LEGAL DOCUMENT

Case: Edward J. SANCHAS and Carol-Anne S. Sanchas v. Amy BABBITT et al.
Citation: 604 A.2d 783
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1992-04-20
Docket Number: No. 91-452-Appeal
Pages: 783–784
Volume: 604
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series

Parties: Edward J. SANCHAS and Carol-Anne S. Sanchas v. Amy BABBITT et al.

Edward J. SANCHAS and Carol-Anne S. Sanchas v. Amy BABBITT et al.
No. 91-452-Appeal.
Supreme Court of Rhode Island.
April 20, 1992.
Neil Philbin, Cranston, for plaintiffs.
Timothy Dodd, Providence, for defendants.

ORDER
This matter is before the Supreme Court pursuant to an order directing the defendants to appear and show cause why their appeal should not be summarily denied and dismissed.
In this case defendants had appealed from the Superior Court judgment granting to plaintiffs specific performance of a purchase and sales agreement for real estate executed by the parties. The sale never materialized because defendants had failed to and had in fact declined to remove an inheritance tax lien on the property which they had acquired on their mother’s death.
The trial justice found that:
“ * * * the defendants willfully failed to discharge that inheritance tax lien. The Court finds that this was an unreasonable act on the part of the defendants and it was done willfully.”
Furthermore, while defendants argued that plaintiffs were not ready, willing and able to perform at the date set for the closing, the trial justice found otherwise and there was competent evidence before him to support that finding.
After reviewing the memoranda submitted by the parties and after hearing their counsel in oral argument, it is the conclusion of this court that defendants have failed to show cause. The trial justice acted well within the bounds of his discre tion in granting plaintiff s prayer for specific performance in view of the evidence before him.
For these reasons the defendants’ appeal is denied and dismissed, the judgment appealed from is affirmed and the papers of the case are remanded to the Superior Court.