Opinion ID: 2370096
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Letters of Acceptance

Text: We next must examine the Association's letters to the Estate purporting to accept the Offer of Sale. The Estate argues that those letters were equivocal and contradictory. If so, no contract was formed even if the Offer of Sale did constitute a true offer. As previously mentioned, the Association's letter of September 22 bears the heading Letter of Interest in Purchasing and Acceptance of Offer for Sale and states that the Association both accepts the offer of sale and further expresses its interest in purchasing the Property. The letter then characterizes itself as a statement of interest, requests specified information to assist the tenants [sic] association in exploring the feasibility of purchasing this property, and alludes to the period for us to negotiate a contract of sale with you. The Estate reasonably could have been uncertain whether this letter was anything more than a statement of potential interest, an opening salvo in negotiation. Like the Offer of Sale, the September 22 letter is ambiguous. The following day, however, the Association arguably clarified (or perhaps it would be more accurate to say emended) its intentions. Its letter of September 23, captioned a Letter of Acceptance of Offer, states categorically that the previous letter accepted the September 1 offer of sale and declares the Association ready, willing and able to transfer a 5% refundable earnest money deposit upon request. Considering the two letters together, a reasonable fact-finder could readily conclude that, by September 23, the Association conveyed its unequivocal acceptance of the September 1 Offer of Sale. In light of our conclusion that the Offer of Sale is ambiguous, and can be construed either as a firm offer or an invitation to negotiate, we need not decide whether the Association's letters of September 22 and 23, taken together, constituted a valid acceptance as a matter of law. [66]