CHARLES F. BRYAN, APPELLANT,
v.
JACK JUSTICE, APPELLEE
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A real estate broker sought to recover a brokerage commission from a property owner who refused to pay, claiming the broker produced a ready, willing, and able purchaser. The trial court entered summary judgment for the broker, but the appellate court reversed, finding genuine issues of material fact regarding whether the broker knew the owner lacked authority to sell jointly held property and whether the purchaser was actually able to purchase.
The court reversed the summary judgment, holding that there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether the broker knew the owner lacked authority to sell due to the wife's refusal to join in the listing agreement, and whether the purchaser was actually able to purchase. Summary judgment was improper because the defendant denied that a ready, willing, and able purchaser was produced, and the record contained no proof to refute this denial.
[1] A broker may not recover a commission when the co-owner of property, who did not sign the listing agreement, refuses to join in the sale, and the broker has knowledge of…
[2] A genuine issue of material fact exists regarding a broker's knowledge of a co-owner's refusal to sell when the property is held as an estate by the entirety.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“In determining the propriety of the summary judgment, it is necessary for the court to give the party against whom the summary judgment is entered, the benefit of every reasonable inference from the facts contained in the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions on file and affidavits.”
Establishes the standard of review for summary judgments and the burden on the non-moving party
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceBryan and his wife owned property as a tenancy by the entirety. Bryan listed the property with broker Justice under an exclusive listing agreement wit…
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The appellee brought an action against the appellant to recover a real-estate brokerage commission claimed to be due under an exclusive listing of the property and upon the allegation that the broker had produced a purchaser ready, willing and able to purchase the property in accordance with the terms of the listing agreement. The appellant denied all of the allegations of the complaint except the allegation that he had refused to pay the commission. In addition, the appellant filed three paragraphs titled “Affirmative Defenses.” The trial court entered a summary final judgment for the amount of the commission. The judgment was based upon the pleadings and exhibits thereto, *341and an affidavit of the defendant-appellant in support of his own motion for summary judgment. No depositions or other forms of discovery were in the file.
One of the affirmative defenses is as follows:
“5. As an affirmative defense, Defendant would show unto the Court that the property legally described in paragraph 3 of the Complaint is owned by the Defendant, CHARLES F. BRYAN, and AUDREY S. BRYAN, his wife, as a tenancy by the entirety, and that AUDREY S. BRYAN refused to sign the listing agreement attached to the Complaint as Exhibit “A” and refused to execute the purchase agreement.”
This affirmative defense is the main thrust of the appeal. Appellant urges that because a husband has no authority to bind his wife to the sale of jointly held property and his own affidavit shows that the property was held as an estate by its entirety and that the broker knew of this defect, therefore, the appellee could not recover a brokerage commission. We think that the law is well established in Keyes Co. v. Moscarella, Fla.App.1969, 223 So.2d 83, that a person giving an exclusive listing agreement to a broker is bound even though the property is not owned by him at the time of the exclusive listing agreement. This general rule has been, held to be subject to an exception where the broker had knowledge of his employer’s inability to deliver good title because of a refusal of the co-owner to join in the employment. See Gray v. Blake, 131 Colo. 560, 283 P.2d 1078 (1955); Lovejoy v. Reed, 302 Ky. 153, 193 S.W.2d 1013 (Ky.App.1946).
In determining the propriety of the summary judgment, it is necessary for the court to give the party against whom the summary judgment is entered, the benefit of every reasonable inference from the facts contained in the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions on file and affidavits. Viewed in this light, we think that there does appear a genuine issue of material fact as to the application of the rule set forth in Keyes Co. v. Moscarella, Fla.App. 1969, 223 So.2d 83.
We recognize that the holding in the Keyes Co. case is contrary to the holding of the District Court of Appeal, Fourth District in Jones v. Atlas Realty Corp., Fla.App.1963, 154 So.2d 905. We do not, however, agree with appellant’s contention that the holding is contrary to that of the Supreme Court in Hensley Ins. Co. v. Echols, 159 Fla. 324, 31 So.2d 625.
In one other particular, we hold that the summary final judgment under review must be reversed. That is because appellant, in his answer, has denied the presentation of a purchaser ready, willing and able to purchase according to the terms of the contract of employment. The record as brought to this court contains no proof of any kind that the purchaser who signed the purchaser’s deposit receipt agreement was able to purchase the property. This may well be a paper issue, but it is not refuted by any fact presented by the record in this case. See Underwriters Insurance Co. v. Sisung, Fla.App.1965, 174 So.2d 461.
We have examined the other points raised by appellant, and in each case find that they do not constitute reversible error. For the reasons set forth, the summary judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings in the trial court.
Reversed and remanded.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
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Royal Netherlands Realty, Inc. v. Ross, 421 So. 2d 642 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982)…the time of the exclusive listing agreement [is] * * * subject to an exception where the broker had knowledge of his employer’s inability to deliver good title because of a refusal of the co-owner to join in the employment. [*645] Bryan v. Justice, 247 So. 2d 340, 341 (Fla.3d DCA 1971); Chastain v. Carroll, 307 So. 2d 491 (Fla.2d DCA 1975); see also, Hensley Ins. Co. v. Echols, 159 Fla. 324, 31 So. 2d 625 (1947). Although the brokers were clearly aware of Harry’s outstanding interest, we nevertheless think t…
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Chastain v. Carroll, 307 So. 2d 491 (Fla. 2d DCA 1975)…e on facts. Appellants’ second point on appeal is whether there exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether appellee had knowledge of appellants’ inability to deliver good title. Both parties rely upon Bryan v. Justice, Fla.App.3rd, 1971, 247 So. 2d 340, which followed the Keyes Co. decision, supra. In Bryan, the Third District Court of Appeal stated: . We think that the law is well established in Keyes Co. v. Moscarella, Fla.App.1969, 223 So. 2d 83, that a person giving an exclusive listing agree…
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Bryan v. Justice, 250 So. 2d 898 (Fla. 1971)…Certiorari denied. 247 So. 2d 340. ROBERTS, C. J., and ERVIN, CARLTON, BOYD and DEKLE, JJ., concur.…
Previewing 3 of 7 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Sisung, 174 So. 2d 461 (Fla. 3d DCA 1965)
- Hensley Ins. Co. v. Echols, 159 Fla. 324 (Fla. 1947)
- The Keyes Co. v. Moscarella, 223 So. 2d 83 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969)
- Jones v. Atlas Realty Corp., 154 So. 2d 905 (Fla. 2d DCA 1963)