Henderson v. Nitschke

470 S.W.2d 410, 46 A.L.R. 3d 1369, 1971 Tex. App. LEXIS 2063
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 23, 1971
Docket4461
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 470 S.W.2d 410 (Henderson v. Nitschke) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Henderson v. Nitschke, 470 S.W.2d 410, 46 A.L.R. 3d 1369, 1971 Tex. App. LEXIS 2063 (Tex. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

*411 McCLOUD, Chief Justice.

Under the terms of a lease Chevron Oil Company, lessee, was given the “prior right, to he exercised by it or by its nominee, to buy the * * * leased premises.” Paragraph 10 of the lease further provided, “If Lessor receives from a third party an acceptable bona fide offer to buy such property, Lessor shall forthwith give Lessee written notice thereof together with a copy of such offer. Lessee or its nominee shall have sixty (60) days from the receipt of such notice and offer to buy such property at the terms of such offer relating to such property * * * If Lessee or its nominee fails to exercise this option and Lessor sells such property to a third person, such sale shall be made subject to the terms and provisions of this lease * * * ”

It was stipulated in the trial court by and between the parties that the property in question at the time of trial was owned by the Nitschke Trust; that Cora B. Smith, Trustee of Nitschke Trust, would be substituted for defendant, John F. Nitschke; that John F. Nitschke was acting as agent for the Trust; and, that any order, judgment or decree of the court would be binding upon John F. Nitschke and Cora B. Smith, Trustee of the Nitschke Trust, in her fiduciary capacity. Chevron Oil Company appointed Buddy D. Henderson as its nominee to exercise the rights granted in paragraph 10 of the lease.

Henderson, as nominee of the lessee, Chevron, filed suit seeking an order of specific performance requiring lessor, Nitsch-ke Trust, to convey the premises to Henderson. Lessor denied that Henderson was entitled to the relief sought. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment. The motion of lessor, Nitschke Trust, was granted. Henderson has appealed.

The determination of the rights of the parties requires an interpretation of paragraph 10 of the lease. The rights of the appellant, Henderson, are derived as nominee of the lessee, Chevron.

On August 22, 1969, lessor entered into a written contract to sell the property in question to Gene Penrod. By letter dated December 29, 1969, lessee, Chevron, received written notice from lessor of the proposed sale to Penrod. The letter stated: “In conformity with Paragraph 10 of the lease on subject property dated July 20, 1959, enclosed herewith you will find a copy of the sales contract between Gene Penrod and the writer. We will appreciate your advising us at your earliest possible convenience if it is your desire to exercise your right expressed in Paragraph No. 10.” On January 28, 1970, lessor wrote a letter to lessee advising it that the offer of sale was revoked. The letter stated: “This is to advise you that Gene Penrod has revoked his contract to purchase the subject tract of land. I hereby revoke my letter of December 29, 1969, in regard to the sale of the same tract of land to your company.” Thereafter, on February 9, 1970, Chevron notified lessor by letter of its election to nominate appellant, Henderson, “to exercise the prior right option contained in said lease.” Within 60 days from December 29, 1969, the date lessor notified lessee of the proposed sale to the third party, Henderson notified lessor that he desired to exercise his right to purchase under paragraph 10 and requested lessor to proceed with the sale under the terms of the lease. Lessor refused to convey the premises to appellant and contends that the offer to sell was not accepted prior to being withdrawn. Appellant Henderson, as nominee of the lessee, Chevron, contends that he had an option for 60 days in which to purchase after notification by lessor of lessor’s acceptable bona fide offer from Penrod and that he exercised his option within the 60 day period.

Appellee, lessor, contends that we are not concerned with an option contract ; that the right of lessee to purchase is a mere right of refusal which cannot be called an option; that such first right of refusal as contained in paragraph 10 of the lease is only an agreement to make an agreement in the event the lessor owner *412 sells the property; and, at the time of appellant’s alleged acceptance there was no pending sale, therefore, appellant had no right of refusal as the conditions under which such right arose were not in existence. Appellee further says that had lessee paid a separate and independent consideration for the option to purchase at the price and on the terms as contained in the offer of the third party, or if lessee had accepted the offer before its withdrawal, then in either of such events, lessee would have an enforceable contract. However, failing in both of these respects, appellant has no right of specific performance.

Appellant argues that lessor clearly formed an intent to sell the property and determined with the third party, Pen-rod, all of the terms of the sale. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 10 lessor gave lessee written notice of the proposed sale to the third party, and at that point, the first right of refusal matured into an option which was supported by consideration and was irrevocable by the terms of the lease for 60 days. We agree.

In 51C C.J.S. Landlord and Tenant § 88(5), p. 271, we find the following comment concerning some of the general rules involved:

“Under an agreement whereby the lessee is given a first privilege or right to purchase, or right of first refusal, the lessor reserves the right of retaining the property and not selling to anyone, so that the lessee’s privilege of purchasing depends on the lessor’s election to sell. In other words, under such provisions, the lessee is not given an absolute right to purchase, but merely an option conditioned on the landlord’s willingness to sell or the landlord’s offering of the premises for sale to others. So under a lease provision for a first option to purchase the premises at such price as might be agreed on between the lessor and any bona fide purchaser, prior to the making of an actual agreement as to price between the lessor and a prospective purchaser, the lessee has no accrued right of purchase, but only a promise thereof which for fruition is wholly dependent on a future event which might never occur.
The owner, although obligated first to offer the leased property for sale to the lessee is under no obligation to keep the offer open for any length of time, but may withdraw the offer at any time provided it has not been unconditionally accepted; but after such withdrawal, the owner is required to give the lessee the same opportunity to buy should the owner again decide to sell during the lease term.”

Lessor cites the last paragraph quoted above as authority that the offer could be withdrawn at any time before acceptance. Anderson v. Stewart, 149 Neb. 660, 32 N.W.2d 140 (1948) is cited by the author of the C.J.S. comment for the conclusion reached. In examining the decision we find that the case is clearly distinguishable from the instant case. In Anderson v.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Tregellas v. Archer
507 S.W.3d 423 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2016)
Ben Jarvis v. Robert J. Peltier, Sr. and Calvin C. Smith
400 S.W.3d 644 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2013)
Glick v. Chocorua Forestlands Ltd. P'ship
949 A.2d 693 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 2008)
Glick v. Chocorua Forestlands Ltd. Partnership
157 N.H. 240 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 2008)
In Re EGBERT R SMITH TRUST
745 N.W.2d 754 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2008)
In Re Smith Trust
731 N.W.2d 810 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2007)
Abraham Investment Co. v. Payne Ranch, Inc.
968 S.W.2d 518 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1998)
Smith v. Truglia
599 A.2d 122 (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1991)
Riley v. Campeau Homes (Texas), Inc.
808 S.W.2d 184 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1991)
West Texas Transmission, L.P. v. Enron Corporation
907 F.2d 1554 (Fifth Circuit, 1990)
LIN Broadcasting Corp. v. Metromedia, Inc.
542 N.E.2d 629 (New York Court of Appeals, 1989)
Lin Broadcasting Corp. v. Metromedia, Inc.
139 A.D.2d 124 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1988)
Holland v. Fleming
728 S.W.2d 820 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1987)
Rollins v. Stokes
123 Cal. App. 3d 701 (California Court of Appeal, 1981)
Vorpe v. Key Island, Inc.
374 So. 2d 1035 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
470 S.W.2d 410, 46 A.L.R. 3d 1369, 1971 Tex. App. LEXIS 2063, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/henderson-v-nitschke-texapp-1971.