Facts

Plaintiffs Hokanson Building Block Co. and Aggrelite Rock Co. operated a quarry in Lake Country under a lease from the quarry's owner, Robin Thomas Corp. The lease expired on March 1, 2002 and plaintiffs were required to remove their equipment within 180 days of that date. Plaintiffs failed to move their equipment until Sept. 2004. At that time, Robin Thomas Corp. refused to permit plaintiffs to remove their equipment.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
The plaintiffs contended the lease had been orally modified to allow them to leave their equipment at the site indefinitely, pending negotiations for sale of the quarry. The plaintiffs further contended their oral agreement constituted an oral modification of the lease and defendants breached their contract.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
The defendants denied there were any oral modifications to the lease regarding equipment removal.

Injuries

The plaintiffs asked the jury for $366,000; plaintiffs' expert testified that the equipment was worth $400,000 as of Sept. 2004.

Result

The jury returned a verdict for the defense.

Deliberation

four hours

Poll

12-0

Length

11 days