Opinion ID: 1174822
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: issues of fact re: fraud.

Text: The trial court found [t]here is no evidence of fraud or any other wrong doing [sic] on defendant's part. Zeman's claim of fraud is based on Lufthansa's continued misrepresentations that it would honor its promise to lease [his] apartments. Zeman argues that fraud can be based on a present promise to perform a future act if, when he makes the promise, the promisor has no intention of performing. However, the record does not show that Lufthansa had no intention of performing on January 9, the date the oral contract allegedly was formed. The heart of Zeman's fraud claim centers around Lufthansa's alleged reckless indifference to his interests. A promise made without care whether it will be kept, or one the promisor knows or should know will induce detrimental reliance by the promisee, can constitute reckless indifference. Markov v. ABC Transfer & Storage, 76 Wash.2d 388, 457 P.2d 535, 539 (1969). Lufthansa subjectively believed it had not made a promise, but thought all along it was negotiating with several people, including Zeman. Therefore, there is no evidence that Lufthansa made a promise without care whether it would be kept. Lufthansa did sign a letter of intent with Anchor Arms on March 16, 1979, without disclosing this fact to Zeman. But on two occasions just prior to Lufthansa's agreement with Anchor Arms, Zeman had asked for written confirmation of Lufthansa's intent to lease from him, and Lufthansa refused to provide such a document. The refusal to commit in writing would not necessarily undermine the existence of an oral contract already entered into by the parties; the refusal does, however, indicate the absence of reckless indifference to Zeman's interests. Had Lufthansa left Zeman dangling without any sort of response, its silence might have risen to the level of reckless indifference, but the record shows Lufthansa made attempts to remain noncommittal. We affirm the summary judgment as to the fraud claim.