This is an appeal and cross-appeal from the Circuit Court of Clay County. On February 19, 1988, Plaintiffs Judys, Haggards, Elders, Weisgerbers, Minders, and Harsh-mans filed their lawsuit against Arkansas Log Homes, Inc. (“ALH”) seeking damages arising from the plaintiffs’ purchase of and ALH’s manufacture, design, and supply of log home kits used to construct the plaintiffs’ log homes. The plaintiffs alleged their homes rotted because the joints between the logs of the home were improperly designed.
On January 31, 1990, the plaintiffs filed their First Amended Petition for Damages to join Plaintiffs Langs. The substantive allegations of the amended petition remained unchanged. Thereafter, on April 29, 1991, by means of a Second Amended Petition for Damages, the plaintiffs joined Defendant Norton Company (“Norton”) which provided the polyurethane foam gaskets used to seal the joints between the logs of the homes. The original five counts against ALH remained the same, but the plaintiffs added Counts VI through X directed solely against Nortоn. The counts alleged breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraud, negligence, and strict products liability, respectively.
Both defendants filed motions for summary judgment asserting the plaintiffs’ claims were time-barred. On January 6, 1992, after review of all motions, suggestions, and affidavits and upon hearing oral argument and considering admissions by plaintiffs and information in depositions, the trial court concluded the applicable statute of limitations was five years and sustained Norton’s motion on Counts VI through X. However, ALH’s motion was denied. 1
On June 13, 1994, trial commenced wherein the plaintiffs pursued Counts I through V against ALH. At the close of plaintiffs’ evidence, ALH moved for a directed verdict. The motion was sustained as to Count I (express warranty) and the plaintiffs voluntarily abandoned and withdrew their claim under Count V (strict products liability). At the close of all evidence, ALH again moved for a directed verdict. The trial court sustained the motion as to Plaintiffs Langs on the ground their claims were time-barred by the five-year statute of limitations and to Plaintiffs Elders on the ground they failed to prove they purchased an ALH log home. The remaining plaintiffs abandoned and withdrew their claim under Count II (implied warranty). Therefore, only Count III (fraudulent representation) and Count IV (negligence) were submitted to the jury. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiffs Judys, Harshmans, Haggards, and Weis-gerbers on Count III and in favor of Plaintiffs Minders on Count IV, and the trial court entered judgments accordingly. ALH and Plaintiffs Langs and Elders each filed post-trial motions; both were denied. ALH аnd Plaintiffs now appeal, each asserting several points of error.
On appeal, Plaintiffs Langs and Elders contend the trial court erred in directing a verdict against them. Ml plaintiffs challenge the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Norton. ALH asserts the trial court erred in denying its motion for summary judgment and its two motions for directed verdict. ALH further alleges the trial court erred in submitting the fraud verdict directing instruction and the Minders’ negligence claim.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
The trial court sustained Norton’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds the plaintiffs’ claims against Norton were time-barred by the applicable five-year statute of limitations (§ 516.120). 2 ALH’s motion for summary judgment was denied. The plaintiffs and ALH both appeal, alleging error by the trial court.
We first address ALH’s purported appeal from the trial court’s denial of its motion for summary judgment. In its Point 1, ALH asserts dual error by the trial court in denying its motion for summary judgment
In
Parker v. Wallace,
The matter of the propriety of the court’s action in overruling a motion for summary judgment is not an appealable order. Upon that ruling, the issues raised by the pleadings are still in the case, and it is upon those issues, when decided and if timely and properly presented, that an appeal lies. (Citations omitted).
Id.
at 137. Following
Parker,
this court has frequently held that “[djenial of a motion for summary judgment is not subject to appellate review, even when an appeal is taken from a final judgment and not from the denial of a motion for summary judgment.”
State ex rel. Missouri Div. of Transp. v. Sure-Way Transp., Inc.,
We come now to the plaintiffs’ appeal of the summary judgment entered in favor of Norton against all plaintiffs. All plaintiffs assert the trial court erred in doing so.
“Summary judgment is designed to permit the trial court to enter judgment, without delay, where the moving party has demonstrated, on the basis of facts as to which there is no genuine dispute, a right to judgment as a matter of law.”
