Summary
listing contract provided for payment of a broker's commission if the property “is sold,” which in the circuit court's view meant the sale had to be completed; this court remanded the cause to the circuit court to determine what the parties intended the words “is sold” to mean in the case at hand
Summary of this case from Ash Park, LLC v. Alexander & Bishop, Ltd.Opinion
February 29, 1968. —
May 7, 1968.
APPEAL from a judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county: ROBERT M. CURLEY, Circuit Judge. Reversed.
For the appellant there were briefs by Charles L. Goldberg and Francis X. Krembs, both of Milwaukee, and oral argument by Mr. Krembs.
For the respondent there was a brief by Howard Haberla, and oral argument by Edwin A. Star, both of Milwaukee.
This is an action to recover a real estate broker's commission. The plaintiff, Walter Kassuba, Inc., and the defendant, Elsie Bauch, entered into a real estate listing contract, the provisions of which are as follows:
"Date: November 23, 1966 "Selling price: $133,000.00 "Expiration date: Jan. 23, 1967 "In the event that the property located at 1620-1624-1628 North Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin is Sold by WALTER KASSUBA, INC., or Sold to any prospects who were shown the property by WALTER KASSUBA, INC., OR any Salesman employed by WALTER KASSUBA, INC., for the above stated price or any price acceptable to owner we agree to Pay a Commission of Six Per Cent (6%) of the Selling Price to Walter Kassuba, Inc., in the City of Milwaukee, County of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin."The complaint alleges that plaintiff and defendant entered into the foregoing listing contract, that during the life of the contract plaintiff obtained a written offer from a partnership known as the Lakeneer Group to purchase the premises for $135,000, which offer was accepted by the defendant on December 6, 1966. The complaint further alleges that plaintiff demanded payment and that none was made. Judgment is sought for $8,100, which is six percent of $135,000.
The defendant's answer admits the execution of the listing contract and the offer by the Lakeneer Group but alleges that the offer was accompanied by a $2,000 deposit held in escrow by the plaintiff, which plaintiff returned to the group when they "withdrew" their offer and denies that the commission is owing. The answer also alleges the following:
"1. That defendant entered into negotiations with Walter Kassuba, Inc., through one of its employees, one Sol Weinberg, and that Mr. Weinberg instructed the defendant herein that Walter Kassuba, Inc., would enter into a listing contract with the defendant herein on the basis that the defendant would be liable for a commission of six per cent (6%) only if the property known as 1620-1624-1628 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin were sold, and that the defendant would not be liable for any commission whatever until the property was actually purchased by another party and after the closing was held on said property. Thereafter, Mr. Weinberg drew up a commission agreement, a copy of which is listed as Exhibit A, which listing contract specifically used the word `sold' throughout instead of the words `to sell'; that said property was never sold to Walter Kassuba, Inc., or sold to any other prospects who were shown the property by Walter Kassuba, Inc., or to any salesmen employed by Walter Kassuba, Inc."
After issue was joined in this manner, the parties made cross-motions for summary judgment. In support of plaintiff's motion, the affidavit of Nicholas S. Raich was presented, in which he stated that he was the president of the plaintiff, Walter Kassuba, Inc., and that plaintiff and defendant entered into the listing contract referred to above, a copy of which was annexed to the affidavit, that subsequently the Lakeneer Group signed an offer to purchase, which was accepted by the defendant, a copy of the contract being also annexed to the affidavit.
The affidavit of the defendant is as follows:
"1. Elsie Bauch, being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and says that she is the defendant in the above entitled action; that said action on the part of the plaintiff herein is based upon a listing contract listed as Exhibit A in plaintiff's Complaint and made a part of the pleadings herein.
"2. That said listing contract specifically states that plaintiff shall not be entitled to any commission unless the said property listed in said listing contract was sold.
"3. That the Complaint of the plaintiff specifically states that it is entitled to a commission as a result of an offer to purchase by Michael J. Schmitz, David M. Zimmers and Carl Thompson, otherwise known as the Lakeneer Group.
"4. That affiant has stated in her affirmative defense in her Answer that the said property was never sold to the Lakeneer Group, and affiant is informed by her attorney and verily believes that plaintiff's action is precluded as a matter of law.
"5. That this Affidavit is made in order that defendant may have summary judgment in the above entitled matter."
The trial court granted defendant's motion for summary judgment and plaintiff appeals.
Each party contends that as a matter of law the contract must be construed in its favor.
At the outset we note that defendant's affidavit contains recitations of the pleadings and ultimate facts. This does not meet the requirement that affidavits in support of a motion for summary judgment shall state evidentiary facts. Sec. 270.635, Stats. See Weber v. Hurley (1961), 13 Wis.2d 560, 109 N.W.2d 65, and McChain v. Fond du Lac (1959), 7 Wis.2d 286, 96 N.W.2d 607. Consequently, this court cannot affirm the judgment of the trial court unless the listing contract can be construed as a matter of law to provide that the commission is payable only at some point beyond the production of a buyer ready, willing, and able to purchase.
