Escaped Fraud But Stuck With Higher Attorney’s Fees

In a commercial dispute concerning a furniture liquidation sale, the trial court awarded appellees damages for breach of contract and fraud, and attorney’s fees, but reduced the jury’s attorney’s fee award by nearly $425,000.  Among other issues, appellants challenge the trial court’s $100,000 judgment against Lavercombe based on fraud, and appellees challenge the trial court’s reduction of attorney’s fees.

The court of appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment with respect to the fraud claim.  The court found no evidence in the record showing that Lavercombe made a material misrepresentation as to the quantity and availability of upholstery products with an intent to deceive and with no intention of performing as represented.  The court of appeals also reinstated the jury’s higher award of attorney’s fees because there was more than a scintilla of evidence in the record supporting the jury’s award.  In all other respects, the court of appeals affirmed the trial court’s judgment.

Broyhill Furniture Indus. v. Murphy, No. 05-11-01545-CV