Star Property Solutions, LLC and Indy Drains, LLC v. Pine Financial, LLC, and T.Tad Bohlsen (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
Jul 13 2016, 8:20 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
court except for the purpose of establishing Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES
Gerald B. Coleman Scott M. Penny1
Richard P. Nover Carmel, Indiana
Coleman Stevenson, LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Star Property Solutions, LLC July 13, 2016
and Indy Drains, LLC, Court of Appeals Case No.
Appellants/Cross-Appellees- 49A05-1505-CC-4122
Defendants/Counterclaimants, Appeal from the
Marion Superior Court
v.
The Honorable
John F. Hanley, Judge
Pine Financial, LLC,
Trial Court Cause No.
Appellee/Cross-Appellant- 49D11-1302-CC-5482
Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant,
1
Scott M. Penny, who served as Appellees’ attorney at the time their brief was filed, withdrew as counsel on
March 3, 2016. Since that time, no attorney has filed an appearance for the Appellees.
2
We note that, initially, both parties filed a notice of appeal regarding this judgment, each filing under a
separate appellate case number. However, we ultimately consolidated the two cases into Case No. 49A05-
1505-CC-412.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A05-1505-CC-412 | July 13, 2016] Page 1 of 20
and
T. Tad Bohlsen,
Appellee/Cross-Appellant-
Counterclaim Defendant.
Kirsch, Judge.
[1] Star Property Solutions, LLC (“Star”) and Indy Drains, LLC (“Indy Drains”)
(together, “Tenants”)3 entered into a lease agreement (“the Lease”) to rent a
commercial building from Pine Financial, LLC (“Pine”). T. Tad Bohlsen
(“Bohlsen), a manager and member of Pine, negotiated the terms of the Lease.
Pine sued Tenants for breach of contract on the basis of non-payment of the
rent. Tenants filed an amended counterclaim against Pine and Bohlsen
(together, “Landlords”),4 alleging breach of contract, replevin, constructive
eviction, retaliatory eviction, conversion, and trespass. Following a bench trial,
the trial court granted damages: (1) to Pine in the amount of $30,000.00,
finding that Tenants had breached the terms of the Lease; and (2) to Tenants in
3
As explained later, Star and Indy Drains were contractually bound to pay the rent—Star as the renter and
Indy Drains as the guarantor. Therefore, unless more specificity is required, we refer to them together as
Tenants.
4
Because both Bohlsen and Pine are liable for any damages owed to Tenants, we refer to them together as
Landlords.
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the amount of $30,000.00, finding that Landlords had interfered with Tenants’
business relationships. Tenants appeal, and Landlords cross-appeal, raising the
following consolidated, restated, and reordered issues:
I. Whether the $30,000.00 damages award entered in favor of
Pine, for Tenants’ breach of contract, is within the scope of the
evidence; and
II. Whether the $30,000.00 damages award entered in favor of
Tenants, on their amended counterclaim against Landlords, is
within the scope of the evidence.
[2] We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] Landlords worked with investors to locate undervalued properties that could be
purchased and resold at a higher price. The “basic investment approach”
involved helping a property owner secure a renter; once the property established
a positive cash flow, Landlords would approach investors, obtain funding, and
purchase the property. Tr. at 14. Believing that a commercial building located
on South State Street in Indianapolis (“the Building”), which was owned by
Charles Norman Meurer (“Meurer”), was a viable undervalued property,
Landlords offered to help Meurer secure renters.
[4] In July or August 2012, Indy Drains’ President David Godoy (“Godoy”) and
Vice President Tiberio Clemente approached Landlords, expressing interest in
leasing the Building. Landlords then contacted Meurer, who agreed that Pine
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would lease the Building from Meurer for $2,500.00 per month, and in turn,
Pine would sublet it to Indy Drains for $2,500.00 per month. Accordingly, Pine
entered into a lease agreement (“the Meurer Lease”), dated August 29, 2012, to
lease the Building from Meurer, “as is,” for a two-year term, commencing on
October 1, 2012. Pls.’ Ex. CC.
[5] Pine agreed to lease the building to Indy Drains for a three-year term,
commencing September 1, 2012. Appellants’ App. at 15-25. Bohlsen’s assistant,
George Bailey, attended the September 3, 2012 meeting at which the Lease was
signed. Prior to execution, the Lease named Indy Drains as the tenant.
