Opinion ID: 1896706
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: procurement of the buyer

Text: The final issue on appeal is whether there is any evidence creating a genuine issue of material fact over who produced Caron as the buyer of the real estate. On appeal, Commander asserts for the first time that it produced Caron as the purchaser of the property and is entitled to a commission under the terms of the contract. We find no sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact on that question. Commander does not claim that it ever had any direct contact with Caron. Commander asserts only that it indirectly produced Caron as a purchaser through its signs and advertising. However, there is absolutely no evidence that Caron learned of the property through any advertising or signs. In fact, it is undisputed that Bacher and Yeager had learned of the property in 1982 or 1983, prior to the time Commander obtained a listing on the property. Bacher learned of the property when Harrigan personally came to his office and asked him to place a sign for him. Bacher then informed Yeager about the property, and together they informed Caron about the property, though Caron was not interested at the time. All this occurred long before Commander obtained a listing on the property. But Commander also claims that it indirectly produced Caron as the purchaser when Bacher Realty, through its agent Galen Hammond, contacted Commander regarding the price and the listing agreement. Commander asserts that Bacher learned of the property through Commander and that in that way Commander indirectly produced Caron as the purchaser. First, it is not unusual for one real estate agent to contact another regarding information on the property listed by the agent, even if there is no particular buyer in mind. Commander even states in its brief that it had received calls from most of the real estate firms in the area for information on the property. It was not unusual for Bacher's firm to do the same. The fact that Bacher's agent had minimal contact with Commander does not mean that Bacher learned of the property through Commander. In fact, it remains undisputed that both Bacher and Yeager had learned about the property and had told Caron about it long before Commander obtained a listing. Thus, it is not reasonable to conclude that Commander's advertising informed Bacher and Yeager about the property. On these undisputed facts, there is no basis for concluding that Commander actually produced Caron as the purchaser, either directly or indirectly. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed. AFFIRMED. TORBERT, C.J., and JONES, SHORES and STEAGALL, JJ., concur.