Court Opinion

ID: 9531540
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:12:46.423975+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:30.514730
License: Public Domain

ROSSMAN, P. J.,
dissenting.
As the majority correctly notes, whether a person has sufficient knowledge of a misrepresentation to cause her to make inquiry is a question of fact, unless only one conclusion can reasonably be drawn from the evidence. Mathies v. Hoeck, 284 Or 539, 543, 588 P2d 1 (1978). Unfortunately, the majority incorrectly holds that the evidence here is such that the only conclusion that can be drawn is that, more than two years before the action was commenced, plaintiff had knowledge of facts sufficient to cause her to inquire as to whether defendants fraudulently represented that the property could be subdivided. Because I believe that fact issues remain, I must respectfully dissent.
I agree that the disclaimer contained in the deed notified plaintiff that the deed itself made no representations about the approved uses of the property. However, contrary to the majority’s determination, I believe that it is clearly a question of fact as to whether the disclaimer could have given plaintiff sufficient knowledge to call for an inquiry as to whether defendants fraudulently misrepresented that the property could be subdivided. A disclaimer relating to the content of a deed does not protect a defendant from a claim of *415fraudulent misrepresentation as to the zoning of the property. See Soursby v. Hawkins, 307 Or 79, 763 P2d 725 (1988); Wilkinson v. Carpenter, 276 Or 311, 314, 554 P2d 512 (1976). Neither should it be considered adequate notice to a person of the fraudulent misrepresentations of the seller. I disagree with the implication that the majority draws from Soursby that, in the light of the existence of ORS 93.040 and the requirement that the deed contain a disclaimer, all buyers are on notice to check for fraud.
Finally, the majority has also concluded that a small notation on a county sewer permit form that the property is zoned “EFU” was sufficient to give notice to plaintiff that she should inquire as to whether defendants fraudulently misrepresented to her that the property could be subdivided. Again, I believe that what plaintiff — or any other person — could reasonably have understood from that notation is a question for a factfinder, not something for a judge to determine as a matter of law.
Accordingly, I would send this case back to the trial court for a trial and let the jury decide the facts.