Valencia v. White

134 Ariz. 139 (1982)

Facts

Valencia (P) was a sophomore in high school and 17 years old when his father established him in a trucking business by giving him two rigs. P hired drivers, secured jobs hauling produce, and managed the business at a profit of as much as $26,000 in 1978. White (D) owned and operated a garage and serviced and repaired P's vehicles. Problems began when P brought in a truck with a major engine problem, and D agreed to replace the engine with a Cummins to be built by D. The engine was installed and the truck delivered, but it did not work properly and returned it to D. The cost of this repair was $10,700. The trial court found that the acts of P caused the damage to the engine. In total, P owed $12,900. P then sued D seeking an injunction to prohibit the sale of his truck based on the mechanic's lien that D held. D argued that the garage bill was a necessity, but that was quickly rejected by the court, P’s disaffirmance was allowed, and the periodic payments of $7,100 that P had made on the account were awarded to P. D appealed.