Court Opinion

ID: 9960992
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-17 17:12:23.715418+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:20:06.946707
License: Public Domain

J-A05002-24

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

 BARRY L. KATZ ON BEHALF OF                :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 HIMSELF AND HIS IRA ENTITLED              :        PENNSYLVANIA
 EQUITY TRUST CO CUST FBO BARRY            :
 L. KATZ IRA AND SMART WAY                 :
 AMERICA REALTY                            :
                                           :
                   Appellant               :
                                           :
                                           :   No. 2433 EDA 2023
              v.                           :
                                           :
                                           :
 VIVIAN SCAMORDELLA, REMAX AT              :
 YOUR SERVICE AND JEAN KAYE                :

            Appeal from the Order Entered September 1, 2023
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County Civil Division at No(s):
                            001339-CV-2023

BEFORE: DUBOW, J., KING, J., and LANE, J.

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                             FILED APRIL 17, 2024

      Appellants, Barry L. Katz, o/b/o Himself and His IRA Entitle Equity Trust

Co Cust FBO Barry L. Katz IRA (“Mr. Katz”) and Smart Way America Realty

(collectively “Appellants”), appeal from the September 1, 2023, order

sustaining the preliminary objections filed by Appellees Vivian Scamordella

(“Ms. Scamordella”), Remax at Your Service (“Remax”), and Jean Kaye (“Ms.

Kaye”) (collectively, “Appellees”), in this action for specific performance to

enforce a real estate purchase agreement. After careful review, we reverse

and remand with instructions.

                                      A.
J-A05002-24

       On June 15, 2023, Appellants filed an amended complaint raising claims

of Breach of Contract, Promissory Estoppel, Fraud, Misrepresentation and

Unjust Enrichment based on the following allegations.1               Sometime prior to

February 4, 2023, Appellees listed for sale the property located at 129 Nakora

Drive in Blakeslee, Monroe County (the “Property”).             The Property listing

included the washer and dryer as part of the sale.            On February 4, 2023,

Appellants submitted an offer to Appellees to purchase the Property for

$240,000.

       Appellees’ agent, Ms. Kaye, acknowledged receiving the offer on

February 4, 2023. On February 5, 2023, Appellants’ agent, Rosien Inman

(“Ms. Inman”), sent a text message to Ms. Kaye requesting that Ms. Kaye

inform her if Appellees received another offer to purchase the Property.

       Ms. Kaye subsequently represented, allegedly falsely and misleadingly,

that Appellees had received three other offers to purchase the Property.

Consequently,      in   reliance    on   these   allegedly   false    and   misleading

representations, on February 6, 2023, Appellants submitted a new offer to

purchase the Property for $250,000 and included an escalation clause offering

to beat any legitimate competing offer by $1,000.

____________________________________________

1 “In reviewing the propriety of the court’s grant of preliminary objections in

the nature of a demurrer, we apply the same standard as the trial court, which
must resolve the objections solely on basis of the pleadings.” Catanzaro v.
Pennell, 238 A.3d 504, 507-08 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citation omitted). In
conducting our review, we accept as true “[a]ll material facts set forth in the
pleadings and all inferences reasonably deducible therefrom[.]” Id. at 508
(citation omitted).

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      On February 7, 2023, Ms. Kaye informed Ms. Inman that Appellees

accepted Appellants’ offer to purchase the Property.       Ms. Kaye further

informed Ms. Inman that Appellees had another offer for $250,000, which

triggered the escalation clause, resulting in a purchase price of $251,000.

However, Ms. Inman reviewed the other purported offer, and found that it

omitted critical information. When Ms. Inman informed Ms. Kaye of the critical

deficiencies, Appellees agreed not to trigger the escalation clause and to

accept Appellants’ $250,000 offer.

