Lerner v. DMB Realty, LLC

294 P.3d 135, 231 Ariz. 297, 648 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 35, 2012 WL 5910800, 2012 Ariz. App. LEXIS 191
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedNovember 27, 2012
DocketNo. 1 CA-CV 11-0339
StatusPublished

This text of 294 P.3d 135 (Lerner v. DMB Realty, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lerner v. DMB Realty, LLC, 294 P.3d 135, 231 Ariz. 297, 648 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 35, 2012 WL 5910800, 2012 Ariz. App. LEXIS 191 (Ark. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinions

OPINION

JOHNSEN, Judge.

¶ 1 After Glen and Robynn Lerner unwittingly bought a home next door to a registered sex offender, they sued the couple who sold them the home and the real estate broker that represented both couples in the transaction. The defendants moved to dismiss, arguing the Lerners’ claims of fraud, misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty were barred by the sales documents and by Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 32-2156(A)(3)(West 2012), which prohibits a civil action against a seller or real estate broker for failing to disclose that a home is located “in the vicinity of a sex offender.”1

¶ 2 In the Lerners’ appeal from the superior court’s dismissal of their complaint, we hold A.R.S. § 32-2156(A)(3) bars their claim against the sellers for failing to disclose the presence of the sex offender and reject the Lerners’ contention that the statute unconstitutionally abrogates their right to sue for damages. We also hold the representation agreement the Lerners signed bars their claim for breach of fiduciary duty against the broker, but we reverse the dismissal of the Lerners’ fraud claim against the sellers and remand for further proceedings.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶ 3 According to the complaint, Jeff and Marissa Currier decided to sell their Scottsdale home because a convicted sex offender lived next door. In negotiating to sell to the Lerners, the Curriers did not tell them about the sex offender, even though they knew the Lerners had small children and wanted to live in a safe neighboi’hood. When the Lerners asked the Curriers why they were selling, the Curriers said they wanted to move to be closer to friends.

¶ 4 The Curriers provided the Lerners with a Residential Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement that contained the customary information about the condition of the home, its plumbing system, utilities, the presence of insects and so forth. On the last page, the Disclosure Statement asked the sellers, “What other material (important) information are you aware of concerning the Property that might affect the buyer’s decision-making process, the Value of the Property, or its [301]*301use?” The Curriers left that section blank. A few inches below, and just above where the Lerners signed to signify their receipt of the Disclosure Statement, was the following printed statement: “Notice: Buyer acknowledges that by law, Sellers, Lessors and Brokers are not obligated to disclose that the Property is or has been ... located in the vicinity of a sex offender.” A statement affixed to the front of the Disclosure Statement, titled “Residential Seller Advisory,” explained more fully:

Please note: By law, sellers are not obligated to disclose that the property is or has been (1) the site of a natural death, suicide, homicide ...... or (3) located in the vicinity of a sex offender. However, the law does not protect a seller who makes an intentional misrepresentation. For example, if you are asked whether there has been a death on the property and you know that there was such a death, you should not answer “no” or “I don’t know”; instead you should either answer truthfully or respond that you are not legally required to answer the question.

¶ 5 A section of the form purchase agreement titled “Inspection Period” stated, “If the presence of sex offenders in the vicinity ... is a material matter to the Buyer, it must be investigated by the Buyer during the Inspection Period.” The contract allowed a 14-day inspection period and further provided that the Lerners had “conducted all desired independent inspections and investigations and aeeept[ ] the Premises.” Another section of the contract stated, “Buyer warrants that Buyer is not relying on any verbal representations concerning the Premises except disclosed as follows:__” The Lerners initialed the word “None” handwritten in the space that followed.

¶ 6 Both couples agreed to a dual representation agreement with DMB Realty, LLC, by which DMB purported to undertake limited representation of each of them in the sale. The agreement addressed DMB’s disclosure obligations as follows:

(a) [DMB] represents both the Buyer and the Seller with limitations of the duties owed to the Buyer and the Seller, such as:
* * *
(2) There will be conflicts in the duties of loyalty, obedience, disclosure and confidentiality. Disclosure of confidential information may be made only with written authorization. This does not relieve [DMB] of any legal obligation to disclose all known facts which materially and adversely affect the consideration to be paid by any party to the transaction.
(3) Pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2156, Sellers, Lessors and Broker/Lieensee (s) are not obligated to disclose that the Subject Property is or has been ... located in the vicinity of a sex offender.

¶ 7 Six months after signing the purchase agreement, and after having moved into the home, the Lerners discovered that their neighbor is a “level-one” sex offender.2 The Lerners filed a complaint for damages against the Curriers and DMB, alleging that if they had known of the sex offender, they would not have purchased the house. The complaint alleges negligent misrepresentation, common-law fraud and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing by the Curriers and breach' of fiduciary duty and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing by DMB. The complaint does not seek to rescind the sales contract, but demands unspecified compensatory and punitive damages against the Curriers and DMB.

¶ 8 The Curriers and DMB moved to dismiss under Arizona Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. Both argued the complaint was barred as a matter of law by the terms of the contracts and by A.R.S. § 32-2156(A)(3). The Lerners responded that to the extent the statute applies to their claims, it impermissibly restricts their right to sue for damages under the anti-abrogation clause of the Arizona Constitution. The superior court granted the motions to dismiss, ruling the Lerners’ claims were barred both by the relevant contracts and by the statute.

[302]*302¶ 9 The Lerners timely appealed. We have jurisdiction under Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution and pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 12-120.21(A)(1) and 2101(A)(1)(West 2012).

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review.

¶ 10 When reviewing a dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), we “assume the truth of the well-pled factual allegations [in the complaint] and indulge all reasonable inference therefrom.” Cullen v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 218 Ariz. 417, 419, ¶ 7, 189 P.3d 344, 346 (2008). “Dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(6) only if ‘as a matter of law [ ] plaintiffs would not be entitled to relief under any interpretation of the facts susceptible of proof.’ ” Coleman v. City of Mesa,

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Bluebook (online)
294 P.3d 135, 231 Ariz. 297, 648 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 35, 2012 WL 5910800, 2012 Ariz. App. LEXIS 191, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lerner-v-dmb-realty-llc-arizctapp-2012.