ITT Commercial Fin. Corp. v. Mid-Am. Marine Supply Corp.,
When reviewing the entry of summary judgment, we view the evidentiary record in the fight most favorable to the party against whom summary judgment was granted, determine if any genuine issue of fact exists which would require a trial, and determine if the judgment is correct as a matter of law. We will affirm if the judgment is sustainable as a matter of law under any theory.
State ex rel. Conway v. Villa,
For purposes of summary judgment, “[a] ‘defending party’ is one against whom recovery is sought.” Id. at 380. Thus, in the case at bar, Norton is a defending party.
Where a “defending party” will not bear the burden of persuasion at trial, that party need not controvert each element of the non-movant’s claim in order to establish aright to summary judgment. Rather, a “defending party” may establish a right to judgment by showing (1) facts that negate any one of the claimant’s elements facts, (2) that the non-movant, after an adequate period of discovery, has not been able to produce, and will not be able to produce, evidencе sufficient to allow the trier of fact to find the existence of any one of the claimant’s elements, or (3) that there is no genuine dispute as to the existence of each of the facts necessary to support the mov-ant’s properly-pleaded affirmative defense. Regardless of which of these three means is employed by the “defending party,” each establishes a right to judgment as a matter of law.
Id. at 381.
Norton sought summary judgment on the basis that all the plaintiffs’ claims against it were barred by the applicable five year statute of limitations, § 516.120. Norton had pleaded the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense in its answer to plaintiffs’ second amended petition. The trial court entered judgment for Norton on this ground. The record before us revеals that Norton supported its motion with extensive evidentiary documentation in the form of depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions pursuant to requests therefor. It is unnecessary to detail the factual matters upon which Norton relied because of our disposition of this issue. However, we can say that Norton made the prima facie showing required by Rule 74.04(c) and it was therefore incumbent on the plaintiffs to show — “by affidavit, depositions, answers to interrogatories, or admissions on file — that one or more of the material facts shown by [Norton] to be above any genuine dispute is, in fact, genuinely disputed.”
ITT Commercial Fin. Corp.,
As noted,
supra,
our review of the grant of summary judgment is
de novo.
id at 376. It was the plaintiffs’ responsibility “to prepare a legal file so that the record on appeal contains all the evidence necessary for determination of questions presented to the appellate court for decision_ [E]vi-dentiary omissions will be taken as favorable to the trial court and unfavorable to the appellant.”
Sydnor v. Director of Revenue,
The trial court’s grant of summary judgment to Norton is sustained.
DIRECTED VERDICT
We next examine the contentions of Plaintiffs Langs and Elders that the trial court erred in directing verdicts against them and in favor of ALH, as well as ALH’s claim that the court erred in denying its motions for directed verdict against all other plaintiffs. The trial court determined Plaintiffs Langs’ claims were barred by the five year statute of limitations and that Plaintiffs Elders failed to prove they had purchased an ALH log home, an essential element of their claims. Both Langs and Elders appeal. ALH also appeals the trial court’s denial of its motion for directed verdict on the fraud count asserted by Plaintiffs Judys, Haggards, Weis-gerbers, and Harshmans. 4
LANGS’APPEAL
Plaintiffs Langs argue on appeal that the trial court erred in directing a verdict against them on the grounds their fraud claim was barred by the five-year statute of limitations, § 516.120. The Langs bought their log home from ALH in 1978. By 1982, they had experienced wind and water infiltration and had taken steps to try to resolve the problem. Unlike the other plaintiffs, as early as 1983, the Langs had discovered several logs on the south side of the house that were rotten. The logs “sounded kind of hollow. You could stick a knife in them.” Furthermore, the Langs were not named as party plaintiffs when the suit was initially filed on February 19, 1988. Rather, they joined the action when the first amended petition was filed on January 31, 1990.
The Langs’ claim based on fraudulent representation is governed by §
516.120. Corley v. Jacobs,
The essence of the Langs’ fraud claim against ALH, as it was for the other plaintiffs relying on that theory, was that ALH represented and warranted the log home would be durable, long-lasting, and free from deterioration by nature’s elements. This contention was premised on, among other things, ALH’s representations that the logs were chemically treated and would not rot. In the Langs’ case, unlike the other plaintiffs, they discovered rotten logs in 1983. Thus, they had discovered the facts constituting the fraud—the logs did rot—some seven years before they filed suit. Therefore, the trial court did not err in granting a directed verdict against them.