      On February 8, 2023, Ms. Kaye sent Ms. Inman a Cooperating Broker

Compensation Agreement signed by Ms. Kaye evidencing and acknowledging

that an Agreement of Sale (“AOS”) for the Property existed and was final. The

next day, Appellees sent Ms. Inman a signed AOS dated February 8, 2023,

appended to an email which stated, in relevant part, “Attached please find the

executed contract along with the dates[.]” Amended Complaint, 6/15/23, at

¶ 25 (citing Kaye Email, 2/9/23). The email highlighted the following actions

and dates as set forth in the fully executed AOS as relevant to the completion

of the sale: (1) executed contract date: 2/8/2023; (2) contract to title:

2/15/2023; (4) earnest money deposit due: 2/13/2023; and (4) inspection

contingency due: 2/18/2023.

      On February 9, 2023, Appellants sent to Appellees the earnest money

of $1,000.   On February 11, 2023, Appellees acknowledged receipt of the

earnest money and deposited the funds into a Remax account pursuant to the

terms of the AOS. As required by the AOS, Appellants arranged and paid for

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an inspection of the Property, which took place on the February 11, 2023, and

submitted the fully executed AOS to its title company prior to February 15,

2023.

        Appellants alleged that, on February 16, 2023, Appellees attempted to

alter and amend the AOS by asking Appellants to agree to certain “immaterial

changes,” including excluding from the sale the washer and dryer, and a “lift.”

Appellants indicated that, because these items had not been excluded from

the Property listing, they would only agree to the removal of these items from

the Property if Appellees reduced the sale price by $3,000. That same day,

Ms. Kaye informed Ms. Inman that the “lift” was personal property and,

therefore, did not have to be excluded in the listing or the AOS, but

acknowledged that the washer and dryer were not excluded in the listing.

        The following day, on February 17, 2023, Remax informed Ms. Inman

that there was no valid AOS between the parties because Appellees’ February

16, 2023 effort to retain ownership of the washer, dryer, and “lift” constituted

a counteroffer, which Appellants had refused.

        Appellants maintained that Appellees had, therefore, anticipatorily

breached the AOS and alleged in their amended complaint that, to date,

Appellees have refused to close on the sale of the Property as required by the

AOS. Appellants further alleged that, at all relevant times, Ms. Scamordella

has been using the Property to generate rental income.

                                     -4-
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      Appellants attached a copy of the AOS, dated February 8, 2023, initialed

and signed by Ms. Scamordella and Equity Trust Co Cust FBO Barry L. Katz,

to their amended complaint.

                                      B.

      On July 21, 2023, Appellees filed preliminary objections to each count

of the amended complaint except the Unjust Enrichment claim.         Appellees

asserted that Appellants failed to plead any facts supporting the existence of

a contract between the parties because Appellants concede they did not accept

Appellees’ proposed changes to the AOS. They further asserted that the AOS

attached to the amended complaint did not support Appellants’ claim that a

contract existed because Appellants did not initial and accept their proposed

changes. Appellees also asserted that Appellants failed to plead a cognizable

claim for promissory estoppel, and that Appellants are not entitled to damages

for any alleged fraud or misrepresentation because of Mr. Katz’s “intelligence,

experience, and opportunity for ascertaining the real truth[.]”    Preliminary

Objections, 7/21/23, at ¶¶ 24, 28.

      Appellants filed a brief in opposition to the preliminary objections

summarizing the allegations in the amended complaint as pleading: (1) the

existence of an executed AOS; (2) Appellees’ course of conduct established

the existence of the AOS; (3) Appellees’ engagement in fraud and

misrepresentation in the course of their dealings with Appellants; and (4)

Appellees’ unjust enrichment as a result of their conduct.        Accordingly,

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Appellants maintained that the allegations in their amended complaint set

forth a valid cause of action for each claim raised.

                                       C.

      On September 1, 2023, the trial court entered an order sustaining

Appellees’ preliminary objections and dismissing Appellants’ amended

complaint. The court concluded that the facts alleged by Appellants did not

establish the elements of fraud, promissory estoppel, or breach of contract.

It also concluded that the AOS attached to the amended complaint was not a

signed agreement as Appellants asserted, but rather a counteroffer in which

Ms. Scamordella proposed excluding the washer and dryer and changing the

settlement date, and which Appellants had not accepted.

