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Bell v. Babb

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 29, 1976
229 S.E.2d 511 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976)

Opinion

52511.

ARGUED SEPTEMBER 20, 1976.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 29, 1976.

Action on contract. Polk Superior Court. Before Judge Winn.

Dunaway Perry, Marson G. Dunaway, for appellant.

Munday Gammage, John Strain, for appellee.


This appeal involves the validity of a purported realty sale agreement. Without benefit of counsel the parties signed a handwritten document which read as follows: "I Richard Bell agreed [sic] to sell home on Pine Mt Rd. for a total of $16,500. Mr. Thomas Babb `Father' Edward Babb agree to pay $200 ernest [sic] money today (9/8/73), and a bal. of $800 on or before 1 Oct. 1973. From date of moving in he will pay $125 a month untill [sic] such time we can get this home finance [sic] through First Federal Bank at Cedartown."

After buyer-plaintiffs were denied financing by the First Federal, suit was brought to recover the earnest money paid seller. Defendant denied liability and counterclaimed for the balance of the purchase price. Following presentation of stipulated facts to a jury, both parties moved for directed verdicts. The court granted that of the plaintiff for recovery of the earnest money and denied that of defendant. Defendant seller has appealed from the adverse judgments. Held:

This writing, which purports to be a contract for the purchase and sale of real property, is vague, indefinite and uncertain. The property description, a "home on Pine Mt Rd." is inadequate in that it utterly fails to describe any particular tract or quantity of land to be conveyed. Wallace v. Adamson, 129 Ga. App. 792 ( 201 S.E.2d 479) and cits.

Additionally, the provision as to financing is likewise legally deficient. It is wholly lacking in specifics with regard to the terms, interest or time of the proposed financing.

Because of these inadequacies and deficiencies this purported contract is unenforceable, and the plaintiffs, proposed vendees thereunder, are entitled to recover the earnest money paid to the defendant. This is in accord with numerous adjudicated cases. Among these are Morgan v. Hemphill, 214 Ga. 555 ( 105 S.E.2d 580); Potts v. Smith, 134 Ga. App. 737 ( 215 S.E.2d 697); Collins v. Wright, 119 Ga. App. 4 ( 165 S.E.2d 878); Brady v. Poulos, 121 Ga. App. 35 ( 172 S.E.2d 437); Alexander v. Wood, 119 Ga. App. 332 ( 166 S.E.2d 903); Scott v. Lewis, 112 Ga. App. 195 ( 144 S.E.2d 460); Hicks v. Stucki, 109 Ga. App. 723 ( 137 S.E.2d 399); Scarborough v. Novak, 92 Ga. App. 488 ( 88 S.E.2d 800); Williams v. Gottlieb, 90 Ga. App. 438 (1) ( 83 S.E.2d 245); Stanaland v. Stephens, 78 Ga. App. 68 (2) ( 50 S.E.2d 258); Parker v. Averett, 114 Ga. App. 401 ( 151 S.E.2d 475).

Judgment affirmed. Bell, C. J., and Stolz, J., concur.


ARGUED SEPTEMBER 20, 1976 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 29, 1976.


Summaries of

Bell v. Babb

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 29, 1976
229 S.E.2d 511 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976)
Case details for

Bell v. Babb

Case Details

Full title:BELL v. BABB

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Sep 29, 1976

Citations

229 S.E.2d 511 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976)
229 S.E.2d 511

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