Todd v. Real Estate Division

552 P.2d 1328, 26 Or. App. 433, 1976 Ore. App. LEXIS 1727
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedAugust 16, 1976
DocketCA 5157
StatusPublished

This text of 552 P.2d 1328 (Todd v. Real Estate Division) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Todd v. Real Estate Division, 552 P.2d 1328, 26 Or. App. 433, 1976 Ore. App. LEXIS 1727 (Or. Ct. App. 1976).

Opinion

LEE, J.

Petitioners appeal from one-year license suspensions by the Real Estate Commissioner (Commissioner). The grounds for suspension were "substantial misrepresentations” and "untrustworthiness” per ORS 696.300(l)(a) and (q) (1973).1 Petitioners deny the charges and claim that ORS 696.300(l)(q) (1973), as applied to them, is so vaque that it denies them due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution and also violates Art I, § 21 and Art IV, § 1 of the Oregon Constitution. Petitioner Todd also appeals a ten-day license suspension for commingling his personal funds with those of his clients, in violation of ORS 696.300(l)(s) (1973)2 and OAR 863-10-025.3

[436]*436Petitioner Todd is a licensed real estate broker. Petitioner Richardson is his licensed salesman. On April 9,1973 Mr. and Mrs. Berry entered into a 90-day listing agreement with Todd for the sale of a lot and mobile home (property) which they were purchasing on contract. The listing price was $7,850. There was then a $3,906.43 unpaid contract balance on the property.

About the time that the property was listed, the Berrys rented a dwelling from Richardson which they occupied (except for periods of estrangement) for approximately one year. This landlord-tenant relationship continued until February 1974 when Mr. Berry informed Richardson that the equity in the property could be purchased for $500. The interrogation of Mr. Berry by counsel for petitioners was, in part, as follows:

"Q Did you understand he [Richardson] was no longer acting in the capacity of an agent for and on your behalf?
"A Yeah, right. He was more or less just — I just figured he was trying to sell it, you know. I knew he was going to make something out of it. I just wanted my five hundred.
"Q Did you understand that he would be trying to sell it acting in his own behalf?
"A For him to get it?
"Q Right.
"A Right. I knew he was going to get something.”
Thereafter, on February 20, 1974, 226 days after the listing expired, Mrs. Berry wrote Richardson a letter as follows:
"‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
[437]*437"Here are the figures on the remaining amount owed on the trailer, $3,244.20.
"If I am correct I stated a price of $500.00 equity. I do believe this is a fair price. We will take just what equity we asked for and someone take over payments on the trailer.
"I hope that someway you might be able to sell this in about a month. We’d like to settle it as soon as possible.
"Thank you. Mrs. Jim Berry If you have any questions on this matter please write or call * * *.
"* * * * *.” (Emphasis supplied.)

On March 8, 1974, 16 days after the date of Mrs. Berry’s letter, Todd procured an "AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE” the property from Gordon Vogt and Irene Vogt (husband and wife) which was signed by Gordon E. Vogt only. The agreement was part of an "EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT” form likewise dated March 8, 1974 which set forth a sale price of $5,850 including assumption of the $3,244.20 contract balance on the property.

Also, on March 8,1974 a deposit was made to one of Todd’s trust accounts with entry of "Vogt 2,605.80” (the difference between $5,850 and $3,244.20). The earnest money form contained spaces for the "seller” (Berrys) to note acceptance of the Vogt agreement to purchase but those spaces are blank.

On March 11,1974 the Berrys came to the petitioners’ office and executed an "ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACT” whereby they assigned their contract rights in the property. The assignment revealed the $5,850 consideration for the property and the names of "GORDON VOGT, SR. and IRENE VOGT” as assignees. Mrs. Berry testified that she did not read the assignment which she executed. Mr. Berry testified that he relied on Mrs. Berry in business matters. They were at the petitioners’ office for less than 10 minutes. Neither of the petitioners at any time disclosed to the Berrys the existence of the Vogt "AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE” dated March 8, 1974.

[438]*438Also, on March 11,1974, the Berrys receipted for a "CLOSING STATEMENT” prepared by Todd which bore that date and showed that the property was being sold to "E. A. Richardson & E. A. Richardson.” It further showed:

"Selling price and terms: 3,744.20. Seller to receive ($500.00) Five Hundred and no/100 for their equity and purchaser to pay all other costs including back taxes, back payments, and to assume a balance of contract of $3,244.20.”

A portion of this closing statement form contained a "PURCHASER’S STATEMENT” with all lines thereof blank.

On March 18,1974 Mr. Vogt receipted for a copy of a "CLOSING STATEMENT” dated March 11, 1974 which recited that he and his wife were buying from the Berrys and showed:

"Selling price and terms: 5,850.00 Purchaser to assume existing contract with Mrs Ruth Ernston which is $3,244.50 [sic] and to pay in cash the difference.”

We note that petitioners retained the "PURCHASER’S COPY” as well as the "SELLER’S COPY” of this Vogt "CLOSING STATEMENT.”

There was a "DEAL ENVELOPE” which bore notations that the property was "Sold for Jimmie Berry Owner” and "Sold to Gordon Vogt Sr.” and that the closing date was "11 March 1974.”

The petitioners had a net remainder (after payment of miscellaneous closing costs) of $1,872.26. On March 12, 1974 Todd issued Richardson a check for $936.13 (half of $1,872.26) marked "O/2) Half commission on Berry-Vogt deal.”

None of the parties complained about the transaction. It was discovered by the Commissioner in the course of a routine audit. Todd admitted the commingling of funds but testified that it was inadvertent.

Neither Todd nor Richardson has been the subject of prior disciplinary proceedings. The record contained [439]*439many strong statements in support of the good character of both petitioners.

The petitioners’ theory is that there was in effect a sale from Berrys to Richardson which was morally binding if not legally enforceable at a time prior to procuring the agreement to purchase from Vogts. Therefore, petitioners had no fiduciary duty to the Berrys. Indeed, it appears that both Mr. and Mrs. Berry understood that Richardson anticipated reselling the property for a profit. However, the record does not establish that there was in fact any sale from Berrys to Richardson.

The scope of our review is governed by ORS 183.482(8).4 Thus, the questions before us are whether there was substantial evidence to support the Commissioner’s findings that:

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

Related

Widing v. JENSEN, REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONER
373 P.2d 661 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1962)
Miesen v. Department of Commerce
473 P.2d 691 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1970)
Blank v. Black
512 P.2d 1016 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1973)
Parker v. Faust
353 P.2d 550 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1960)
Thoren v. Builders Board
533 P.2d 1388 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1975)
Starkweather v. Shaffer
497 P.2d 358 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1972)
Klein v. Real Estate Commissioner Holbrook
528 P.2d 1355 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1974)
Prall v. GOODEN ET UX
360 P.2d 759 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1961)
Sexton v. Kelly
200 P.2d 950 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1948)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
552 P.2d 1328, 26 Or. App. 433, 1976 Ore. App. LEXIS 1727, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/todd-v-real-estate-division-orctapp-1976.