Case ID: so_169/html/0859-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DAVIS, Justice.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

SPEISBERGER v. NEWMAN REALTY CO., Inc. et al.
    Supreme Court of Florida.
    Sept. 23, 1936.
    Rehearing Denied Oct. 23, 1936.
    Rogers & Morris, of Ft. Lauderdale, and Albert B. Bernstein, of Miami, for appellant.
    T. D. Ellis, Jr., of Hollywood, and Bryant & Pittman, of Miami, for ap-pellees.
   DAVIS, Justice.

Mayer Speisberger filed a bill for specific performance of an alleged written agreement to lease the Hollywood Theatre for a term of 10 years.

Upon a trial of the controversy on its merits the chancellor made a specific finding that the evidence in the case' wholly failed to sustain the complainant’s contention that one Robert J. Newman, an alleged agent for the defendant, was authorized to sign the rental agreement sought to be enforced against the principal and defendant Newman Realty Company, a corporation, the appellee in this appeal.

The chancellor further adversely decided on its merits (on conflicting evidence) the additional contention of complainant below and appellant here to the effect that the alleged .contract had been subsequently lawfully ratified by delivery of same to, and acceptance of same on the part of and by, one C. R. Gilliland, as contended for on complainant’s behalf.

So the principal and controlling issue tried and decided by the chancellor below was wholly one of disputed facts, as to which an examination of the record discloses to us as an appellate court there is no reversible error in the chancellor’s conclusion that the circumstances shown by the evidence do not warrant a decree for specific performance as prayed in the court below. In addition, the chancellor affirmatively found and decreed sharp practice, and overreaching attempted on complainant’s behalf against defendant, which in the court’s opinion rendered a decree of . specific performance “highly inequitable” under the facts shown and established by the evidence.

An enforcement in equity of the specific performance of a contract to make a lease is not a matter of right or a matter of course such as the right to foreclose a mortgage or to recover a judgment at law, but rests in the sound discretion of the court, controlled by well-established doctrine of equitable jurisprudence. McCaskill Co. v. Dekle, 88 Fla. 285, 102 So. 252; Martin v. Albee, 93 Fla. 941, 113 So. 415; Williams v. Neeld-Gordon Co., 86 Fla. 59, 97 So. 315; Bowling v. Nat. Convoy & Trucking Co., 101 Fla. 634, 135 So. 541.

The discretion of a ■ chancellor in refusing specific performance of a particular contract for sale or lease of real estate, especially where the right as asserted by the complainant is in dispute, and doubtful as to its having been properly derived, will not be disturbed on appeal unless demonstrated to be clearly erroneous. Witham v. Shepard, 84 Fla. 75, 92 So. 685; Orlando Realty Board Bldg. Corporation v. Hilpert, 93 Fla. 954, 113 So. 100; Daubmyre v. Hunter, 86 Fla. 326, 98 So. 69.

So applying the foregoing well-settled principles of equity jurisprudence to the record in the present appeal, as to which a motion to dismiss same as frivolous has been interposed by appellee under section 4639, C.G.L., section 2920, R. G.S., it appears that the decree should be affirmed on the authority of Treat v. State ex rel. Mitton, 121. Fla. 509, 163 So. 883 (1st headnote), the motion to dismiss as frivolous being denied, but the decree affirmed, on the ground that such must be its inevitable disposition if postponed for later consideration.

Affirmed on motion to dismiss appeal as frivolous.-

WHITFIELD, C. J., and ELLIS, TERRELL, BROWN, and BUFORD, JJ., concur.