Nevertheless, the Langs, relying on
May v. A.C. & S., Inc.,
The Langs next contend that although they may have sustained an earlier injury (rotten logs in 1983), their cause of action did not accrue until the causal relationship between the damage and the defective condition had been ascertained (1987). In other
Finally, the Lаngs assert in their brief that “there must be more than a scintilla or mere indicia of damage in order to trigger the accrual of their cause of action.” However, the Langs cite no authority to support this proposition. In fact, cases show a cause of action accrues merely upon the discovery of the facts constituting the fraud; no quantum of damage is required. For example, in
Schwartz v. Lawson,
buyers sued sellers for fraudulent representations that a real estate transaction involved ten acres when in fact, the sellers conveyed only seven. The court determined plaintiffs’ cause of action accrued upon their actual discovery that the sellers had conveyed seven rather than ten acres, even though the discovery was made seven years after the transaction was completed. Likewise, the court in
Corley v. Jacobs,
As shown by the record, the Langs discovered rotten logs on their home in 1983, nearly seven years before they filed their lawsuit (via Plaintiffs’ First Amended Petition for Damages, January 31, 1990). Even if we assumed,
arguendo,
that discovery of a few rotten logs is insufficient “notice” of facts constituting fraud, thereby avoiding the running of the statute of limitations, the Langs still had a “duty to inquire so as to discover the facts surrounding fraud.”
Corley,
ELDERS’ APPEAL
The trial court granted ALH’s motion for directed verdict against the Elders on the ground that they failed to make a submissi-ble case that their home had been manufactured by ALH. The Elders assign error to the court’s action, contending: 1) ALH judicially admitted the Elders purchased an ALH manufactured log home, negating the need to present any evidence on the issue, and 2) nevertheless, the evidence was sufficient to establish a genuine issue of material fact to be resolved by the jury.
The Elders assert ALH admitted in its Answer to the plaintiffs’ Second Amended Petition for Damages that they purchased a log home manufactured by ALH. Relying on
In re Marriage of Maupin,
Unlike
Maupin,
a domestic relations action, the case at bar was tried to a jury and therefore, for statements in the defendant’s answer to be rеlied on as a “judicial admission,” they must be introduced into evidence and read to the jury. In
Kelsey v. Nathey,
Nevertheless, the Elders contend sufficient evidence was adduced on the issue to have precluded the trial court from granting ALH’s motion for directed verdict. As set forth,
supra,
we “will view evidence and permissible inferences most favorable to the plaintiff, disregard contrary evidence and inferences and determine whether, on evidence so viewed, plaintiff made a submissible case.”
Friend,
The only evidence favorable to the Elder’s position was testimony that they (and others) believed that Fred Painter was a representative of ALH, and they believed that the house they bought from Painter was an ALH home. This testimony fails to rise to the level of “substantial, probative evidence” that would remove from the realm of conjecture the question of whether the Elders in fact purchased an ALH home. Moreover, the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. ALH did not begin manufacturing log home kits until May 1977 (approximately one year after the Elders’ home was believed to have been built); Fred Painter was never an authorized ALH franchise dealer; and no documentation exists showing that either the Elders or Fred Painter purchased an ALH home. Moreover, Painter was listed in the files of Ross and Associates, a franchise dealer of Carolina Log Buildings, Incorporated, which was licensed to sell the “Real Log Home” product in the western Missouri area. Only by pure conjecture could we conclude the Elders purchased an ALH home. Point denied.
ALH’S APPEAL
ALH moved for a directed verdict at the conclusion of the plaintiffs’ case, and again at the close of all the evidence, arguing that the plaintiffs’ claims were barred by the statute of limitations, § 516.120. On appeal, it asserts the trial court erred in denying its
As noted,
supra,
under § 516.120(5), an action for fraud accrues not when the resulting damage is capable of ascertainment, but rather when the facts constituting the fraud are discovered.
Schwartz v. Lawson,
ALH contends the evidence at trial is undisputed that each of the plaintiffs sustained wind and water infiltration that was capable of ascertainment prior to February 19, 1983. ALH cites portions of the record wherein the plaintiffs testified they had trouble with wind and water coming into their homes by 1981 or 1982 at the latest. ALH further contends when the plaintiffs experienced the wind and water problems, this constituted the damage, and thus they discovered the fraud. Therefore, according to ALH, before February 19, 1983, plaintiffs’ cause of action had accrued, triggering the five-year time limitation which ran before the plaintiffs filed their lawsuit on February 19,1988.
