PEGGY J. COLEMAN v. DAYSTAR ENERGY, INC. (Tenn.Ct.App. November 19, 2007).
In this breach of construction contract suit, the Trial Court gave judgment in favor of plaintiff homeowner, and contractor defendant has appealed. We affirm.
Opinion may be found at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2007/colemanp_111907.pdf
"As a general rule, the measure of damages for defects and omissions in the performance of a construction contract is the reasonable cost of the required repairs. This is especially true when the structure involved is the owner’s home. However, in the event that the cost of repairs is disproportionate when compared with the difference in value of the structure actually constructed and the one contracted for, the diminution value may be used instead as a measure of damages. However, this rule is applicable only when proof has been offered on both factors. . . . We hold that the plaintiffs do not have the burden of offering alternative measures of damages. The burden is on the defendant to show that the cost of repairs is unreasonable when compared to the diminution of value due to the defects and omissions . . . ." Id. (quoting Hopper v. Moling, No. W2004-02410-COA-R3-CV, 2005 WL 2077650 at *7, (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 26, 2005)).
