Court Opinion

ID: 4283941
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-13 15:04:42.213351+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:04.618100
License: Public Domain

Third District Court of Appeal
                               State of Florida

                           Opinion filed June 13, 2018.
         Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.

                               ________________

                        Nos. 3D17-1498 & 3D17-621
                  Lower Tribunal Nos. 12-38485 & 12-41460
                             ________________

                           Richard J. Diaz, et al.,
                                   Appellants,

                                        vs.

                             David Kosch, et al.,
                                    Appellees.

     Appeals from the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Eric William
Hendon, Judge.

     Eaton & Wolk, PL, and Douglas F. Eaton; Steven Kellough; Ramόn A.
Abadin, for appellants.

     Duane Morris, LLP, and Scott D. Kravetz; Kluger Kaplan, and Alan J.
Kluger; Russomanno & Borrello, and Herman J. Russomanno, III, for appellees.

Before ROTHENBERG, C.J., and SALTER and SCALES, JJ.

     SALTER, J.
      Richard Diaz and Ana Santisteban-Diaz (“Buyers”) appeal a final summary

judgment regarding claims and counterclaims in a failed residential real estate

transaction (Case No. 3D17-621 here), and a final judgment against them for

$850,000.00 for attorney’s fees and costs incurred in the litigation by the appellees,

David and Tiffany Kosch (“Sellers”) (Case No. 3D17-1498). The cases were

consolidated for oral argument and decision. We affirm the final judgments in

each case.

      The cases turn on strict, but enforceable, provisions in a contract governing

a residential real estate transaction. The application of particular terms specifying

the parties’ paths toward closing or termination, and controlling the legal status of

claims for damages in the aftermath of termination, presented proper issues for

final summary judgment.

      I.     Facts and Procedural History

             A.    Disclosure Agreement and “As Is” Purchase Contract

      The Sellers owned a home in Coral Gables. In March 2012, they listed the

home for sale through Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, Inc. (“EWM”), an area real

estate broker and sales company. As they did so, the Sellers also completed

EWM’s printed form of “Owner’s Property Disclosure Statement,” signed by them

March 21, 2012 (the “March 2012 Disclosure Statement”). That form prominently

discloses that the information provided is “to the best of the Owner’s knowledge,”

                                          2
that “it is not a warranty of any kind by the Owner,” and that “it is not a substitute

for any inspections or warranties the parties may wish to obtain.”

      The March 2012 Disclosure Statement included handwritten entries

describing damage to a wall, the existence of a homeowners’ association for an

included backyard lot, and responses regarding a total of 16 different topics.

Pertinent here, the Sellers marked “No” to any awareness of improvements

constructed in violation of applicable building codes, without necessary permits, or

with any open permits on the property not closed with a final inspection. They

also marked “No” to any awareness of any toxic substances in the residence,

including “accumulated radon.” On the fourth page of disclosures, and above

signature lines indicated for any prospective buyer or tenant receiving a copy of

the completed form, bold-print terms include:

      INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BUYER/TENANT: Buyer/Tenant is
      encouraged to thoroughly inspect the property personally and/or have
      it inspected by a third party, and to inquire about any specific areas of
      concern. NOTE: If Owner answers “NO” to any of the pervious [sic]
      questions listed above, Owner does not necessarily mean that the
      matter in question does not exist on the property. “NO” may mean
      that the Owner is unaware that the matter in question exists on the
      property.

      RECEIPT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF BUYER/TENANT
      Owner is using this form to disclose Owner’s knowledge of the
      condition of the property and improvements located on the property as
      of the date signed by Owner. This disclosure form is not a warranty
      of any kind. The information contained in the disclosure is limited to
      information which the Owner has knowledge. It is not intended to be
      a substitute for any inspection or professional advice the

                                          3
      Buyer/Tenant may wish to obtain. An independent professional
      inspection is encouraged and may be helpful to verify the condition of
      the property and to determine the costs of repairs, if any.

      During the spring of 2012, the Buyers learned that the home was for sale and

walked through it with the broker.      Both of the Buyers were attorneys with

substantial experience with real estate transactions and title matters. After various

negotiations, the Buyers and Sellers entered into a printed form “‛As Is’

Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase” (the “Contract”),1 effective September

2, 2012, for a purchase price of $2,850,000.00.

