Court Opinion

ID: 9540645
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:18:32.912283+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:00:08.181064
License: Public Domain

Justice PLEICONES
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. I agree with the majority that neither Owner 3 nor Owner 4 had any notice of a defect in the chain of title. I agree with the Chief Justice, however, that it can be reasonably deduced from the face of the complaint that Owner 2 never acquired title to the tenth of an acre at issue *133and that Owner 4 therefore cannot be a good faith purchaser for value. Consequently, I would reverse the dismissal of the complaint for failure to state a cause of action for declaratory judgment.
“A ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss must be based solely upon the allegations set forth on the face of the complaint.” Toussaint v. Ham, 292 S.C. 415, 416, 357 S.E.2d 8, 9 (1987). Regardless whether the court believes that the plaintiff is likely to prevail on the merits, “the motion cannot be sustained if facts alleged and inferences reasonably deducible therefrom would entitle the plaintiff to any relief on any theory of the case.” Id.
The majority is correct that the complaint alleges an agency relationship between Wilkins and Owners 1 and 2. That is not dispositive, as the complaint further alleges that neither Owner 1 nor Owner 2 invested Wilkins with actual authority to alter the deeds or the plat at issue. Furthermore, the complaint does not aver that Wilkins had apparent authority to alter the instruments, nor can such be reasonably deduced from its four corners. If Wilkins lacked actual or apparent authority to perform these acts, then his conduct cannot be imputed to Owner 1 or Owner 2. Thus, principles of agency do not facially negate the allegation that Owner 2 never acquired title to the tenth of an acre. That allegation, on its face, is thus sufficient to defeat the claim that Owner 4 is a good faith purchaser for value.
I find troubling that the complaint fails to spell out the relief sought by Owner 2. The complaint does not allege that Owner 2 would be entitled to the tenth of an acre, as devisee or heir, if the disputed acreage were returned to Owner l’s estate. Nevertheless, the complaint reasonably indicates Owner 2’s desire to insulate herself from a potential breach-of-warranty action. Further factual development is necessary to determine whether her concern is legitimate. I would therefore hold that the complaint states a cause of action for declaratory judgment.