(DOWNLOAD) "Freedman V. Rector" by Supreme Court Of California # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free

eBook details

Title: Freedman V. Rector
Author : Supreme Court Of California
Release Date : January 27, 1951
Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
Pages : * pages
Size : 55 KB

Description

On October 8, 1947, plaintiff signed a deposit agreement with Clarence Urban, a real estate broker, for the purchase of two lots owned by defendant. He paid $2,000 down and agreed to pay the balance of $16,000 into escrow within 30 days. Both parties signed the escrow instructions a few days later. Although the deposit agreement was ambiguous with respect to title requirements, the escrow instructions provided that the property should be free of encumbrances except "covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, rights, rights of way, [and] easements . . . now of record." There was evidence that at the time plaintiff signed the escrow instructions he was informed of all covenants and easements affecting the property, but he took the position thereafter that he was under no obligation to purchase the property until the title had been cleared. On November 20th the escrow agent informed plaintiff that the title was clear except for an easement held by the water and power department across the rear 5 feet of one of the lots. This easement was abandoned the following April. On November 28th plaintiff wrote defendant and the escrow agent repudiating the contract and demanding the return of his deposit. He stated that the property had been misrepresented to him and that defendant had failed to clear the title as required by the contract. On December 19th plaintiff wrote defendant that he would take title and pay the balance of the purchase price as soon as the easement had been cleared. Defendant, however, on December 27th cancelled the escrow and thereafter sold the property to a third party for $20,000. Early in January plaintiff indicated his willingness to purchase the property and shortly thereafter brought this suit for specific performance. The trial court entered judgment for defendant and plaintiff appeals.