Source: http://masscases.com/cases/land/2016/2016-16-000038-DECISION.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 22:06:11+00:00

Document:
GERALD J. PACELLI vs. VINCENT J. PACELLI, JOHN J. PACELLI, JOSEPH V. PACELLI, ROSEMARY COWIE, ANTOINETTE POWERS, BERNADETTE RICHARD, and BANK OF AMERICA.
In this case, Petitioner Gerald J. Pacelli ("Gerald") seeks to partition the property located at 134 Thorndike Street in Cambridge (the "Partition Property"), which is owned jointly by Gerald and his three brothers, Respondents John Pacelli ("John"), Joseph Pacelli ("Joseph"), and Vincent Pacelli ("Vincent") as equal tenants in common. The Pacelli brothers' three sisters -- Respondents Rosemary Cowie ("Rosemary"), Antoinette Powers ("Antoinette"), and Bernadette Richard ("Bernadette") -- also have an apparent interest in the prospective proceeds of any sale of the Partition Property based upon an agreement (defined below as the "Sales Agreement") entered into by the parties with respect to the sale of the Partition Property. All of the parties other than Vincent are in agreement that the Partition Propertyshould be partitioned bysale. Vincent disagrees, arguing that the Partition Property may not now be partitioned against his will based upon a provision of the Sales Agreement that purports to require the unanimous consent of Vincent and his brothers in order to transfer the Partition Property. In support of this claim, Vincent argues that such a restriction upon the free alienation of property is both reasonable in scope and appropriately limited in time.
On January 15, 2016, Gerald commenced this case by filing an unverified Petition to partition the Partition Property pursuant to G.L. c. 241. [Note 1] On February 24, 2016, Vincent moved to dismiss the case on procedural grounds. The court declined to act upon that motion when it became apparent that the procedural defect alleged in that motion had been corrected. On March 9, 2016, the court held a case management conference. Thereafter, byorder dated March 10, 2016, this court appointed Neil Kerstein, Esq. as partition commissioner (the "Commissioner"). The Commissioner filed his first report on May 9, 2016, in which he recommended a sale of the Partition Property by a real estate broker.
On April 28, 2016, non-party Maria Mourato ("Maria") moved to intervene in this case, alleging breach of contract against Vincent relative to an alleged agreement pertaining to the rear boundary line of the Partition Property. [Note 2] By order dated May 16, 2016, the court declined to rule on Maria's motion to intervene at that time because the issues raised by Maria "not only appear to be outside of the jurisdiction of this court, but, more importantly, appear to be resolvable by and between the parties without need for court intervention." By the same order, the court further directed the parties to brief motions for summary judgment on the question of whether Gerald is entitled to a partition of the Partition Property in view of the Sales Agreement. On May 26-27, 2016, Gerald and Vincent, respectively, filed responses to the Commissioner's first report. On June 1, 2016, Vincent filed an Answer to the Petition with counterclaims and cross-claims. On July 1, 2016, Gerald filed an Answer to Vincent's counterclaims and cross-claims.
On July 11, 2016 Vincent filed his motion for summary judgment, together with a supporting memorandum, statement of material facts, and an affidavit of Vincent. On July 27, 2016, the Commissioner filed his opposition to Vincent's summary judgment motion. On August 10, 2016, Gerald filed his opposition to Vincent's summary judgment motion, together with a supporting memorandum, statement of additional material facts, and an affidavit of Gerald. No reply briefs were filed. Oral argument on the motion was heard on August 17, 2016, at which time the motion was taken under advisement.
B. The term "Beneficiaries" wherever used herein shall mean the person named in the Schedule of Beneficial Interests referred to above as it may be amended by the Trustees and the Beneficiaries from time to time. The Trustees shall not be affected by any assignment or transfer of any beneficial interest by any Beneficiary until receipt by the Trustees of written notice that such assignment or transfer has in fact been made.
3. A. This Trust shallcontinue untilterminated in the manner provided in Paragraph 6.B or on the sale and conversion into cash of the Trust Premises, whichever event shall first occur, provided, however, that this Trust shall terminate in any event twenty (20) years after the death of the last survivor of the Trustees herein named.
