Opinion ID: 1517392
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Construction of the Written Agreement

Text: [¶ 19] It must be determined whether the agreement, comprised as it is of the several documents, is ambiguous, especially with respect to the date the sale was to be finalized. See Spottiswoode v. Levine, 1999 ME 79, ¶ 16, 730 A.2d 166, 172. Whether a term in a contract is ambiguous is an issue of law. See id. A contract is ambiguous if it is reasonably susceptible to more than one interpretation. See Fitzgerald v. Gamester, 658 A.2d 1065, 1069 (Me.1995). [¶ 20] Here, the bill of sale acknowledges receipt and delivery of the property on May 1, yet the purchase and sale agreement does not define a closing date, simply stating that the purchase shall take place. . . not later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this Agreement. Moreover, the letter from Attorney Gosselin notes that certain conditions have to be met before the sale is to be completed. Given the conflicting statements in the written documents, it is clear that the agreement is ambiguous with respect to the date the sale was to be finalized. [¶ 21] When a written agreement is ambiguous, the court must determine the intent of the parties in entering that contract, and that determination is a question of fact that we review for clear error. See Spottiswoode v. Levine, 1999 ME 79, ¶ 16, 730 A.2d at 172; see also Bangor Publ'g Co. v. Union St. Market, 1998 ME 37, ¶ 5, 706 A.2d 595, 597. To aid it in construing the agreement, the factfinder may `entertain extrinsic evidence casting light upon the intention of the parties with respect to the meaning of the unclear language' Bangor Publ'g Co. v. Union St. Market, 1998 ME 37, ¶ 5, 706 A.2d at 597 (quoting T-M Oil Co., Inc. v. Pasquale, 388 A.2d 82, 85 (Me.1978)). Accordingly, it was appropriate for the court to accept extrinsic evidence to aid it in determining the date on which the parties intended the sale to be finalized. [2] See Bangor Publ'g Co. v. Union St. Market, 1998 ME 37, ¶ 6, 706 A.2d at 597. [¶ 22] The court heard evidence that Gosselin and Brainerd both understood and intended that the sale would not be complete until the conditions in Gosselin's letter had been satisfied. Moreover, Brainerd also testified that she did not receive and deposit any money until May 9. Finally, Gosselin testified that he did not receive the signed bill of sale and the signed purchase and sale agreement from Hilltop until May 9. Given this evidence and the language contained in the written agreement itself, the court's finding that the sale did not take place until May 9 is supported by the evidence and is not clearly erroneous. [3] The entry is: Judgment affirmed.