Syvrud v. Today Real Estate, Inc.

858 So. 2d 1125, 2003 WL 22459124
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedOctober 31, 2003
Docket2D02-4526
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 858 So. 2d 1125 (Syvrud v. Today Real Estate, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Syvrud v. Today Real Estate, Inc., 858 So. 2d 1125, 2003 WL 22459124 (Fla. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

858 So.2d 1125 (2003)

Erik P. SYVRUD and Carol C. Syvrud, husband and wife, as individuals, Appellants,
v.
TODAY REAL ESTATE, INC., a Florida corporation, d/b/a Re/Max Today, Appellee.

No. 2D02-4526.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

October 31, 2003.

*1126 Patrick B. Calcutt and Kathleen M. Calcutt of Calcutt & Calcutt, P.A., St. Petersburg, for Appellants.

Charles Tyler Cone of Fowler White Boggs Banker, P.A., Tampa, for Appellee.

WALLACE, Judge.

Paul G. Cummings and Mary P. Cummings (the Sellers) entered into a contract with Erik P. Syvrud and Carol C. Syvrud (the Buyers) for the sale and purchase of a townhouse condominium unit located in the Nature's Watch development in Pinellas County, Florida. After the Buyers closed and took possession of the property, they brought an action against Today Real Estate, Inc., a Florida corporation, d/b/a Re/Max Today (the Listing Broker); New York Associates, Inc., a Florida corporation, d/b/a Re/Max Mutual Realty (the Selling Broker); and the Sellers. The Buyers demanded a jury trial, requested rescission of the contract with the Sellers, and asserted claims for damages against the Sellers and both brokers on various theories, including the nondisclosure of hidden defects materially affecting the value of the property pursuant to Johnson v. Davis, 480 So.2d 625 (Fla.1985). The Listing Broker moved to dismiss the claims against it and for judgment on the pleadings on the ground that the provisions of an addendum to the parties' contract relieved the Sellers and the Listing Broker of any duty of disclosure to the Buyers. The trial court granted both motions and entered final judgment in favor of the Listing Broker and against the Buyers. Because we conclude that the provisions of the addendum to the contract did not relieve the Listing Broker of its duty to the Buyers, we reverse the trial court's order and final judgment, and we remand for further proceedings.

Facts and Procedural History

The pertinent facts are alleged in the Buyer's first amended complaint. For purposes of our review, we must assume the factual allegations of the first amended complaint to be true, and we construe them in the light most favorable to the Buyers as the nonmoving party. See *1127 Williams v. Howard, 329 So.2d 277, 280 (Fla.1976); Hosp. Constructors Ltd. v. Lefor, 749 So.2d 546, 547 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000).

On May 7, 2001, the Sellers and the Buyers entered into a contract for sale and purchase of the property on a preprinted form approved by the Florida Association of Realtors and The Florida Bar. The form is commonly known as "the FAR/BAR contract."[1] The Sellers and the Buyers also executed a typewritten addendum and made it a part of the contract. Because the interpretation of some of the provisions of the addendum is critical to the resolution of this appeal, we quote at length from the addendum:

