Louapre v. Booher

216 So. 3d 1044, 2016 La.App. 4 Cir. 0236, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 1606
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 31, 2016
DocketNo. 2016-CA-0236
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 216 So. 3d 1044 (Louapre v. Booher) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Louapre v. Booher, 216 So. 3d 1044, 2016 La.App. 4 Cir. 0236, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 1606 (La. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinions

MAX N. TOBIAS, JR., Judge.

hThe plaintiffs, Rene and Lindsay Louapre, appeal the trial court’s granting of summary judgment in favor of the defendants, William and Isabella Booher, dismissing the plaintiffs’ claims for damages, attorneys’ fees, and reimbursement of amounts incurred to remedy defects in the home they purchased from the Boohers. Finding no genuine issue of material fact exists and that summary judgment is warranted, we affirm.

Factual Background and Procedural History

The Louapres purchased the property located at 5529 South Johnson Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, from the Boohers on 2 October 2014 for $490,000.00. In connection with the sale and purchase of the property, the Boohers executed a property disclosure statement on 11 August 2014, which specified existing defects to the interior walls, windows, and exterior walls, but indicated that no defects existed with respect to the roof, pool, plumbing system, water piping, electrical, and heating and air conditioning systems.1 The property disclosure statement ^further stated that the Boohers “attested that the ... statements and explanations ... are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge.”

Thereafter, on 20 August 2014, the Louapres submitted a signed Agreement to Buy the Boohers’ property, which agreement the Boohers accepted; the Agreement contained the following language, in pertinent part:

INSPECTION AND DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD: BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SALE PRICE OF THE PROPERTY WAS NEGOTIATED AND BASED UPON THE PROPERTY’S APPARENT CURRENT CONDITION; ACCORDINGLY, SELLER IS NOT OBLIGATED TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING REPAIRS REQUIRED BY THE LENDER UN[1046]*1046LESS OTHERWISE STATED HEREIN. THE SELLER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OR BETTER CONDITION AS IT WAS WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS FULLY EXECUTED. PURCHASER shall have an inspection and due diligence period of (15) calendar days, commencing the first day after acceptance of this Agreement wherein, BUYER may, at BUYER’S expense, have any inspections made by experts or others of his choosing. Such physical inspections may include, but are not limited to, inspections for termites and other wood destroying insects, and/or damage from same, molds, and fungi hazards, and analysis of synthetic stucco, drywall, appliances, structures, foundations, roof, heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing systems, utility and sewer availability and condition, outbuildings, and square footage. Other due diligence by BUYER may include, but is not limited to investigation into ... any items addressed in the SELLER’S Property Disclosure Document. All testing shall be nondestructive testing. SELLER agrees to provide the utilities for inspections and immediate access. If BUYER is not satisfied with the condition of the Property or the results of BUYER’S due diligence investigation, the BUYER may choose one of the following options within the inspection and due diligence period:
Option 1: BUYER may elect, in writing, to terminate the Agreement and declare the Agreement null and void; or
Option 2: BUYER may indicate in writing the deficiencies and desired remedies and SELLER will |awithin seventy two (72) hours respond in writing as to SELLER’S willingness to remedy those deficiencies (“SELLER’S Response”).
Should SELLER in the SELLER’S Response refuse to remedy any or all of the deficiencies listed by the BUYER, then BUYER shall have seventy-two (72) hours from the date of SELLER’S Response or seventy-two (72) hours from the date that SELLER’S Response was due, whichever is earlier, to: (a) accept SELLER’S Response to BUYER’S written requests or (b) accept the Property in its current condition, or (c) to elect to terminate this Agreement. BUYER’S response shall be in writing. Upon BUYER’S failure to respond to the SELLER’S Response by the time specified or BUYER’S electing, in writing, to terminate this Agreement, the Agreement shall be automatically, with no further action required by either party, ipso facto null and void except for return of Deposit to the BUYER.
FAILURE TO GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE OF EITHER TERMINATION OR DEFICIENCIES AND DESIRED REMEDIES TO SELLER (OR SELLER’S DESIGNATED AGENT) AS SET FORTH ... WITHIN THE INSPECTION AND DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD SHALL BE DEEMED AS ACCEPTANCE BY BUYER OF THE PROPERTY’S CURRENT CONDITION.
FINAL WALK THROUGH:
BUYER shall have the right to re-inspect the Property within five (5) days prior to the Act of Sale, or occupancy, whichever will occur first in order to determine if the Property is in the same or better condition as it was at the initial inspection(s) and to insure all agreed upon repairs have been completed. SELLER agrees to provide utilities for the final walk through and immediate access to the Property. [Emphasis in original.]

[1047]*1047The Louapres seized the afforded opportunity for an inspection and engaged a licensed Louisiana home inspector, Gurtler Brothers Consultants, Inc. (“Gurtler”), to inspect the property on 26 August 2014. Two days later, Gurtler issued a 52-page report that included 82 photographs (“Report”), identifying several deficiencies in the Boohers’ property. Specifically, the Report delineated | ¿major deficiencies that might require additional investigation and identified several safety concerns, including issues involving the structure, heating and air conditioning system, exterior and interior conditions, basement, roof and gutters, and the plumbing. The following items are only some of the deficiencies noted in the Report prepared for the Louapres:

1.Structural
Compression and wood rot was noted at the top of the left and right posts of the rear patio, which is indicative of chronic leakage and hidden damages. 2
Minor moisture stains and damages, apparently from previous roof leaks, were noted at some of the attic framing and roofing sheathing boards.
Minor to moderate damages, which also are not structurally detrimental, were noted at some of the foundation sills, floor joists, and sub-flooring in various areas of the crawlspaee.
Evidence of moisture build-up and some fungus growth, due to inadequate ventilation, was noted in the crawlspaee.
[T]he basement had a strong dead animal odor .... The basement is below grade and is prone to moisture intrusion in our area.
2.Roofing and Gutters
Our inspection has certain limitations with respect to ascertaining the quality of the installation and the condition of the roofing materials, and we recommend that a licensed roofing contractor walk the roof and remove a few tiles to provide additional evaluation. We noted missing tiles and ridge caps at left side of the gable [roof].
We noted a few areas of previous leaks, apparently from the prior roof. The condition of the underlying felt paper could not be ascertained during this inspection. However, numerous areas of previous leakage indicate \ ¡that this roof has little remaining useful life.... Edges of the roof have separated from the flashing. Roofing tar has been applied in numerous

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
216 So. 3d 1044, 2016 La.App. 4 Cir. 0236, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 1606, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/louapre-v-booher-lactapp-2016.