Murray Envelope Corp. v. Atlas Envelope Corp., 851 So. 2d 426

Lead Opinion

THOMAS, J.,

for the court.

¶ 1. Atlas Corporation sued Murray Envelope Corporation for breach of contract and a jury awarded Atlas $210,000. Aggrieved Murray asserts the following:

I. THE PLAINTIFF DID NOT PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE CONTRACT IN ISSUE WAS RENEGOTIATED TO CONTINUE BEYOND THE OCTOBER 1986 DATE OF TERMINATION SPECIFIED IN THE CONTRACT.

II. THE PLAINTIFF DID NOT MAKE OUT A CLAIM FOR LOST PROFITS SIMPLY BY SHOWING THAT ATLAS INCOME DECREASED OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.

III. THE VERDICT OF THE JURY WAS SO CONTRARY TO THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND UNRESPONSIVE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE COURT AS TO JUSTIFY A NEW TRIAL.

FACTS

¶ 2. In 1981, Lamar Hurt and Atlas Corporation, a corporation owned solely by Hurt, entered into a verbal contract with Murray Envelope Corporation whereby Atlas would fold envelopes produced by Murray using Hurt’s patent/design process rights through a licensing agreement. Hurt moved his family and his company to Hattiesburg as a consequence of this contract, where his company began to fold envelopes. In 1983 this contract was finally put to writing which took the form of two separate documents. One was a contract to fold envelopes and the other a licensing contract allowing Murray the right to produce envelopes using Hurt’s patented design. The licensing agreement provided Murray with the right to cancel its license at will. The folding contract stated Atlas would fold all patented report pocket envelopes that Murray sold under the licensing agreement. The folding contract provided for a three year commitment during which Atlas would fold not only the report pocket envelopes, which would fall under Hurt’s patent, but also “jumbo flat” and sycom file folders. This folding contract provided manufacturing quotas, guaranteed yearly payments and prices of individual items for the three years of mandatory payment under the contract.

¶ 3. In the first appeal of this case, this Court reversed the trial judge’s grant of summary judgment in Murray’s favor finding that Atlas should have been able to amend its pleadings under M.R.C.P 15. Atlas Envelope Corp. v. Murray Envelope Corp., 687 So.2d 795 (Miss.Ct.App.1996). This Court determined that Murray’s initial summary judgment motion was a motion for judgment on the pleadings which allows a respondent an opportunity to amend the pleadings to cure any defects. Atlas was allowed to amend the pleadings and provide evidence regarding the formation of a new contract which was necessary to find that Murray was in breach of contract.

¶ 4. Atlas amended its complaint to continue on to trial. Atlas never proffered anything to prove that the folding contract was renegotiated to extend past the three year period stated in the 1983 contract. The trial court refused to grant a directed verdict and the jury awarded Atlas $210,000. Atlas’ motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict was denied.

ANALYSIS

¶ 5. The ultimate issue in the case at bar is whether Murray had a duty to Atlas under a renegotiated contract. In order to have an obligation under a contract there must first be a contract. It is paramount to determine whether a contract existed between Murray and Atlas regarding the subject matter in the 1983 contract which would make any agreement from the end of the 1983 contract a renegotiated contract.

¶ 6. On appeal, “the standard of review for denial of a judgment not withstanding the verdict (J.N.O.V.) and a directed verdict are identical.” American Fire Protection, Inc. v. Lewis, 653 So.2d 1387, 1390 (Miss.1995). See Sperry-New Holland v. Prestage, 617 So.2d 248, 252 (Miss.1993). Whether to grant a directed verdict is a decision of law. Fox v. Smith, 594 So.2d 596, 603 (Miss.1992). M.R.C.P. 50(a) provides:

Motion for Directed Verdict: When Made; Effect. A party who moves for a directed verdict at the close of the evidence offered by an opponent may offer evidence in the event that the motion is not granted without having reserved the right to do so and to the same extent as if the motion had not been made. A motion for a directed verdict which is not granted is not a waiver of trial by jury even though all parties to the action have moved for directed verdicts. A motion for a directed verdict shall state the specifíc grounds thereof. The order of the court granting a motion for a directed verdict is effective without any assent of the jury.

(emphasis added).