B. Upon the termination of the Trust, the Trust Premises shall automatically vest in the Beneficiaries hereof as tenants in common if more than one, in proportion to their respective interests, or in the name of the sole Beneficiary, if only one, subject to any mortgages, leases, contracts, or other encumbrances on the Trust Premises then existing.
6.	A. This Declaration of Trust may be amended from time to time by the Trustees with the written consent and approval of the Beneficiaries by an instrument in writing signed by the then Trustee or Trustees hereunder and acknowledged by one or more of them . . . . The amendment shall be effective upon the recording with the [Registry] of the instrument of amendment or a Certificate of Amendment which sets forth the exact terms of such amendment which has been signed by a majority of the Trustees or the Trustee, if only one, and acknowledged in the manner required for recording.
B. This Trust may be terminated at any time by any one or more of the Beneficiaries by delivery to all of the Trustees (or to the Trustee, if at that time there shall be only one Trustee) of an instrument in writing setting forth such termination and signed by any one or more of the Beneficiaries and acknowledged in proper form for recording. This Trust may also be revoked and terminated at any time by any one or more of the Trustees by delivery to the Beneficiaries (and to the other Trustees, if such revocation and termination is by less than all of the Trustees) of an instrument in writing setting forth such revocation and termination and signed by any one or more of the Trustees and acknowledged in proper form for recording. Upon delivery of such instrument to the Trustees (or to the Trustee, if at that time there shall be only one Trustee), or to the Beneficiaries, as the case may be, the Trustee or Trustees shall acknowledge receipt of the same and the same shall be recorded in the [Registry]. Such termination shall be effective upon the recording of such instrument with [the Registry].
4. By mortgage dated December 27, 1999 and recorded in the Registry at Book 31041, Page 114, John and Vincent, again acting as trustees of the Trust, granted a $100,000.00 mortgage to Fleet Bank (the "Third Mortgage").
5. By document dated February 22, 2000 and recorded in the Registry at Book 31198, Page 176 (the "Resignation"), John resigned as trustee of the Trust, leaving Vincent as the sole trustee.
6. By mortgage dated October 6, 2000 and recorded in the Registry at Book 32004, Page 115, Vincent, acting as sole trustee of the Trust, granted a $150,000.00 mortgage to Fleet Bank (the "Fourth Mortgage"). Concurrently therewith, by trustee's certificate dated October 6, 2000 and recorded in the Registry at Book 32004, Page 114, Vincent claimed to "have been authorized in writing by holders of 100% of the beneficial interests of the Trust to give [the Fourth Mortgage]." Shortly thereafter, a discharge of the Third Mortgage was recorded in the Registry at Book 32046, Page 229.
8. On August 14, 2014, Gerald filed a Petition with the Middlesex County Probate and Family Court (Case No. MI14P4207EA) (the "Probate Action"), seeking to have Vincent removed as trustee of the Trust and replaced by John, and raising objections to Vincent having entered into the Fourth Mortgage in 2000.
10. Four days after the date of the Probate Settlement, by notice dated March 24, 2015 and recorded in the Registry at Book 65111, Page 25 (the "Notice of Termination"), Vincent, acting as one of the Trust Beneficiaries, terminated the Trust in accordance with Section 6(B) of the Declaration of Trust, which, as noted, permitted any one or more of the beneficiaries thereof to unilaterally terminate the Trust by giving notice of such termination to the trustee(s) of the Trust and recording a notice of such termination in the Registry. In accordance with Section 3(B) of the Declaration of Trust, title to the Partition Property thereby immediately vested in the Trust Beneficiaries (i.e., Vincent, Gerald, John, and Joseph).
11. On April 28, 2016, John, Antoinette, Joseph, Rosemary, Bernadette, and Gerald commenced the Prior Partition Action. As in this case, Vincent was the only party opposing such partition.
