Court Opinion

ID: 9794737
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 03:10:48.750268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:19:43.088704
License: Public Domain

*855Hunter, J.
(dissenting) — The crux of this case is whether, when executing the earnest money agreement, the parties contemplated that the broker was to receive his full commission if the sale was not consummated without the fault of the sellers. The agreement is silent on this contingency.
In the instant case, the contract must be construed most strongly against the broker who prepared it. Wise v. Farden, 53 Wn. (2d) 162, 332 P. (2d) 454 (1958). The contract must be read in its entirety and language in the contract cannot be considered in isolation. Johnston v. Maryland Cas. Co., 22 Wn. (2d) 305, 155 P. (2d) 806 (1945).
It seems to me that the object and purpose of the parties when they entered into the agreement is obvious. The sellers desired to sell their property, and the broker was willing to assist by obtaining a purchaser. When the property was sold, the broker was to be paid his commission. The broker protected his commission, if the sale was not consummated by some fault of the sellers. Any other purpose for entering into the earnest money agreement is inconceivable to me, and an examination of the agreement in its entirety makes this intent clear.
Apparently this understanding was so inherent in the undertaking that it did not occur to the parties it was necessary to provide that no commission would be paid if the sale was not consummated, through no fault of the sellers, after the broker obtained the purchasers.
The provision for the sellers and purchasers to share in the $1,000 earnest money, in the event the purchasers failed to consummate the agreement to purchase, is inconsistent with any theory that the broker is to be paid the full $2,150 commission if the sale should not be consummated.
All of the cases cited by the majority stand for the proposition that the broker shall not be precluded from being paid his commission if the sale is not consummated through some fault of the sellers. Not one case has been cited, nor have I been able to find one, where the broker was held to be entitled to his full commission when the sale was not consummated, through no fault of the seller, under an agreement similar to the agreement in the instant case. *856Although the broad language of the cases lends some support to the broker’s theory, the facts are not similar, and the cases are, therefore, not controlling.
The destruction of the building by fire on the property contracted to be sold made the performance of the contract of sale impossible. The fact that the sellers were unwilling to adjust or agree to a new contract is wholly unrelated to any obligations under-the contract in question.
There was a failure of consideration of the very object and purpose for which- the broker’s services were bargained since the sale of the property became impossible through no fault of the sellers.
The judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.
Finley and Rosellini, JJ., concur with Hunter, J.