LESLIE J. MANGUS, APPELLANT,
v.
DONALD PORTER, APPELLEE
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A buyer of an antique 1929 Stutz automobile sought specific performance of a sales contract after the seller refused to deliver the vehicle. The trial court denied relief based on lack of mutuality of remedy in the original contract, but the appellate court reversed, holding that mutuality existed at the time of suit because the buyer had waived his inspection right and tendered full payment.
The court held that the buyer was entitled to specific performance. Mutuality of remedy is not required at the time the contract is made but only at the time the complaint is filed. By waiving his inspection requirement and tendering the full purchase price before suit, the buyer established the mutuality necessary for specific performance. The seller's fraud in concealing the automobile's arrival and denying inspection further supported equitable relief.
[1] Specific performance may be granted for unique personal property when there is no adequate remedy at law.
[2] Mutuality of remedy is not required at the time of contract formation if it exists at the time the complaint is filed.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The relief prayed for in a suit for specific performance is largely within the discretion of the chancellor. It is not a matter of right solely, but it is subject to the circumstances of the transaction which may or may not move the conscience of the chancellor, which in all his decrees and orders must be colored or tempered by the rules of law which constitute his guide and compass.”
Establishes that judicial discretion in specific performance cases must be constrained by applicable rules of law.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMangus, an antique automobile collector, responded to Porter's advertisement for a 1929 Stutz Town Sedan and entered into a written purchase agreement…
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The plaintiff-appellant is a collector of antique automobiles. The defendant-appellee placed an advertisement in the Miami Herald offering a 1929 Stutz Town Sedan for sale. Shortly thereafter, the ap*251pellant and appellee, as buyer and seller respectively, entered into a written agreement for the sale of the vehicle. In his amended complaint, the appellant prayed for specific performance1 to enforce the terms of the agreement, and now appeals the chancellor’s final decree denying such relief. We reverse and hold that the chancellor’s decree was contrary to the clear, convincing, and virtually undisputed evidence which showed that the plaintiff was entitled to the relief sought.
The amended complaint alleged that the terms of the contract provided that the appellant deposit the sum of $100.00' with the appellee as part payment toward purchasing the Stutz automobile. The balance of the money was to be tendered upon delivery of the vehicle from New York to Miami. According to the agreement, the appellant would have the right of “inspection and approval”, and would have the further choice of canceling the sale if the automobile were not as promised.2 The evidence before the chancellor established that the appellee did not fulfill the provision of the contract requiring the automobile to be available for appellant’s inspection. Indeed, the evidence indicated that the appel-lee concealed the fact that the automobile had arrived in Miami by falsely informing the appellant that the vehicle was unavailable. When appellant learned of the falsity of appellee’s representations, he demanded the right to inspect the automobile. The right was denied to him by the appellee. Then, appellant waived his right to inspection along with any possibility of rejecting the automobile, and tendered to the appel-lee the balance of the purchase price demanding delivery of the automobile in its then existing condition.
There were further dealings between the parties and suit was filed, but at no time prior to the filing of the suit did appellant withdraw either his waiver of inspection or his tender of the balance of the purchase price. The trial court, obviously impressed with the fact that at the time of the drafting of the contract there was no mutuality as to the remedy of specific performance, denied relief to the appellant.3
*252We recognize that the findings of the chancellor are clothed with a presumption of correctness and will be sustained unless shown to be clearly erroneous. See Topper v. Alcazar Operating Co., 160 Fla. 421, 35 So.2d 392 (1948); Tassinari v. Chaney, Fla.App.1966, 187 So.2d 376. In general, the discretion of the chancellor in refusing specific performance of a contract simply will not be disturbed on appeal. See Topper v. Alcazar Operating Co., supra; Bliss v. Hallock, Fla.App.1959, 113 So.2d 889; Mann v. Thompson, Fla.App.1958, 100 So.2d 634; Greenfield v. Bland, Fla.App.1958, 99 So.2d 727. Nevertheless, the judicial discretion of the chancellor is controlled by settled principles of law and equity. See Martin v. Albee, 93 Fla. 941, 113 So. 415 (1927). In Florida, it is firmly established that this discretionary power is not unbridled but is limited to the impartial exercise of a sound judicial discretion. This principle is set forth in the cases of Martin v. Albee, supra, and Buck v. McNab, Fla.App. 1962, 139 So.2d 734. In the Martin case, Chief Justice Ellis, speaking for the Supreme Court of Florida, expressed the principle as follows:
“The relief prayed for in a suit for specific performance is largely within the discretion of the chancellor. It is not a matter of right solely, but it is subject to the circumstances of the transaction which may or may not move the conscience of the chancellor, which in all his decrees and orders must be colored or tempered by the rules of law which constitute his guide and compass.” [Emphasis supplied]
It thus follows that an appellate court will not affirm a chancellor’s decree if the chancellor’s exercise of discretion is without any evidentiary basis and contravenes a positive rule of law. See Little v. Sullivan, Fla.1965, 173 So.2d 135; All Florida Surety Company v. Vann, Fla.App.1961, 128 So.2d 768; Sompayrac v. Lewis, Fla. App.1959, 112 So.2d 52. In the case at bar, the undisputed evidence reveals that at the time of the filing of the complaint, the appellant had waived the requirement for inspection and had tendered the full purchase price set forth in the contract. This action removed the lack of mutuality of remedy which was apparent in the original contract. Mutuality of remedy is not necessary at the time of the making of the contract as long as it is present at the time of the filing of the complaint. See Howard Cole & Co., Inc. v. Williams, 157 Fla.851, 27 So.2d 352 (1946); Standard Lumber Co. v. Florida Industrial Co., 106 Fla. 884, 141 So. 729 (1932); Vance v. Roberts, 96 Fla. 379, 118 So. 205 (1928).
