Court Opinion

ID: 9465929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:00:09.060754+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:26.995363
License: Public Domain

KEITH, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
Mr. Yono, the plaintiff, ended up with a block of land in subdivision III of the defendant’s real estate development on the island of San Salvador. It is undisputed that he wished to build an hotel on his land and that he insisted on a contractual term that “all roads must be completed within a maximum time limit of three years.”
I think that “all roads” means what it says and should be given its plain meaning. Further, in light of evidence that there is only one “access” road around the island, which was in existence when the contract was signed, I see no basis for the district court’s conclusion that “all roads” meant “all access roads.
Contrary to the district court, I further believe that this breach was material. The plaintiff was interested in investing in an hotel site and bought the land on that understanding. The defendant’s failure to build all of the roads on time hampered development which would have increased the desirability and profitability of building an hotel. Given that plaintiff’s investment was made with the view to building an hotel and that the plaintiff specifically insisted that all roads be built within three years, I do not see how the breach could be anything but material.
I would reverse and remand with directions to grant rescission of the contract.