Case ID: so2d_464/html/0579-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Irving BALTO d/b/a Florida Bookkeeping Service, Appellant, v. Robert MALEY, Appellee.
    No. 83-1852.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    Jan. 16, 1985.
    Edna L. Caruso of Edna L. Caruso, P.A., West Palm Beach, for appellant.
    John P. Stetson, West Palm Beach, for appellee.
   PER CURIAM.

The issue in this appeal is whether the contract between the parties was so ambiguous as to require interpretation by the trial court. We think it was not, and reverse, with instructions.

We have reviewed the agreement and addendum between the parties and find no meaningful conflicts or ambiguities. With regard to Maley’s contention that the pro-rata replacement clause means Balto was merely entitled to a credit for clients no longer with the business, we think that interpretation is not supported by the plain language of the agreement. While that provision, and others relating to contingent reductions in the purchase price, impose harsh consequences on the seller due to an unexpected large-scale departure by the clients, it is not the duty of this court to relieve a party from the hardship of an improvident bargain. Simpson v. Young, 369 So.2d 376 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979).

Consequently, we reverse and remand this cause, with instructions that the trial court determine the revised purchase price, based upon a reduction equal to the annual billing of each client that departed during the first year, and award the proper sum to the appropriate party.

DOWNEY, LETTS and HURLEY, JJ., concur.