In recognition that the law might well be as above stated, the appellee has taken the position that appellant’s testimony indicates that the appellant is dissatisfied with the condition of the automobile and thinks it unfair that he pay the full contractual amount for it. We have examined this testimony and while appellee’s position has a basis in the record, appellant’s testimony in no way signifies a disavowal of the contract. We hold that appellant’s expressed dissatisfaction does not afford a basis for the chancellor to exercise his discretion by denying the remedy which the law affords under the circumstances of this case.
In reference to appellant’s right to inspect the automobile, it has been held that mutuality of remedy is not destroyed by the insertion of a condition precedent in a contract, especially when the insertion of the condition is for the benefit and protection of the party who originally requested it. See Westerberg v. Nininger, 149 Fla. 528, 6 So.2d 378 (1942); Gottlaub v. Cohen, 139 N.J.Eq. 323, 51 A.2d 254 (1947); Seiler v. Geier, 191 Misc. 357, 77 N.Y.S.2d 628 (1947).
Accordingly, the judgment appealed is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to enter a decree for the plaintiff in accordance with the views herein expressed.
Reversed and remanded.
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DePRINCE v. Starboard Cruise Servs., Inc., 163 So. 3d 586 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)…hed legal principle that a court of equity will grant specific performance of a contract involving personal property when the property is of a unique character and value, such as an antique, and there is no adequate remedy at law.” Mangus v. Porter, 276 So. 2d 250, 251 n. 1 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973) (citing Graham v. Herlong, 50 Fla. 521, 39 So. 111, 111 (1905)); see also § 672.716(1), Fla. Stat. (2013) (“Specific performance may be decreed where the goods are unique or in other proper circumstances.”). The trial c…
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Graham v. Battey, 347 So. 3d 515 (Fla. 5th DCA 2022)…liar or unique.” Esposito v. Horning, 416 So. 2d 896, 897 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982). Equity can intercede when the personal property is of unique character and value, such as an antique, and there is no adequate remedy at law.4 See Mangus v. Porter, 276 So. 2d 250, 251 n.1 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973). The subject injunction does not describe the nature or character of Appellee’s personal property. On remand, the trial court shall amend the temporary injunction by striking 4 See DiabloSport, LLC v. Granatelli Motor…
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DELTA Brands, Inc. v. Hesco Sales, Inc., 500 So. 2d 227 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)…s extensive arguments to the contrary. See Robbie v. City of Miami, 469 So. 2d 1384, 1385 (Fla.1985); Buckley Towers Condominium, Inc. v. Buchwald, 321 So. 2d 628, 629 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975), appeal dismissed, 327 So. 2d 31 (Fla.1976); Mangus v. Porter, 276 So. 2d 250, 251 n. 1 (Fla. 3d DCA), cert. denied, 279 So. 2d 881 (Fla.1973); Hogan v. Norfleet, 113 So. 2d 437, 439 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959), aff'd, 143 So. 2d 384 (Fla.1962). Based on the foregoing reasons, the final order under review is, in all respects, Affi…
Previewing 3 of 8 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (18 total)
- Martin v. Albee, 93 Fla. 941 (Fla. 1927)
- Vance v. Roberts, 96 Fla. 379 (Fla. 1928)
- Howard Cole & Co., Inc. v. Sallie Williams and Zibe Williams and Executor of the Last Will and Testament of F. H. Williams, 157 Fla. 851 (Fla. 1946)
- Topper v. Alcazar Operating Co., 160 Fla. 421 (Fla. 1948)
- Mann v. Thompson, 100 So. 2d 634 (Fla. 1st DCA 1958)
- Yulee v. Canova, 11 Fla. 9 (Fla. 1865)
- Little v. Sullivan, 173 So. 2d 135 (Fla. 1965)
- Nails v. State, 106 Fla. 884 (Fla. 1932)
- ALL Fla. Sur. Co. v. Vann, 128 So. 2d 768 (Fla. 3d DCA 1961)
- Buck v. McNAB, 139 So. 2d 734 (Fla. 2d DCA 1962)