However, Godoy, hoping to build up the credit of Star, a newly formed
corporation, asked Bailey to change the Lease by removing Indy Drains and
adding Star as the tenant. Bailey agreed, and Star signed the Lease. Tr. at 21.
Later, when Bohlsen learned of the change, he required Indy Drains to serve as
Star’s guarantor. Tenants agreed and, on October 3, 2012, Indy Drains signed
a Commercial Lease Guaranty.
[6] Under the Lease, Pine agreed to “keep and maintain in good repair and
working order and make repairs to and perform maintenance upon”: (a)
structural elements of the Building; (b) mechanical (including HVAC), electrical
service and below ground plumbing elements; (c) the roof of the Building; (d)
exterior windows of the Building; and (e) all exterior lighting. Appellants’ App.
at 16. Pine also promised to make certain improvements and repairs
(“Landlord Work”), which Pine itemized in the Lease as Exhibit A. Pine
agreed to: (a) provide a gravel parking lot in back; (b) provide fencing around
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the gravel parking lot; (c) replace worn or damaged carpeting throughout the
Building; (d) repaint scuffed or damaged walls throughout the Building; (e) add
a three-foot entrance door in the rear wall of the Building; and (f) address
“other items TBD.” Id. at 24. Pine agreed to complete the improvements “at
its sole cost and expense” and within four weeks after receiving notice from
Tenants to start the work. Id. at 16, 24. Under the Lease, Tenants’ “sole
recourse,” in the event Pine failed to complete the Landlord Work as
scheduled, was “a rent reduction of five hundred dollars” for each month the
items were not completed. Id. at 16.
[7] After signing the Lease, Tenants gave Pine two checks, each in the amount of
$2,500.00 (one for the September 2012 rent and the other for the security
deposit). In exchange, Pine gave Tenants a key to the Building. When Tenants
began to move in on September 4, 2012, they found the previous tenant’s
property, including furniture, electronics, and piles of television and computer
monitors, still in the Building. Tr. at 155. Tenants complained to Pine that the
Building was not as promised.
[8] Most of Tenants’ communications with Pine were made through Bohlsen. On
September 7, 2012, Tenants sent Bohlsen an email expressing their concern that
none of the repairs were underway. Appellants’ App. at 28. On October 2, 2012,
Tenants sent Bohlsen a follow-up email explaining that the previous tenant’s
property was still in the Building, “there [were] roof leaks everywhere,” the
front office was covered in mold, the back office still had not been painted, the
garage door openers were not working, the parking lot and fence had not been
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completed, and there were exposed electrical wires and cracks in the walls
through which light could be seen. Id. at 29. Tenants stated, “I am expecting a
rent credit for this month [October 2012]. Due to the fact that everything you
said would be completed has not been and WE STILL HAVE NOT MOVED
OUR STUFF IN.” Id. (emphasis in original).
[9] On October 5, 2012, Tenants removed some of the previous tenant’s furniture,
hauled away trash and debris, trimmed the trees, changed the lock on the door
of the workshop, and repaired the “Electric Strike (Door Opener).” Id. at 31.
That same day, Tenants submitted to Pine an invoice for the work, in the
amount of $2,402.50, and sent an email to Bohlsen informing him that Tenants
had removed some of the previous tenant’s property. Tenants also asked
Bohlsen when the prior tenant’s television and computer monitors would be
removed5 and requested assurances “that [Pine] would be giving [Tenants] the
rent credit that we discussed for not being able to move our stuff in and all the
problems.” Id. at 30. Three days later, Tenants sent another email to Bohlsen,
stating that they had not heard from him and asking Bohlsen to let Tenants
“know where we stand with the Rent Credit since today is the 8th.” Id.
[10] Having received no correspondence from Bohlsen regarding a credit, Tenants
did not pay the November or December rent. Appellants’ Br. at 5 (citing Tr. at
5
There were approximately 1,000 television and computer monitors still in the warehouse in early October
2012. Because these units contained mercury, it would have cost between $10 and $40 each to dispose of
them properly. Tr. at 169.
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214). The Landlord Work was completed on or about December 15, 2012.