12. On June 26, 2015, the parties to the Prior Partition Action filed a document entitled "Settlement and Release Agreement" dated June 24, 2015 (the "Partition Settlement"). [Note 13] In it, the parties thereto agreed, inter alia, that all seven of the Pacelli siblings "are valid beneficiaries of [the Trust] and, as such, each listed individual holds a one-seventh (1/7) ownership interest in the [Partition Property]." [Note 14] The Partition Settlement further contemplated that the Partition Property would be appraised and sold, with each of the Pacelli siblings receiving a one-seventh share of the net proceeds of such sale, with Vincent's share to be reduced by $100,000.00 "in order to repay the [Fourth Mortgage]". The parties further agreed that "upon full satisfaction of the above terms, no criminal charges will be pursued against [Vincent] for the [Fourth Mortgage]." [Note 15] On October 13, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal of the Prior Partition Action without prejudice.
13. On January 15, 2016, Gerald (individually) brought this case, seeking to partition the Partition Property by sale, with the proceeds distributed equally to all seven Pacelli siblings. [Note 16] Gerald, John, Joseph, Rosemary, Bernadette, and Antoinette all consent to the partition and sale of the Partition Property. Vincent is the sole party who objects to the partition and does not agree to the sale (for reasons he has not stated). He thus now seeks to exercise his rights under Paragraph 6 of the Sales Agreement to veto such sale and prevent the partition.
Summary judgment is appropriate where there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute and where the summary judgment record entitles the moving party to judgment as a matter of law. Cassesso v. Comm'r of Corr., 390 Mass. 419 , 422 (1983); Cmty. Nat'l Bank v. Dawes, 369 Mass. 550 , 553 (1976); Mass. R. Civ. P. 56(c). When summary judgment is sought by a party opposing the relief sought in the case, the moving party need only demonstrate a lack of evidence needed to support an essential element of a non-moving party's case. Kourouvacilis v. Gen. Motors Corp., 410 Mass. 706 , 715 (1991). Once that occurs, the burden falls to the non-moving party to "set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue at trial." Mass. R. Civ. P. 56(e).
As a threshold matter, Gerald argues that the Sales Agreement lacks the requisite consideration to make it a binding, enforceable contract, and that he entered into it simply out of love for his sisters. [Note 19] On this point, the Sales Agreement offers little help, providing only that the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries "desire that their three sisters benefit equally from any cash disbursement. . . if/when the premises is sold . . . ." Vincent argues that there was valid consideration for the Sales Agreement, since, he claims, Rosemary, Antoinette, and Bernadette each acquired a 1/7 interest in the Partition Property in exchange for granting the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries, in effect, a right to veto any sale of the Partition Property. Thus, the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries each accepted a reduction (from 1/4 to 1/7) of their interests in the Partition Property in exchange for such veto rights.
Notably, at the time the parties entered into the Sales Agreement, the Declaration of Trust was still in effect, so Vincent, Joseph, John, and Gerald, in their capacities as the Trust Beneficiaries, already possessed veto power over any sale of the Partition Property pursuant to Paragraph 4B of the Declaration of Trust. However, that power expired upon the termination of the Trust, which subsequently occurred. Thus, in exchange for granting Rosemary, Antoinette, and Bernadette rights in the proceeds of the sale of the Partition Property, Vincent, Joseph, John, and Gerald acquired veto rights that they could exercise (as Sales Agreement Beneficiaries) irrespective of whether the Trust was in effect. As such, it appears that there was valid consideration for the Sales Agreement.
Reasonable restraints on alienation may be enforced. The following factors, if found, tend to support a conclusion that the restraint is reasonable: 1. the one imposing the restraint has some interest in land which he is seeking to protect by the enforcement of the restraint; 2. the restraint is limited in duration; 3. the enforcement of the restraint accomplishes a worthwhile purpose; 4 the type of conveyances prohibited are ones not likely to be employed to any substantial degree by the one restrained; 5. the number of persons to whom alienation is prohibited is small . . . .
Franklin v. Spadafora, 388 Mass. 764 , 766 (1983) (quotation and citation omitted). Thus, case law has carved out a limited exception to the statutorily-protected right of partition: "a tenant in common may bind himself by agreement from asserting any right to partition, and [ ] such an agreement if extending for only a reasonable time is not contrary to public policy and operates by way of waiver or estoppel to prevent the maintenance of partition proceedings." Roberts v. Jones, 307 Mass. 504 , 506 (1940).