¶ 7. In McKinzie v. Coon, 656 So.2d 134, 137 (Miss.1995), the Supreme Court stated M.R.C.P. 50 requires the trial court to take a case from a jury and grant a directed verdict if any verdict other than the one directed would be erroneous as a matter of law. The comment to the Rule instructs the trial court to look “solely to the testimony on behalf of the opposing party; if such testimony, along with all reasonable inferences which can be drawn therefrom, could support a verdict for that party, the case should not be taken from the jury.” Kussman v. V. & G Welding Supply, Inc., 585 So.2d 700, 702 (Miss.1991). In considering a motion for a directed verdict, this Court must consider whether the “evidence in opposition to the motion was of such quality and weight that reasonable and fair-minded jurors in the exercise of impartial judgment could differ as to the verdict.” Collins v. Ringwald, 502 So.2d 677, 678 (Miss.1987). If the evidence is so overwhelmingly in favor of the appellant that reasonable persons could not have reached a different verdict, this Court must reverse. Harrison v. McMillan, 828 So.2d 756, 764 (¶ 24) (Miss.2002); Strong v. Nicholson, 580 So.2d 1288, 1292 (Miss.1991).

¶ 8. This is one of those times the trial court should have taken the case from the jury. At no point in the trial was even a scintilla of evidence presented to support the existence of a renegotiated contract. At the end of the three year 1983 contract, by Atlas’ own omissions, annual price negotiations were held which were inconsistent with the 1983 contract. Mr. Hurt testified that after the three years provided in the contract Atlas and Murray continued to have business dealings and they negotiated price each year and nothing else. There was no mention of mandatory time; it was a series of at-will agreements. If any essential terms are left unresolved, then no contract exists. Buscking v. Griffin, 465 So.2d 1037, 1040 (Miss.1985). A valid contract must include the following essential elements: “(1) two or more contracting parties, (2) consideration, (3) an agreement that is sufficiently definite, (4) parties with legal capacity to make a contract, (5) mutual assent, and (6) no legal prohibition precluding contract formation.” Lanier v. State, 635 So.2d 813, 826 (Miss.1994).

¶ 9. While business continued, it was continued under no contract. Atlas was provided the opportunity under law to amend the pleadings and present evidence to show a contract existed. It failed to do so. We are compelled to reverse and render. Review of the issues on an individual basis is not required.

¶10. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FORREST COUNTY IS REVERSED AND RENDERED. COSTS ARE TAXED AGAINST THE APPELLEE.

McMILLIN, C.J., KING AND SOUTHWICK, P.JJ., BRIDGES, LEE, IRVING, MYERS, AND GRIFFIS, JJ., CONCUR. CHANDLER, J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.

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Dissenting Opinion

CHANDLER, J.,

Dissenting:

¶ 11. With respect, I disagree with the majority. The majority resolves every issue presented in this appeal by finding that there was no contract in existence beyond the initial three-year period of guaranteed minimum amounts of gross folding orders. A thorough review of the 1983 contract reveals that the three-year period referred only to the guaranteed mínimums, not to the term of the contract itself. In fact, the contract provided no stated term and no provisions for automatic termination, only a limit on the amount of time that Murray would guarantee minimums. The provisions for termination are clearly spelled out and give each party the right to terminate the contract under certain conditions. Neither party did so during the period of time in question in these proceedings. During that period, Atlas was still performing its duties under the contract and Murray was still paying for services rendered by Atlas under the contract. The contract continued.

¶ 12. Having found that there was indeed a contract, I conclude that the jury, after hearing the evidence, was well within its rights in finding that the terms of the contract were breached and that damages resulted. The Mississippi Supreme Court has held on numerous occasions that:

The standard of review for jury verdicts in this state is well established. Once the jury has returned a verdict in a civil case, we are not at liberty to direct that judgment be entered contrary to that verdict short of a conclusion on our part that, given the evidence as a whole, taken in the light most favorable to the verdict, no reasonable, hypothetical juror could have found as the jury found.

Starcher v. Byrne, 687 So.2d 737, 739 (Miss.1997).

Case Details

Case Name: Murray Envelope Corp. v. Atlas Envelope Corp.

Court Name: Court of Appeals of Mississippi

Date Published: Jul 29, 2003

Citations: 851 So. 2d 426; 2003 WL 21741566; 2003 Miss. App. LEXIS 667; No. 2002-CA-00168-COA

Docket Number: No. 2002-CA-00168-COA

Court Abbreviation: Miss. Ct. App.