      This appeal followed.

                                       D.

      Appellants raise the following issue for our review:

      Whether the lower court committed an error of law in [sustaining]
      the [p]reliminary [o]bjections to the [a]mended [c]omplaint, all
      premised upon [d]emurrer[?]

Appellants’ Brief at 3.

                                            E.

      Appellants challenge the trial court’s order sustaining Appellees’

preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer, pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P.

                                     -6-
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1028(a)(4).2 “Preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer test the legal

sufficiency of the complaint.” Catanzaro v. Pennell, 238 A.3d 504, 507 (Pa.

Super. 2020) (citation omitted).          The trial court must resolve preliminary

objections “solely on the basis of the pleadings; no testimony or other

evidence outside of the complaint may be considered[.]” Hill v. Ofalt, 85

A.3d 540, 547 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation omitted). The court must admit as

true all material facts set forth in Appellant’s pleadings and all reasonably

deducible inferences. Id. Finally, preliminary objections seeking dismissal of

a cause of action “should be sustained only in cases in which it is clear and

free from doubt that the pleader will be unable to prove facts legally sufficient

to establish the right to relief.”         Catanzaro, 238 A.3d at 507 (citation

omitted).

       “In reviewing the propriety of the court’s grant of preliminary objections

in the nature of a demurrer, [appellate courts] apply the same standard as

the trial court[.]”    Id. (citation omitted).      As the question involves a pure

question of law regarding the legal sufficiency of the complaint, our standard

of review is de novo. Id.

                                               E.

       Appellants assert that the trial court erred in sustaining Appellees’

preliminary objections and dismissing the amended complaint. In support of

____________________________________________

2 Pa.R.Civ.P. 1028(a)(4) provides: “Preliminary objections may be filed by any

party to any pleading and are limited to the following grounds: . . . legal
insufficiency of a pleading (demurrer)[.]”

                                           -7-
J-A05002-24

this allegation of error, Appellants argue that, with respect to each of

Appellants’ claims, the trial court “made various assumptions and inferences

in favor of [Appellees.]” Appellants’ Brief at 16. We address the dismissal of

each of the counts of the amended complaint seriatim.

                                Breach of Contract

      Appellants argue that the trial court erred in dismissing their breach of

contract claim after concluding that there was no AOS between the parties

because Appellees had extended a counteroffer to Appellants, which

Appellants did not accept. Id. at 16. Following our review of the amended

complaint, however, we observe that Appellants did not allege that Appellees

had made a counteroffer; in fact, Appellants alleged the opposite. Id. at 16-

17. Thus, our review indicates that, in reaching its conclusion, the trial court

improperly relied on the averments in Appellees’ preliminary objections and

made an impermissible inference in Appellees’ favor.

      Our review of Appellants’ amended complaint further indicates that

Appellants set forth allegations that, if proven, would establish each of the

elements of a breach of contract claim. See Linde v. Linde, 210 A.3d 1083,

1090 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted) (explaining that the elements of a

breach of contract claim are “(1) the existence of a contract, including its

essential terms; (2) a breach of the contract; and (3) resultant damages.”).

We, thus, conclude that the trial court erred as a matter of law in considering

evidence and allegations outside of the amended complaint when ruling on

Appellees’ preliminary objection to the breach of contract claim.

                                     -8-
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                                 Promissory Estoppel

        With respect to the promissory estoppel claim, Appellants assert that

the trial court erred in dismissing the claim solely on its finding that there had

been no meeting of the minds, when that is not an element of a promissory

estoppel claim. Appellants’ Brief at 30-31.

        In order to establish a promissory estoppel action, a plaintiff must allege

the following elements: “(1) the promisor made a promise that [it] should

have reasonably expected would induce action or forbearance on the part of

the promisee; (2) the promisee actually took action or refrained from taking

action in reliance on the promise; and (3) injustice can be avoided only by

enforcing the promise.” Sullivan v. Chartwell Inv. Partners, LP, 873 A.2d

710, 717–18 (Pa. Super. 2005); see also Restatement (Second) of Contracts,

§ 90.