      The Buyers made a $50,000.00 deposit with the Buyer’s broker serving as

escrow agent. A further deposit of $235,000.00 was payable to the escrow agent

by September 12, 2012, the date at which a ten-day right of inspection and right to

cancel was to expire absent Buyer termination.

      The Contract included a handful of terms that governed the subsequent

actions of the Buyers and Sellers. First, time was specified to be “of the essence.”

Second, the Contract included an integration and modification provision:

      INTEGRATION; MODIFICATION: This Contract contains the
      full and complete understanding and agreement of Buyer and Seller
      with respect to the transaction contemplated by this Contract and no
      prior agreements or representations shall be binding upon Buyer or
      Seller unless included in this Contract. No modification to or change
      in this Contract shall be valid or binding upon Buyer or Seller unless
      in writing and executed by the parties intended to be bound by it.

1 The Contract form carried a legend indicating approval by The Florida Realtors
and The Florida Bar.

                                         4
      Third, regarding disclosures, the Contract provisions included these terms:

      RADON GAS: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that,
      when it is accumulated in a building in sufficient quantities, may
      present health risks to persons who are exposed to it over time.
      Levels of radon that exceed federal and state guidelines have been
      found in buildings in Florida. Additional information regarding radon
      and radon testing may be obtained from your county health
      department.

      PERMITS DISCLOSURE: Except as may have been disclosed by
      Seller to Buyer in a written disclosure, Seller does not know of any
      improvements made to the Property which were made without
      required permits or made pursuant to permits which have not been
      properly closed.

            ...

      SELLER DISCLOSURE: Seller knows of no facts materially
      affecting the value of the Real Property which are not readily
      observable and have not been disclosed to Buyer. Except as stated in
      the preceding sentence or otherwise disclosed in writing; (1) Seller
      has received no written or verbal notice from any governmental entity
      or agency as to a currently uncorrected building, environmental or
      safety code violation; and (2) Seller extends and intends no warranty
      and makes no representation of any type, either express or implied, as
      to the physical condition or history of the Property.

      Fourth, and of particular importance here, the pertinent provisions regarding

inspections of the property and the Buyers’ right to cancel the transaction and

terminate the Contract, in Paragraph 12, were:

      (a) PROPERTY INSPECTIONS AND RIGHT TO CANCEL:
          Buyer shall have [10] days from Effective Date (“Inspection
          Period”) within which to have such Inspections of the Property
          performed as Buyer shall desire during the Inspection Period. If
          Buyer determines, in Buyer’s sole discretion, that the Property is

                                        5
   not acceptable to Buyer, Buyer may terminate this Contract by
   delivering written notice of such election to Seller prior to
   expiration of Inspection Period. If Buyer timely terminates this
   Contract, the Deposit paid shall be immediately returned to Buyer,
   thereupon, Buyer and Seller shall be released of all further
   obligations under this Contract . . . Unless Buyer exercises the
   right to terminate granted herein, Buyer accepts the physical
   condition of the Property and any violation of governmental,
   building, environmental, and safety codes, restrictions, or
   requirements, but subject to Seller’s continuing AS IS
   Maintenance Requirement, and Buyer shall be responsible for any
   and all repairs and improvements required by Buyer’s lender.

(b) WALK-THROUGH INSPECTION/RE-INSPECTION: On the
    day prior to Closing Date, or on Closing Date prior to time of
    Closing, as specified by Buyer, Buyer or Buyer’s representative
    may perform a walk-through (and follow-up walk-through, if
    necessary) inspection of the Property solely to confirm that all
    items of Personal Property are on the Property and to verify that
    Seller has maintained the Property as required by the AS IS
    Maintenance Requirement and has met all other contractual
    obligations.

(c) SELLER ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION IN CLOSE-
    OUT OF BUILDING PERMITS: If Buyer’s Inspection of the
    Property identifies open or needed building permits, then Seller
    shall promptly deliver to Buyer all plans, written documentation or
    other information in Seller’s possession, knowledge, or control
    relating to improvements to the Property which are the subject of
    such open or needed Permits, and shall promptly cooperate in good
    faith with Buyer’s efforts to obtain estimates of repairs or other
    work necessary to resolve such Permit issues. Seller’s obligation to
    cooperate shall include Seller’s execution of necessary
    authorizations, consents, or other documents necessary for Buyer
    to conduct inspections and have estimates of such repairs or work
    prepared, but in fulfilling such obligation, Seller shall not be
    required to expend, or become obligated to expend, any money.

