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Kirkpatrick v. Timber Log Homes, Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 5, 1993
190 A.D.2d 1072 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)

Opinion

February 5, 1993

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Genesee County, Morton, J.

Present — Callahan, J.P., Green, Balio, Fallon and Doerr, JJ.


Judgment unanimously affirmed without costs. Memorandum: We reject defendant's argument that the verdict in favor of plaintiffs was against the weight of the evidence. A jury verdict "should not be set aside as against the weight of the evidence unless the jury could not have reached the verdict on any fair interpretation of the evidence * * * Moreover, when the issue at trial involves the credibility of conflicting expert testimony, the resolution of that conflict is `a matter peculiarly within the province of the jury'" (Martin v Seaman, 184 A.D.2d 996, lv denied 80 N.Y.2d 759, quoting Shaw v Binghamton Lodge No. 852, 155 A.D.2d 805, 806; see also, Halvorsen v Ford Motor Co., 132 A.D.2d 57, 60, lv denied 71 N.Y.2d 805). We conclude, upon our review of the record, that the jury reasonably could have credited the testimony of plaintiffs' expert that plaintiffs' log home was properly constructed according to defendant's plans and specifications, and that plaintiffs' damages were proximately caused by defendant's inadequate roof design and the inadequate or defective sealant system designed and provided by defendant.

We further conclude that the jury award of $105,000 was supported by the evidence. The jury could have concluded, as testified to by plaintiffs' real estate appraiser, that the home was unmarketable in its present state. The jury's determination that the fair market value of plaintiffs' home in an undamaged condition was $105,000 was within the range of appraisal testimony. Finally, if defendant desired to receive credit for the value of the land and of undamaged items, it had the burden of providing proof of value (see, Jenkins v Etlinger, 55 N.Y.2d 35). That it failed to do.


Summaries of

Kirkpatrick v. Timber Log Homes, Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Feb 5, 1993
190 A.D.2d 1072 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)
Case details for

Kirkpatrick v. Timber Log Homes, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:PAUL KIRKPATRICK et al., Respondents, v. TIMBER LOG HOMES, INC., Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department

Date published: Feb 5, 1993

Citations

190 A.D.2d 1072 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)
593 N.Y.S.2d 688

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