Kentucky Real Estate Commission v. Milgrom

197 S.W.3d 552, 2005 Ky. App. LEXIS 219
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kentucky
DecidedOctober 7, 2005
DocketNos. 2004-CA-001513-MR, 2004-CA-001540-MR
StatusPublished

This text of 197 S.W.3d 552 (Kentucky Real Estate Commission v. Milgrom) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kentucky Real Estate Commission v. Milgrom, 197 S.W.3d 552, 2005 Ky. App. LEXIS 219 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

OPINION

SCHRODER, Judge.

These are two appeals from an opinion and order reversing a decision of the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (“KREC”) disciplining a broker licensee/buyer for faffing to set up and retain certain funds in an escrow account and for misrepresenting that he had a line of credit and was holding the funds in an escrow account. The circuit court held that the KREC did not have the statutory authority to discipline the licensee/buyer because he was acting in his individual capacity when he agreed to set up the escrow account. Because the licensee/buyer was the owner of the property which was sold and for which the escrow account was to be set up, he was subject to discipline by the KREC pursuant to KRS 324.020(3).

On March 12, 1998, appellant, David Jones entered into a written contract with the Milgrom Group, Inc. (Milgrom Group) whereby Jones agreed to sell the Milgrom Group an apartment complex in Lexington. At the time the contract was made, the agency disclosure form indicated that ap-pellee, Aaron Milgrom, a licensed broker in Kentucky, would be the buyer’s agent. Prior to the closing, it was discovered that the property violated several provisions of the local building code which required certain repairs in order to bring the property into compliance. Jones agreed to make the repairs at his expense. On March 30, 1998, the parties agreed that $30,000 of the purchase price would be withheld from the closing to assure that sufficient monies were available to cover the cost of the repairs. The written agreement signed by both Jones and Milgrom stated as follows:

Sellers agree to cause all repairs to be brought into compliance with code enforcement and has escrowed $30,000 with an escrow agent acceptable to buyer and with terms acceptable to buyer. Sellers’ liability is to bring property into compliance and will pay any extra required. Buyer will return unused sums to seller.

A handwritten notation next to the seller’s signature stated, “To be escrowed with closing attorney Dan Rose.”

Sometime prior to the closing, the Mil-grom Group assigned its rights to purchase the property to Aaron Milgrom and his then wife, Maralyn Milgrom. Approximately six weeks after closing, Milgrom confirmed to Jones by letter that he was holding the $30,000 in escrow. The letter, dated May 14, 1998 stated, “Please advise on the progress of the electrical and structural repairs for which we are holding an escrow.” When the electrical repairs were [554]*554completed in July of 1998 and the bill was presented to Milgrom for reimbursement, he paid half of the repairs and indicated by letter that he would pay the balance some time the following month after he had collected rent from his tenants. On August 3, 1998, Jones’ attorney wrote Mil-grom demanding that the balance of the escrow account be established as per the agreement between Milgrom and Jones. It is undisputed that Milgrom never established the escrow account, but instead used the $30,000 to purchase a shopping center because of potential tax consequences.

According to Milgrom, because of the possibility of these tax consequences, Mil-grom and Jones agreed at the closing that Milgrom would not set up an escrow account, but rather Milgrom would establish a line of credit to cover the repairs. Jones maintains that Milgrom further agreed to deposit $30,000 into Milgrom’s own brokerage escrow account to pay off the line of credit. In any event, it is undisputed that Milgrom never established a line of credit to cover the repairs.

On September 28, 1998, Jones filed a complaint with the KREC alleging violations of various real estate license laws. A hearing was held on these allegations on February 1, 2000. On July 5, 2000, the KREC adopted in full the hearing officer’s recommended findings of fact, conclusions of law and order, finding that: Milgrom violated KRS 324.160(l)(h) for failing to account for or remit, within a reasonable time, monies belonging to another; Mil-grom violated KRS 324.160(l)(r) for conduct which constitutes improper, fraudulent or dishonest dealing; and Milgrom violated KRS 324.111 for failing to set up an escrow account into which monies belonging to another would be placed. Mil-grom then filed a petition for relief from the KREC’s order in the Clark Circuit Court. On July 14, 2004, the Clark Circuit Court entered its opinion and order reversing the decision of the KREC, adjudging that the KREC acted outside its statutory authority in disciplining Milgrom because Milgrom was acting in his individual capacity as a buyer and not in his capacity as broker when he agreed to set up the escrow account. Jones and the KREC both filed appeals from that order.

Jones and the KREC both argue that the circuit court erred in reversing the KREC’s decision because the decision was not arbitrary and was supported by substantial evidence. Judicial review of an administrative agency’s decision is limited to the question of whether the agency’s action was arbitrary. Liquor Outlet, LLC v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Bd., 141 S.W.3d 378 (Ky.App.2004). In determining whether the agency’s action was arbitrary, the reviewing court must consider: 1) whether the administrative agency acted within its statutory powers; 2) whether due process was afforded; and 3) whether the decision reached was supported by substantial evidence. Hougham v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, 29 S.W.3d 370, 373 (Ky.App.1999) (citing American Beauty Homes Corp. v. Louisville and Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission, 379 S.W.2d 450, 456 (Ky.1964)). The circuit court in the case at bar reversed the KREC’s decision based on the first factor, determining that the KREC acted outside its statutory authority in disciplining Milgrom.

An administrative body’s powers are defined and limited by the agency’s enabling statute. Public Service Commission of Kentucky v. Attorney General of the Commonwealth, 860 S.W.2d 296 (Ky.App.1993). An agency may not assume any power not expressly granted to it by the general assembly. GTE v. Revenue Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky, 889 S.W.2d 788, 792 (Ky.1994). The enabling [555]*555legislation for the KREC is contained in KRS Chapter 324. KRS 824.281 provides for the KREC and sets out its duties, including “holding] disciplinary hearings concerning matters in controversy as provided by this chapter.” KRS 324.281(5).

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Related

Hougham v. LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY
29 S.W.3d 370 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 2000)
Liquor Outlet, LLC v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
141 S.W.3d 378 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 2004)
Sims v. Reeves
261 S.W.2d 812 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976), 1953)
GTE v. Revenue Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky
889 S.W.2d 788 (Kentucky Supreme Court, 1994)
Commonwealth v. Harrelson
14 S.W.3d 541 (Kentucky Supreme Court, 2000)
American Beauty Homes Corp. v. Louisville & Jefferson County Planning & Zoning Commission
379 S.W.2d 450 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976), 1964)
Commonwealth v. Boarman
610 S.W.2d 922 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1980)
Old Lewis Hunter Distillery Co. v. Kentucky Tax Commission
193 S.W.2d 464 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky (pre-1976), 1945)
Leishman v. Goodlett
608 S.W.2d 377 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1980)
Miller v. Jones
658 S.W.2d 888 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1983)
Allard v. Kentucky Real Estate Commission
824 S.W.2d 884 (Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1992)

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Bluebook (online)
197 S.W.3d 552, 2005 Ky. App. LEXIS 219, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kentucky-real-estate-commission-v-milgrom-kyctapp-2005.