Wetmore v. Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. (In re Klemen)

22 B.R. 757, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 4357
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedApril 9, 1982
DocketBankruptcy No. 80 B 2556; Adv. No. 81 A 3038
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 22 B.R. 757 (Wetmore v. Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. (In re Klemen)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wetmore v. Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. (In re Klemen), 22 B.R. 757, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 4357 (Ill. 1982).

Opinion

ORDER

LAWRENCE FISHER, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter coming on to be heard upon the Trustee’s Amended Complaint for money judgment and approval of a sale of property, and the Defendant’s Answer thereto, and the parties appearing by their respective attorneys, and

The Defendant averring in open Court that there are no issues of material fact to be resolved, and Defendant requesting in open Court that the Complaint be disposed of based on the legal Memoranda submitted, this Court therefore deeming the matter to have been presented upon Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment, and

The Court having examined the pleadings filed in this matter and having received and examined the Memoranda of Law submitted by the parties in support of their respective positions, and having heard the arguments of counsel, and the Court being fully advised in the premises;

The Court Finds:

1. On February 29, 1980 an involuntary bankruptcy petition was filed against Stephen J. Klemen, Jr., Debtor, under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.

2. On December 15, 1980 Frank 0. Wet-more II, Trustee for the estate of Stephen J. Klemen, Jr., filed an Application with this Court for leave to sell a tract of real property referred to as the Bentonville Hog Farm.

3. In said Application, the Trustee indicated that he had received an offer from Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. for the purchase of the Bentonville Hog Farm for the sum of $135,000.00 cash. The Trustee further stated that in his opinion $135,000.00 is the reasonable value of the Bentonville Hog Farm. The Trustee’s Application requested that the Court enter an order authorizing and directing the Trustee inter alia to: 1) serve notice upon the parties and publish notice as the Court deems appropriate for date of hearing upon this Application and the sale of the Bentonville Hog Farm; 2) convey to Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. or such higher bidder as may be the successful bidder thereon, the Bentonville Hog Farm and equipment thereon for payment in cash of the bid price.

4. Pursuant to Court order, the Benton-ville Hog Farm was offered for sale at public auction in open court on January 12, 1981, but there were no bidders. Accordingly, on January 19, 1981 this Court ordered that “the sale of the Bentonville County Hog Farm to Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. for $135,000.00 is hereby approved.” The Court further ordered “that the Trustee be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to accept the offer of Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc.”

5. On September 10, 1981, Frank O. Wetmore II, Trustee, filed a Complaint against Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. On September 11, 1981, the Trustee filed an Amended Complaint, wherein he alleges that he has stood prepared to close the Bentonville Hog Farm transaction, but Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. has failed and neglected to close said transaction. The [759]*759Trustee requests alternative relief: 1) that judgment be entered in favor of the Trustee and against Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of $129,500.00 (the difference between $135,000.00 and the $5,500.00 earnest money deposited by Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. and held by the Trustee); or 2) that the Court approve a sale of the property to another in mitigation of damages and enter judgment in favor of the Trustee and against Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of any deficiency.

6. This Court approved the sale of the Bentonville Hog Farm to James W. Strat-ton for the sum of $110,000.00. Accordingly, the Trustee’s request for a deficiency judgment against Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. is the only remaining issue to be resolved by this Court.

The Court Concludes and Further Finds:

1. On October 29,1981, Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. made a written offer to purchase the Bentonville Hog Farm for $125,-000.00 cash at closing (Exhibit 1 to the Trustee’s Complaint). The writing consists of a form document entitled “Real Estate Contract (Offer and Acceptance).” Paragraph 9 of the document states that the closing date is to be “on or about 90 days from acceptance.” Paragraph 15 states that the offer expires if not accepted within 10 days. The document was signed by Eldon Mosler, President of Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. The document also provides for the signature of the seller, but has never been signed by the seller. In addition, at the bottom of the document is an unnumbered statement stating as follows:

“This is a legally binding contract when signed by both buyer and seller. If not understood seek legal advice.”

By letter dated November 12,1980, Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. amended its Offer to $135,000.00 cash at closing. By letter dated January 12, 1981, Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. deposited $4,500.00 as additional earnest money.

2. Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. contends that it is not obligated to close pursuant to the terms of the written offer. In this respect, Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. states that the document sought to be enforced does not satisfy the Statute of Frauds nor the document’s own requirements for enforceability.

Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. notes that Illinois courts have held that the Statute of Frauds requires that the writing contain the name of the seller. The October 29, 1980 document does not contain the name of the seller. However, the letter dated January 12, 1981 from the President of Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. to Frank O. Wetmore II is an amendment to the original offer and does contain the name of the seller. Accordingly, the Statute of Frauds’ requirement is satisfied. Thompson v. Wiegand, 9 Ill.2d 63, 66, 136 N.E.2d 781, 783 (1956); Crum v. Krol, 99 Ill.App.3d 651, 654, 54 Ill.Dec. 864, 867, 425 N.E.2d 1081, 1084 (1981).

Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. further contends that despite any Statute of Frauds deficiencies, the Trustee’s failure to sign the document constitutes a failure to accept the offer to purchase and renders the alleged contract unenforceable. Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. argues that the terms of the offer require that the offer only be accepted by writing. Mose-Ark Enterprises, Inc. relies on the statement at the bottom of the document which states:

“This is a legally binding contract when signed by both buyer and seller. If not understood seek legal advice.”

This Court does not read the aforesaid provision as prescribing that acceptance be by signature only. Its purpose, rather, is to alert the unwary and legally unsophisticated.

Since the offer does not require a particular manner of acceptance, the offer could have been accepted by conduct indicating assent to the offer. 12 Ill.L. & Prac. § 38 at 210 (1955). See, e.g., Plummer v. Pennsylvania Railroad, 37 F.2d 874 (7th Cir. 1929); Arduini v. Board of Education, 93 Ill.App.3d 925, 49 Ill.Dec. 460, 418 N.E.2d 104 (1981). “Though assent must be manifested in order to be legally effective, it [760]*760need not be expressed in words .... The modern law rightly construes both acts and words as having the meaning which a reasonable person present would put upon them in view of the surrounding circumstances.” 1 Williston, Contracts § 22A (3d ed. 1957). In the case sub judice,

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