Court Opinion

ID: 9471082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:24:54.479508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:16.014783
License: Public Domain

BARRETT, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I concur with Judge Holloway’s opinion. However, I am aggrieved that the result reached does seem to permit appellants, Sellers, to enjoy the best of two worlds by virtue of the admission of parol evidence.
It strikes me as unconscionable that Sellers, as party to the agreement of sale, cannot present parol evidence challenging the September 1, 1976, effective date for enforcement purposes (as between parties to the agreement proper) but, nevertheless, may present parol evidence to the contrary against Fulton who seeks enforcement of the brokerage agreement. Be that as it may, I conclude that Judge Holloway’s opinion is correct in relation to the admission of parol evidence. Fulton was not a party or privy to the agreement of sale. He was a stranger to that contract.
On remand, in addition to other matters which may be considered, the trial court should be provided the opportunity to determine whether the Sellers are estopped from denying the September 1, 1976, effective date of the agreement of sale vis-a-vis the enforcement by Fulton of the brokerage contract. In making such a determination, the trial court should be presented with evidence indicating the degree, if any, that Fulton relied to his detriment on Sellers’ alleged representations that the property had indeed been sold by Sellers prior to December 10,1976. Judge Holloway’s opinion points out that Fulton’s first cause of action “... sought ... $72,000 for the failure of defendant to accept a purchaser procured by the plaintiff Fulton .... ” The trial court granted Sellers’ motion to dismiss this cause of action. I do not know the basis for the order of dismissal. If this court’s holding on the admissibility of parol evidence lends substance to reinstatement of the first cause of action, it should be allowed. Fulton may, on remand, wish to present evidence relative thereto in an ef*1424fort to invoke the doctrine of equitable estoppel by virtue of his reliance and detriment suffered.