(d) ASSIGNMENT  OF  REPAIR   AND    TREATMENT
    CONTRACTS AND WARRANTIES: At Buyer’s option and

                                   6
          cost, Seller will, at Closing, assign all assignable repair, treatment
          and maintenance contracts and warranties to Buyer.
             B.     The Inspection Period

      During the ten-day inspection period, the Buyers learned that there were

open building permits and that unpermitted work might have been performed as

part of the Sellers’ extensive renovations in 2009 and 2010.2 The Buyers did not

obtain independent legal advice at that point, but instead relied upon their own real

estate and litigation experience.

      The day before the inspection period was to expire, the Buyers notified their

broker by email that they had reviewed the permit history for the home and were

very concerned that their visual inspection of the property “does not coincide with

the permit history.” They advised that they were obtaining copies of the plans

filed in the City and were conferring with a builder and an architect. They also

reported that they might need to come back to the property with a City inspector.

This communication neither requested an extension of the inspection period nor

served as a termination of the Contract.

2 The summary judgment evidence established that the renovations included work
for which no permits were required (flooring, painting, interior doors and mirrors,
and home theater equipment), work for which a permit was required and obtained,
and other work performed by licensed contractors but with a permit unexpired as
of September 2012. In the course of the lawsuit, extensive discovery by the
Buyers into the City of Miami and Sellers’ records did not produce open notices of
violation or citations for unpermitted work.

                                           7
      The following day, the Buyers emailed these concerns to the Sellers and

their broker.   In the late afternoon of the last day of the inspection period,

September 12, 2012, the Buyers emailed to the Sellers a signed message with a

legend, “This communication is sent for settlement purposes only,” accusing the

Sellers of affirmative misrepresentations “actionable under Florida law” and

claiming that the property “has a significant diminished value than what we offered

to pay for it.” The email also contended (presciently, as it turned out) that “Legal

fees in litigation with the facts presented here could easily be in the hundreds of

thousands of dollars and of course during litigation, the property will not be

marketable.”3

      The email also accused the Sellers of a total lack of good faith and asserted

that “we also have independent tort remedies against you for the fraudulent

concealment in not disclosing to us everything you know, and did, regarding the

condition of the property which could lead to several years of litigation including a

claim for punitive damages and of course a lis pendens on the property as well.”

The email closed with the statement that “If we do not receive written assurances

from you by 5:30 pm today, rest assured this matter will go to full scale litigation.”

3  The Buyers were aware that the Sellers had already moved out of the home for
their new home and work in Houston, Texas. The marketability point and
threatened lis pendens clearly suggested years of carrying the burdens of two
homes for the Sellers.

                                          8
      So instead of simply invoking paragraph 12(a), giving written notice of their

absolute right to cancel the Contract for any reason and receive their $50,000.00

deposited to that point, the Buyers made their legal threats, argued for a significant

price reduction, and notified the Sellers that they were invoking paragraph 12(c), to

require the Sellers to promptly deliver “all plans, written documentation, or other

information” relating to open permits and to cooperate with Buyer’s efforts—at

Buyer’s expense—to conduct inspections and have estimates of such repairs or

work prepared. The email asserted that Paragraph 12(c) “invariably requires that

you agree to extend the inspection/due diligence period by a reasonable period of

time” for the Sellers to comply with the Buyers’ demands.4

      And less than an hour later, at 5:30 p.m. on the last day of the inspection

period, the Buyers emailed a second communication:

      This email will confirm that we are tendering the second deposit
      under the contract in good faith and as a display our [sic] ability to
      perform our end of the bargain under the contract. The tender of the
      additional deposit is made with full rights reserved, including but not
      limited to the terms detailed in the various emails sent by [the
      Buyers].

      Please be governed accordingly.

             C.    Notice of Cancellation; Offers to Return the Escrowed Deposit

4   Paragraph 12 in its entirety, and paragraph 12(c) in particular, contain no
provision for an extension of the ten-day inspection period and right to cancel, and
the “time is of the essence” provision of the Contract remained effective.

