Franchise Realty Interstate Corp. v. State College Shopping Center, Inc.

47 Pa. D. & C.2d 632, 1969 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 323
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Centre County
DecidedJuly 3, 1969
Docketno. 1
StatusPublished

This text of 47 Pa. D. & C.2d 632 (Franchise Realty Interstate Corp. v. State College Shopping Center, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Centre County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Franchise Realty Interstate Corp. v. State College Shopping Center, Inc., 47 Pa. D. & C.2d 632, 1969 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 323 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1969).

Opinion

CAMPBELL, P. J.,

I. STATEMENT OF PLEADINGS AND ISSUES RAISED

A complaint in equity was filed seeking the following relief:

(a) To enjoin defendant from the use of a partially constructed building until distinctive architectural features were removed.

(b) Ordering defendant to remove the distinctive arches of the building.

[633]*633(c) To enjoin defendant from any use or disposition of furnished plans and specifications.

(d) Ordering defendant to return the plans and specifications.

(e) To enter judgment for liquidated damages in the amount of $15,000.

Defendant filed a reply denying breach of lease agreement and averring new matter. A reply to new matter was then filed by plaintiff.

The specific issues raised are as follows: (1) whether or not defendant is in default under a lease agreement, (2) whether or not after termination of the agreement an accord and satisfaction or a novation was effected, and (3) the validity and applicability of a clause providing for liquidated damages.

II. FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiff and defendant entered into a lease agreement dated August 3,1961, in which defendant agreed to construct a “McDonald’s” on its land and thereafter to lease the same to plaintiff for a term of 20 years.

2. Said written lease provided in paragraph 7 thereof as follows:

“Lessor expressly agrees that he will commence construction within 90 days after the date of the execution of this lease and will diligently proceed with the construction of the building and improvements as aforesaid and that the same will be completed not later than May 1st, 1962, and so certified by the architect, if any, employed in connection with said construction or so evidenced by the proper municipal authorities by the granting of a certificate of occupancy. It is further agreed, anything to the contrary notwithstanding, that should Lessor fail to commence construction or to complete the same within the limitations in this paragraph above set forth then Lessee shall have the right and privilege to declare this lease null and void and all monies paid by the Lessee to Lessor shall be returned to the Lessee. Lessor acknowledges that Les[634]*634see’s damages from a failure by Lessor so to construct and complete said improvements are difficult of ascertainment; that said damages include not only the loss of the use of the premises but also expenses which Lessee will have incurred and damages for which Lessee may be liable to third persons in connection with subleasing of the premises, arrangements for installation of fixtures and equipment and the financing thereof and loss of profits from the deprivation of the future use of the premises. Accordingly, Lessor agrees, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, to pay to Lessee, in the event Lessee shall elect to declare this lease null and void as aforesaid, the sum of $15,000.00.

“*In the event that construction cannot be started or the improvements completed within the time limitations hereinbefore mentioned due to the inability of the Lessor to procure labor, materials therefor, strikes, acts of God, unusual weather, or governmental restrictions then the time shall be extended accordingly.”

3. Defendant defaulted under said lease agreement in the following respects:

(a) Defendant failed to complete the building of the structure within the time specified.

(b) Defendant failed to comply with the plans and specifications furnished by plaintiff in proceeding with construction.

4. Defendant’s default as set forth in finding of fact 3 was not justified nor excused by the plaintiff. Plaintiff' declared the lease null and void and so notified defendant on November 15,1962.

5. Plaintiff was at all times ready and able to perform under its lease contract.

6. That on or about October 5, 1963, plaintiff offered to accept a settlement of $3,200 to be paid by defendant within a specified time. Defendant paid $200 but could not or did not complete settlement in accordance with the offer.

[635]*6357. That defendant failed to pay any additional amount and upon default plaintiff rescinded its offer of compromise.

8. Defendant removed the partially constructed building, removed the distinctive arches attached thereto and returned all copies of the plans and specifications to plaintiff.

9. That the damages suffered by the plaintiff are incapable of being accurately determined but plaintiff did lose a location fee of $2,500 and the profit on base rent with 40 percent markup representing $3,600 a year, plus 7 percent of anticipated profits had the unit been in operation upon the agreed date.

III. DISCUSSION

Jurisdiction

An examination of the prayer of plaintiffs complaint convinces the court that equity has jurisdiction. Since the institution of this suit, defendant has complied with a number of plaintiffs requests, thereby rendering these matters moot. There do remain, however, two matters which require our consideration: first, the request of plaintiff to enjoin defendant from any future use of the original plans and specifications furnished defendant; and secondly, the validity and applicability of a liquidated damage clause is involved. We believe that both of these problems are equitable in nature and should there be any doubt, we still hold that when equity has once assumed jurisdiction, it may retain it for all purposes to do substantial justice between the parties: Buswell v. Buswell, 377 Pa. 487; 105 A.2d 608 (1954).

Compromise Settlement

Extensive negotiations were conducted between the parties or their counsel in an effort to settle the litigation. It extended over a period of more than two [636]*636years beginning July 11, 1963, and ending September 28, 1965. Ten pages of testimony are devoted entirely to a resume of proposals and counter proposals. We feel safe in arriving at the general conclusion that plaintiff was willing to accept $3,000, representing the approximate out of pocket loss at the beginning of the negotiating period, but that defendant did not have the available funds and was insisting upon a series of deferred payments which was unacceptable to plaintiff. We find nowhere in the record any complete meeting of the minds of the parties of a definite settlement agreement, even though defendant made two $100 payments to plaintiff during the negotiations. Under these circumstances we can find no binding agreement of settlement.

Accord and Satisfaction

The classical definition of an accord is that it is a contract between a creditor and a debtor for the settlement of a claim by some performance other than that which was originally contemplated. There is little doubt in this case that plaintiff was satisfied to settle the litigation upon the payment of the original stipulated amount of $3,000. This offer was made known to defendant. It is likewise fair, we believe, to find that this settlement figure was acceptable to defendant but that the time, amounts and manner of payment were never agreed upon by both parties and of course never completed. Under no circumstances was there a satisfaction.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
47 Pa. D. & C.2d 632, 1969 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 323, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/franchise-realty-interstate-corp-v-state-college-shopping-center-inc-pactcomplcentre-1969.