BURTON LEVEY, APPELLANT,
v.
MICHAEL J. GETELMAN, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1981-12-29
No. 80-2022
Before HENDRY, NESBITT and BAS-KIN, JJ.
408 So. 2d 663 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1981) Negative Treatment
Cited by 47 cases

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

The appellate court reversed a summary judgment, finding that genuine issues of material fact existed regarding fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty. The case involved a dispute over the sale of a land trust interest where one co-beneficiary allegedly failed to disclose information about a potential city acquisition.


Holding

Yes, genuine issues of material fact exist regarding whether Getelman's representations about the city's interest were false and whether he breached his fiduciary duty to Levey. Furthermore, the affirmative defenses raised do not legally preclude Levey's claims for damages.


Headnotes

[1] Summary judgment is improper where the pleadings and record reflect conflicting issues of material fact.

[2] Fraud is not ordinarily a suitable subject for summary judgment.

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Key Quotes

“On a motion for summary judgment, the existence or nonexistence of a material fact issue is the crucial question.”

Establishes the standard for reviewing summary judgment.

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Facts & Procedural History

Levey and Getelman were co-beneficiaries of a land trust. After Levey inquired about potential city acquisition of the property, Getelman allegedly mi…

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Opinion of the Court
HENDRY, Judge.

HENDRY, Judge.

This is an appeal from a summary final judgment in favor of the defendant below in an action seeking damages, recision and cancellation of a contract for the sale of land on the grounds of fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty. Appellant Levey, plaintiff in the court below, contends that genuine issues of fact exist precluding summary judgment. We agree and reverse.

Burton Levey and Michael Getelman were co-beneficiaries of a land trust1 which owned a small office building in downtown Miami where the parties practiced law. After Levey moved his practice to another location in March, 1977, Getelman remained in the building to manage the property. In July, 1978 the parties became aware that the City of Miami had an interest in acquiring the trust property. The City had the property appraised by two independent appraisers, but the parties were never told of. the value. Subsequent to this period Levey continually inquired of Getelman whether he had heard anything from the City with regard to the appraisals or possible acquisition. Although there was evidence to the contrary, Getelman insisted that he was never contacted by the City concerning purchase of the building. Early in 1979 the parties began negotiations, and Levey eventually sold his one-half interest in the property to Getelman for $100,000, the contract for sale stipulating that neither party had received any offer for purchase from a third party.

A month after the sale, the City of Miami made Getelman an offer for the property which was not acted upon, and in July, 1979, a condemnation action was filed by the City in circuit court. Levey was named and served as co-executor and co-trustee of the estate of Harry B. Schwartz, one of the original beneficial owners of the property. Levey then filed this suit in October, 1979, seeking injunctive relief to prevent Getel-man from receiving any condemnation pro ceeds,2 and damages for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty as well as imposition of a constructive trust and recision. Getelman moved for summary judgment, denying breach of any duty, asserting that no representation had been made, and contending that Levey had waived any claims by accepting mortgage payments after learning of the City’s offer.

The trial court granted Getelman’s motion as to the counts for recision and for damages on the grounds that there was no genuine issue as to any material fact, Levey was bound by the prior condemnation judgment, and Levey had continued to accept mortgage payments from Getelman after he became aware of the alleged fraud. The court also dismissed as moot the remaining counts of the complaint seeking injunctive relief and imposition of a constructive trust on the proceeds from the condemnation action since the property had been sold and the trust divested of the proceeds.

Without conceding the correctness of the summary judgment as to recision, but recognizing that this remedy would be of no practical effect at this point, Levey contends that the summary judgment on the damage issue was erroneous since there were facts in the record to support an action for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, and none of the affirmative defenses raised would preclude recovery as a matter of law.

On a motion for summary judgment, the existence or nonexistence of a material fact issue is the crucial question. Two requisites must be met in order to grant a summary judgment: (1) no genuine issue of material fact, and (2) one of the parties must be entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the undisputed facts.

Summary judgment is improper where, as in this instance, the pleadings and record reflect conflicting issues of material fact. Holl v. Talcott, 191 So. 2d 40 (Fla. 1966); Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Southern Florida Hotel and Motel Ass’n, 294 So. 2d 390 (Fla. 3d DCA), cert. denied, 304 So. 2d 132 (Fla.1974).

