Country Partners Cooperative v. Steenson ( 2020 )

IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL
(Memorandum Web Opinion)
COUNTRY PARTNERS COOPERATIVE V. STEENSON
NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION
AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).
COUNTRY PARTNERS COOPERATIVE, APPELLEE,
V.
GERARD STEENSON, APPELLANT.
Filed October 13, 2020. No. A-20-001.
Appeal from the District Court for Greeley County: KARIN L. NOAKES, Judge, on appeal
thereto from the County Court for Greeley County: KALE B. BURDICK, Judge. Judgment of District
Court affirmed.
Brandon B. Hanson, of Hanson Law Offices, for appellant.
Matthew D. Pederson, of Pederson Law Office, for appellee.
PIRTLE, Chief Judge, and MOORE and RIEDMANN, Judges.
RIEDMANN, Judge.
INTRODUCTION
Gerard Steenson appeals from the order of the district court for Greeley County affirming
the county court’s judgment in favor of Country Partners Cooperative (Country Partners). We
affirm.
BACKGROUND
Steenson maintained an open account with Country Partners through which he would
obtain various goods and services. In July 2016, Steenson requested the application of Avalanche,
a “burner” agent, to kill weeds in his soybean field. An employee of Country Partners testified that
such an application was considered a “rescue attempt” because it was late in the season and the
“weeds were too tall for anything else.” At the time Steenson requested the application, the parties
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discussed the ramifications, including the likelihood for potential burning. Despite the danger,
Steenson still requested the weed-killing service which Country Partners completed in mid to late
July. As a result of the service, 0.2 acres of Steenson’s adjacent alfalfa crop were damaged.
In order to repair damage from the errant spray, the alfalfa would have to be reseeded at a
cost of approximately $200. Country Partners offered Steenson a bag of alfalfa seed, which
Steenson rejected. Country Partners charged Steenson $1,797.28 for the agronomy service which
did not include any deduction for the damaged alfalfa. By mid-October 2016, Steenson had
incurred charges of $3,462.47 for goods and service obtained from Country Partners and finance
charges in the amount of $64.35. Finance charges continued to accrue through the end of 2017,
resulting in a total amount owed of $4,116.23.
Country Partners filed suit to collect the $4,116.23. Steenson filed a counterclaim to
recover the damage to his alfalfa, but dismissed it prior to trial. He asserted several affirmative
defenses and specifically disputed the amount owed. The county court entered a judgment
awarding Country Partners $4,116.23. Steenson appealed to the district court, which affirmed the
county court’s decision. Steenson now appeals to this court.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Steenson alleges that the district court erred in (1) not explaining its reasoning in its order
affirming the county court’s judgment; (2) affirming the county court’s order determining that the
amount sought by Country Partners was correct and that performance was sufficient to allow for
an award; and (3) affirming the county court’s award of prejudgment interest.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The district court and higher appellate courts generally review appeals from the county
court for error appearing on the record. Lesser v. Eagle Hills Homeowners’ Assn., 20 Neb. Ct. App.
423, 824 N.W.2d 77 (2012).
ANALYSIS
District Court’s Lack of Explanation of Decision.
Steenson argues the district court erred by failing to state its reasoning for affirming the
county court’s judgment. We find no error.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2733 (Reissue 2008) provides that when the district court is sitting as
an appellate court, the district court shall review the case for error appearing on the record made
in the county court. When reviewing a judgment for errors appearing on the record, the inquiry is
whether the decision conforms to the law, is supported by competent evidence, and is neither
arbitrary, capricious, nor unreasonable. First Nat. Bank of Unadilla v. Betts, 275 Neb. 665, 748
N.W.2d 76 (2008). In instances when an appellate court is required to review cases for error
appearing on the record, questions of law are nonetheless reviewed de novo on the record. Id.
Section 25-2733 does not require the district court to provide a detailed opinion when
making its determination for errors appearing on the record made in the county court. While it may
be better practice for the district court to provide the basis for its opinion, it is not statutorily
required to do so. When the district court affirms the county court’s decision, on further review to
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this court we review whether the district court was correct in determining there was no error on
the record of the county court by reviewing the county court record. See, State v. Lesoing-Dittoe,
269 Neb. 317, 693 N.W.2d 261 (2005); State v. Keenan, 28 Neb. Ct. App. 575, 946 N.W.2d 689 (2020)
(stating both district court and Nebraska appellate courts generally review appeals from county
court for error appearing on record).
