Opinion ID: 1680654
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the Chancellor erred in refusing to require Sellers to correct defects in the title to the property and convey same.

Text: ¶ 9. Ferrara contends that the chancellor was manifestly wrong in failing to require the Sellers to correct the defect in the title to the property and convey the property pursuant to the terms of their contract. The standard of review for questions concerning the construction of a contract are questions of law that are committed to the court rather than to the factfinder. Warwick v. Gautier Utility Dist., 738 So.2d 212, 215 (Miss.1999); Miss. State Highway Comm'n v. Patterson Enters., Ltd., 627 So.2d 261, 263 (Miss.1993). Because Ferrara calls into question the chancellor's ruling with regard to the rights of the parties under their December 4, 2001 contract, we will review the chancellor's ruling de novo. ¶ 10. Ferrara advances one basic argument under this assignment of error. He argues that the real estate contract in question provided, in pertinent part that: TITLE: The Seller[s][are] to furnish [a] warranty deed. Reasonable time shall be allowed for the examination of title. Should examination of title reveal defects which can be cured, the Seller[s] hereby obligate (themselves) to cure same as expeditiously as possible, and to execute and tender a warranty deed in accordance with the terms thereof. To this end, Ferrara argues that this covenant obligated the Sellers to provide good and merchantable title. ¶ 11. The Sellers did not dispute that Mr. Strong, their father, died some years prior to the contract date, and in regard to his death, neither an estate was opened nor was there an adjudication to establish heirship. However, they contend that the quitclaim deed was executed to the Sellers and was signed by all the heirs of Mr. Strong as well as his wife, Mrs. Strong, which is sufficient proof of title. Ferrara contends that there was simply nothing of record to establish the heirship of Mr. Strong to determine who his lawful heirs were and to finally adjudicate that there were no outstanding, unknown or pretermitted heirs who might claim under his estate. Accordingly, Ferrara maintains that the Sellers breached their agreement to provide good and merchantable title by failing to take some action to establish the heirship. To the extent that they failed to provide such title, Ferrara argues that the Sellers materially breached the contract. Therefore, on the advice of counsel, Ferrara sought specific performance and declaratory judgment relief in order to protect his rights under the contract. ¶ 12. The chancellor ruled that Ferrara was not entitled to specific performance because Ferrara's request for three additional weeks after the January 25, 2002, deadline constituted bad faith. Further, the order provides, The request was refused by the [Sellers] and they declared the contract to be void by reason of [Ferrara]'s failure to comply with the terms of the contract, which the court finds was their right to do.