Section 21 Opinions, Predictions, and Puffing

• Library: Commercial Law 2007

Expressions of opinion or “puffing” are not sufficient to support an action for fraudulent misrepresentation. See Midwest Printing, Inc. v. AM Int’l, Inc., 108 F.3d 168, 171 (8^th Cir. 1997). Generally, whatever is susceptible of exact knowledge is a matter of fact, while that not susceptible is generally regarded as an expression of opinion. See Constance v. B.B.C. Dev. Co., 25 S.W.3d 571, 587 (Mo. App. W.D. 2000). In Vaughn v. General Foods Corp., 797 F.2d 1403 (7^th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1087 (1987), the court distinguished between statements of fact and opinion. A...