If [the non-selling owner] accepted the [third-party] purchaser [rather than purchasing the selling owner's share, such third-party purchaser] became bound by the terms of the agreement in selling his share. The party not desiring to sell can thus extend the agreement to successive purchasers. The alienation of the property may be restricted over a long period of years. As a practical matter, the situation is not much different from what it would have been if the agreement expressly provided that there could be no sale without the consent of all tenants in common. The agreement unduly restricts the alienation of the property for an unreasonable length of time. Accordingly, it does not come within the general rule that an agreement postponing partition for a reasonable time will bar partition, and as the operation of the agreement may result in restricting the alienation of the property for years, contingent in substance upon a sale being made with the consent of both parties, the agreement imposing such a restraint upon the alienation of an estate in fee simple for a period beyond that fixed by the rule against perpetuities is contrary to public policy and cannot be enforced.
In support of his claim of enforceability, Vincent cites the case of Rocco v. Martignetti, 33 LCR 97 , 99 (Mass. Land Ct. Mar. 4, 2014), which offers an example where the Land Court (Scheier, J.) upheld an agreement not to seek a partition. The factual background in Rocco, however, is significantly different than that presented here. In Rocco, the parties had entered into an agreement not to partition property that they jointly owned in connection with their settlement of a prior partition proceeding involving another former interest holder, with the specific motivationofavoiding another future partition proceeding. To that end, the agreement was "replete with language that sets the context for the parties' concern that [they] would be able to remain in their homes without fear of a partition action causing a sale and subsequent possible eviction." Id. Moreover, the court, noting that the parties to the agreement in question were of advanced age when they entered into it, found that "[t]he age of the parties at the time of the agreement is one factor in the determination of reasonableness." Id. [Note 21] Further, unlike in Roberts, the agreement at issue in Rocco specifically provided that the right to prevent a partition ceased upon the death of the parties themselves, and thus could not be passed on to any subsequent transferee.
In sum, Roberts and Rocco, read together, stand for the proposition that agreements not to seek a partition of property are "not contrary to public policy", Roberts, 307 Mass. at 506, but only if the specific circumstances surrounding such agreements are such that the restriction placed on the free alienability of property "extends for only a reasonable time", Rocco, 22 LCR at 99. Here, however (as was the case in Roberts), the Sales Agreement does not contain any language whatsoever purporting to limit temporally the time in which the veto rights acquired by the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries could be exercised. Rather, such rights are limited only in terms of who is permitted to exercise them. On this point, Vincent argues that "when one reads the [Sales] Agreement as a whole, it is apparent that such control does not last forever" because, he claims, the language of the Sales Agreement ("if/when the premises gets [sic] sold") implies an intent to sell the Partition Property (at some point). Further, Vincent claims, "the right of a brother to object to the sale of the Property terminates with that brother's death" insofar as it requires only the consent of "all of the surviving beneficial interest holders" for such a sale.
This argument, however, is unavailing because, on its face, the Sales Agreement does not specify that the "surviving beneficial interest holders" refers only to Vincent, Joseph, John, and Gerald. Rather, as noted, the Sales Agreement specifically permits third parties to succeed Vincent, Joseph, John, or Gerald as the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries without any restriction or requirement for approval of such a succession, in which case such successors in interest would be bound by the terms of the Sales Agreement. [Note 22] Contrast Rocco, 33 LCR at 99 (noting that the veto power expired upon the death of the parties themselves, without possibility of succession).
As was the case in Roberts, the restriction in the Sales Agreement that Vincent, in his capacity as one of the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries, now seeks to enforce has the potential to effect a perpetual restriction on the alienation of the Partition Property. Accordingly, "it does not come within the general rule that an agreement postponing partition for a reasonable time will bar partition . . . [since] the operation of the agreement may result in restricting the alienation of the property for years . . . ." Roberts, 307 Mass. at 507. Rather, because it would permit a restriction on property for a period "beyond that fixed by the rule against perpetuities [it] is contrary to public policy and cannot be enforced." Id. at 508.