(A) This contract is contingent upon the Buyer's approval of a home inspection to be done by a [l]icensed home inspection company [at] Buyer's expense within 7 days of acceptance. Buyer must, within 3 days from the end of the inspection period, deliver written notice of any items that are not in the condition warrented [sic] and a copy of the inspector's report to the seller. In the event buyer does not approve home inspection, Buyer has the right to declare contract null and void and all escrow monies shall be returned to purchaser. If the Buyer approves the contract and decides to go forward, paragraphs "N" & "D" of the contract will prevail. Buyer also retains right to a final walk-through inspection.
Buyer(s) acknowledge that the inspection(s) shall focus on warrented [sic] items affecting the habitability and not for the purpose of establishing a list of cosmetic repairs for seller(s) to perform, as defined in paragraph "N" of the contract. Buyer(s) hereby acknowledge that the property being sold is not new and that the seller(s) and broker(s) make no verbal representations, warranties, or guarantees as to the condition of the property and it's [sic] appurtenances and/or fitness for specific purpose.
(B) Buyer(s) and seller(s) agree that any workman, contractors, inspectors or experts recommended by the listing or selling agents are for [B]uyer(s) or seller(s)['] convenience only and that such workman, contractors, inspectors or experts should be retained based on [B]uyer(s) and seller(s)['] research and discretion.
Buyer(s) and seller(s) agree to hold harmless Re/Max Mutual Realty [the Selling Broker] and JIM WORCESTER, P.A., from and responsibility regarding the findings of inspections.
(C) Buyer(s) and seller(s) agree to rely upon themselves and those licensed to give professional advise [sic] regarding compliance with or and [sic] aspect of the property including, but not limited to[,] zoning, use restrictions, lot size, availability of improvment [sic] services, school districts, presence of hazardous materials, square footage or dimensions, radon, flood plain designation, roofing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, appliances and other appurtenances conveyed with the sale. The Real Estate Agents['] opinions, if any, have been only in marketing and sales negotiations.
(D) This contract is contingent on [B]uyer's review and approval of a seller's property disclosure statement within 7 days of receipt of said statement.

The provisions of the addendum referred specifically to two of the paragraphs contained in the "Standards for Real Estate Transactions," which form part of the FAR/BAR contract: paragraph "D" relating to "TERMITES/WOOD DESTROYING ORGANISMS" and paragraph "N" relating to "INSPECTION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE." The addendum *1128 did not, however, delete or otherwise reference paragraph "W" relating to "WARRANTY." Paragraph "W" of the "Standards for Real Estate Transactions" provides: "Seller warrants that there are no facts known to Seller materially affecting the value of the Property which are not readily observable by Buyer or which have not been disclosed to Buyer." Paragraph "W" sets forth the Seller's duty of disclosure in connection with residential real estate transactions as declared by the Supreme Court of Florida in Johnson, 480 So.2d at 629.

Paragraph (D) of the addendum made the contract "contingent on [B]uyer's review and approval of a seller's property disclosure statement within 7 days of receipt of said statement." In order to satisfy this contingency, prior to the closing the Sellers signed and delivered to the Buyers a "Sellers Real Property Disclosure" concerning the property. The Sellers' disclosures were presented on a preprinted form apparently provided by the Listing Broker. In pertinent part, the Sellers' disclosure said:

In Florida, a seller is obligated to disclose to a buyer all known facts that materially and adversely affect the value of the property being sold and that are not readily observable. This disclosure statement is designed to assist the seller in complying with the disclosure requirements under Florida law and to assist the purchaser in evaluating the property being considered. The listing real estate agent, the selling real estate agent and their respective agents will also rely upon this information when they evaluate, market and present the seller's property to prospective buyers.

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

Related

Kapila v. CTS Equities Limited Partnership
District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2025
Smith, Vi v. Lynch, Lynch
District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2025
Cahall v. Nasr
Superior Court of Delaware, 2020
Verandah Development, LLC v. Gualtieri
201 So. 3d 654 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2016)
Bowman v. Barker
172 So. 3d 1013 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2015)
Nationstar Mortgage, LLC v. Zorie
146 So. 3d 1209 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2014)
United States Fire Insurance Co. v. ADT Security Services, Inc.
134 So. 3d 477 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2013)
Rastaedt v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
63 So. 3d 41 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2011)
Greenberg v. BIG CYPRESS REALTY, INC.
15 So. 3d 900 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2009)
Henao v. Professional Shoe Repair, Inc.
929 So. 2d 723 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2006)
Thompson v. Napotnik
923 So. 2d 537 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2006)
Sloan v. Thompson
128 Wash. App. 776 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2005)
Schwartz v. Greico
901 So. 2d 297 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2005)
Solorzano v. First Union Mortg. Corp.
896 So. 2d 847 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2005)
Bridgham v. Skrzynski
873 So. 2d 496 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2004)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
858 So. 2d 1125, 2003 WL 22459124, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/syvrud-v-today-real-estate-inc-fladistctapp-2003.