330 MICHIGAN AVENUE, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
CAMBRIDGE HOTEL, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, AND MAX DRITZ AND HELEN DRITZ, HIS WIFE, APPELLEES
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The court held that the essential terms of the mortgage were sufficiently definite for specific performance, but the decree must be modified to require the purchasers to provide the mortgage.
Appellees sued for specific performance of a real estate contract. The appellant argued the mortgage terms were too vague. The trial court ordered spe…
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Appellees brought this suit for the specific performance of a contract for the sale of real property. The chancellor found that the equities were with the ap-pellees and ordered the appellant to:
(1) deliver to appellees an abstract of title to the property described in the complaint;
(2) pay damages for a sum representing the fair rental value of the property less the legitimate expenses of operation for the wrong occupancy from March 1, 1964. through the date of the order, the amount thereof to be determined by an accounting;
(3) credit the amount due from item (2) supra, against the purchase price and balance of down payment;
(4)deliver to the appellees a warranty deed, pursuant to the agreement dated January 27, 1964, to the property described in the complaint and the ap-pellees shall pay the balance of the down payment less the amount determined by the accounting within fifteen days from notice by the appellees that marketable title has been evidenced through an examination of the abstract.
The appellant contends that the mortgage contemplated by the contract for the sale of real property is too vague and indefinite to constitute the basis for specific performance. The appellant urges that the mortgage is uncertain as to manner and terms of payments and as to the property intended to be covered by the mortgage.
The agreement dated January 27, 1964, contains the following terms and conditions :
“Purchasers are to execute a mortgage in the sum of $65,000.00 bearing an interest rate at 6% per annum, said mortgage to be dáted March 1, 1964, and said interest on the said mortgage to be paid quarterly, said interest payment to start on June 1, 1964, and to be paid each quarter thereafter. Said mortgage to be paid in ten (10) years,” (ink insert, “10% per year amortization”) “said mortgage may be prepaid at any time without penalty” (ink insert, illegible) “that prepayment may be made in whole or in part.”
Following the terms and conditions of sale is a printed sentence: “Deferred payments to bear interest at the rate of” (typewritten insert, eight (8)”) “per cent per annum, payable as follows(typewritten insert, “on demand or within thirty days.”)
Specific performance will not be enforced where the contract is not definite and certain as to essential terms and provisions and is incapable of being made so by *727the aid of legal presumption or evidence of established customs.1 However, any possible ambiguity may be removed by the parties themselves, for while the express terms of the mortgage may not be contradicted by parol testimony, the primary purpose of construction is to ascertain the intention of the parties. This is done not only from the face of the instrument, but also from the situation of the parties and the nature and object of their transaction.2
Although the mortgage provisions do not relate which property is to be used as security, it is apparent, when looking at' the transaction as a whole, that the property purchased is to be used for that purpose. Further, the inked in insert “10% per year amortization” appears to be the final intent of the parties as to the terms of payment, and there is an established presumption that equality of payment is intended.3 It was also conclusively established at trial that the mortgage is to bear an interest rate of 6% per annum.
We have determined that the chancellor was in a position to find that the essential terms of the mortgage are clear and definite. However, in decreeing specific performance, the chancellor did not impose on the appellees the duty to give the appellant a mortgage and the cause must be remanded for that purpose.
The appellant further contends that the appellees did not have the legal capacity to contract nor did they show that they were ready, willing and able to purchase ■the property.
• The evidence reveals that the articles of incorporation for the Cambridge Hotel, Inc. were filed February 28, 1964, whereas the contract to be enforced was entered into on January 27, 1964. The appellant knew of the status of the corporation at the time of the agreement. Therefore, having contracted with the corporation under its corporate name, it can not object that it had not been duly incorporated.4 In addition, there is no lack of mutuality as the corporation has effectively ratified the contract.5
In equity the requirement of a tender of purchase money does not mean one valid at law, but rather a “present readiness, willingness, and ability in good faith to perform the acts required of one by the agreement, provided the other party will concurrently do the things which he is required by the contract to do, and notice by the former to the latter of such readiness, willingness, and ability.”6
The appellees deposited $13,000.00 on account of the purchase price at the time of the agreement. There is evidence to the effect that an officer of the corporation, Helen Dritz, was holding $75,000.00 in cashier’s checks and certified checks for the corporation. The appellees have continually informed the appellant of their readiness, willingness, and ability to perform.
