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Compton v. Hastings

Oregon Court of Appeals
Sep 9, 1987
87 Or. App. 388 (Or. Ct. App. 1987)

Opinion

84-2754-J-2; CA A40152

Argued and submitted July 20, 1987.

Affirmed September 9, 1987.

Appeal from the Circuit Court, Jackson County, L.L. Sawyer, Judge.

Richard A. Stark and Stark and Hammack, Medford, filed the brief for appellants.

Walter D. Nunley, Medford, argued the cause and filed the brief for respondent.

Before Warden, Presiding Judge, and Van Hoomissen and Young, Judges.


PER CURIAM

Affirmed.


Plaintiff brought this action to recover for work done on defendants' property, alleging alternative claims based on contract, account stated and quantum meruit. After a jury trial, plaintiff was awarded judgment on the quantum meruit claim, plus interest at the statutory rate from the date the work was completed. Defendants appeal, and we affirm.

Defendants' first three assignments of error concern the contract claim. Any error of potential prejudice to defendants on that claim was cured by the jury's verdict for plaintiff on the quantum meruit claim. See Horn v. City of Elgin, 28 Or. App. 545, 548, 559 P.2d 1319, rev den (1977). The fourth assignment concerns the award of prejudgment interest. In Hazelwood Water Dist. v. First Union Management, 78 Or. App. 226, 715 P.2d 498 (1986), we stated:

"Prejudgment interest is proper in quantum meruit cases if the exact amount owing is ascertained or ascertainable by simple computation or by reference to generally recognized standards and where the time from which interest must run can be ascertained." 78 Or App at 230. (Citations omitted.)

See also City of Portland v. Hoffman Const. Co., 286 Or. 789, 805, 596 P.2d 1305 (1979). Here, the amount owing was ascertainable, and the date when the work was completed was not in dispute. The award of prejudgment interest, starting from that date, was not error.

Affirmed.


Summaries of

Compton v. Hastings

Oregon Court of Appeals
Sep 9, 1987
87 Or. App. 388 (Or. Ct. App. 1987)
Case details for

Compton v. Hastings

Case Details

Full title:COMPTON, Respondent, v. HASTINGS et ux, Appellants

Court:Oregon Court of Appeals

Date published: Sep 9, 1987

Citations

87 Or. App. 388 (Or. Ct. App. 1987)
742 P.2d 75

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