JAMES V. CAMARDELLA
v.
N. COURTRIGHT, AN UNMARRIED WOMAN
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A vendee sought rescission of a real estate contract and recovery of his initial payment, alleging material misrepresentation by the vendor's agent that certain lots were corner lots when they were actually inside lots. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the bill of complaint, holding that the vendee failed to establish the necessary elements for fraud-based rescission.
The court held that the vendee was not entitled to rescission because the bill of complaint failed to allege sufficient facts to warrant relief. Specifically, the complaint did not demonstrate that the vendee relied on the representations or lacked opportunity to investigate the alleged misrepresentations, and the record showed conflicting evidence regarding whether the misrepresentations were actually made as facts rather than opinions.
“It is well settled that misrepresentations amounting to fraud that will invalidate a contract must be made by one contracting party to another in reference to a matter affecting the contract. The person to whom it is made must not only consider the false representations to be true, but must be so situated with respect to what is represented that he at the time has the right to rely upon the truth of the representations made.”
Establishes the legal standard for fraud-based contract rescission, requiring both that representations be made as facts and that the party have the right to rely upon them.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceCamardella entered into a written contract to purchase a group of lots from Courtright. The vendor's agent allegedly represented that a portion of the…
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The appeal here is' from a final decree on the merits after testimony was taken and reported by Spefcial Master with his findings of fact.
The final decree adjudicated the approval of report of the Special Master and dismissed the bill of complaint at plaintiff’s cost.
The appellant presents in his brief one question, in the following language:
*537“Where the sole and only inducement for the appellant, vendee, to enter into a written contract to purchase a group of lots from the appellee, vendor, is the representation of the vendor’s duly authorized agent that a portion of said lots are in effect, corner lots, and which representations are relied upon by the vendee and believed by him to be true upon entering into said contract, is the vendee entitled to a rescission of said contract and a recovery of the sum paid by him to the vendor at the time said contract was executed, if the vendee subsequently (at the time set for the payment of the balance of the purchase price), ascertains' that said representations are false and untrue and that said lots are not, in effect, ‘corner lots,’ but are ‘inside lots’ ?”
A perusal of the record discloses that a bill of complaint was filed, notice of lis pendens was filed; the plaintiff moved to dismiss and filed answer.
The bill sought to rescind a contract for the purchase and sale of real estate upon the ground of material misrepresentation of facts concerning the condition and location of the land and to require the defendant to return the initial pajunent.
The bill of complaint failed to allege sufficient facts to warrant the relief prayed in that the bill does not show: (1) that the complainant occupied- any such fiduciary relations with the vendor or the vendor’s agent as to warrant the complainant in relying without question upon the representations made by either; (2) The bill of complaint does not show that the complainant did not have full opportunity to investigate and determine any and all of the alleged representations made to him. See Pepple v. Rogers, 104 Fla. 462, 140 Sou. 205; Willis v. Fowler, 102 Fla. 35, 136 Sou. 358; Geo. E. Sebring Co. v. Skinner, et al., 100 Fla. 315, 129 Sou. 759.
*538It is well settled that misrepresentations amounting to fraud that will invalidate a contract must be made by one contracting party to another in reference to a matter affecting the contract. The person to whom it is made must not only consider the false representations to be true, but must be so situated with respect to what is represented that he at the time has the right to rely upon the truth of the representations made. Columbus Hotel Corp. v. Hotel Management Co., 116 Fla. 464, 156 Sou. 893, and cases there cited.
Aside from this, there is substantial evidence in the record to show that the complainant did not rely upon the representations alleged to have been made by the agent of the vendor, but that he employed counsel to investigate the very matters complained of and advised with his attorney so employed about such matters and that the attorney, through some misunderstanding with complainant, did not give the complainant the information desired.
The record further shows that the real facts about which the alleged misrepresentations were made were evidenced by matters of public record to which complainant and his attorney had access equal to that of the vendor.
As to whether or not the alleged misrepresentations were made the record is conflicting. The complainant testified that such misrepresentations were made by the son and agent of the vendor. The son and agent testified that he did not make the representations alleged, but merely gave his opinion and told the vendee what he, the son, thought was an existing condition, but did not state it was a fact.
So it is that, regardless of what angle we may view the matter from, the decree is without error and should be affirmed.
go ordered.
*539Affirmed.
Ellis, P. J., and Terrell and Buford, J. J., concur. Whitfield, C. J., and Davis, J., concur in the opinion and judgment.
Brown, J., not participating.
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Cassara v. Bowman, 136 Fla. 302 (Fla. 1939)…f such common knowledge that all courts must take cognizance thereof. "With these factual conditions in mind, we conclude that the lower court followed the enunciations of controlling legal principles found in Carmadella v. Cartright, 126 Fla. 536, 171 Sou. 225; People v. Rogers, 104 Fla. 462, 140 Southern 205; Willis v. Fowler, et al., 102 Fla. 35, 136 Sou. 358. [*305] It, therefore, follows that the order appealed from should be, and is, affirmed. So ordered. Terrell, C. J., and Thomas, J., concur. Wh…
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Robson Link & Co. v. Leedy Wheeler & Co., 154 Fla. 596 (Fla. 1944)…es Commission in Tallahassee. To support this contention appellee cites a number of Florida decisions, among them Glass v. Craig, 83 Fla. 408, 91 So. 332; Stokes v. Victory Land Co., 99 Fla. 795, 128 So. 408; Camar-dello v. Courtright, 126 Fla. 536, 171 So. 225; Peacock Hotel Co. v. Shipman, 103 Fla. 633, 138 So. 44; Geo. E. Sebring Co. v. Skinner, 100 Fla. 315, 129 So. 759; Byrd v. Smith, 114 Fla. 24, 152 So. 851; and Hirschman v. Hodges, 59 Fla. 517, 51 So. 550. These cases involved real estate transacti…
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Scocozzo v. Gen. Dev. Corp., 191 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 4th DCA 1966)…em does not avail himself of those means and opportunities, he will not be heard to say that he was deceived by the other’s misrepresentations. See Potaker [Potakar] v. Hurtak, Fla. 1955, 82 So. 2d 502; Camardella v. Courtright, 1936 [126 Fla. 536], 171 So. 225; and Davis v. Dunn, Fla.1952, 58 So. 2d 539. “The contract between the plaintiffs and the defendants contained an exclusionary provision, as follows: ‘This application constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and may not be changed ora…
Previewing 3 of 6 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Columbus Hotel Corp. v. Hotel Mgmt. Co., 116 Fla. 464 (Fla. 1934)
- Holman Willis v. Mrs. M. C. Fowler, 102 Fla. 35 (Fla. 1931)
- Blanche Pepple v. Rogers, 104 Fla. 462 (Fla. 1932)
- George E. Sebring Co. v. Skinner, 100 Fla. 315 (Fla. 1930)
- State v. Swanson, 116 Fla. 464 (Fla. 1934)