Opinion ID: 1340401
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: appellant's third-party-beneficiary claim

Text: Before trial, Appellant argued that it was a third-party beneficiary of the Sales Contract. Respondent moved for summary judgment that Appellant could not proceed as a third-party beneficiary. Appellant argues that the circuit court erred by granting Respondent's motion. We disagree. In reviewing an order of summary judgment, an appellate court applies the same standard as that which the circuit court applied in determining whether to enter the order. Osborne v. Adams, 346 S.C. 4, 7, 550 S.E.2d 319, 321 (2001). Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c), SCRCP. In determining whether any triable issues of fact exist, the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Osborne, 346 S.C. at 7, 550 S.E.2d at 321. Appellant was not a third-party beneficiary of the Sales Contract. A third-party beneficiary is a party that the contracting parties intend to directly benefit. Touchberry v. City of Florence, 295 S.C. 47, 48-49, 367 S.E.2d 149, 150 (1988). There is no evidence that Respondent and the Buyer intended to directly benefit Appellant. Appellant's expected benefit was merely incidental. The circuit court properly granted Respondent's motion for summary judgment.