Opinion ID: 1349964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: broekemeiers' lawsuit

Text: Broekemeiers' Allegations. When Broekemeiers filed their action in 1987, some 8 years after the sale of the automobile dealerships, they contended that Clatanoff, while representing Broekemeiers, conspired with Combs and Pearson to effectuate the sale ultimately closed on May 23, 1979, and that any February 1979 contract in the defendants' possession is a false and fraudulent document misstating the agreement of the parties. Broekemeiers did not allege any specific conduct as fraud by the defendants in conjunction with the sale of dealership property. Further, Broekemeiers alleged nothing to explain how or when they discovered the alleged fraud. Broekemeiers claimed that they were damaged as the result of the contracts of February 16 and 20, 1979, since they were compelled to accept the lesser price of $490,000 vis-a-vis the real price of $530,000 specified in another agreement which Broekemeiers assert was signed for sale of the dealership property. Trial on Statute of Limitations Issue. Copies of the contracts signed on February 16 and 20, 1979, were introduced in evidence at the trial on the statute of limitations issue. Although Willis Broekemeier, president of Broekemeier Ford and Twin Oaks Lincoln Mercury, acknowledged that he signed the contracts for sale, he claimed that the signature page, that is, the last page signed by Broekemeier, is the only authentic page in each of the five-page contracts. Additionally, Willis Broekemeier testified that on February 19 and 20, 1979, he signed another contract calling for a $530,000.00 cash payment with no terms for installment payments of the purchase price. However, Willis Broekemeier was unable to explain how the page bearing his signature became attached to the wrong contract, which specified the $490,000 price in installment payments. Moreover, Broekemeiers were unable to produce a copy of what they claimed to be the true contract, which required the purchasers to pay $530,000 in 1979, with no provision for installment payments. According to Broekemeiers, before the closing on May 23, 1979, they never agreed to installment payments secured by a real estate mortgage, but they did agree to accept a cash payment of the purchase price in full at the closing on May 23, 1979. Willis Broekemeier testified that Broekemeiers did, in fact, receive $240,000 from Combs and Pearson in 1979 and that, although Broekemeiers were unaware of the installment payment format followed by Combs and Pearson, Broekemeiers, nevertheless, accepted mortgage payments for 3 years before the assignment to The Cattle National Bank of Seward in 1982. Moreover, notwithstanding that Willis Broekemeier felt that something was wrong at the closing in May 1979, he proceeded with the closing in accordance with the settlement sheet. On cross-examination, Willis Broekemeier testified regarding his realization that something was wrong in the sale: [Lawyer:] In May of 1979 after this deal was closed, you didn't like the outcome. Right? [Broekemeier:] On May 23rd, I was very angry. Q You were angry with the way the matter closed? A The way I was slammed on with a $250,000.00 mortgage that I never did agree to. Q Angry that you didn't get all of your money? A Definitely. Q In May of 1979? A May 23rd approximately, give or take a day. Willis Broekemeier testified that he did not become aware of the discrepancy between the 1979 contracts and the missing contract document until June 1986, when he obtained copies of the February 16 and 20, 1979, documents in the course of a transaction involving the Small Business Administration. The district court concluded that Broekemeiers' action was barred by the 4-year statute of limitations in § 25-207 and dismissed Broekemeiers' action.