Court Opinion

ID: 9548438
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:03:42.210512+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:18:57.820918
License: Public Domain

BACON, Presiding Judge
(specially concurring).
I concur in the analysis of the issues and cases in the majority opinion. It seems to me what this case boils down to is certain parties contracted to have a structure designed and built for a specific purpose. And, because of faulty design, materials or workmanship, the structure undisputably was defective and unsuitable for the specific purpose for which it was built. Through no fault of the injured parties, damages continued until they had to take some positive action. That positive action unquestionably required the services of an expert in the field of this type structure. Inasmuch as many parties’ rights and liabilities were involved, to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the services of an attorney were equally required. It seems clear to me for the injured parties not to employ the roof expert and attorney would be not only a bad business judgment, but may very well subject them to a claim of failure to mitigate damages.
Is the injured party entitled to recoup these expenses? As the majority opinion points out the case authority indicates the answer is in the affirmative. Such necessary mitigation expenses should not and cannot be compared to litigation expenses in the pursuit of a lawsuit. The former exist through no fault of the injured party, whether a lawsuit is filed or not, and have nothing to do with the services rendered for the preparation and trial of a lawsuit, as do the latter.
I would therefore reverse and remand the case to the trial court with directions to overrule the demurrers and proceed accordingly.