Plaintiffs’ response to ALH’s argument is that they sued ALH based on its representations that the logs in their homes were chemically treated, and their log homes would be durable, long-lasting, and free from deterioration from the elements. The plaintiffs maintain, and we agree, that their awareness of wind and water infiltration, in light of ALH’s representations that the logs were chemically treated, fails to give the plaintiffs’ notice of “facts constituting the fraud.” The plaintiffs further argue the record is void of evidence showing they knеw or should have known water was accumulating in the grooves of the logs and causing the logs of their homes to rot from within thereby giving them notice the homes were not durable and long-lasting as ALH represented. Moreover, even if they had known of such water accumulation, treated lumber is commonly used for outdoor decking where it is subjected to all the elements, including standing water, and thus, even if plaintiffs had known of such water accumulation, they would not necessarily anticipate rot from within the logs.
Based on the evidence before the trial court, we cannot say ALH presented undisputed evidence that the plaintiffs could have discovered, prior to February 19, 1983, that their log homes were not durable, long-lasting, or free from deterioration by nature’s elements. The record does reveal the plaintiffs had experienced wind and/or water leakage by 1982. However, the record also includes the numerous representations made by ALH to the plaintiffs which would minimize any concern they may have normally had with regard to the durability and longevity of their home.
The record also contained evidence that the Judys first began to discover the rotten condition of the logs of their home in 1985. The other plaintiffs, (Weisgerbers, Haggards, and Harshmans) were not aware of the incipient rot within their logs until the Judys visited and assisted them with an inspection of their logs. The rotten condition of the logs was not apparent from the exterior of the logs; only upon Mr. Judy’s visit did they discover that they, too, had a рroblem with rot.
Directing a verdict in favor of a defendant is a drastic measure.
Friend v. Holman,
JURY INSTRUCTIONS
ALH alleges two points of error regarding plaintiffs’ verdict directing instructiоn submitting their claim of fraud to the jury. First, it contends a specific allegation of fraud contained in the instruction was unsupported by the evidence. Second, ALH asserts the trial court erred in submitting the incorrect alternative in paragraph third because the instruction hypothesized that ALH made representations as to future events.
As mentioned, ALH contends the trial court erred in submitting the plaintiffs’ fraud verdict directing instruction to the jury because it hypothesized a specific allegation of fraud that was unsupported by the evidence. In particular, ALH asserts there was no evidence of a statement made by company representatives or containedún its literature using the words “to prevent rot.” To prevail on this point and reverse thе jury verdict on the ground of instructional error, ALH must show that the instruction as submitted misdirected, misled, or confused the jury, thereby resulting in prejudice.
Cornell v. Texaco, Inc.,
ALH does not challenge the representation that the log homes would be long-lasting and durable. It likewise concedes, and the evidence established, that it represented that the foam seals and masonite spline would “insure a completely weather-tight joint.” The record further reveals that ALH represented that the logs were pentachlorophenol treated. Indeed, ALH’s president testified they were dipped three times. It represented this treatment was to minimize “the threat of fungus ... damage.” ALH’s president further testified that there are four factors necessary for wood to “rot:” water, food for the fungi (the wood material itself), moderate temperature, and oxygen. Thus, the jury had evidence before it that ALH represented to the plaintiffs that the log homes were long-lasting and durable; weather-tight; the logs were penta treated to avoid fungus damage; and that “rot” was a product of fungi, in conjunction with water, temperature, and oxygen. It is specious to suggest that use of the words “to prevent rot” in the instruction in anyway misdirected, misled, or confused the jury. Point denied.
Next, ALH contends the allegations of fraud hypothesized in the fraud verdict directing instruction constitute representations of a future event. ALH premises this contention on the fact that it was selling a kit, and the representations applied to the log homes after the home was put together. It then reasons that the plaintiffs were required to prove ALH knew such representations were false at the time they were made, rather than mere recklessness as to their truth or falsity.