                                          9
      At this point, the Sellers and Buyers consulted independent real estate

transactional lawyers to advise them. The Sellers retained a permit consultant to

review the permitting and meet with the Buyers to discuss the costs and process for

addressing their concerns, and the parties’ transactional attorneys discussed earlier

radon inspection reports with elevated readings in an upstairs bedroom. As part of

those discussions, which lasted some 12 days after the expiration of the

inspection/cancellation period (but with no written or unwritten extension of that

period), the Buyers were also invited to schedule their own radon test. The Buyers

did not do so.

      On September 24, 2012, with no resolution of the parties’ disagreements,

and before any financing commitment was due to be provided by the Buyers to the

Sellers,5 counsel for the Buyers notified the Sellers’ attorney by emailed letter that

the Buyers were terminating the Contract, and instructed the escrow agent to return

the entire $285,000.00 to the Buyers. The notice of termination does not claim a

breach by the Sellers, nor does it report an inability by the Buyers to close the

transaction based on their ability to procure a financing commitment.

      Two days after the Buyers’ attorney delivered the notice of termination of

the Contract, that attorney emailed a letter to the Sellers’ attorney reporting his

understanding “that the Sellers will not consent to release of the earnest money

5  The Contract specified that the Buyer’s written loan commitment was to be
obtained, and the Sellers notified, on or before September 27, 2012.

                                         10
deposit by [the escrow agent] to the Buyers unless mutual releases are exchanged.”

The letter further states that the Contract “is ‛as is’ in nature and possesses a

unilateral, unconditional cancellation right in favor of the Buyers. In no way does

the contract require the exchange of releases as a pre-condition to return of the

earnest money deposit.”

      Later that same day, the Sellers’ attorney responded: “I imposed no

conditions to the release of the earnest money deposit by the escrow agent.

Pursuant to the contract, the escrow agent is free to act in accordance with its terms

without the consent of either party and neither party may unilaterally impose any

conditions to the release of the deposit by the escrow agent.”

      On October 2, 2012, one of the Buyers (litigation attorney Richard Diaz)

emailed a letter to the Sellers’ broker advising that (1) the Buyers believed “a

significant amount of unpermitted work was done to the property which clearly has

a material affect [sic] to its value;” (2) “there is a presence of mold and radon gas

in the home that requires significant remediation;” (3) “an ‘as is’ contract will not

save a seller (and potentially its listing agent) against a claim for fraud and/or

fraudulent concealment,” and (4) it was the broker’s obligation, as well as the

Sellers’ “to inform any prospective buyer of everything you know,” including

“[sharing] the contents of this letter and its attachments with any and all

prospective buyers.

                                         11
      On October 4, 2012, an emailed exchange between attorneys for the Sellers

and the Buyers unequivocally established that the Sellers had not made a claim to

the deposit at that point and would not object to the release of the deposit to the

Buyers.    Nonetheless, and apparently due to demands for a release by the

Buyers’own broker (who served as the escrow agent), the deposit was not returned

by the escrow agent.

            D.     The Lawsuit

      On October 18, 2012, the Buyers commenced their circuit court lawsuit

against the Sellers and their brokers. The transactional attorney for the Sellers

responded that the lawsuit “is a real game changer” making it “likely there will be

a claim filed on behalf of the seller for forfeiture of the deposit as well as other

possibly other [sic] claims and defenses in the pending lawsuit.” Ultimately, a

fourth amended complaint filed by the Buyers in April 2015 asserted claims for

breach of contract, conversion, fraud in inducement, fraud in concealment,

negligent misrepresentation, and conspiratorial fraud, with a claim for punitive

damages asserted as well. The Sellers counterclaimed for the Buyers’ breach and

for the deposit as damages for the Buyer’s default.         Extensive and highly

contentious discovery was undertaken, but by 2016 the Sellers and other

defendants moved for summary judgment.

                                        12
      The trial court granted summary judgment for the brokers and then for the

Sellers (as to the Buyers’ claims and the Sellers’ counterclaim for the still-

escrowed deposit), with a final summary judgment entered in March 2017. The

Sellers’ motions for attorney’s fees and costs were heard (the Sellers were awarded

$850,000.00) and reduced to an amended final judgment in June 2017. These

consolidated appeals followed.

