Court Opinion

ID: 3388227
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 18:45:34.50653+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:47.361537
License: Public Domain

On petition for rehearing appellant insists that this Court has overlooked or failed to apply the principles enunciated in Riverside Investment Co. v. Gibson, 67 Fla., 130, 64 So.2d 439. On the contrary, the affirmance of the order sustaining the demurrer to appellant's bill is fully warranted by that case. In that case, the sale was made in Polk County of certain lots in Duval County. The agent exhibited a plat and represented the lots as high and dry and suitable for building purposes. The purchaser had no opportunity to examine the lots, and relied upon the representations made. As a matter of fact, the lots were low and swampy and for the most part covered by water. In this case, the purchaser inspected the property in person. If as contended an inspection could not have revealed the fact that the property was subject to overflow *Page 146 
during periods of heavy rainfall, the bill still fails to measure up to the principles laid down in the cited cases, which as expressed in the first head note is: "A misrepresentation made by a vendor of real estate as to a material fact, knowing at the time that it was untrue, upon which statement the purchaser relies, is actionable." The bill here does not allege that the agent making the representations or the defendants for whom he was acting, knew at the time that they were untrue. It is alleged that the complainant was a newcomer and not acquainted with conditions. But the bill also shows that the defendants were likewise non-residents and presumably they were as ignorant of local conditions as the complainant. Nor is there any allegation that the agent who made the representations was acquainted with such conditions, or knew such representations to be false.
So, under the case cited, the court below could not be held in error in sustaining the demurrer. It is not necessary to go further. Other cases bearing on this general subject will be found cited in Riverside Inv. Co. v. Gibson, supra; also see Glass et al. v. Craig, 83 Fla. 408; 91. So.2d 332; Hirschman v. Hodges, 59 Fla. 517, 51 So.2d 550; Stephens v. Orman, 10 Fla. 9; Stackpole v. Hancock, 40 Fla. 362, 24 So.2d 914; Huffstetler v. Our Home Life Ins. Co., 67 Fla. 324, 65 So.2d 1; 27 R. C. L. 356,et seq.
This is not a case for rescission of contract for misrepresentation, to which the equitable rule is applicable, but the object of the suit is to recover legal damages through the enforcement of an alleged equitable vendee's lien.
Rehearing denied.
ELLIS, C. J., AND STRUM AND BROWN, J. J., concur.
WHITFIELD, P. J., AND TERRELL AND BUFORD, J. J., concur in the opinion and judgment. *Page 147