Appellants’ App. at 33. On January 30, 2013, Pine sent a letter to Tenants
informing them that they had ten days to cure the default, stating, “The final
due date for this payment will be February 9th.” Id. at 34-35. Pine advised
Tenants that the “past due rent” was $10,000.00 for the months of October
through January, plus late fees, notice fees, and all other fees charged under the
Lease, including legal fees. Id. at 33-34. On February 7, 2013, Landlords sent
Tenants a letter informing them that Landlords would be entering the premises
on February 8, 2013 to conduct an inspection of the premises. Appellees’ App. at
69.
[11] On February 8, 2013, one day prior to the deadline to cure, Bohlsen ordered
two of Pine’s employees (“the Employees”) to enter the Building. Indianapolis
Metropolitan Police Officer Randall Cook (“Officer Cook”), who was
responding to a security alarm at the Building encountered the Employees
around 10:45 a.m., and the Employees explained that they were inspecting the
Building in connection with an eviction. Tr. at 142. Officer Cook inquired
whether they had appropriate legal papers, and when he discovered that they
did not, he advised the Employees to leave. While he was there, Officer Cook
saw that the Building was still occupied and noticed there were vehicles parked
inside the gated and locked fence behind the Building. Id. at 143-44. Around
3:30 in the afternoon of the same day, Officer Cook was again dispatched to the
Building. There, he met Tenants, who reported that their vehicles and trailers
were gone. Officer Cook’s investigation revealed that the back fence had been
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cut and three vans, three trailers, and Tenants’ tools were all missing. Id. at
145-47. While at the scene, Officer Cook spoke on the phone to Bohlsen, who
explained that he had removed Tenants’ business property because they were
behind on their rent. Id. at 146-47. Officer Cook advised Bohlsen that he
should get a court order and evict Tenants in a lawful manner. Id. at 147.
[12] On February 12, 2013, Pine filed a complaint against Tenants, alleging that
failure to pay the rent as required under the Lease constituted a breach of
contract. At Landlords’ request, the trial court entered a default judgment on
April 15, 2013. Tenants filed a motion for relief from default judgment, which
the trial court granted on October 3, 2013. In November 2013, Tenants filed
their counterclaim against Landlords and filed a motion for replevin in March
2014.
[13] On September 4, 2014, Tenants were granted leave to amend their
counterclaim. In the amended counterclaim (“Counterclaim”), Tenants raised
claims of breach of contract, replevin, constructive eviction, retaliatory eviction,
conversion, and trespass. Tenants also named Bohlsen as a party defendant,
asking the trial court to pierce the corporate veil. Tenants claimed that, at the
time the Lease was entered into, Pine, the entity that signed the lease, was, and
continues to be, administratively dissolved; therefore, the Lease “is of no
effect,” and Bohlsen, the owner of Pine, was personally liable. Appellants’ App.
at 43. Although the trial court made no specific findings regarding the
appropriateness of piercing the corporate veil, it found Bohlsen liable for
damages, concluding, “Defendants/Counterclaimants are entitled to a
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judgment against the Counter-Defendants on their Amended Counterclaim for
Damages.” Id. at 15 (emphasis added). The parties entered into, and the trial
court approved, an Agreed Order of Possession on the Replevin Motion
(“Agreed Order”) on October 2, 2014; two months later, Tenants filed a motion
to enforce the Agreed Order, which the trial court granted on January 7, 2015.6
[14] During the March 10, 2015 bench trial, Landlords introduced evidence of
damages caused by Tenants’ failure to pay the rent, and Tenants introduced
evidence of damages caused by the illegal removal of Tenants’ business
property. Landlords admitted that they made no attempt to return Tenants’
property. However, Landlords argue on appeal that they did not illegally
remove the business property because, under the Lease, they had a right to
enter the Building after providing Tenants with a written notice of default.
[15] While it is true that Landlords could inspect the premises during regular
business hours and enter the building after providing Tenants with notice of
default, neither of those provisions provided Landlords with the right to remove
Tenants’ property from the Building. Tr. at 129; Appellant’s App. at 18. Further,
the Lease contained no terms suggesting that Landlords had a lien against the
business property securing Tenants’ payment of the rent.
6
The following documents are not in the record before us: Pine’s complaint, the default judgment, Tenants’
motion for relief from default judgment, Tenants’ counterclaim and motion for replevin, the Agreed Order of
Possession on the Replevin Motion, and the order enforcing the Agreed Order.
