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Property Law Keyed to Cribbet
Dutcher v. Owens
Facts
Plaintiffs Ted and Christine Owens leased a condominium from Defendant Dutcher, who owned the condominium and a pro rata portion of the common area of 1.572%. A fire in the common area destroyed Plaintiffs’ property and Plaintiffs filed suit against Dutcher, The Eastridge Terrace Condominium Association, Joe Hill Electric Company, HIS-8 Ltd. (developer) and a class of co-owners of condominiums represented by officers of the homeowners’ association. The case was tried by a jury and the jury found that, 1. The lack of an insulating box behind the light in the exterior wall space was the proximate cause of the fire. 2. The homeowners’ association knew of the defect. 3. The homeowners’ association alone was negligent in failing to install an insulating box with knowledge of the defect. 4. The negligence of the homeowners’ association resulted in damage to the Owens’ property in the amount of $69,150.00. The trial court, pursuant to the jurys’ findings, rendered judgment against Du tcher for $1,087.04, which is the amount of the total damages multiplied by Dutcher’s percentage of ownership in the common area of 1.572% pro rata undivided. The intermediate appellate court reversed the trial court as to computation of damages and held that “each unit owner, as a tenant in common with all other unit owners in the common elements, is jointly and severally liable for damage claims arising in the common elements.” The case was appealed to the Texas Supreme Court for a determination.
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