Court Opinion

ID: 9933149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-09 18:41:39.443328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:07:43.482026
License: Public Domain

The plaintiffs in this case ask the Court to say that the facts presented make out a case of fraud or suppression. I agree with the Court that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case.
Both the misrepresentation claim and the suppression claim require that the plaintiff prove that a material fact was misrepresented or suppressed. Code 1975, §§ 6-5-101, 6-5-102. As to the misrepresentation claim, there is no evidence that Paul and Diane King considered the title opinion issue to be of concern to them in making the decision to execute the mortgage. Justice Beatty correctly points out that, given the context in which the remarks were made, the Kings appear to have been concerned only with providing the documentation needed to secure the loan. The suppression claim fails for basically the same reason. At the time during which some evidence indicates there was materiality, there was no duty to disclose, because of the absence of a confidential relationship. As to the time during which there was allegedly a confidential relationship, there is no evidence supporting the materiality of the allegedly suppressed fact.
Having concluded that plaintiffs failed to establish a prima facie case of misrepresentation or suppression, I see no need to address the other issues raised in the appeal and cross-appeal.