        Here, Appellants pleaded that they relied on Appellees’ representations

and promises, including: the representation in an email that there was a fully

executed AOS; the email setting forth the timeline pursuant to the AOS;

requesting, receiving, and depositing the earnest money; permitting

Appellants to inspect the Property in accordance with the AOS; and executing

and sending to Ms. Inman the cooperating broker agreement.               Amended

Complaint at ¶ 60.      Appellants further pleaded that Appellees made these

representations and took these actions with the intent to cause Appellants to

take the actions required by the AOS.          Id.   Appellants asserted that in

reasonable reliance on Appellees’ representations and actions, Appellants paid

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the earnest money deposit; arranged and paid for the Property inspection;

adhered to the timeline set forth in the AOS and cover email; arranged for a

title company to conduct a title search; and refrained from searching for

another suitable property for purchase to Appellants’ detriment. Id. at ¶¶ 61,

63. Last, Appellants pleaded that due to the unique nature of the Property,

Appellants are entitled to specifically enforce the AOS and the court should

compel Appellees to sell the property pursuant to the AOS. Id. at ¶ 64.

      Following our de novo review, we conclude that Appellants pleaded

sufficient facts that, if proven, would entitle Appellants to the relief requested.

Accordingly, the trial court erred in finding that, as pleaded, Appellants’

promissory estoppel claim was legally insufficient and in dismissing Appellants’

promissory estoppel claim.

                        Fraud and Misrepresentation

      With respect to the dismissal of the fraud and misrepresentation claims,

Appellants assert that the court erred in finding their pleading legally

insufficient based on its conclusion that there was no meeting of the minds

between the parties and because Appellants did not allege reliance.

Appellants’ Brief at 33. Appellants argue that, contrary to the trial court’s

reasoning, these claims do not require pleading a meeting of the minds. Id.

They also assert that they pleaded each of the required elements of the fraud

and misrepresentation claims, and, in particular, at paragraphs 69 and 75 of

the amended complaint, they averred that they relied on Appellees’

statements and actions to their detriment. Id.

                                      - 10 -
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      A plaintiff asserting a claim for fraud and/or misrepresentation must

plead and prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following: “(1) a

representation; (2) which is material to the transaction at hand; (3) made

falsely, with knowledge of its falsity or recklessness as to whether it is true or

false; (4) with the intent of misleading another into relying on it; (5) justifiable

reliance on the misrepresentation; and (6) the resulting injury was

proximately caused by the reliance.” Marion v. Bryn Mawr Trust Co., 288

A.3d 76, 87 (Pa. 2023) (citation omitted); Ira G. Steffy & Son, Inc. v.

Citizens Bank of PA, 7 A.3d 278, 290 (Pa. Super. 2010).

      Following our review of the averments set forth in Appellants’ amended

complaint as recounted above, we conclude that Appellants alleged sufficient

facts, that, if proven, would entitle them to relief on their fraud and

misrepresentation claims. The trial court, therefore, erred as a matter of law

in dismissing these claims.

                                 Unjust Enrichment

      Appellants argue that the trial court erred in dismissing their unjust

enrichment claim when Appellees did not file a preliminary objection with

respect to that claim. Appellants’ Brief at 38-39. Appellees agree that the

trial court acted in error. Appellees’ Brief at 12-13.

      A trial court may not dismiss a claim at the preliminary objection stage

of litigation without a demurrer or other suitable preliminary objection having

been filed by the defendant. Perrige v. Horning, 654 A.2d 1183, 1188-89

(Pa. Super. 1995).

                                      - 11 -
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      In light of the above case law, we reverse the trial court’s dismissal of

Appellant’s unjust enrichment claim.

                                         F.

      In sum, we agree with Appellants that the trial court erred in dismissing

each of the claims set forth in their amended complaint.      Accordingly, we

reverse and remand for reinstatement of Appellants’ amended complaint.

      Order reversed.     Case remanded with instructions.         Jurisdiction

relinquished.

Date: 4/17/2024

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