Unresolved issues exist relative to whether Getelman’s representation to Levey that he had no knowledge regarding the City’s interest in the property was false and whether Levey relied upon this representation. See American International Land Corp. v. Hanna, 323 So. 2d 567 (Fla.1975) for discussion of the elements necessary to a fraud action. See also Besett v. Basnett, 389 So. 2d 995 (Fla.1980) (recipient may rely on truth of representation even though its falsity could have been ascertained had investigation been made, unless recipient knows representation to be false or its falsity is obvious.) The evidence demonstrates that the City wrote to Getel-man and the neighboring property owner in January, 1979 about meeting to discuss acquisition of the property. Although Getel-man denies receiving the letter, proof of mailing (and the fact that the neighbor received his letter), raises a presumption that it was received by the addressee. Brown v. Giffen Industries, Inc., 281 So. 2d 897 (Fla.1973).

Our determination that summary judgment was improvidently granted in this case is buttressed by the fact that fraud is not ordinarily a suitable subject for summary judgment Nessim v. DeLoache, 384 So. 2d 1341 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980); Bryant v. Small, 236 So. 2d 150 (Fla. 3d DCA 1970).

Unresolved questions also exist relative to whether Getelman owed a fiduciary duty to Levey as manager of their mutual financial interests and whether Getelman’s actions were a breach of this duty. See Donahue v. Davis, 68 So. 2d 163 (Fla.1953); Fuller v. Pierce, 92 Fla. 129, 109 So. 238 (1926); Reaves v. Hembree, 330 So. 2d 747 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976), cert. denied, 345 So. 2d 423 (Fla. 1977); Prescott v. Kreher, 123 So. 2d 721 (Fla. 2d DCA 1960), cert. denied, 131 So. 2d 206 (Fla.1961).

We also agree with Levey’s final point which asserts that none of the affirmative defenses raised would preclude judgment as a matter of law. Aside from denying any knowledge of the City’s intentions, Getelman defends this action primarily by alleging that Levey waived any remedy by continuing to accept mortgage payments after learning of the City’s offer. Although Levey, by accepting payment, ratified the contract thus barring a claim for recision, he has not waived his right to damages for the fraud. Rolf’s Marina, Inc. v. Rescue Service & Repair, Inc., 398 So. 2d 842 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981).

Additionally, the trial court’s grant of summary judgment on the basis that Levey’s claim was barred by res judicata since he had the opportunity to litigate this claim in the condemnation proceeding was erroneous. Levey’s fraud claim is an entirely different cause of action and was not required to be raised in the prior proceeding. See Donahue v. Davis, 68 So. 2d 163, 169 (Fla.1953).

In light of unresolved issues of material fact, we reverse the summary final judgment under review and remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings.

Reversed and remanded.

. The property was originally owned in 25% shares by four individuals. Two of the owners sold out and at the time of this controversy, the beneficial interest in the trust was owned by Levey and Getelman alone.

. In January, 1981, Getelman settled with the City for $778,405.57.


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Citator

Cited By (25 total)

  • …, in counts II and V, plaintiffs allege they were fraudulently induced to enter into the contractual arrangement and that the contract is unconscionable. Fraud, of course, is not ordinarily a suitable subject for summary judgment. Levey v. Getelman, 408 So. 2d 663 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). It follows that where [*1102] there are allegations of fraud, judgment on the pleadings seems even more inappropriate since no evidence is considered by the court in rendering its decision. In counts III and IV plaintiffs allege…
  • Eligio Barrios & Goldstone Co., N.V. v. Duran, 496 So. 2d 239 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)
    …2d 951 (Fla.3d DCA 1983); Letiziano v. Lytal, 427 So. 2d 321, 324 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983); Consolo v. A.M.K. Corporation, 344 So. 2d 1285 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977). The issue of fraud generally should not be disposed of by summary judgment. Levey v. Getelman, 408 So. 2d 663 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); Nessim v. DeLoache, 384 So. 2d 1341 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980); Hermes v. Anton, 300 So. 2d 46 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974). Therefore for the reasons stated, the final summary judgment adverse to the appellants on the cross-claim and the counte…
  • Getelman v. Burton R. Levey, 481 So. 2d 1236 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985)
    …sion and in-junctive relief. It was Mr. Levey’s contention that Mr. Getelman had lied when he told Mr. Levey he had not heard from the city. The trial court granted summary judgment for Mr. Getelman. This court reversed on appeal. Levey v. Getelman, 408 So. 2d 663 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). Follow [*1238] ing remand, the trial court entered a directed verdict for Mr. Getelman. Again, this court reversed on appeal. Levey v. Getelman, 444 So. 2d 1027 (Fla. 3d DCA), pet. for rev. denied, 453 So. 2d 43 (Fla.1984). On r…

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