Court Opinion

ID: 9515036
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:53:17.050793+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:24.205670
License: Public Domain

GORS, Acting Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 24.] I respectfully dissent.
[¶ 25.] SDCL 53-9-4 voids liquidated damages. SDCL 53-9-5 applies this public policy to “every contract” unless the parties agree to liquidated damages. Collective bargaining agreements are contracts. Wessington Springs Educ. Ass’n, 467 N.W.2d at 104. The term “every contract” paints with a broad brush and admits no exceptions but agreement. The majority opinion frustrates the public policy by imposing liquidated damages without agreement.
[¶ 26.] Look no further than another public policy provision in the same chapter of the code. SDCL 53-9-7 voids every contract in restraint of marriage. Under the majority opinion, a school district could propose a requirement that all teachers be single. Upon impasse, this void term could then be imposed. Public policy would be frustrated.
[¶ 27.] Here the parties did not agree to liquidated damages. Therefore, the liquidated damages clause is void and should not be imposed upon impasse.
[¶ 28.] KONENKAMP, Justice, joins this dissent.