Treco, Inc. v. Marina De Palmas, Inc.

626 F. Supp. 335, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30309
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedJanuary 17, 1986
DocketCiv. No. 84-0847(PG)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 626 F. Supp. 335 (Treco, Inc. v. Marina De Palmas, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Treco, Inc. v. Marina De Palmas, Inc., 626 F. Supp. 335, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30309 (prd 1986).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

PEREZ-GIMENEZ, District Judge.

Plaintiffs filed this action seeking foreclosure of some pledged mortgage notes and assigned accounts receivables. Jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship, 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Defendant answered the complaint admitting the execution of the mortgage notes (complaint pleadings 5 to 9); the release of certain portions of land from the effects of the mortgage (complaint pleading 10); and the existence of a debt to plaintiffs in the principal amount of $2,820,000.

Defendant raised as a defense, as well as a counterclaim, that plaintiffs made certain false representations related to the condition of the mortgaged property, namely, that the property had been constructed and operated in conformity with the Corps of Engineers permit. However, defendant simultaneously alleges and acknowledges having received a disclosure or exception to the effect that the property may not comply with the harbour construction permit issued by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (counterclaim pleading 7).

Plaintiffs have moved for summary judgment supported by affidavits, correspondence, documents from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, transcripts from depositions and admissions in record. Defendant has opposed the requested entry of summary judgment alleging that a controversy exists over one substantial, genuine and material issue of fact, which alleged issue defendant has phrased as follows:

“Whether plaintiffs have any responsibility toward defendant counterclaimant if the harbour was constructed in violation of the Corps permit” (item six of the Opposition to Motion Requesting Summary Judgment and Dismissal of Counterclaim).

After examining the pleadings, their annexed exhibits and supporting affidavits, the record in this case now reveals no genuine issue of material fact and that plaintiff is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Co-plaintiff Treco, Inc., is a Corporation organized and existing under the Laws of Florida (pleading 2 of the complaint and affidavit by Mr. Thomas A. Barrett), having its principal place of business in Jacksonville.

2. Co-plaintiff Chemical Real Holdings, Inc., is a corporation organized and existing under the Laws of New York (pleading 3 of the complaint and pleading 3 of the [337]*337counterclaim), having its principal place of business in New York.

3. Defendant, Marina de Palmas, Inc., is a Corporation organized and existing under the laws of Puerto Rico, with its principal place of business in Puerto Rico (see pleading 1 of the counterclaim) and presently is the owner of the real estate described in paragraphs 12 and 13 below (certifications from the Property Registry).

4. The parties held negotiations which culminated in the purchase and financing of the harbour of Palmas del Mar and its surrounding land. Mr. Jorge Martel negotiated on behalf of Marina de Palmas (oral deposition of Mr. Jorge Martel dated September 10, 1984). Mr. Martel worked with Palmas del Mar from 1973 to 1977 and had been in charge of the financing of the development of the harbour.

5. On August 27, 1981, the parties to this case executed a document entitled Agreement (Exhibit A of defendant’s answer to the complaint). Said Agreement contains the following provisions pertinent to the case at bar:

3.4 CONDITION OF PROPERTY: Treco and Chemical make no representation or warranty expressed or implied, regarding the condition or fitness for any purpose of the property. The property is being sold on an “as is” basis.
6.1 (E) Except as disclosed to purchaser in writing, within 30 days from the date hereof, to the best knowledge and belief of Palmas (a reasonable investigation having been made) all of the property to be purchased by purchaser pursuant to this Agreement has been constructed, and is being operated and maintained, substantially in accordance with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations and orders, including, but not limited to those related to labor (Article 5 refers to Article 6 as conditions precedent).
9.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement and the exhibits attached hereto, together with the documents of even date executed by the parties hereto, embody the entire agreement between the parties in connection with this transaction and there are no oral or parole agreements, representations or inducements existing between the parties relating to this transaction which are not expressly set forth herein and covered hereby. This agreement may not be modified except by a written agreement signed by all of the parties.

6. Defendant admits having been notified and received copy of certain Exhibit “C” (Exhibit 7 of the Opposition to Motion) Requesting Summary Judgment..., and pleading number 7 of the counterclaim. The information received by Marina de Pal-mas was the following in its pertinent part:

The released property was excavated and other works carried out such as bulk-heading, breakwaters, causeways, gates, boat slips, road and the like for the construction of the marina and harbour facilities commonly known as “the Palmas Marina”. Consequently no assurance can be given that the surface area of the said Property now under water or a road or that the works built on sand banks or on the ocean bed may not be construed to be, in accordance with the applicable statutory authority, waters of the United States, public roads or lands reclaimed from the sea and therefore deemed to be of the public domain and thus the ownership and/or under the jurisdiction of Federal or Commonwealth governments. Any transfer of title of the referenced property, is and will be and limited to whatever rights and interest Palmas has on the Property.
The released property may not comply with certain Coast Guard regulations pertaining to navigational aids and proper maintenance for the Palmas Marina, and may additionally not presently comply fully with the harbour construction permit issued by the Corps of Engineers due to lack of sufficient funds for such purposes and/or due to force majeure considerations including but not limited to hurricanes designated as David and Frederick.

7. Having knowledge of the information previously quoted, Marina de Palmas [338]*338signed the Agreement and proceeded before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain permit for the repair of the breakwater in conformity with Exhibit E of the August 27,1981, Agreement, which Exhibit E provided as follows:

A) REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS:
1. Reconditioning of the breakwater in accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers specifications and requirements. Satisfactory evidence of the reconditioning shall be an unconditional certificate from an engineer acceptable to Treco and Chemical to the effect that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has found the repair satisfactory.
2. Dredging of the channel serving the bulkhead harbour area to an average depth of at least eight (8) feet.

Work had been initiated as of July 28, 1981, to repair the breakwater in accordance with the Corps of Engineers permit issued and later modified (letter dated July 28, 1981, to the U.S. Corps of Engineers by Mr. Gustavo E.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
626 F. Supp. 335, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30309, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/treco-inc-v-marina-de-palmas-inc-prd-1986.