Blatt v. Blythe

65 Pa. D. & C.2d 232, 1973 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 157
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Chester County
DecidedMarch 15, 1973
Docketno. 2415 of 1972
StatusPublished

This text of 65 Pa. D. & C.2d 232 (Blatt v. Blythe) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Chester County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blatt v. Blythe, 65 Pa. D. & C.2d 232, 1973 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 157 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1973).

Opinion

KENT, J.,

This matter comes before the court on plaintiffs’ complaint in equity in which they pray for the specific performance of a contract to sell real property. After hearing thereon, we make the following

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiffs are Martin R. Blatt and Lilia M. Blatt, his wife, and Howard R. Grumpelt and Lillian Grumpelt, his wife. Defendants are John Blythe and Marie Blythe, his wife.

2. At all times mentioned herein, defendants were the owners of a tract of ground together with the improvements thereon comprising 15 acres of land, more or less, in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pa.

3. On January 3, 1972, a form of written agreement of sale providing for the sale of the aforesaid real property by defendants to plaintiffs was reviewed by all parties. Said agreement of sale contained, inter alia, the following provisions:

“It is understood and agreed that this agreement is contingent upon purchasers obtaining a mortgage commitment in the minimum amount of $10,000.00 for 20 years at an interest rate not to exceed TlA percent per annum within forty-five days of date hereof. In the event said mortgage commitment is not issued within time specified this agreement shall be rendered null and void and all down monies shall be immediately returned to buyers.

“A policy of Fire Insurance for $ to be transferred to said party of the second part upon payment of the premium, less the discount named in policy.

[234]*234“The premises are to be conveyed free and clear of any and all incumbrances and easements excepting however the following: existing building restrictions, ordinances, easements of roads, privileges or rights of public service companies, if any; or easements or restrictions visible upon the ground,

“The gas and electric fixtures, heaters, ranges, etc., annexed to the said building are to be included in the sale, as also any water pipe laid on any street bounding said lot.

“Possession is to be given at time of final settlement.

“Taxes, water rent, house rent, interest on incumbrance (if any) to be apportioned for the current term.

“All Real Estate Transfer Taxes imposed by any government body shall be borne equally by seller and buyer.

“Gas, and Electric bills, if any, to be paid by the seller.

“The title is to be such as will be insured by any reputable title insurance company at standard rates.

“And the said parties hereby bind themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, for the faithful performance of the above agreement within forty-five days from the date hereof, said time to be the essence of this agreement, unless extended by mutual consent in writing endorsed hereon.”

4. At said meeting, plaintiff, Martin R. Blatt, orally requested that the date of settlement be extended to February 28, 1972, which extension was assented to by all other parties without further discussion. The said Martin R. Blatt thereupon added the words “settlement to be held on or before February 28,1972,” in his own hand immediately following the words “possession is to be given at time of final settlement.” The said agreement was then executed by all parties.

5. Pursuant to the said agreement of sale and con[235]*235temporaneously with the execution thereof, plaintiffs paid to defendants the sum of $1,000.

6. Plaintiffs gave no notice to defendants of having obtained a mortgage commitment on or before February 17,1972.

7. On February 17, 1972, defendants’ attorney sent a letter to plaintiffs advising plaintiffs that the agreement of sale was null and void by reason of defendants’ not having received notice of mortgage commitment prior to February 17,1972.

8. On February 18, 1972, plaintiff, Martin R. Blatt, sent to defendants a letter advising that the buyers were ready, willing and able to complete settlement and further advising defendants of the scheduling of such settlement for Monday, February 28, 1972, at 9 a.m., at the offices of the Title Abstract Company of Pennsylvania, specifying the address of said office.

9. On February 18, 1972, defendants’ attorney sent to plaintiff a letter enclosing a check payable to plaintiffs in the amount of $1,000 tendered as a return of the deposit money. Said letter was refused by plaintiffs and subsequently returned to defendants’ attorney.

10. On February 28, 1972, at 9 a.m., plaintiffs appeared at the offices of the Title Abstract Company of Pennsylvania, at which time they deposited with an officer of said company the remaining consideration due on the agreement of sale.

11. Defendants did not appear at the offices of said title company and have since refused to make settlement with plaintiff.

DISCUSSION

The sole issue presented for determination is whether or not plaintiff-buyers’ failure to obtain or give notice of obtaining mortgage commitment within 45 days of the date of the agreement rendered the same [236]*236null and void. In equity, time is not ordinarily regarded as of the essence of a contract in the absence of an express agreement by the parties that performance is to occur on or before a date certain, and that time is of the essence: Knable v. Bradley, 430 Pa. 153 (1968); New Eastwick Corporation v. Philadelphia Builders Eastwick Corporation, 430 Pa. 46 (1968); Morrell v. Broadbent, 291 Pa. 503 (1928); Bogojavlensky v. Logan, 181 Pa. Superior Ct. 312 (1956).

In the subject contract, the mortgage commitment contingency clause provides for the obtaining of such a commitment within 45 days of the date of the agreement; that is, by February 17th, the agreement having been executed January 3rd. The typewritten commitment clause contains no provision that time be of the essence. This provision is followed by eight further paragraphs providing for fire insurance, liens and encumbrances, fixtures, delivery of possession and settlement date, tax and rent apportionment, payment of transfer taxes, payment of utility bills and an insurable title provision. These are followed by the concluding paragraph providing, “and the said parties hereby bind themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns for the faithful performance of the above agreement within 45 days from the date hereof, said time to be the essence of this agreement, unless extended by mutual consent in writing endorsed hereon.”

In the case of Morrell v. Broadbent, supra, an agreement for the sale of real estate provided for a payment to be made at the time of execution, a second payment to be made on or before a specified date, and the balance of the consideration at settlement. This was followed by a variety of clauses dealing with various aspects of the transaction, the last of which fixed a date for settlement and was followed by the language “ ‘and said time is hereby agreed to be the essence of this [237]*237agreement.’ ” When the vendee failed to make the second payment within the specified time, the vendor treated the contract as null and void and the vendee brought an action for specific performance.

In discussing whether or not the time of the essence provision applied to the installment payment as well as the settlement date, it was stated:

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Related

Knable v. Bradley
242 A.2d 224 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1968)
L. C. S. Colliery, Inc. v. Globe Coal Co.
84 A.2d 776 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1951)
Glover v. Grubbs
80 A.2d 75 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1951)
Bogojavlensky v. Logan
124 A.2d 412 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1956)
Morrell v. Broadbent
140 A. 500 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1927)
Marshall Const. Co., Inc. v. Forsyth
57 A.2d 902 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1948)
New Eastwick Corp. v. Philadelphia Builders Eastwick Corp.
241 A.2d 766 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1968)

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Bluebook (online)
65 Pa. D. & C.2d 232, 1973 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blatt-v-blythe-pactcomplcheste-1973.