The fraud verdict directors submitted by the plaintiffs were in the form of MAI 23.05. Paragraph Third of MAI 23.05 requires selection of the appropriate phrase. In the case at bar, plaintiffs submitted that ALH “did not know whether the representations were true or false.” The Notes on Use for MAI 23.05 state that this submission is not appropriate for misrepresentation of a future event. Rather, the Notes indicate that for future events, the submission must be that “defendant knew that it was false at the time the representation was made.” As indicated, ALH argues the representations were as to future events and thеrefore, the verdict directors as submitted were erroneous and prejudicial. This point is without merit.
The future event type of case discussed in the Notes refers “to the theory of fraud in misrepresenting an existing purpose or state of mind_”
Klecker v. Sutton,
The annotations and comments in MAI under MAI 23.05 do not refer to the theory of fraud in misrepresenting an existing purpose or state of mind recognized in Brennaman and III Restatement of Torts, § 530, comment a at 69. The parties to this appeal do not raise the issue of the necessity of an instruction under that theory requiring a finding on the issue of falsity at the time of the making of the representatiоn. Such a requirement would seem to be implicit in circumstances where the representation is the promise of an act to be performed in the future.
Id. at 562 (emphasis added). Klecker is the primary authority cited in the 1990 revision to the Notes on Use for MAI 23.05 relating to future event cases.
From the foregoing, it is clear that ALH’s representations in the case at bar were not as to future events. Rather, they were statements of fact that the joints were designed to be weather-tight, the homes were to be long-lasting and durable, and that the logs were penta treated to minimize the threat of rot. These were not representations of an intention to perform or of a state of mind. They were present representations intended to induce plaintiffs to purchasе their log homes. Point denied.
MINDERS’ CLAIM
For its final point, ALH contends the trial court erred in denying its motion for directed verdict and submitting Minders’ negligence claim to the jury. ALH asserts the Minders failed to make a submissible case in that ALH did not owe the Minders any duty because the Minders were not in contractual privity with ALH. ALH relies on
Crowder v. Vandendeale,
In fact, contrary to ALH’s contention, Missouri has long recognized a cause of action against a product manufacturer and designer based on the theory of negligence.
See Clark v. Zuzich Truck Lines,
In the instant case, the Minders claimed ALH negligently designed the log home kit, in particular the joint system, which' was defective, and the defective joint system was the proximate cause of their damage. The evidence shows ALH designed and manufactured its log homes with a floating spline/ open butt joint with open reservoirs and used an improper and untested foam or polyurethane gasket between the logs that when compressed stayed compressed thereby allowing the interior of the logs in the home to be exposed to the elements and moisture. Furthermore, the evidence reveals the joint was designed with open reservoirs which allowed water to accumulate and utilized a masonite spline which would attract, hold, and absorb moisture in the joint spaces. As a result, the logs were subjected to accelerated rot, just as the clevises in Commercial Distribution Center, Inc. were designed using materials such that they would be subject to accelerated corrosion. Thus, the failure of the logs by virtue of rot was foreseeable, and there was no requirement of privity between ALH and the Minders. Moreover, there was sufficient evidence for reasonable minds to find that the rotten condition of the logs was proximately caused by the defective masonite spline and foam gasket. Therefore, ALH’s point is without merit and is denied.
The trial court’s actions are affirmed in all respects.
All concur.
Notes
. Technically, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of ALH on Count III (fraud). However, the court reinstated that count following plaintiffs’ motion to reconsider.
. All statutory references are to RSMo 1994.
. We are aware that the Parker v. Wallace rule was recently criticized in an article appearing in the Journal of The Missouri Bar. See Jianbin Wei, Reviewability of Denial of Motions for Summary Judgment on Appeal from Final Judgment, 52 J.Mo.Bar 20 (1996). We offer no comment regarding the arguments set forth therein.
. Note, after the partial grant of directed verdict and plaintiffs withdrawals at the close of plaintiffs case and all evidence, see opinion
supra,
only the fraud and negligence counts remained
. Section 516.120 provides, in pertinent part:
Within five years:
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(5) An action for relief on the ground of fraud, the cause of action in such case to be deemed not to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party, at any time within ten years, of the facts constituting the fraud.
. ALH does not argue error on the part of the trial court in failing to direct a verdict against the Minders under this point. Rather, it does so in its final point, discussed infra.
. In
White v. Mulvania,
. Although not implicated in the instant case, note that cases hold a manufacturer-designer owes no duty where the design defect presented by the product is "open and obvious.”
See, e.g., Morrison v. Kubota Tractor Corp.,