Opinion ID: 167812
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Committing a mistake of law

Text: 47 Accepting Tribune Publishing's allegations as true, the district court may review the appraisal to determine whether MPI committed a mistake of law. 48 A court may review an appraisal if it involves a mistake of law, but not if it involves a mistake of fact. Elberon, 389 A.2d at 446. Where the parties have negotiated specific terms in a contract, courts may review the appraisal for the appraiser's compliance with the contractual terms. E.g., Melton Bros., Inc. v. Philadelphia Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 104 N.J. Eq. 153, 144 A. 726, 728 (1929); Collings Carriage Co. v. German-Am. Ins. Co., 86 N.J. Eq. 53, 97 A. 726, 728 (1916) (invalidating an appraisal because the appraiser failed to comply with the requirements of the agreement of submission). The interpretation of a contractual term, such as fair market value, where its meaning is clear is a legal determination. See, e.g., Driscoll Const. Co., Inc. v. State, Dep't, 371 N.J.Super. 304, 853 A.2d 270, 276 (2004); Bosshard v. Hackensack Univ. Med. Ctr., 345 N.J.Super. 78, 783 A.2d 731, 740 (2001). An appraiser commits a mistake of law in failing to follow a contractual provision. See Elberon, 389 A.2d at 445. 49 In its first amended complaint, Tribune Publishing alleges that MPI's appraisal is invalid because its definition of Fair Market Value differed from the definition set forth in the Option Agreement. First Am. Compl. ¶¶ 41, 48, Aplt.App. at 126, 128. Accepting Tribune Publishing's allegations as true, MPI committed a mistake of law. 50