Abbott v. Burleigh House, Inc.

34 Fla. Supp. 195
CourtCircuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami-Dade County
DecidedNovember 16, 1970
DocketNos. 70-14179, 70-14180, 70-16198
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 34 Fla. Supp. 195 (Abbott v. Burleigh House, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami-Dade County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Abbott v. Burleigh House, Inc., 34 Fla. Supp. 195 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1970).

Opinion

FRANCIS X. KNUCK, Circuit Judge.

Final judgment: The three above styled cases were consolidated, and pursuant to pre-trial conference, they were tried before the court as consolidated class actions. The court heard the testimony, reviewed the evidentiary exhibits, and had the benefit of exhaustive briefs, including proposed final judgments, setting forth the positions of the respective parties.

These actions were instituted by the plaintiffs, Dalton Abbott and Martha Abbott, his wife, purportedly representing themselves and all other persons contracting to purchase apartment units in the Burleigh House Condominium. The litigation was engendered by a group of prospective purchasers designating themselves as the “action committee” for the Burleigh House Buyers Association, whose membership consists of the following contract purchasers — Fred Green, Maurice Brill, Annette Friedman, Dalton Abbott, William Schussel, Irving Fishman, and Paul Sladon. (Defendants’ exhibit O).

At the time of trial, approximately a third of all purchasers of apartment units had closed and taken title to their apartments, by executing a deed ratifying, confirming and approving the provisions of the agreement to purchase, the management agreement, and the community facilities lease, which are the subject matters of plaintiffs’ claims.

The defendants sued by plaintiffs are Burleigh House, Inc., a Florida corporation, the developer and owner of the condominium [198]*198property and seller of the apartment units; Burleigh House Condominium, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, the “condominium association” whose membership is to consist of owners of the apartment units; Herbert Buchwald, as trustee, the owner and record title holder of the recreation facilities described in the condominium documents and which recreation facilities are leased to the condominium association for use by the apartment owners under the terms of the community facilities lease; and Burleigh House Management Corporation, a Florida corporation, the manager of the condominium property and recreation facilities under the management agreement with the condominium association. (Plaintiffs’ composite exhibits 1 and 2).

The Burleigh House Condominium, created under and pursuant to the provisions of chapter 711, Florida Statutes, consists of an 18-story, X-shaped building, containing 360 apartment units, 11 shop units, and 19 recreation units, on lands located at 71st Street and the Atlantic Ocean in Miami Beach. (Plaintiffs’ composite exhibit 1).

This consolidated litigation consists of fourteen counts asserting multiple claims and defenses arising from contracts for the sale and purchase of apartment units in the Burleigh House Condominium.

Count One, Case No. 70-14179

By this count, plaintiffs demand judgment cancelling the management agreement made on December 15, 1969, by and between Burleigh House Condominium, Inc. (the condominium association) and Burleigh House Management Corporation, and filed for record December 23, 1969, in official records book 6694, at page 592 of the public records of Dade County, upon grounds of fraudulent misrepresentations made by the developer, Burleigh House, Inc.

Plaintiffs allege they agreed to purchase apartment units in the Burleigh House Condominium under a contract which was both oral and written. The written contract sued upon provides that —

3. The apartment involved in this agreement is a portion of lands, improvements and property which have been or prior to the time of closing will be submitted to the condominium form of ownership. The nature of the rights and undertakings of the Buyer in acquiring and owning such apartment are controlled and will be subject to a Declaration of Condominium, Articles of Incorporation of the Condominium Association, By-Laws of the Association, Rules and Regulations of the Association, a Management Agreement regarding the operation and management of the condominium and a Community Facility Lease as to the recreation facilities. * * *
[199]*19912. This agreement and those documents specifically made a part hereof constitute the entire agreement between the Buyer and Seller and may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the Buyer and Seller. Each acknowledges that there are no agreements, stipulations, representations, promises or understandings whatsoever in any way touching the subject matter of this agreement which are not expressly contained herein.

Plaintiffs allege that at and before execution of the written contract, the developer, Burleigh House, Inc., represented that the foregoing provisions of the agreement to purchase relating to the management agreement were not binding and were merely surplusage, and that the condominium association would have full management of the condominium. Plaintiffs further allege that the defendant knew such oral representations were untrue and that defendant’s oral misrepresentations constituted fraud; that the management agreement was not then in existence and plaintiffs relied upon the oral misrepresentations made by defendant.

Plaintiffs do not seek rescission or cancellation of the agreement to purchase for alleged oral misrepresentations. They seek enforcement of oral representations which are directly contrary to the provisions of the written contract by cancellation of the management agreement. It has been held that a prior oral representation which is inconsistent with a written contract affords no basis for relief. Greenwald v. Food Fair Stores Corporation, Fla. App. 1958, 100 So.2d 200.

On the factual question whether the alleged oral representations were made, the testimony is conflicting. However, the testimony on behalf of defendant is more credible and convincing. Annette Friedman, a member of the action committee, testified that no such representations were made to her and she had full knowledge that the purchasers of apartment units would be subject to a management agreement. The testimony of other members of the action committee produced by plaintiffs was vague and indefinite as to the substance of the oral representations and their interpretation of the meaning thereof in respect to the management agreement.

The court finds for the defendants and against plaintiffs on the issues involved in this count. The preponderance of the evidence establishes that purchasers of apartment units were not misled by any oral misrepresentations concerning the management agreement, nor was the developer guilty of any fraudulent conduct with respect to the management agreement. Full disclosure was made by the developer, and the management agreement is binding upon and enforceable against purchasers of apartment units in the Burleigh House Condominium and the condominium association.

[200]*200 Count Two, Case No. 70-14179

Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment declaring and adjudicating that the management agreement is illegal and void as being contrary to the provisions of the Florida Condominium Act, and contrary to public policy. Defendants contend for the validity of the management agreement.

The management agreement made by and between the condominium association and Burleigh House Management Corporation (part of plaintiffs’ composite exhibits 1 and 2) employs the management corporation to serve as manager to operate and maintain the condominium and recreation facilities for and on behalf of the condominium association.

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Related

Burleigh House Condominium, Inc. v. Buchwald
368 So. 2d 1316 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
34 Fla. Supp. 195, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/abbott-v-burleigh-house-inc-flacirct11mia-1970.