in the majority opinion as it relates to possession.
As to the damages I respectfully dissent. Plaintiff’s affidavit stated:
*685“That a reasonable rent for said premises would be $550.00 a month, in her opinion as the owner of said property.”
To controvert this statement defendants would be required to deny that plaintiffs opinion of a reasonable rent is $550.00. Their failure to address this allegation in their affidavit serves to admit the allegation — that it is plaintiffs opinion that a reasonable rent is $550.00 per month. But plaintiffs opinion is not “unassailable proof” of the reasonable rent. That opinion is not binding on a fact-finder whether controverted or not, and I see no reason why it achieves sanctified status in an affidavit on summary judgment.
That opinion may be sufficient to support a judgment after trial of $550.00 as reasonable rent. But the question here is not whether the evidence is sufficient to support a judgment but rather whether it compels such judgment. There is no clearly ascertainable standard in the affiant’s statements upon which to base an evaluation of reasonable rent and her statement of opinion does not compel, nor warrant, an award of damages on summary judgment.
I would affirm the judgment for possession and reverse and remand the judgment for damages.