      II.   Standard of Review

      We review summary judgments de novo. We consider the evidence in the

light most favorable to the nonmoving party and must draw all competing

inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Piedra v. City of North Bay Village,

193 So. 3d 48, 51 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016). Matters of contract interpretation are also

reviewed de novo, construing the terms according to their plain language. Dirico

v. Redland Estates, Inc., 154 So. 3d 355, 357 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014).

      Regarding the Buyers’ appeal from the award of prevailing party attorney’s

fees to the Buyers, “The standard of review for an award of prevailing party

attorney fees is abuse of discretion.” Shands Teaching Hosp. v. Mercury Ins. Co.,

97 So. 3d 204, 213 (Fla. 2012); Jaffe v. Jaffe, 147 So. 3d 578, 581 (Fla. 3d DCA

2014). The factors to be considered and included in findings of fact by the trial

court regarding a fee award are set forth in Florida Patient’s Comp. Fund v. Rowe,

472 So. 2d 1145 (Fla. 1985).

                                        13
      III.    Analysis

              A.   Buyers’ Claims

      The Buyers raise four arguments; each is alleged to present one or more

genuine issues of material fact, such that the final summary judgment against the

Buyers must be reversed:

      (1) the Buyers’ payment of the second deposit (despite their failure to

terminate the Contract during the Inspection Period pursuant to Paragraph 12(a)

above) did not constitute a waiver of their right to terminate the Contract without

penalty (as opposed to pursuing a claim for breach and money damages);

      (2) the Sellers’ alleged non-disclosure of radon issues was not waived by

the Buyers;

      (3) following the Buyers’ written termination of the Contract on September

24, 2012 (before the then-applicable closing date of October 2, 2012, and before

the then-applicable deadline for securing a written loan commitment under

Paragraph 8(b) of the Contract, September 27, 2012), the Sellers’ conduct

constituted a waiver of their right to receive the escrowed deposit; and

      (4) Buyers were entitled to summary judgment on their own breach of

contract claim against the Sellers and their claim for the return of the escrowed

deposit.

                                         14
      We agree with the trial court’s determination that each of these issues was

addressed in, and controlled by, the plain language of the Contract. We treat the

Buyers’ arguments (1) through (3) above in this section, III.A, and address the

Sellers’ entitlement to the deposit, argument (4), in section III.B. of this opinion.

      The Buyers also allege error by the trial court in denying the Buyers’ motion

to amend the fourth amended complaint to add a claim for punitive damages. We

affirm on this point without additional discussion, based on our disposition of the

other issues raised by the Buyers.

                    1.     Right to Terminate Without Penalty

      Paragraph 12(a) of the Contract is unambiguous.             By the end of the

Inspection Period, there were two choices available to the Buyers: to issue a timely

written notice of cancellation prior to the expiration of the Inspection Period,

whereupon “the Deposit paid shall be immediately returned to the Buyer;” or to

allow the Inspection Period to expire without issuing such a timely written notice,

whereupon the Buyers were deemed to accept the “as is” condition of the Property.

In the event of that second of the two choices, the Buyers were required to make

the second payment of $235,000.00 to the escrowed deposit, as specified in

Paragraph 2(b) of the Contract.

      That provision does not include what the Buyers attempted to create: a

“conditional tender” of that second deposit while ostensibly preserving both (a) the

                                          15
Buyers’ purported right to compel the Sellers to perform and pay for repairs,

permitting issues, or other circumstances (i.e., to ignore the “as is” nature of the

sale), and (b) the Buyers’ purported right “to stay in the deal and close.”6

      Paragraphs 12(b) and 12(c) of the Contract establish a path to closing the

transaction.   Paragraph 12(b) addresses the walk-through inspection to be

conducted “on the day prior to Closing Date,” and Paragraph 12(c) addresses the

Sellers’ duty to provide documents and information between the end of the

inspection/cancellation period and closing for the “close-out of building permits.”

The Buyers argue that this sequence of events should be altered, with Paragraph

12(c) made applicable even before the cancellation period has ended. The plain

language of the provision and the “as-is” language of the Contract contradict such

a reading.