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[16] In its April 24, 2015 Order, the trial court made the following findings. First,
“The parties entered into a lease agreement on August 30, 2012 for a period of
three (3) years,” which called for a monthly rent payment of $2,500.00.
Appellants’ App. at 12. Tenants made one rent payment. Pine mitigated
potential damages by re-leasing the property in September 2013. Id.; Tr. at 92.
Accordingly, Tenants were indebted to Pine for one year’s rent, i.e., $30,000.00.
Appellants’ App. at 12-13. Second, Landlords entered into Tenants’ business
premises, which was the subject of the Lease and, without permission, removed
Tenants’ vehicles, trailers, and tools. Id. at 13. As a result of “engaging in this
apparent attempt at self-help,” Landlords interfered with Tenants’ business
relationships with customers, resulting “in a loss of business and an attendant
loss of revenue.” Id. Without explaining either the claim upon which it was
granting the damages or the basis for the calculation, the trial court concluded
that Tenants incurred damages in the amount of $30,000.00. Id. Third, the
trial court found Landlords were in contempt of the Agreed Order. The trial
court ordered Landlords to return Tenants’ business property within ten days of
the Order.7
[17] Tenants appeal, and Landlords cross-appeal the damages awards. Specific facts
pertaining to the evidence of damages will be added where appropriate.
7
There is no evidence in the record before us regarding whether Tenants’ property was ever returned.
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Discussion and Decision
I. Damages Awarded to Pine
[18] Tenants do not appeal the trial court’s conclusion that they breached the Lease
by failing to pay rent. Instead, Tenants maintain that the $30,000.00 damages
award entered against them and in favor of Pine is not within the scope of the
evidence. Pine contends that its $30,000.00 award of damages for Tenants’
breach of contract was within the evidence. Noting that the trial court set forth
its method for calculating the damages, Pine maintains that the award was not
based on “conjecture and speculation,” and therefore, should not be disturbed.
Sheek v. Mark A. Morin Logging, Inc., 993 N.E.2d 280, 287 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).
[19] Generally, the computation of damages for a breach of contract is a matter
within the sound discretion of the trial court. City of Jeffersonville v. Envtl. Mgmt.
Corp., 954 N.E.2d 1000, 1015 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). We will not reverse a
damage award upon appeal unless it is based on insufficient evidence or is
contrary to law. Id. In determining whether an award is within the scope of the
evidence, we may not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses.
Id. A factfinder may not award damages on the mere basis of conjecture and
speculation. Sheek, 993 N.E.2d at 287 (citing Indianapolis City Mkt. Corp. v.
MAV, Inc., 915 N.E.2d 1013, 1024 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)), trans. denied. Instead,
the award must be supported by probative evidence. Id. (citing Four Seasons
Mfg., Inc. v. 1001 Coliseum, LLC, 870 N.E.2d 494, 507 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
“Accordingly, a damage award must reference some fairly defined standard,
such as cost of repair, market value, established experience, rental value, loss of
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use, loss of profits, or direct inference from known circumstances.” Farah, LLC
v. Architura Corp., 952 N.E.2d 328, 337 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (quoting Coffman v.
Olson & Co., P.C., 906 N.E.2d 201, 210 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied). In a
breach of contract action, the measure of damages is the loss actually suffered
by the breach. Sisters of St. Francis Health Servs., Inc. v. EON Props., LLC, 968
N.E.2d 305, 313 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). That said, the non-breaching party is not
entitled to be placed in a better position than it would have been if the contract
had not been broken. Id.
[20] Here, the trial court calculated the $30,000.00 damages award for Tenants’
breach of contract claim by multiplying Tenants’ monthly rent of $2,500.00 by
twelve months, presumably the period from September 1, 2012 through August
30, 2013 (because the Building was re-rented by September 2013).8 Tr. at 92.
Tenants argue that the evidence does not support the $30,000.00 award because
the calculation of damages, based, as the trial court determined, on one year of
rent, should have been reduced by credits: (1) for Tenants’ payments of the
September 2012 rent and the security deposit; (2) to compensate Tenants for
Pine’s untimely completion of the Landlord Work; and (3) to reimburse
Tenants for repairs they performed on the Building.
