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Potts v. Smith

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Apr 16, 1975
134 Ga. App. 737 (Ga. Ct. App. 1975)

Opinion

50431.

ARGUED MARCH 11, 1975.

DECIDED APRIL 16, 1975. REHEARING DENIED MAY 9, 1975.

Sales contract. DeKalb State Court. Before Judge Mitchell.

Davis Stringer, Robert H. Stringer, for appellant.

Coggin, Haddon, Stuckey Thompson, William C. Haddon, for appellee.


"The books are literally full of such cases." That frequently used expression refers to the many adjudications dealing with real estate sales contracts drafted by laymen containing contingency clauses as to financing arrangements. In this appeal we are called upon to decide the validity of a so-called "special stipulation" in haec verba: "This contract is contingent an[d] subject to the purchaser being able to refinance the loan in the amount of $200,000 that is presently held by Cameron and Brown Mortgage Company."

Smith as the proposed buyer sued Potts, the realtor, for return of a $10,000 binder deposit. Although the complaint alleges plaintiff's inability to obtain the refinancing, the gravamen of the action is pleaded to be that "Said document, which purported to be a real estate sales contract, is null and void because it is too vague and indefinite to be enforced" by reason of the special stipulation.

The real estate broker has appealed from a summary judgment granted Smith for his $10,000 binder.

1. We agree with the trial court's view expressed in these words: "... [T]he Court is of the opinion that the case of Williams v. Gottlieb, 90 Ga. App. 438 ( 83 S.E.2d 245) is controlling in the within case and especially as to Stipulation 8 of the Sales Agreement. That said stipulation makes the contract too indefinite to be enforceable and that the vendee thereunder may elect not to perform and recover his earnest money."

"It has been universally held that such a stipulation is too indefinite to be enforceable, and the vendee may elect to rescind the contract and recover the earnest money paid under the purported contract to the agent of the vendor." Cole v. Cutler, 96 Ga. App. 891 ( 102 S.E.2d 82) and citations therein. See Bonner v. Jordan, 218 Ga. 129 ( 126 S.E.2d 613); compare Barto v. Hicks, 124 Ga. App. 472, 473 (2) ( 184 S.E.2d 188); and see Clover Realty Co. v. McLeod, 124 Ga. App. 160 ( 183 S.E.2d 33) wherein this court noted that "A sale contract may be drawn contingent upon the availability to the purchaser of a mortgage loan, provided the subject matter, terms, interest and time are set out with sufficient specificity."

2. Appellant contends that a genuine issue of material fact exists in that prior to the repudiation Smith had notified him that he had obtained a loan commitment and set a closing date for the transaction. Such contention is without merit. See Scott v. Lewis, 122 Ga. App. 195 ( 144 S.E.2d 460) where this court ruled that a buyer was not estopped from rescinding a similar contingency contract despite numerous reaffirmations of intent to proceed with its terms which had caused seller to make expenditures for perfecting title, moving the seller's family, and purchasing another home. In that case at page 197 our late beloved brother, Judge Eberhardt, with his aptness for appropriate apothegms expressed the situation in this aphorism: "If the parties to a transaction do not create binding agreements, the courts are powerless to do it for them, or to afford a remedy for a breach." See also Thomas v. Harris, 127 Ga. App. 361 ( 193 S.E.2d 260).

In addition to an alliteration addiction, the writer has been accused of being lexiphanic (using pretentious words).

Judgment affirmed. Pannell, P. J., and Quillian, J., concur.


ARGUED MARCH 11, 1975 — DECIDED APRIL 16, 1975 — REHEARING DENIED MAY 9, 1975 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.


Summaries of

Potts v. Smith

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Apr 16, 1975
134 Ga. App. 737 (Ga. Ct. App. 1975)
Case details for

Potts v. Smith

Case Details

Full title:POTTS v. SMITH

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Apr 16, 1975

Citations

134 Ga. App. 737 (Ga. Ct. App. 1975)
215 S.E.2d 697

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