Teague v. Bisceglia

19 Mass. L. Rptr. 63
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedFebruary 3, 2005
DocketNo. 00886
StatusPublished

This text of 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 63 (Teague v. Bisceglia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Teague v. Bisceglia, 19 Mass. L. Rptr. 63 (Mass. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

Grabau, J.

INTRODUCTION

The Plaintiffs, Justin Teague and Jean Teague (the Teagues), the buyers of residential real estate, bring this civil action for specific performance, a violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and a violation of the Consumer Protection Act, G.L.c. 93A. The Teagues contend that the Defendant, Paul M. Bisceglia (Bisceglia), the seller of residential real estate, breached the Purchase and Sale Agreement1 at the closing by refusing to sign a Title Insurance Affidavit2 which was required by the Teagues’ title insurance company, First American Title Insurance Company (First American). The Teagues further contend that Bisceglia’s failure to execute the Affidavit was contrary to industry practice and was a breach of the Purchase and Sale Agreement.

The Teagues desire to purchase the property and remain willing and able to close the real estate transaction with cash or certified funds without the benefit of mortgage financing.

Bisceglia contends in his Counterclaim that he complied with the requirements of Purchase and Sale Agreement by proffering the signed deed at the closing. Bisceglia further contends that the Teagues defaulted by failing to accept the deed and by failing to tender the purchase price at the closing. Bisceglia denies that he violated the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and contends that he is not in trade or business with [64]*64respect to the subject property. Bisceglia seeks forfeiture of Teagues’ deposit of $15,275.00 under the Purchase and Sale Agreement.3

FINDINGS OF FACT

Based on all of the evidence which I find to be credible, drawing such fair inferences as I find to be reasonable, I find the following material facts.

1. On April 25, 2000, the Teagues submitted an offer to purchase the residential property at 122 Foster Avenue, Marshfield, Massachusetts for $305,500.00. The offer to purchase was accepted by Bisceglia, through his agent, Harbor Realty, on April 25, 2000.

2. On May 7, 2000, the Teagues and Bisceglia entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the purchase of the residential property by the Teagues. Both parties were represented by counsel in the negotiation and execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Pursuant to Paragraph 8 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the closing was to take place at 1:00 p.m. on August 11, 2000, at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds. It was agreed by the parties that “time is of the essence of this Agreement.” Bisceglia was aware that the Purchase and Sale Agreement contained a mortgage financing contingency. The Teagues obtained a Mortgage Pre-Approval Letter4 and loan Commitment5 which was subject to the property being appraised.

3. Paragraph 9 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement provides that the Teagues had the right to inspect the property prior to the delivery of the deed. On August 11, 2000, the Teagues arrived at 122 Foster Avenue to inspect the property. Bisceglia was not present. The Teagues were therefore not able to inspect the property. Bisceglia agreed, during the closing, that in order to satisfy the Teagues, they could walk through the property prior to any funds being disbursed, after the signing of the papers, and before the deed was recorded. This arrangement was acceptable to the Teagues.

4. Paragraph 4 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement obligates Bisceglia, to convey the property “by a good and sufficient deed” to the Teagues, such deed conveying a “good and clear record and marketable title thereto, free from encumbrances except...” Bisceglia was also obligated to deliver a smoke detector certificate under Paragraph 29 and a certification that there was no urea formaldehyde foam insulation in the property under Paragraph 326 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement at the time of the closing.

5. Paragraph 34 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement provides that:

It shall be a condition of BUYER’S obligation to purchase the premises that at the time of performance, BUYER can obtain an owner’s policy insuring title to the premises in the BUYER, free of encumbrances except as set forth in clause 4 of this Agreement and standard exceptions and other exceptions such as are routinely taken in an ALTA owner’s policy, issued by a title insurance company licensed to do business in Massachusetts.

6. On August 11, 2000, the Teagues, as Buyers, elected at the closing not to purchase owner’s title insurance.7

7. On August 11, 2000, at 1:00 P.M., all parties appeared at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds to close the transaction. At the closing, Bisceglia, was presented for the first time with a document entitled Title Insurance Affidavit (Affidavit). The Affidavit required Bisceglia to state “under oath” and “under the penalties of perjury” that 1) there was no amount due to any person who provided labor or materials for work on the property during the 93 days prior to and including the day of closing; 2) at the date of the closing there were no tenants or other parties who are in possession or'who have the right to be in possession of said property; 3) neither the property nor any use thereof is in violation of restrictive covenants, if any, affecting the property; 4) all bills from municipal light plant service charges which could become liens have been paid; and 5) no security interest which secures payment or the performance of any obligation has been given by the undersigned, or to the knowledge of the undersigned, in any personal property or fixtures placed upon or installed on said property. The Affidavit also sets forth that it was made “for the purpose of inducing the Title Insurance Company to insure the mortgage on said property and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Title Insurance Company from any loss resulting from reliance upon the truth and accuracy of the statements contained herein.”8

8. Bisceglia proffered an executed deed, but declined to execute the Affidavit, as requested by the Attorney Lisa Dropkin of the firm of Kushner, Sanders & Krone, LLP, the closing attorney and settlement agent. Attorney Dropkin informed Bisceglia and his attorney that the'Affidavit was necessary to provide exception-free title insurance to the secondary market lender to which the loan would be assigned. Consequently, Attorney Dropkin declined to authorize the disbursement of the proceeds. The closing did not occur.

9. Prior to the closing, a letter9 was sent to the Teagues to inform them about the closing process. Attached to the letter was another document entitled “Attachment to Letter” which indicates that Kushner, Sanders & Krone, LLP would be certifying title to the Teagues pursuant to G.L.c. 93, §70. The certification was to include “a statement that at the time of recording the said mortgage, the mortgagor holds good and sufficient record title to the mortgaged premises free from all encumbrances, and shall enumerate exceptions thereto.” The certification excluded the same items set forth as exclusions in Paragraph 4 of the Purchase and Sale Agreement.

[65]*6510. Neither First Financial, Inc. (First Financial),10

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

Related

Ryder v. Garden Estates, Inc.
105 N.E.2d 854 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1952)
Mishara v. Albion
171 N.E.2d 478 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1961)
First African Methodist Episcopal Society v. Brown
17 N.E. 549 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1888)
O'Meara v. Gleason
246 Mass. 136 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1923)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
19 Mass. L. Rptr. 63, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/teague-v-bisceglia-masssuperct-2005.