Opinion ID: 2082303
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the available site

Text: [1, 2] A condition precedent to plaintiff's exercise of the option to purchase the property was set forth in article 2 of the supplemental agreement of 1974. Erin had to offer an available site on which a reputable contractor is prepared . . . to enter into a fixed price construction contract to build a Burger King restaurant and on which a Burger King franchisee is prepared . . . to enter a net lease agreement. The controversy concerns interpretation of the words an available site. Interpretation of contracts is the process of determining from the language and conduct of the parties what they are required to do to conform to the terms of the agreement. 3 A. CORBIN, CONTRACTS § 532 (1960); 4 S. WILLISTON, LAW OF CONTRACTS § 600 (3d ed. W. Jaeger 1961). [T]he proper interpretation of a contract is that which will make it speak the intention of the parties at the time it was made. Ass'n of Portsmouth Teachers v. Portsmouth School Dist., 113 N.H. 659, 661 312 A.2d 573, 575 (1973) quoting Peter Salvucci & Sons, Inc. v. State, 110 N.H. 136, 144, 268 A.2d 899, 905 (1970). [3-5] The parties chose an ambiguous word to define their contractual relationship; available is a term susceptible to a variety of possible meanings. To interpret this word a court must supplement its general understanding of the term with evidence of surrounding circumstances. Rogers v. Cardinal Realty Inc., 115 N.H. 285, 286, 339 A.2d 23, 25 (1975). As a general rule the interpretation of a written instrument is an issue of law for this court to determine. See Murray v. Peabody, 106 N.H. 319, 324, 211 A.2d 855, 859 (1965). Where, however, the trial court allows the admission of extrinsic evidence, the question of its meaning should be left to the trier of facts unless the meaning of the extrinsic evidence is so clear that reasonable men could only reach one conclusion. J. CALAMARI & J. PERILLO, THE LAW OF CONTRACTS § 9-312, at 124 (2d ed. 1977); 4 S. WILLISTON, LAW OF CONTRACTS § 616, at 652 (3d ed. W. Jaeger 1961); RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF CONTRACTS § 238(2) (Tent. Draft. No. 1-7 1973). Both parties introduced extrinsic evidence to clarify the ambiguous term. Thus, we must determine whether the master's interpretation is supported by the evidence. [6] The master found that available site was not narrowly defined in the contract, and that Barrington, Illinois, complied with the terms of the contract. There was evidence that defendant invested in these restaurants to obtain tax shelters. Thus, it was reasonable to infer that the parties did not intend the available site requirement to have territorial limits. These could easily have been specified, if intended. The master's interpretation, therefore, was reasonable and could be properly drawn from the evidence. Dove v. Knox Mt. Corp., 114 N.H. 278, 280, 319 A.2d 640, 641 (1974).