In addition to running afoul of the concerns articulated in Roberts as to temporal limitations, none of the factual considerations cited in Rocco in support of enforcement is present here. As discussed above, in Rocco, the agreement in question was created bythe parties thereto in connection with their resolution of a prior partition proceeding involving another former interest holder, and was specifically designed to avoid a future partition proceeding. The reason for this was that the parties were of advanced age, and thus desired to ensure that they could remain living at the property for the remainder of their natural lives without fear or risk of being forced to vacate the property in the event one of their co-owners sought a partition. Here, however, there was no prior partition proceeding, nor any indication of a desire to forestall a future partition proceeding, nor does the Sales Agreement express any intent to shield the parties from the possibility of eviction. [Note 24] Indeed, the Sales Agreement contains no indication whatsoever as to why the veto rights were created. Rather, they appear to have been motivated by a general desire to enable Vincent, Joseph, John, and Gerald, as the Sales Agreement Beneficiaries, to retain the ability to control the disposition of the Partition Property after granting interests in said property to their non-beneficiary sisters and after the termination of the Trust. As such, none of the equitable factors cited in Rocco appears to be present here.
Based upon the foregoing discussion, it is the determination of this court that Paragraph 6 of the Sales Agreement (stating that "in the event, and if/when the premises gets sold, all of the surviving beneficial interest holders will need to be in agreement for the sale of the premises") is VOID as an unreasonable restraint on the free alienability of property. In all other respects, the Sales Agreement appears to be valid and enforceable. [Note 26] Vincent is thus not entitled to rely on Paragraph 6 of the Sales Agreement to prevent the partition of the Partition Property and/or to veto the sale thereof. Vincent's motion for summary judgment is therefore DENIED in all respects.
The Commissioner is hereby instructed to proceed with the partition by sale of the Partition Property forthwith in accordance with Paragraph 1 of the Sales Agreement, which provides that each of the seven Pacelli siblings are entitled to a one-seventh share of the proceeds of the sale of the Partition Property. [Note 27] The parties shall attend a status conference on November 8, 2016 at 11:30 A.M. to discuss how to proceed in this case.
Judgment shall enter after all matters in this case are resolved.
[Note 1] It should be noted that the seven siblings were parties to another Land Court case (Pacelli v. Pacelli, Case No. 15 MISC 000149 (GHP)) (the "Prior Partition Action"), which was dismissed on October 13, 2015 by stipulation of dismissal without prejudice.
[Note 2] This dispute over the rear property line was the subject of an earlier Land Court action (Pacelli v. Mourato, Case No. 09 MISC 412532 (JCC)) (the "Boundary Dispute Action"), which was resolved by voluntary dismissal dated October 11, 2013.
[Note 3] There have been conflicting reports regarding the description of the Partition Property and who lives there. In Gerald's Complaint, and at prior appearances in this case, the parties have described the Partition Property as containing a three-family home. However, in his May 9, 2016 report, the Commissioner reported that the Partition Property actually contained a four-unit dwelling -- a finding that was not disputed by the parties. With respect to occupancy, at the March 9, 2016 case management conference, the parties represented that three of the units were occupied by Vincent, Gerald, and John's son. In his May 27, 2016 response to the Commissioner's report, Vincent alleged that he "ha[d], historically, usually been able to rent out one floor of the Property", but that, since August of 2015, his siblings had blocked his attempts at renting units at the Partition Property, and, since then, "the Pacelli siblings and their offspring (from time to time) have been occupying the Property". Vincent claims to have occupied at least some portion of the Partition Property all of his adult life, and that he manages and pays all expenses relating thereto.
[Note 4] Notwithstanding this reference to a schedule of beneficial interests, no such schedule was annexed to the Declaration of Trust or recorded, nor was a copy of same introduced by the parties. It is unclear from the record whether any such schedule ever existed in a tangible form. Nonetheless, it is undisputed by the parties (and attested to in Vincent's affidavit) that Vincent, Gerald, John, and Joseph were the beneficiaries.
[Note 5] Paragraph 8 of the Declaration of Trust contains a standard "conclusive evidence" provision with respect to third-party reliance on of record representations made by the trustees of the Trust.
[Note 6] The Petition does not identify Vincent A. Pacelli's or Joseph P. Pacelli's relationship to the parties to this case.
[Note 7] The parties did not include this document in the summary judgment record, but it was an exhibit to Vincent's Motion to Dismiss filed in the Prior Partition Action and is a recorded public record. The court takes judicial notice of the contents of that case file, including myriad relevant documents discussed below (most of which, too, are public records), which, likewise, were not brought to this court's attention by the parties.