Plaintiff contends that the listing contract, containing as it does the language "in the event that the property . . . is Sold, " must be held to provide that the commission is earned when the broker produces a buyer ready, willing, and able to purchase. Plaintiff cites the following authorities: Libowitz v. Lake Nursing Home, Inc. (1967), 35 Wis.2d 74, 150 N.W.2d 439, 151 N.W.2d 680; Wauwatosa Realty Co. v. Paar (1956), 274 Wis. 7, 79 N.W.2d 125; Nordale Realty Co. v. Hanel (1947), 251 Wis. 136, 28 N.W.2d 245; Grinde v. Chipman (1921), 175 Wis. 376, 185 N.W. 288. Plaintiff further contends that since defendant entered into a valid and enforceable contract to purchase, the matter of the customer's ability, readiness, and willingness is no longer open to question under the authority of the Wauwatosa Realty Co. Case, supra.
The authorities cited by the plaintiff undoubtedly hold that when a broker contracts "to sell" a piece of real estate, he is obligated merely to procure a purchaser ready, willing, and able to buy on the terms specified by the seller. Plaintiff is also correct in asserting that acceptance of the purchaser by the seller is conclusive on the issue of readiness, willingness, and ability.
Defendant attempts to avoid these rules by contending that "Sold" is equivalent to "consummation of sale, " by which she presumably means the closing. We are not persuaded that as a matter of law "Sold" means anything different from "sell" or "sale" in the cases cited by the plaintiff. But from the plaintiff's affidavit in support of its motion for summary judgment, it does appear that the standard form real estate listing contract was not used, although had it been used the result contended for by the plaintiff would undoubtedly be reached. See Wauwatosa Realty Co. v. Paar, supra. Further, there is an allegation in the answer to the effect that the defendant and Sol Weinberg, an agent of the plaintiff, had a conversation in which the defendant was informed that she "would not be liable for any commission whatever until the property was actually purchased by another party and after the closing was held . . . ." Under these circumstances, we think the contract is ambiguous as to when the plaintiff is entitled to a commission. Thus, the construction of the listing contract presents an issue of fact which cannot be decided on summary judgment. Accordingly, there must be a trial at which the intent of the parties in entering into the contract must be determined. We consider that evidence of the surrounding circumstances will be admissible at the trial to show such intent. In Georgiades v. Glickman (1956), 272 Wis. 257, 265, 75 N.W.2d 573, the court stated as follows:
"Among the surrounding circumstances that are admissible for the purpose of interpreting the language of a contract are the ` acts and statements of the parties antecedent to and contemporaneous with the making of the contract.' 3 Corbin, Contracts, p. 72, sec. 543."
There is a further issue of fact which it may become necessary to resolve on the trial because it remains unresolved by the affidavits, namely, whether the return of the earnest money to the Lakeneer Group by the broker estops the plaintiff from collecting its commission. Defendant's answer alleged the following with respect to the return of the earnest money:
If it is found that under the language of the contract the commission is not owing, this issue need not be reached.
"2. In answer to paragraph 4 of plaintiff's Complaint, admits there was a written offer by Lakeneer Group, a partnership, which said offer was accompanied by a Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollar earnest money deposit held in escrow by the plaintiff, and that thereafter, the said Lakeneer Group withdrew its offer and the said plaintiff, on information and belief, returned the Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollar earnest money deposit to the Lakeneer Group, and said premises were never sold to the said Lakeneer Group."
Neither party touched on this issue in its affidavit, and plaintiff contends that estoppel has no part in this lawsuit because (1) it is not well pleaded and (2) the showing of a defense on summary judgment must be by affidavit and not by verified answer, relying on Leszczynski v. Surges (1966), 30 Wis.2d 534, 141 N.W.2d 261.
With respect to (1), the plaintiff cannot successfully raise that issue on motion for summary judgment, for summary judgment is not calculated to supplant a demurrer. Dottai v. Altenbach (1963), 19 Wis.2d 373, 377, 120 N.W.2d 41; Kielpinski v. Tomaro Contractors (1960), 11 Wis.2d 53, 57, 103 N.W.2d 919. With respect to (2), defendant is not obligated to support the allegation in her answer by affidavit (assuming for the moment that her position is purely defensive), unless the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case for summary judgment through its affidavits or other proof. A prima facie case is established only when evidentiary facts are stated which if they remain uncontradicted by the opposing party's affidavits resolve all factual issues in the moving party's favor. Since plaintiff's affidavit contains no reference to the return of the earnest money deposit, the issue of fact as to its return raised by defendant in her answer remains unresolved by the moving papers and is left for determination, if necessary, at the trial. A somewhat similar situation was present in Leszczynski v. Surges, supra, where adverse possession was pleaded as an affirmative defense in a quiet-title action. The plaintiff moved for summary judgment; and the defendant filed no opposing affidavits. However, since the plaintiff's affidavit contained ultimate rather than evidentiary facts on the issue of adverse possession, the court held that she had not made out a prima facie case for summary judgment. The court stated the following at page 537:
". . . No affidavit was submitted in support of the answer and while this is a dangerous procedure by a defendant confronted with a motion by the plaintiff for summary judgment, in this case it has no disastrous effect."
Since the trial court entered judgment for the defendant on her motion for summary judgment, the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded for trial in accordance with this opinion.
By the Court. — Judgment reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.