8
Bohlsen testified that: Pine “had a signed lease with somebody else who defaulted in the summer of 2013”;
and subsequent lease agreements resulted in a shortfall of rent because the Building was rented for less than
$2,5000.00 per month Tr. at 93. In calculating damages, the trial court chose not to consider whether
Tenants were liable for less than twelve months rent, due to a subsequent renter’s default, nor did it consider
whether shortfalls in rent resulted in additional damages to Pine.
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[21] At the commencement of the Lease, Tenants paid Landlords $2,500.00 for the
September 2012 rent, which Pine applied to that month’s rent. Tenants also
paid Pine $2,500.00 for a security deposit. The Lease provided that the security
“deposit shall be returned to Tenant[s], without interest, and less any set off for
damages to the premises upon termination of this Lease, any unpaid rents, or
any other fees incurred by the Landlord in conjunction with Tenant[s]’
possession of the Premises.” Appellants’ App. at 15. The Lease clearly
contemplated that the security deposit could be used as a credit against unpaid
rents. The trial court’s $30,000.00 damage award is not supported by the
evidence because the trial court’s judgment did not apply a credit for the
September rent and a credit for some or all of the $2,500.00 security deposit.
[22] Tenants moved into the Building on September 4, 2012. The Lease required
Pine to complete Landlord Work within four weeks of receiving notice from
Tenants and provided that Tenants would be given rent credit in the amount of
$500.00 for each month that the Landlord Work remained incomplete.
Appellants’ App. at 16. Tenants notified Pine in a September 7, 2012 email that
it was waiting for Pine to commence the Landlord Work.9 Id. at 28. Pine
9
Bohlsen testified during trial that he did not believe Pine had a legal obligation to perform Landlord Work
on the Building until Indy Drains executed the Lease Guaranty on October 3, 2012. Tr. at 100. Pine,
therefore, contends that the thirty-day time limit for completing Landlord Work could not have commenced
until October 3, 2012. We disagree. Here, the Lease contained no provision suggesting that the time frame
for commencement of the Landlord Work would or could be delayed until Indy Drains signed the Lease
Guaranty. Further, as early as September 7, 2012, Tenants sent an email to Bohlsen informing Pine that
Tenants would be willing to sign a new lease under the name Indy Drains and requested that Star be added to
any new lease. Appellees’ App. at 28.
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admitted that the Landlord Work was not completed until around December
15, 2012. Id. at 33. Accordingly, Tenants should have received at least some
credit against the rent.10 Further, by affidavit, Bohlsen testified that Pine had
agreed to waive Tenants’ October 2012 rent and deduct $500.00 from the
November rent and $300.00 from the December rent. Id. The trial court’s
damages award was not supported by the evidence because the trial court’s
judgment does not reflect the credits that, by contract and by Pine’s own
admission, were owed to Tenants for the delay in completing the Landlord
Work
[23] Finally, Tenants maintain that they should have received a set-off for the repairs
they made to the Building. On October 5, 2012, Tenants submitted an invoice
to Landlords in the amount of $2,402.50; the repairs included, removing the
previous tenant’s furniture, trash, and debris, having carpets professionally
cleaned, removing a previous tenant’s commercial sign, trimming trees,
replacing a lock and missing or damaged blinds, installing switch plates,
repairing “Electric Strike (Door Opener),” and making copies of keys. Under
the Lease, Pine agreed to “keep and maintain in good repair and working order
10
Pine counters that, because it could not re-rent the Building for the full rental price of $2,500.00 per month,
it should have been given damages to reflect the shortfall in rent payments. The record before us, however,
contains no evidence of subsequent leases; further Pine provided no specific evidence regarding the shortfalls.
The evidence of shortfall came from Bohlsen, who testified that the new rent “was less than what Indy
Drains agreed to pay. I think it was, sort of, uh, a sliding scale lease where, I think, like the first few months
were $1,800.00, $1,900.00 a month and then it slowly went up to, I think, now, probably, it’s closer to
$2,100.00 or $2,200.00 a month — something like that.” Tr. at 93. This was insufficient evidence from
which the trial court could have made a determination regarding damages Pine may have incurred due to a
shortfall in rent.
