Opinion ID: 1897349
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: daigle's performance as broker

Text: [¶ 19] The court characterized the promise as follows: St. Laurent continually told Roger Daigle that he should continue his efforts to market and lease Meadowbrook and that if he were successful in finding a buyer, he would receive a commission. St. Laurent argues that even if this promise is enforceable based on a theory of promissory estoppel, Daigle was not the effective and producing cause of the sale to Andrews and he therefore failed to find a buyer as contemplated by St. Laurent's promise. We disagree. [¶ 20] The court never explicitly determined if either Daigle or Maloney was the effective and producing cause of the sale. Because St. Laurent failed to move for further findings of fact pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 52 on this issue, we may assume that the court found that Daigle was, in fact, the effective and producing cause of the sale and we review the record to determine whether this finding is supported by the evidence in the record. See Estate of Saliba v. Dunning, 682 A.2d 224, 226 (Me. 1996); Smile, Inc. v. Moosehead Sanitary Dist., 649 A.2d 1103, 1106 (Me.1994). [¶ 21] The court's implied finding that Daigle was the effective and producing cause of the sale was not clearly erroneous. See Bedard v. Pellon, 606 A.2d 205, 207 (Me.1992). Daigle introduced Andrews to the Meadowbrook property in March 1996 and entered into an non-disclosure agreement for its sale. In April 1996, Daigle sent information regarding Meadowbrook to Andrews, including financial information and a professional summary appraisal. Daigle engaged in numerous discussions with Andrews, exchanged a number of phone calls with him to discuss Meadowbrook, and communicated Andrews's interest to St. Laurent. In May 1996, when St. Laurent expressed doubts about Andrews's ability to make a purchase, Daigle investigated Andrews's financial background, communicated that to St. Laurent, and convinced St. Laurent that Andrews was a viable candidate to purchase Meadowbrook. During this time, Andrews viewed the property on his own even though Daigle offered to show it to him. About two months later, Andrews purchased Meadowbrook. We conclude that the court did not err in its assumed finding of fact that Daigle was the effective and producing cause of the sale.