[Note 8] Shortly thereafter, on April 20, 1989, John and Vincent, again acting as trustees of the Trust, granted an additional $10,000.00 mortgage to Central Co-operative Bank , which was recorded in the Registry at Book 19775, Page 485 (the "Second Mortgage"). The Second Mortgage was discharged by a notice dated November 5, 1999 and recorded in the Registry on January 10, 2000 at Book 31041, Page 108. The court has been unable to locate a recorded discharge of the First Mortgage.
[Note 9] The Sales Agreement states that it was entered into "for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged" but does not identify what such consideration was.
[Note 10] The Sales Agreement further provides that "[Rosemary], [Bernadette], and [Antoinette] have no voting rights and determination of expenses if/when the premises gets sold . . . . The beneficial interest holders [identified therein as then being Vincent, Gerald, John, and Joseph] will determine the property expenses."
[Note 11] Paragraph 5 of the Sales Agreement provides that: "[the] beneficial interest holders and the three sisters may appoint a successor and heir to their 1/7 interest, and the successor and hier [sic] will adhere to all aspects of this agreement." It further provides that the Sales Agreement "is binding on the successors and heirs of the beneficial interest holders [Vincent, Gerald, John, and Joseph] and the three sisters [Rosemary, Bernadette, and Antoinette]."
[Note 12] The Probate Settlement is captioned for the Probate Action, but there is no indication that it was actually filed with that court. In a statement filed in the Prior Partition Action, Gerald claimed that the Probate Settlement had been "allowed" by that court, but the docket for that case provides no indication that the document had been filed or considered by that court. That case was eventually dismissed by agreement filed just before this case was commenced.
[Note 13] The original of this document was filed by the parties in the Prior Partition Action and remains a part of that case's court file. It contains original notarized signatures by all of the Pacelli siblings.
[Note 14] It is unclear what effect this provision of the Partition Settlement has, since Vincent had already acted to terminate the Trust three months prior, and there is nothing of record indicating that his termination of the Trust was withdrawn as a result of the Partition Settlement. Yet, to that point (and to date), there is no indication that Vincent ever took any action to distribute the assets of the Trust after his termination thereof, as required by G.L. c. 203E, § 817.
[Note 15] Notwithstanding the Partition Settlement, on August 11, 2015, Vincent filed a motion to dismiss the Prior Partition Action. At a status conference held in that case on September 18, 2015 to determine the purpose of that motion, Vincent's counsel disputed the enforceability of the Partition Settlement. In response, Gerald's counsel suggested that the parties thereto might not seek to enforce the agreement and, instead, would request a partition commissioner be appointed. The parties never briefed Vincent's motion to dismiss, as that case was shortly thereafter dismissed by agreement.
[Note 16] In his Complaint, Gerald named John, Joseph, and Vincent (individually) as respondents with interests in the Partition Property as tenants in common, and Antoinette, Bernadette, and Rosemary as respondents with "[u]ndetermined interests in the Partition Property." No reference was made in the Complaint to the Partition Settlement.
[Note 17] As noted above, Vincent is the only partywho opposes the partition. Joseph, John, Rosemary, Antoinette, and Bernadette all agree with Gerald that the Partition Property should be partitioned and sold.
[Note 18] As noted, Paragraph 6 of the Sales Agreement provides that "in the event, and if/when the premises gets sold, all of the surviving beneficial interest holders will need to be in agreement for the sale of the premises." As Gerald points out, the Sales Agreement is entirely silent on the issue of partitions of the Partition Property and/or the parties' statutory right thereto.
[Note 19] Gerald also argues that the Sales Agreement does not contain an unambiguous waiver of the right of partition, and that he did not intend to agree to such waiver or understand that such was the effect of the Sales Agreement. This argument essentially boils down to a claim of unilateral mistake (on Gerald's part) in entering into the Sales Agreement. Case law establishes only a limited set of circumstances under which a contract may be reformed or set aside on the basis of unilateral mistake, and, moreover, that such exceptional circumstances may be established only through concrete allegations of specific facts. See Nissan Automobiles of Marlborough, Inc. v. Glick, 62 Mass. App. Ct. 302 , 306-307 (2004). No such circumstance appears to be present here, nor did Gerald allege any specific facts tending to support setting aside the Sales Agreement on the basis of unilateral mistake. Thus, I find this argument unpersuasive.