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and make repairs to and perform maintenance upon”: (a) structural elements of
the Building; (b) mechanical (including HVAC), electrical service . . . and below
ground plumbing elements; (c) the roof of the Building; (d) exterior windows of
the Building; and (e) all exterior lighting. Appellant’s App. at 16. Pine also
promised to make certain improvements and repairs, including replace worn or
damaged carpeting throughout the Building. Id. at 24. Thereafter, Tenants
offered to clean the carpeting in lieu of having Pine replace it, if Pine would
make additional repairs.11 Pine agreed, and Tenants paid $350.00 to clean the
carpet; an amount that Pine should have reimbursed. The award of damages in
the amount of $30,000.00 gave Tenants no credits against rent for the
September rent payment, the security deposit, Pine’s delay of Landlord Work,
or set-offs for Tenants’ repairs. Accordingly, we vacate the damages award on
Pine’s breach of contract claim and remand for the trial court to recalculate
damages.
II. Damages Awarded to Tenants
[24] Both Tenants and Landlords12 challenge the trial court’s decision to award
$30,000.00 in damages to Tenants’ on their Counterclaim; Tenants contend that
the award is inadequate to cover their damages, and Landlords contend that the
11
During the bench trial, Bohlsen testified that Pine agreed to replace the carpets in the Building as part of
Landlord Work. Thereafter, Tenants negotiated with Pine, and Pine agreed, that instead of replacing the
carpets, Tenants could clean the carpets, and Landlords would complete “stucco repair, and some other
things to the [B]uilding.” Tr. at 43-44.
12
Bohlsen does not appeal the trial court’s finding that both he and Pine are liable for any damages owed to
Tenants.
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award is excessive. Our review of a damages award is limited. Sheek, 993
N.E.2d at 287 (citing Four Seasons Mfg., 870 N.E.2d at 507). We do not reweigh
the evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses, and we will reverse an award
only when it is not within the scope of the evidence before the finder of fact. Id.
(citing Four Seasons Mfg., 870 N.E.2d at 507). A factfinder may not award
damages on the mere basis of conjecture and speculation. Id. (citing
Indianapolis City Mkt., 915 N.E.2d at 1024). Instead, the award must be
supported by probative evidence. Id. In reviewing an award of damages, we do
not require any particular degree of mathematical certainty. I.C.C. Protective
Coatings, Inc. v. A.E. Staley Mfg. Co., 695 N.E.2d 1030, 1037 (Ind. Ct. App.
1998), trans. denied.
[25] We begin by noting that Tenants raised claims of breach of contract, replevin,
constructive eviction, retaliatory eviction, conversion, and trespass. Following
the bench trial, the trial court found:
Counterclaim Defendants [Landlords] entered into the
Defendants’ [Tenants’] business premises which was the subject
of this lease and removed vehicles, equipment and business property of
the Defendants without the permission of the Defendants. As a result of
the Counterclaim Defendants engaging in this apparent attempt
at self-help, they interfered with Defendants’ business
relationships with Defendants’ customers which resulted in a loss
of business and an attendant loss of revenue. The Court finds the
Defendants/Counterclaim Plaintiffs have incurred damages in
the amount of Thirty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars
($30,000.00).
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Appellants’ App. at 13 (emphasis added). While the trial court cited to Landlords
having engaged in self-help, it is not clear the precise claim or claims upon
which the damages were awarded or why the award was in the amount of
$30,000.00.13 However, the trial court’s reference to the removal of Tenants’
property without permission fits most closely with a claim of replevin or
conversion.
[26] In a replevin action, the only issue that must be decided is the right of the
plaintiff to present possession. United Farm Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Michalski, 814
N.E.2d 1060, 1067 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). In order for a plaintiff to recover in an
action for replevin, he must prove his title or right to possession, that the
property is unlawfully detained, and that the defendant wrongfully holds
possession thereof. Id. Judgment for the plaintiff may be for: (1) the delivery
of the property, or the value of the property in case delivery is not possible; and
(2) damages for the detention of the property.14 Ind. Code § 32-35-2-33. In
replevin actions, the usual measure of damages would be the value of the loss of
use, measured by the fair rental value, if possible. Roy Bayer Trust v. Red Husky,
LLC, 13 N.E.3d 415, 419 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). Apart from loss of use, the trial
13
Tenants concede that the award was not granted in connection with the claim of trespass. A plaintiff in a
trespass action must prove that he was in possession of the land and that “the defendant entered the land
without right.” Ind. Mich. Power Co. v. Runge, 717 N.E.2d 216, 227 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999) (quotation omitted).
In their Reply Brief, Tenants admit that the Lease gave Landlords the right to be on the premises upon
default.
