T.W. Nickerson, Inc. v. Fleet National Bank

21 Mass. L. Rptr. 282
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedApril 21, 2006
DocketNo. 0200427
StatusPublished

This text of 21 Mass. L. Rptr. 282 (T.W. Nickerson, Inc. v. Fleet National Bank) 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
T.W. Nickerson, Inc. v. Fleet National Bank, 21 Mass. L. Rptr. 282 (Mass. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

Quinlan, Regina L., J.

This case arises from a dispute concerning two leases controlling the use of property occupied by T.W. Nickerson, Inc. (the “plaintiff’) in South Chatham, Massachusetts (“the property”). At all times material, the property was owned by the Fleet National Bank, as trustee of the Theodore W. Nickerson Trust (“the trust”). In July 2002, the plaintiff brought this action against the defendants, Fleet, as trustee, and against the children of Theodore W. Nickerson and the beneficiaries of the trust, Edmund Nickerson, Kenneth Nickerson, Theodora Bur-son, and Diana Lapham (collectively, “Defendant Beneficiaries”). The leases at the center of this dispute contain provisions granting the lessee the “option to renew” and the “right of first refusal.” The plaintiff alleges breach of the implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing by the defendants regarding the plaintiffs rights under these provisions, and the damages resulting therefrom.

Trial, without ajuiy, was held August 29, 2005 to September 2, 2005. After this trial, and based upon all of the credible evidence, the Court makes the following findings of fact and rulings of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Based upon all of the credible evidence introduced at the juiy-waived trial of this complaint, the Court makes the following findings of fact and rulings of law.

The plaintiff, T.W. Nickerson, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation organized in December of 1962. The original incorporators were Theodore W. Nickerson (“Theodore”), his wife Lillian M. Nickerson (“Lillian”) and their sons Edmund J. and Kenneth W. Nickerson. [283]*283The corporation operated a stump dump at its place of business at 160 Mill Hill Road in Chatham.

Theodore also owned the property where the corporation had its offices and operated its business. On June 29, 1982, Theodore executed a declaration of trust conveying the real estate to the First National Bank of Boston, as Trustee of the Theodore W. Nicker-son Trust, on his death for the benefit of Lillian. Their four children, Edmund, Theodora, Diana, and Kenneth, were the residuary beneficiaries.

In 1991, Theodore sold the corporation to his nephew Donald F. Nickerson (“Donald”). In 1993, Donald sold all of the stock in the corporation to Steven T. Clark (“Clark”).3 As a result of the purchase, Clark became the president and treasurer of the corporation. He has held those offices throughout this litigation.4

On June 17, 1993, the First National Bank of Boston executed two leases to the corporation.5 The first lease is entitled the “Business Premises Lease.” On its face the term of the lease was July 1, 1991 through June 30,2001. This lease covered two parcels of land generally referred to as Lot 5. The term of the second lease, entitled the “Stump Dump Lease,” is also July 1, 1991 through June 30, 2001. This lease covered the parcel of land known generally as Parcel B. Lot 5 is part of a larger parcel of land known as parcel A, which Theodore acquired from his father through inheritance in 1953. Theodore acquired parcel B in 1962. Theodore died in 1983. At that time, the title to the real estate passed to the trustee of the Trust. From 1981 to 1983, the corporation’s use and occupation of the real estate was exclusively as a lessee of Theodore. From 1983 to 2002, the corporation’s use and occupation of the real estate was exclusively as a lessee of the trustee of the Trust.

The 1991 leases each provide the corporation with an option to renew for an additional ten-year term. The same language appears in both leases:

The LESSEE is granted an option to renew said lease at the expiration of term of said lease for an additional period of ten (10) years at a rental to be agreed upon between the parties. In the event LESSOR and LESSEE cannot agree upon a rental, then the same shall be determined by arbitration of three (3) persons to whom said question shall be referred, one of such persons to be nominated by the LESSOR and one to be nominated by the LESSEE, and the third to be appointed in writing under the hands of the two so nominated before the reference is proceeded with, with the decision of any two (2) of the arbitrators shall be binding . . .

[Paragraph 14 of Business Premises lease; Paragraph 3 of Stump Dump lease.) The leases state that “the negotiation regarding a new rental amount will commence upon receipt of written notice from the lessee” of its intent to exercise the option to renew.

After acquiring the corporation, Clark had shown an interest in purchasing the property owned by the trust.6 In fact, Clark had engaged in discussions to that effect with the beneficiaries of the Trust. In the spring of 2000, Clark had offered $300,000.00 for the real estate, $30,000 with a note for the balance of $270,000.00. In June of 2000, a draft purchase and sale agreement [Exhibit 31) was sent to Clark’s attorney by Russell B. Haddleton, attorney for the trustee. The draft did not include a description of the property. Clark did not sign the draft because there was a title issue which had not been resolved.

Prior to 2000, Clark had dealt with Carl Izzo as the bank officer in charge of the Nickerson trust account. However, in the late summer or early fall of 2000, Timothy Hannon (“Hannon”) became the trust officer assigned to the Nickerson trust account. Upon assuming his duties, Hannon visited the site of the plaintiffs business and introduced himself to Clark. Clark informed Hannon that he had been discussing purchase of the real estate with the beneficiaries. He told him that it was his understanding that the price of $300,000.00 had been agreed to by the beneficiaries. However, he also informed Hannon that there were title problems relating to the description of the property which needed to be resolved.

During this first visit, Clark gave Hannon a tour of the property. Clark then took Hannon to Lillian’s house where he met with her and Edmund J. Nicker-son (“Edmund”). Edmund was the son who handled Lillian’s financial affairs and was the principal contact with the trustee.

On September 15, 2000, Hannon placed a memo on file at the bank that described the oral agreement between Clark and the defendant beneficiaries. The memo states that consent of all parties would be needed, and that the price was low, regardless of the stump dump problems and permitting issues. On September 18, 2000, Hannon wrote to Edmund that Fleet had concerns with the purchase price that had been negotiated between the family and Clark. Hannon further stated that Fleet may require “those family members with an interest in the Trust to execute some type of hold harmless agreement prior to selling the property.” Exhibit 39. Edmund emailed Hannon on September 22, 2000 stating:

You know it amazes me the lawyer[s] are having such a problem with the sale to Steve. The land was bought by my father years ago. He had no problem with the deeds. Since that time 4 lots have been transferred out of the same property. The land has been surveyed at least 2 or 3 times. Bounds are in place. So I don’t know why these bounds can’t be used to make out a deed for the land that Steve wants to buy. If he is willing to accept the present bounds, what is the problem?
As for the selling price, the Family will be willing to sign whatever papers are needed to keep Fleet [284]*284harmless.

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Bluebook (online)
21 Mass. L. Rptr. 282, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tw-nickerson-inc-v-fleet-national-bank-masssuperct-2006.