      Nothing in Paragraph 12(c) states that the Buyers’ right to cancel the

Contract pursuant to Paragraph 12(a) becomes subject to an open-ended extension

if the public records reveal an open or needed permit. Such a reading ignores the

“time is of the essence provision” in the Contract. See Garcia v. Alfonso, 490 So.
2d 130 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986). Any such extension, had one been agreed upon by the

parties, would have been negotiated by the parties and reduced to a signed writing

6  “Conditional tender” and “our ultimate election to stay in the deal and close”
were the terms used by Buyer Richard J. Diaz to describe his written transmittal of
the second deposit on September 12, 2012, in paragraph 14 of his affidavit filed in
opposition to the Sellers’ motion for summary judgment in 2016.

                                          16
as required by Paragraph 18.P., the integration/modification provision within the

Contract.

        Instead, Paragraph 12(c) imposes a duty to assist the Buyers in the Buyers’

resolution of any open or needed permits—but without any agreement by the

Sellers to pay any expenses or extend the time for closing—after the inspection

period expired without cancellation, and after the posting of the second deposit.

Moreover, the Buyers admitted that the Sellers gave them access to the Residence

and to their permitting consultant7 in order to evaluate the cost to remedy any

perceived shortcomings.

        The Buyers’ attorney’s affidavit stated that, on September 19, 2012 (a week

after the expiration of the inspection/cancellation period, and two weeks before the

scheduled closing), the Buyers’ attorney spoke to the Sellers’ attorney and said that

the Buyers were not satisfied with the possible cost involved in correcting

unpermitted work. The Buyers’ pleadings submitted with the affidavit stated that

the Buyers cancelled the Contract because the Sellers would not give them credits

at closing equal to the amount the Buyers contemplated any remedial work would

cost.

7It is undisputed that the Sellers paid the permitting consultant over $32,000.00 to
meet with the Sellers’ contractor, to assess any open or required permits, and to
meet with the Buyers to go over that information.

                                         17
        Finally, in their written notice of September 24, 2012, terminating the

Contract, the Buyers did not allege a default by the Sellers under Paragraph 15(b)

of the Contract. By including a demand in the notice of termination for the escrow

agent “to return the entirety of the earnest money deposit to the Buyer,” the Buyers

were memorializing their claim that the inspection/cancellation period had been

extended, but without a signed writing or on the basis of additional consideration

by the Buyers. Coral Reef Land Dev., LLC v. Duke Realty Ltd. P’ship, 45 So. 3d
897, 901-02 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010) (oral modifications permitted, despite written

contract requiring modifications to be in writing, “when one party provides

additional consideration for the modification accepted by the other party.”).

        The Buyers did not obtain a written agreement extending the cancellation

period, nor did they furnish additional consideration beyond that required by the

existing agreement. Based on the Buyers’ threats of litigation and lis pendens

before the end of the cancellation period, the Sellers correctly characterized any

discussions regarding a contract extension or purchase price adjustment as

“settlement negotiations,” rather than definitive terms.8     No proposed written

modification acceptable to the Buyers was ever even tendered to the Sellers or

their counsel.

                     2.    Radon

8   Janice Russell Aff. ¶10, Aug. 1, 2013.

                                             18
      The Buyers’ arguments regarding radon disclosure and “waiver by conduct”

also fail because of the controlling provisions of the Contract and the undisputed

facts relating to the Buyers’ knowledge and written communications. Regarding

radon, it is first appropriate to observe that all residential buyers in 2012 were

required to be placed on notice by statute (as they are now and have been for some

30 years), that:

      RADON GAS: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that,
      when it has accumulated in a building in sufficient quantities, may
      present health risks to persons who are exposed to it over time. Levels
      of radon that exceed federal and state guidelines have been found in
      buildings in Florida. Additional information regarding radon and
      radon testing may be obtained from your county health department.

§ 404.056(5), Fla. Stat. (2012).    As already noted, the Contract included the

statutory disclosure. Although the Buyers attempt to parlay an elevated radon

level in one test into a claim of fraud, the summary judgment evidence discloses

that: both Buyers were experienced real estate attorneys familiar with radon tests;

the Buyers’ own expert witness on the topic testified that home buyers in Florida

should do a radon test during their due diligence period; radon levels fluctuate

naturally;9 radon tests are never exact; and “you could test in a certain room one

week and then come back two weeks later and get a different result.”