14
The Agreed Order is not in the record before us; therefore, it is impossible to determine whether the
Agreed Order resolved the replevin claim, and if so, whether the Agreed Order awarded damages to Tenants
to compensate them for Landlord having removed Tenants’ business property.
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court in a replevin action may also award damages for any deterioration in the
value of the property while in the hands of the defendant. Id.
[27] Tenants argue that they presented evidence that: (1) the three vans had a total
value of $5,445.00; (2) the three trailers had a total value of $13,500.00; and (3)
the estimated value of all the tools was $19,500.00. Appellants’ App. at 46. The
total value of Tenants’ illegally removed business property amounted to
$38,445.00, a value that Pine did not contradict. The trial court, however,
made no determination of the value of the removed property.
[28] Indiana Code section 35-43-4-3 provides that a “person who knowingly or
intentionally exerts unauthorized control over the property of another person
commits criminal conversion.” A civil action under the criminal conversion
statute is permitted by Indiana Code section 34-24-3-1. That section allows a
person who suffers a pecuniary loss as a result of a violation of Indiana Code
Article 35-43 to bring a civil action against the person who caused the loss for:
(1) an amount not to exceed three times the actual damages; (2) costs of the
action; and (3) attorney fees. The plaintiff in a civil conversion action is
required to prove these elements by a preponderance of the evidence. SJS
Refractory Co., LLC v. Empire Refractory Sales, Inc., 952 N.E.2d 758, 766 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2011). “In order to establish a claim, a plaintiff must show a violation of
one of the specific code sections and that such violation caused the loss suffered
by the plaintiff.” Id.
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[29] Tenants claimed that they made an “unqualified demand” to Landlords “for
return of the business property,” but the Landlords refused to return the
property. Appellant’s App. at 42. Tenants asked for “treble dam[ag]es or three
(3) times the amount due and owing, an amount Tenants estimated to be
$115,335.00.15 Id. at 42, 46. While it is not clear whether Landlords ever
returned Tenants’ business property, the evidence in the record before us reveals
that Landlords had possession of Tenants’ property from February 8, 2013 (the
date it was removed) through at least April 24, 2015 (the date of the order in
which trial court made a finding that Landlords were in contempt for failing to
return the property). As noted above, the trial court made no determination of
the value of the removed property, nor did it mention treble damages.
[30] Tenants presented evidence, including invoices, that it lost clients as a result of
Landlords’ illegal taking of the business property and that the loss of those
clients resulted in $820,956.00 in estimated “total lost net revenue” for 2013
and 2014. Appellant’s App. at 45-46, 48-66. The trial court acknowledged that
Tenants had “a loss of business and an attendant loss of revenue.” Appellant’s
App. at 13. Without further explanation, the trial court granted Tenants
damages in the amount of $30,000.00. A damage award must be supported by
probative evidence. Four Seasons Mfg., 870 N.E.2d at 507. As the record does
15
Tenants’ claimed damages in the amount of $941,070.50, which reflected net lost profits; value of vans,
trailers, and tools; storage fees for equipment and vehicles (for September through November of 2012, before
Landlord had installed the fence); and repairs to the premises. Tr. at 206; Appellant’s App. at 45-47. Tenants
also requested attorney fees for the conversion action. Tr. at 207; Appellant’s App. at 47.
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not reflect how the trial court calculated the $30,000.00 damages award to
Tenants, we reverse that award, finding that it is based on conjecture,
speculation, or surmise. See Whitaker v. Brunner, 814 N.E.2d 288, 296 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2004) (“The damage award cannot be based on speculation, conjecture, or
surmise, and must be supported by probative evidence.”), trans. denied.
[31] The parties do not appeal the trial court’s findings that Tenants are liable to
Landlords for breach of contract and that Landlords are liable to Tenants for
having illegally removed their business property. Accordingly, we affirm the
trial court’s determination that Landlords and Tenants are each liable for
damages. However, we reverse the trial court’s damages awards, each in the
amount of $30,000.00, finding that they are not supported by the evidence, and
we remand the issue of damages to the trial court, instructing the court to: (1)
identify the basis for awarding the damages under Tenants’ Counterclaim; and
(2) recalculate the damages awards, holding a new hearing on damages if
necessary.
[32] Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.
[33] Riley, J., and Pyle, J., concur.
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