Opinion ID: 886378
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues

Text: ¶ 12 Did the District Court err when it determined that the default notice complied with the terms of the Contract for Deed? ¶ 13 The Danelsons contend that the default notice was defective for two reasons. First, they argue that the notice did not comply with paragraphs 17 and 18 of the Contract for Deed. Second, they contend that the default notice was defective because it was signed only by Howard Robinson and not by the other seller, Constance Robinson. ¶ 14 As to the Danelsons first contention, paragraph 17 of the contract requires the sellers to give written notice of default by certified mail addressed to the buyers setting forth therein that the buyers are in default of the agreement and that the buyers shall have 90 days to cure the default. Paragraph 18 sets forth the additional fees that have to be paid to the escrow agent to cure a default, including attorney fees, costs, and telephone calls. ¶ 15 In prior cases we have noted: There must be strict pursuance of the course prescribed by the contract in foreclosing the vendee's rights thereunder, particularly when it involves a forfeiture of the payments made by the vendee. Quigley v. Acker, 1998 MT 72, ¶ 22, 288 Mont. 190, ¶ 22, 955 P.2d 1377, ¶ 22 ( citing Shuey v. Hamilton (1963), 142 Mont. 83, 91, 381 P.2d 482, 486; Rader v. Taylor (1958), 134 Mont. 419, 427, 333 P.2d 480, 486). In this case, the Robinsons did comply with the course prescribed by the contract. They gave written notice by certified mail to the Danelsons that the required payment of $16,000 due on December 1, 1999, was not timely made and they informed the Danelsons that they had 90 days to cure the default. As to paragraph 18, there is nothing in that paragraph that leads this Court to the conclusion that the default notice must include information regarding additional fees that need to be paid to the escrow agent, such as attorney fees and costs. Excluding this information does not make the default notice defective. As such, the default notice sufficiently complied with paragraphs 17 and 18 of the Contract for Deed. ¶ 16 Second, the Danelsons point to our decision in Quigley, ¶ 5, where an amended termination notice was not signed by the party sending the notice. This Court held in Quigley, that the absence of the signatures was a failure to comply with the contract's course and procedures. To that end, the Danelsons claim that it is possible that since Constance was a party to the contract and had not signed the notice of default that she did not agree with the default notice. ¶ 17 Though it is true that Constance did not sign the notice, the Danelsons failed to make this argument in the District Court. This Court does not address issues raised for the first time on appeal. Bryan v. Yellowstone County Elementary School District, 2002 MT 264, ¶ 19, 312 Mont. 257, ¶ 19, 60 P.3d 381, ¶ 19 ( citing Day v. Payne (1996), 280 Mont. 273, 276, 929 P.2d 864, 866). Because the Danelsons did not make this argument below, they have waived the right to bring this argument on appeal. ¶ 18 Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's Order for Summary Judgment on Issue 1.