9  As the radon disclosure statute indicates, radon is a naturally occurring gas that
can accumulate in buildings. The short-term measurements obtained by ARS
Environmental, Inc., a month before the Contract was signed—and provided to a
non-party previously interested in buying the home—disclosed that “Fluctuations
in radon levels occur naturally. Many factors, including the weather, can affect the

                                         19
      The Buyers did not obtain a radon test during the due diligence period. The

Sellers’ attorney obtained information regarding an elevated radon reading and

disclosed it to the Buyers’ attorney, noting in an email, “please let [Sellers’ broker]

know if your clients wants [sic] to schedule a radon test.” The Buyers did not

schedule such a test before terminating the Contract.          In granting summary

judgment on the issue in February 2017, the trial court stated, “there was

information provided to the [Buyers] that radon did exist and he was on notice if

he wanted to go ahead and test for it. He chose not to.”

      Just as the Buyers were aware that the accessible public records showed

open permits and that the Sellers’ contractor might not have obtained a permit for

some part of the renovations three years earlier, the Buyers were aware that radon

can be easily and inexpensively tested during the inspection period. The Buyers

rely on Johnson v. Davis, 480 So. 2d 625, 629 (Fla. 1985), for the duty to disclose

“facts materially affecting the value of the property which are not readily

observable and are not known to the buyer.” But in this case, the Contract terms

disclaimed any such rights by apprising the Buyers that they could and should

conduct their own inspections, and the Buyers never established that the permitting

and radon matters were not observable, were actually known to the Sellers at the

readings.”

                                          20
time of entering into the Contract (as opposed to the Sellers’ contractor or broker),

and materially affected the value of the Property.

      Though aware of the permitting questions, the Buyers did not cancel the

Contract at the close of the inspection period, nor did they prepare and furnish a

written request for an extension of the inspection period. Though aware that radon

is an issue in all Florida residential contracts, the Buyers neither tested nor

accepted the offer to test after learning that part of the home had an elevated radon

level in a test taken months after the Sellers had moved to Houston. As this Court

held in Pressman v. Wolf, 732 So. 2d 356, 362 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999), Johnson v.

Davis does not extend to conditions that “were readily observable and/or within the

buyer’s ability to know or easily discover.”10

                   3.     “Sellers’ Waiver by Conduct”

      The Buyers argue that, by providing access to their permitting consultant

and discussing the costs of closing permits, the Sellers waived any right to claim

the escrowed deposit. This argument fails because the discussions in question

occurred after the Buyers’ written accusations and claims of fraud on the part of

10 The Buyers argue that the Florida Supreme Court “expressly disapproved” this
Court’s decision in Pressman, in M/I Schottenstein Homes, Inc. v. Azam, 813 So.
2d 91 (Fla. 2002). The Sellers have correctly countered, however, that the
Supreme Court only disapproved a broad statement in Pressman that “Statements
concerning public record cannot form the basis for a claim of actionable fraud.”
813 So. 2d at 96. The decision did not address on-line municipal permit records.

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the Sellers, reiterated here, in the Buyers’ email on the last day to cancel without

penalty:

      we also have independent tort remedies against you for the fraudulent
      concealment in not disclosing to us everything you knew, and did,
      regarding the condition of the property which could lead to several
      years of litigation including a claim for punitive damages and of
      course a lis pendens on the property as well.

            ...

      If we do not receive written assurances from you by 5:30 pm today,
      rest assured this matter will go to full scale litigation.

      This Court has repeatedly held that, following accusations of fraud, the

accuser may not then “justifiably rely” on the representations of the accused in

subsequent negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute. See Sugar v. Estate of

Stern, 201 So. 3d 103, 108 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015); Moriber v. Dreiling, 194 So. 3d
369, 375 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016).