Thus, there is sufficient evidence to support the chancellor’s ruling which, in effect, declared that the appellees were ready, willing and able to perform.
*728The appellant further objects to the award of damages for wrongful occupancy after March 1, 1964, but we have found that the chancellor was - correct in this ruling.7 !>
i The appellant has shown no abuse of the chancellor’s discretion in awarding specific performance and damages. Therefore, the order appealed from is affirmed with' directions to the chancellor to impose upon the appellees the duty to give to the appellant a mortgage to conform with the agreement of January 27, 1964.
Affirmed and remanded with directions.
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Cited By (13 total)
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Dania MUÑIZ and Arturo A. Chao v. Crystal Lake Project, LLC, 947 So. 2d 464 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006)…must have entered into an agreement that is definite, certain, and complete in all of its essential terms. Bay Club, Inc. v. Brickell Bay Club, Inc., 293 So. 2d 137, 138 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974); see also 3S0 Michigan Ave., Inc. v. Cambridge Hotel, Inc., 183 So. 2d 725, 726-27 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966)(“Specific performance will not be enforced where the contract is not definite and certain as to essential terms and provisions and is incapable of being made so by the aid of legal presumption or evidence of established cu…
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Glave v. Brandlein, 196 So. 2d 780 (Fla. 4th DCA 1967)…ce due, Shouse v. Doane, 1897, 39 Fla. 95, 21 So. 807; b. tendered such balance, White v. Cohn, 1939, 137 Fla. 501, 188 So. 581; c. been ready, willing and able to pay such balance, 330 Michigan Avenue, Inc. v. Cambridge Hotel, Inc., Fla.App.1966, 183 So. 2d 725; or d. been excused from such performance. Haimovitz v. Robb, 1937, 130 Fla. 844, 178 So. 827. See also the unvarying encyclopedic treatment of this general rule stated in 29 Fla.Jur., Specific Performance, §§ 31, 107, 126, and 130; 49 Am.Jur., Sp…
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Walker v. Benton, 407 So. 2d 305 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981)…he rents and profits, and to the vendor interest upon the purchase price from and after that date.’ ” Salmas v. Rieck & Fleece Builders Supplies, Inc., 109 So. 2d 394 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959). 330 Michigan Ave. Inc. v. Cambridge Hotels, Inc. (1966 Fla.) 183 So. 2d 725. The “rent and profit” allowable in this case is not the rent for alternative housing during the interim between the appellants’ default and the eventual'closing. Rather, it would be the yield of the property which is the subject of the suit. Such…
Previewing 3 of 13 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (12 total)
- Martin v. Albee, 93 Fla. 941 (Fla. 1927)
- Annibelle Jackson and Henry N. Jackson v. Parker, 153 Fla. 622 (Fla. 1943)
- Rhode v. Gallat, 70 Fla. 536 (Fla. 1915)
- Topper v. Alcazar Operating Co., 160 Fla. 421 (Fla. 1948)
- Frieda Zimmerman v. Diedrich, 97 So. 2d 120 (Fla. 1957)
- Booske v. Gulf Ice Co., 24 Fla. 550 (Fla. 1888)
- Baron de Hirsch Meyer v. Nator Holding Co., 102 Fla. 689 (Fla. 1931)
- Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of N. Am. v. Moore, 120 Fla. 761 (Fla. 1935)
- Dade Cnty. Dairies, Inc. v. Projected Planning Co., 158 So. 2d 565 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963)
- Salinas v. Rieck & Fleece Builders Supplies, Inc., 109 So. 2d 394 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959)