Johnson v. Brannon

23 Fla. Supp. 2d 102
CourtCircuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida
DecidedJuly 7, 1987
DocketCase No. 84-15124-12
StatusPublished

This text of 23 Fla. Supp. 2d 102 (Johnson v. Brannon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Brannon, 23 Fla. Supp. 2d 102 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

HELEN S. HANSEL, Circuit Judge.

[103]*103 FINAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANT, MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC, AND PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF

DEFENDANT, PAUL W. BRANNON, AS TO COUNT II OF PLAINTIFF’S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

THE FOREGOING CAUSE came on to be heard upon defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment. The depositions and affidavits on file show that there is no genuine issue of any material fact that the former park owner, PAUL W. BRANNON, was the offeror of the mobile home park for sale under Section 723.071(l)(a); (b), Fla. Stat. The Court construes Section 723.071(2), Fla. Stat., to provide for situations in which a third party is the offeror. Therefore, the Court finding that the former park owner, PAUL W. BRANNON, offered the mobile home park for sale within the meaning and intent of Section 723.071(a)(a), Fla. Stat., and that the plaintiff, RICHARD S. JOHNSON, was not the individual who initiated the offer as an offeror for the purchase of the mobile home park, the Court concludes that the defendant, MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC., was entitled to the right of first refusal to purchase the mobile home park upon the same terms and conditions as the contract between the park owner, PAUL W. BRANNON, and RICHARD S. JOHNSON.

The assertions by the plaintiff that notification was not properly given by the defendant Home Owner’s Association to the park owner, PAUL W. BRANNON, or that notification of acceptance was not communicated by mail by the Home Owner’s Association to the former park owner, PAUL W. BRANNON, is without merit. The record is uncontested that PAUL W. BRANNON, as park owner, had actual notice of the incorporation of the Home Owner’s Association, knew who its officers were, and in fact notarized the Articles of Incorporation and even encouraged the incorporation of the association to take advantage of the first right of refusal statute. Notification by the Home Owner’s Association of acceptance of sale by mail instead of as apparently was done between counsel who closed the sale is not an objection which is available to a third party purchaser such as the plaintiff. As to both of these points, the Court finds that the law will not require a person to do a useless act and since there is no genuine issue of material fact either as to notice of incorporation of the Home Owner’s Association or acceptance of the right of first refusal by the Home Owner’s Association and its communication to the park owner, PAUL W. BRANNON, of this acceptance, summary judgment as to these points is in order. Therefore, it is

[104]*104ORDERED AND ADJUDGED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Defendants, PAUL W. BRANNON and MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC.’S Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count II, specific performance, be and the same is hereby GRANTED;

2. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment as to Counts I and III be and the same is hereby DENIED;

3. The Court having granted total and final relief as to the defendant, MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC., it is ordered that final judgment be and the same is hereby entered for MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC. and PAUL W. BRANNON on Count II, specific performance, against the plaintiff, RICHARD S. JOHNSON, and plaintiff, RICHARD S. JOHNSON, as to Count II, shall take nothing by his suit and defendants shall go hence without day;

4. Since this action is brought under Chapter 723, Fla. Stat., and Section 723.068, Fla. Stat., provides for the awarding of a reasonable attorney’s fee to the prevailing party, the Court retains jurisdiction to determine entitlement to defendants, MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC. and PAUL W. BRANNON, a reasonable attorney’s fees plus costs of this action to be assessed at a later hearing. The Court specifically retains jurisdiction over the subject matter of this cause and the parties hereto for the entry of an order determining entitlement and, if so, assessing a reasonable attorney’s fee for prevailing on Count II plus defendants’ taxable costs.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this 7th day of July, 1987.

[105]*105IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA CIRCUIT CIVIL NO. 84-15124-10

RICHARD S. JOHNSON, Plaintiff, PAUL W. BRANNON, Defendant.

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Plaintiff sues Defendants, PAUL W. BRANNON and MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER'S ASSOCIATION, INC., a Florida corporation, and alleges as follows:

COUNT I

1. This is an action for reformation of a written agreement for the sale of real estate located in Pinellas County, Florida.

2. Plaintiff and Defendant, PAUL BRANNON (hereinafter "BRANNON") are residents of Pinellas County, Florida.

3. Defendant, MAGNOLIA MANOR HOME OWNER'S ASSOCIATION, INC. (hereinafter "ASSOCIATION"), is a Florida corporation which maintains its principal place of business in Pinellas County, Florida.

4. On or about October 25, 1984, Plaintiff made a bona fide offer to purchase Magnolia Manor then owned by Defendant, BRANNON, which Defendant, BRANNON, intended to consider. At said time. Defendant, BRANNON, had never offered Magnolia Manor for sale at any price, terms or conditions.

5. All conditions precedent to the institution of this action have been performed, have occurred or have been waived.

6. On or about October 25, 1984, Plaintiff and Defendant, BRANNON, entered into a written agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A", whereby Plaintiff agreed to purchase from Defendant, BRANNON, and Defendant, BRANNON, agreed to sell to Plaintiff, certain real property located at approximately 4190 - 71st Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida [106]*10633709, and known as Magnolia Manor Mobile Home Park, toqether with all improvements, furniture, fixtures, furnishings and equipment used in the construction, operation and maintenance of the mobile home park, and an assignment of rents and leases incident thereto.

7. At the time at which they entered into the agreement, both Plaintiff and Defendant, BRANNON, intended that by virtue of the execution of this agreement, Plaintiff would be purchasing, and Defendant, BRANNON, would be selling the entire parcel known as Magnolia Manor Mobile Home Park, together with .the aforementioned appurtenances incident thereto.

8. However, due to a mutual mistake of Plaintiff and Defendant, BRANNON, the description of the property, as set forth in the agreement, failed to express the true agreement of Plaintiff and Defendant, BRANNON, in that the description failed to encompass a material portion of the parcel known as Magnolia Manor Mobile Home Park.

9. The description of the property which, at the time of the execution of the agreement, Plaintiff intended to purchase and Defendant, BRANNON, intended to sell, is as follows:

The North 3/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of the Southeást 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4 LESS the East 30' for the Street.

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Bluebook (online)
23 Fla. Supp. 2d 102, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-brannon-flacirct-1987.