[Note 20] The agreement at issue in Roberts did not forbid outright a sale of the parties' interests therein, but rather merely required each owner to offer to sell her interest to the other before seeking a third-party buyer, and, in the event such a third-party buyer was procured, to offer to sell to the other on the same terms.
[Note 21] Vincent cites an observation made in Rocco that "the term reasonable [time]' has not been clearly delineated", Rocco, 22 LCR at 99, and urges this court to make such a delineation. It appears that the thrust of Vincent's argument here is that the restriction at issue here (which has been of record for only thirteen years) should be found to be per se reasonable based upon Rocco, wherein the court upheld a restriction that had then been in effect for twenty-four years.
To the extent that this accurately describes Vincent's position, his argument misses the point. What is critical to consider in this context is not how long any particular restriction has been in effect, but rather how long a restriction can possibly be effective. On that question, the rule against perpetuities quite obviously serves as a bright line rule, beyond which any restriction is per se unreasonable. However, nothing in Roberts or Rocco commands the conclusion that a restriction must violate the rule against perpetuities in order to be unreasonable. Thus, determining whether a restriction that does not run afoul of the rule against perpetuities is reasonable calls for a highly fact-specific inquiry. As such, it does not appear that the term "reasonable time", for purposes of applying the Roberts rule, is susceptible to further "delineation". To the extent that Vincent seeks to have this court establish a bright line rule (along the lines of "any restriction valid for x number of years is reasonable"), I decline to do so.
[Note 22] As noted above, the Sales Agreement provides that the "beneficial interest holders and the three sisters may appoint a successor and heir to their 1/7 interest, and the successor and hier [sic] will adhere to all aspects of this agreement". The Sales Agreement sets forth no restriction or need for approval to exercise this succession right.
Such succession rights mirror language from the Declaration of Trust, which, while it was in effect, likewise provided that third parties could succeed to Vincent, Joseph, John, or Gerald's rights as the Trust Beneficiaries.
[Note 23] Roberts approaches this issue through the lens of the rule against perpetuities, but it does not necessarily follow from Roberts that a restriction, in order to fail, must violate the rule against perpetuities. Rather, to invalidate such a restriction, all the court must find is that "[a]s a practical matter, . . . [t]he agreement [could] unduly restrict[ ] the alienation of the property for an unreasonable length of time." Roberts, 307 Mass. at 507. Thus, even if I were to agree with Vincent that the veto can be exercised onlyby Vincent, Joseph, John, and Gerald , that would still amount to a veto power that is exercisable for many years, which, absent any of the equitable factors that were present in Rocco, appears to be unreasonable irrespective of whether it violates the rule against perpetuities.
[Note 24] Nothing in the evidentiaryrecord indicates the parties' ages at the time theyentered into the Sales Agreement, so that cannot be cited as a factor either for or against enforceability.
[Note 25] In addition to failing the second factor noted in Franklin (limited duration), the other four factors noted in Franklin are also missing here. To wit, it does not appear (1) that there is any particular "interest in land which [Vincent] is seeking to protect by the enforcement of the restraint", that (3) "the enforcement of the restraint accomplishes a worthwhile purpose", (4) that "the type of conveyances prohibited are ones not likely to be employed to any substantial degree by the one restrained", or (5) that "the number of persons to whom alienation is prohibited is small . . . ." Franklin, 388 Mass. at 766. Rather, Vincent does not seek to advance any particular goal, interest, or purpose other than his own wish to dictate -- for any reason, or for no reason whatsoever -- the disposition of the Partition Property by anyone to anyone.
[Note 26] Notably, Paragraph 4 of the Sales Agreement contains a binding severability clause.
[Note 27] Whether the parties' one-seventh shares must be adjusted to reflect contributions made to the Partition Property (or, perhaps, in Vincent's case, a reduction based upon his alleged actions in connection with the Fourth Mortgage) remains to be determined by this court based upon the recommendations of the Commissioner.

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