Court reviews whether defendants breached a Real Estate Sales Agency Contract

PEGGY GIFFIN d/b/a RE/MAX REALTY CENTER, ET AL. v. ANTHONY SAWYER, ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. July 3, 2012)

Peggy Giffin d/b/a Re/Max Realty Center and Racia Futrell (collectively “Plaintiffs”) sued Anthony Sawyer and Hope Sawyer alleging, among other things, that the Sawyers had breached a real estate sales agency contract.

After a bench trial, the Trial Court entered its order finding and holding, inter alia, that the Sawyers did not breach the sales agency contract and that Plaintiffs were not entitled to collect a commission under the sales agency contract. Plaintiffs appeal to this Court. We find that the evidence does not preponderate against the Trial Court’s findings, and we affirm.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/griffinp_070312.pdf

Court reviews whether a buyer wrongfully refused to close on an agreement to purchase property

DAVID R. SEATON, ET AL. v. WISE PROPERTIES-TN, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. June 22, 2012)

This appeal concerns a contract for the purchase and sale of property. The buyer refused to close pursuant to the terms of the contract and stopped payment on its earnest money check. The sellers brought an action for specific performance and breach of contract. The buyer alleged that the sellers breached the contract first. The trial court found in favor of the buyer, holding that because the sellers did not cause title to be examined ten days from the effective date of the contract, the buyer had a right to withdraw the earnest money payment. The sellers appeal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/seatond_062212.pdf

Court reviews breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, and misrepresentation claims in a case involving the sale of real property

ROZBEH ZAIRE v. AMIR ROSHAN-FAR (Tenn. Ct. App. June 1, 2012)

This appeal arises out of a lawsuit in which plaintiff sought recovery on claims of fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and intentional misrepresentation with respect to the purchase of real property; the trial court awarded judgment to plaintiff only on the claim for negligent misrepresentation only. Both parties appeal. We affirm the judgement in all respects.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/zairer_060112.pdf

Court reviews the enforceability of a real estate sales contract

CASEY E. BEVANS v. RHONDA BURGESS ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. March 20, 2012)

Prospective buyer who signed real estate sales contract sued seller, seller’s real estate agent and broker, and the actual buyers for breach of contract, violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, and specific performance. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants on the ground that there was no enforceable contract. We affirm.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/bevansc_032012.pdf

Court reviews whether plantiff properly exercised its right to terminate a contract for the sale of real property

CAMERON GENERAL CONTRACTORS, INC. v. KINGSTON PIKE, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. December 21, 2011)

Cameron General Contractors, Inc., a Nebraska corporation ("Cameron"), sued Kingston Pike, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company ("Kingston Pike"), for breach of a contract concerning the sale of real property located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Prior to trial, Cameron elected to exercise its contractual right to terminate the contract, and the case proceeded to trial on the issue of damages. After a bench trial, the Trial Court entered its order finding and holding, inter alia, that the contract did not limit Cameron to the return of its earnest money, and granting Cameron a judgment against Kingston Pike for damages in the amount of $872,418.22, plus attorney's fees of $137,656.56. Kingston Pike appeals to this Court. We find and hold that the contract at issue clearly and unambiguously provides that once Cameron chose to terminate the contract, Cameron's sole remedy for Kingston Pike's breach was a return of Cameron's earnest money deposit. We, therefore, reverse the Trial Court's October 28, 2010 order.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/cameron_122111.pdf

Court reviews a breach of contract claim against a landlord

JOHN RUFF v. REDDOCH MANAGEMENT, LLC, ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. December 1, 2011)

Tenant filed suit against his former landlord and the current owner of premises that tenant leased alleging, inter alia, breach of contract and violations of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Trial court dismissed tenant's claim against the former landlord holding that the landlord was exempt from suit pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. section 66-28-305. The court dismissed the claim against the current owner because tenant failed to comply with the fourteen day pre-suit notice requirement at Tenn. Code Ann. section 66-28-501(a). Finding no error, we affirm the trial court.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/ruffj_120111.pdf

Court reviews the enforceability of a purchase and sales agreement and who is liable for its breach

ROSS H. TARVER, et al., v. OCOEE LAND HOLDINGS, LLC., et al. (Tenn. Ct. App. September 19, 2011)

Plaintiffs sued defendants on a sale of real estate contract wherein defendants agreed to purchase certain real estate located in Polk County from plaintiffs for a stated price. Defendants joined issue on the pleadings in the trial before the Trial Judge.

The Trial Court held that the purchase and sales agreement was enforceable, and refused to find Ocoee Land Holdings, LLC liable for breach of the purchase and sales agreement, but held Glen Fetzner personally liable. Defendants and plaintiffs have appealed.

On appeal, we hold that the purchase and sales agreement was an enforceable contract, but the Court erred when it held Glen Fetzner personally liable for the breach of the purchase and sales agreement, and the Trial Court also erred when it did not find Ocoee Land Holdings, LLC liable for the breach of the contract. We enter Judgment against Ocoee Land Holdings, LLC.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/tarverr_091911.pdf

Court reviews claims of fraud and unjust enrichment against a defendant who defaulted on a loan

THE BANK OF NASHVILLE v. CHARLES CHIPMAN, SR., ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. August 8, 2011)

Defendant defaulted on a $300,000 loan from plaintiff bank. He subsequently renewed the loan but not before transferring certain assets to his wife. He never repaid the loan. The bank filed suit against the husband for breach of contract and fraud and against both defendants for fraudulent conveyance, conversion, civil conspiracy to defraud, and unjust enrichment. The bank also sought a lien lis pendens, a constructive trust, and a judicial sale and foreclosure.

The trial court found against the husband with respect to the bank's claims for breach of contract and fraud (in renewing the loan), against the wife for unjust enrichment, and against both defendants for fraudulent conveyance. The court denied the bank's request for a constructive trust and a judicial sale and foreclosure. The parties appeal the trial court's disposition of claims for fraud, civil conspiracy to defraud, and unjust enrichment, as well as its decision not to impose a constructive trust. We find for the bank on its fraud (against the husband) and unjust enrichment (against the wife) claims. We find against the bank on its claims for civil conspiracy to defraud and the imposition of a constructive trust.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/bankofnashville_080811.pdf

Court Reviews Whether Defendant Undertook a Reasonable Effort to Obtain a Loan

ELIZABETH C. WRIGHT, v. FREDERICO A. DIXON, III (Tenn. Ct. App. May 2, 2011)

In this action to enforce a contract for the sale of real estate against defendant buyer, the Trial Court held that defendant failed to make reasonable efforts to obtain a loan in accordance with the requirement to obtain a mortgage for 100% financing, and awarded damages to plaintiff for breach of the contract since the plaintiff had sold the property before trial.

On appeal, we hold that the evidence preponderates against the Trial Judge's finding that the defendant failed to put forth reasonable efforts to obtain a loan which was a condition in the contract for purchase of the property, and remand. 


Opinion available at:

http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/wrighte_050211.pdf

Court reviews whether seller breached a contract in an agreement for the sale of real property

ROBERT J. DAVIDSON and wife, JEANETTE DAVIDSON v. RILEY WILSON (Tenn. Ct. App. June 21, 2010)

This case involves a contract for the sale of real property and a subsequent verbal agreement. The trial court found that the seller breached the contract. We reverse and remand.

Opinion may be found at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2010/davidsonr_062110.pdf