Opinion ID: 2092601
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: count iii breach of contract claim

Text: Finally, plaintiff argues that the failure of the appellate court to consider the breach of contract claims of count III constitutes an independent ground of reversible error. Count III of Siegel's complaint alleged that the defendants were in breach of the purchase agreement in that they did not complete the apartment by August 3, 1983. We feel that, as a matter of law, under the terms of the purchase agreement defendants' performance was not untimely. The purchase agreement set a date by which unit 48A was required to be completed. According to paragraph 5(a): The purchase and sale of the Unit Ownership shall be closed on a date (Closing Date) following substantial completion of the Purchased Unit and inspection described in Paragraph 3(e) hereof, which date shall be designated by Seller or its agent upon not less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice to the Purchaser, or upon such earlier date as may be agreed upon by Purchaser and Seller. It is estimated that the Purchased Unit will be substantially completed by August 3, 1983 (Estimated Completion Date), subject to extension for delays occasioned by strikes, material shortages, labor shortages, casualties, inclement weather conditions, acts of God and other causes beyond the reasonable control of Seller. Paragraph 5(a) goes on to provide: In the event that closing does not occur on or before December 31, 1985 (the `Outside Closing Date'), and Purchaser is not then in default hereunder, upon Purchaser's written notice to Seller of its election to terminate, which must be given prior to notice to Purchaser of the substantial completion of the Purchased Unit and Seller's designation of the Closing Date as provided for above, Seller shall return to Purchaser the earnest money with any interest accrued thereon to which Purchaser is entitled pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof and this Purchase Agreement shall become null and void without further liability to either Purchaser or Seller. It appears clear on the face of the agreement that the August 3, 1983, date was only an Estimated Completion Date and that it was the hope of the Levy Organization to have the unit substantially completed by that time. It is equally clear that the estimated date was subject to extension for delays occasioned by strikes, material shortages, labor shortages, inclement weather, etc. Plaintiff admittedly received a letter dated March 3, 1983, from the Levy Organization notifying him that [t]he Estimated Completion Date set forth in [the purchase agreement] was delayed due to the adverse winter weather conditions last year [the winter of 1982-83] and other causes beyond our control. Although plaintiff introduced evidence that the winter of 1982-83 was not more severe than an average Chicago winter, plaintiff could not show that there was no inclement weather that affected construction. In addition, plaintiff failed to present any evidence to contradict the testimony of Gary Marks, the project manager on the OMM building, that labor strikes caused delays in construction. Finally, it is undisputed that the purchased unit was completed prior to the Outside Closing Date of December 31, 1985. Thus, defendants timely performed their obligations under the purchase agreement and plaintiff's claim must fall.