            B.     Sellers’ Claim to the Deposit

      Finally, the Buyers contend that the Sellers waived their right to claim a

default by the Buyers and resultant entitlement to the escrowed deposit. This issue

is squarely addressed by Paragraph 15(a) of the Contract, appearing under the

heading “DEFAULT AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION:”

      15. DEFAULT:
          (a) BUYER DEFAULT: If Buyer fails, neglects or refuses to
      perform Buyer’s obligations under this Contract, including payment
      of the Deposit, within the time(s) specified, Seller may elect to
      recover and retain the Deposit for the account of Seller as agreed upon

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      liquidated damages, consideration for execution of this Contract, and
      in full settlement of any claims, whereupon Buyer and Seller shall be
      relieved from all further obligations under this Contract, or Seller, at
      Seller’s option, may, pursuant to Paragraph 16, proceed in equity to
      enforce Seller’s rights under this Contract.

      Of these two options, and after being sued by the Buyers, the Sellers elected

the first of the two options, retention of the deposit (as opposed to specific

performance, the second option). The Sellers were excused from setting a closing

location and demonstrating that they were ready, willing, and able to close, by

virtue of the Buyers’ anticipatory repudiation of any obligation to close issued in

their letter of September 24, 2012. See Hosp. Mortg. Grp. v. First Prudential Dev.

Corp., 411 So. 2d 181 (Fla. 1982).

             C.    Attorney’s Fees

      There is no question that the Sellers prevailed, the Buyers did not, and the

Contract contained a fee-shifting provision. The amount of attorney’s fees in the

context of a failed residential real estate transaction may seem shocking, but a

review of the 6,000 page record is sufficient to persuade the patient reader that this

was no ordinary lawsuit relating to a buyer-seller dispute.

      Early in the litigation—and this relates to mitigation of damages and fees—

the Sellers offered to exchange releases, allow the Buyers to receive the

$285,000.00 deposit, and pay the Buyers a further $40,000.00 simply to end the

matter. The offer was not accepted.

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      The trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing, considered expert

testimony, reviewed the hours and hourly rates claimed, and reduced the fees by

over $90,000.00. The trial court heard, considered, and ruled upon the factors

specified in Florida Patient’s Compensation Fund v. Rowe, 472 So. 2d 1145 (Fla.

1985).

      In light of the number of depositions taken by the Buyers; the number of

non-party witnesses subpoenaed for testimony and records; the eleven sets of

interrogatories and nine requests for production of records served on the Sellers;

the dead-end allegations pertaining to improper record destruction and computer

forensics; and hearings on a wide array of motions, including unsuccessful claims

by the Buyers for punitive damages; we cannot and do not conclude that the trial

court abused its discretion in awarding the attorney’s fees to the Sellers or in

determining the amount of that award.

      IV.    Conclusion

      The “as is” residential real estate contract developed jointly by the Florida

Realtors and The Florida Bar reflects a middle-of-the-road form intended to reduce

the legal fees that could be incurred if purchase contracts started from scratch for

each transaction. The form reflects a wealth of experience with both successful

and failed transactions among professional realtors and real estate attorneys.

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         The Buyers sought to transform an “as is” form of contract into a

continuously-negotiable-price transaction by attempting their “conditional tender”

of the second deposit payment and allowing the due diligence/cancellation period

to expire without issuing a termination notice. The summary judgment evidence

showed that they did this in order to avoid losing the Property to a backup buyer,

while simultaneously attempting to preserve a claim to a reduction in the purchase

price.

         Once bound by the Contract after the expiration of the cancellation period,

the Buyers further exacerbated their position by doing two things. First, they

unilaterally terminated the Contract before the expiration of the financing

contingency and before the closing date. Second, in an effort to enhance their

leverage and obtain tort damages beyond a contractual remedy (return of the

escrowed deposit, offered by the Sellers though under no obligation to do so

following the Buyers’ default), the Buyers launched a bitter and “no holds barred”

lawsuit against the Sellers.11

11 One of the Buyers, Richard Diaz, signed his own 57-page motion for leave to
amend their fourth amended complaint to claim punitive damages in 2016; co-
counsel then representing him did not sign it. The tone is illustrated by these
excerpts: (1) “Before analyzing [Sellers’] specific acts of evilness, outrageousness,
conscious and reckless disregard for [Buyers’] rights, we must first spotlight what
the evidence shows they knew and when.” (2) “There was no reason on God’s
green earth for [the brokers and Sellers] to have hidden what they knew from
[Buyers] about the radon gas issue except to satisfy their greed for [Buyers’]
money.”

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      Finding no reversible error in the final judgments entered by the trial court,

we affirm the judgments in all respects.

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