Our review of the county court record supports the district court’s affirmance of the county
court’s order. Competent evidence was introduced through multiple exhibits and witness testimony
that Steenson failed to pay the amount owed to Country Partners for services rendered. The county
court found that Country Partners showed “that the account is correct, the charges are reasonable,
that [Country Partners] performed, and that there is a balance due.” It further found that Steenson
“failed to show a lack of compliance by [Country Partners], nondelivery, or improper
performance.” We agree. Therefore, the record does not indicate the county court’s order was
arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable.
In arguing this assignment, Steenson relies on our opinion in Lesser v. Eagle Hills
Homeowners’ Assn., 20 Neb. Ct. App. 423, 824 N.W.2d 77 (2012). In Lesser, the district court
determined there was insufficient evidence to find error on the record because the county court
failed to explain its reasoning for its decision. We reversed on appeal, explaining that the district
court was required to review the record to determine whether the county court’s decision
conformed to the law and was supported by the evidence. Our ruling did not require the district
court to state its reasons for affirming or reversing the county court; rather, the district court had a
duty to review the underlying record yet specifically indicated it had not done so. Id.
The case at hand is factually different from Lesser. There is no indication that the district
court failed to review the record prior to making its determination. While the district court’s order
is brief, it did not need to explain its reasoning.
Accordingly, we find no error in the district court’s lack of explanation for its
determination.
District Court’s Affirmance of County Court’s Order.
Steenson argues the district court erred by affirming the county court’s order that the
amount sought by Country Partners was correct. He argues there was evidence of deficient
performance by Country Partners’ agents when they sprayed Steenson’s fields in July 2016. The
record reveals, however, that the application of Avalanche as requested by Steenson posed a risk
of damage to his adjacent crops, and Steenson was aware of this danger. We find no evidence in
the record of any deficient performance, and the court specifically found none. We therefore reject
this argument.
County Court’s Award of Prejudgment Interest.
Citing Neb. Rev. Stat. § 45-103.02 (Reissue 2010), Steenson argues that the district court
erred in affirming the county court’s award of prejudgment interest to Country Partners because
the claim was unliquidated. We find Steenson’s assertion misguided.
To recover prejudgment interest, a claim must either be liquidated or certain conditions set
forth in § 45-103.02 must be met. However, § 45-103.02 is not the exclusive means of recovering
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prejudgment interest. AVG Partners I v. Genesis Health Clubs, 307 Neb. 47, 948 N.W.2d 212
(2020). Neb. Rev. Stat. § 45-104 (Reissue 2010) provides a separate and independent means of
recovering prejudgment interest. AVG Partners I v. Genesis Health Clubs, supra; Weyh v. Gottsch,
303 Neb. 280, 929 N.W.2d 40 (2019). Section 45-104 allows interest “on money loaned or due
and withheld by unreasonable delay of payment.” In Weyh v. Gottsch, supra, the Nebraska
Supreme Court expressly held that prejudgment interest can be awarded under § 45-104 even if
the claim is unliquidated.
We recognize that the county court’s order may have contributed to Steenson’s confusion.
In its order, the county court stated that Country Partners’ “claim is liquidated, and that [Country
Partners] is therefore entitled to the full judgment, plus pre-judgment interest, and post-judgment
interest.” However, in its order, the court specifically stated that the amount of prejudgment
interest awarded was “$.00.”
We read the county court’s order to award judgment in the amount of $4,116.23, which
includes finance charges on the unpaid balance, the type of prejudgment interest authorized by
§ 45-104. Steenson’s argument on appeal is that prejudgment interest should not have been
awarded because the claim was unliquidated. Because the amount of the judgment includes
prejudgment interest in the form of a finance charge, we reject his argument. Section 45-104
authorizes prejudgment interest in the amount of 12 percent per annum, unless otherwise agreed.
Here, the invoices specifically advised that a finance charge of 1.333 percent would be charged
monthly, equating to an annual rate of 16 percent. An employee of Country Partners explained that
the co-op’s bylaws contained a default interest rate of 16 percent per year. Steenson makes no
argument challenging the rate charged.
Despite the language of the court’s order awarding prejudgment interest on the basis of a
liquidated claim, it is clear no prejudgment interest was awarded beyond that contained in the
judgment based upon § 45-104. We therefore affirm the court’s award of $4,116.23.
CONCLUSION
Finding no error on the record, we affirm the district court’s order affirming judgment in
favor of Country Partners in the amount of $4,116.23.
AFFIRMED.
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