THE BAY CLUB, INC., ET AL., APPELLANTS,
v.
BRICKELL BAY CLUB, INC., ET AL., APPELLEES
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The Bay Club appeals the dismissal of its counterclaim for specific performance of a lease agreement for space in a condominium. The court affirmed the dismissal, holding that the lease agreement lacked sufficient definiteness and certainty in its essential terms to be specifically enforceable.
The court held that the agreement did not meet the required certainty for specific performance. The leased area was described only as approximately 20,000 square feet with no designated location; the rental was fixed at $5.00 per square foot but the exact footage was unspecified; the lease term was uncertain (stated as a minimum of 49 years but potentially longer); and the agreement was expressly described as a general outline rather than a final lease. The court would not rewrite a comprehensive lease based on parol evidence.
[1] A court of equity will grant specific performance only when the parties have entered into a definite and certain agreement in all of its essential elements.
[2] An agreement to execute a lease on real property must be certain as to its terms to be specifically enforced.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“In order for a court of equity to decree specific performance of a contract, the terms of the agreement must be clear, definite, certain and complete, for the equitable remedy of specific performance is granted only where the parties have actually entered into an agreement that is definite and certain in all of its essential elements.”
Establishes the fundamental requirement for specific performance—that contract terms must be clear, definite, certain, and complete in all essential elements.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceOn December 30, 1971, plaintiff-appellees executed a written agreement with defendant-appellants to lease approximately 20,000 square feet of a Bricke…
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HAVERFIELD, Judge.
Defendant-appellants take this interlocutory appeal to review an order dismissing their counterclaim for specific performance with prejudice and striking the lis pendens filed by them in this cause.
Plaintiff-appellees on December 30, 1971 executed a written agreement with defendant-appellants to lease a portion of the Brickell Bay Club condominium which was then in the early stages of construction for the operation of a private club by the defendants. The agreement was contingent upon the defendants being able to obtain a zoning variance to permit the operation of the proposed club. Thereafter, on April 2, 1973 plaintiffs filed a complaint for rescission of the above agreement and alleged therein that defendants were in default. In response thereto, defendants answered and counterclaimed for specific performance. Counterclaimants alleged (1) that they had expended large sums of money and effort in reliance upon the subject agreement, (2) that the contemplated zoning variance had been obtained, and (3) that they were ready, willing and able to deposit the required security deposit, but plaintiffs had consistently refused to execute the lease. In addition, countercom-plainants placed a lis pendens on the land upon which the Brickell Bay Club was being constructed. Thereafter, appellees filed a motion to dismiss the counterclaim on the ground that the instrument upon which the claim was based was insufficient to form a predicate for a claim of specific performance. The motion to dismiss was granted by the chancellor who dismissed the counterclaim for specific performance with prejudice and cancelled the lis pen-dens. However, appellants were given leave to file an amended counterclaim for damages. Their motion for rehearing being denied, appellant-counterclaimants take this interlocutory appeal.
The question presented for our determination is whether the agreement in the case sub judice is one upon which specific performance may be granted.
In order for a court of equity to decree specific performance of a contract, the terms of the agreement must be clear, definite, certain and complete, for the equitable remedy of specific performance is granted only where the parties have actually entered into an agreement that is definite and certain in all of its essential elements. 29A Fla.Jur. Specific Performance § 37 (1967) and cases cited therein. Further, an agreement between parties to execute a lease on real property must be certain as to the terms of the intended lease in order to be specifically enforced. Hotel Halcyon Corp. v. Miami Real Estate Co., 89 Fla. 156, 103 So. 403 (1925); Cantor v. Galloway, 97 Fla. 258, 120 So. 354 (1929).
After a careful scrutiny of the agreement to lease in the instant case, we conclude that the terms thereof do not meet the required certainty to be specifically enforced. The leased area in the agreement is described simply as approximately 20,000 square feet without any designated location thereof in the 31 story building. The rental was fixed at the rate of $5.00 per square foot; however, the exact square footage had not been agreed to. Likewise, the term of the proposed lease was uncertain as the agreement recites that it is the basis for a minimum of a 49 year term lease, but obviously could be for a longer duration. Lastly, the introduction thereto clearly states that the agreement is a general outline of the terms and conditions pertaining to the establishment of a private social club. The agreement lacks so many of the essential elements of a lease for the operation of a business that the court for specifical performance thereof, would have to write a comprehensive lease based on parole evidence which we may not and shall not do. The remedy of specific performance is granted of grace and rests in the discretion of the chancellor and there appearing no abuse thereof, the chancellor will not be reversed on appeal. Rundel v. Gordon, 92 Fla. 1110, 111 So. 386 (1927); Hart v. Freeman & Sons, Inc., Fla.App. 1969, 226 So. 2d 708.
For the reasons cited hereinabove, .the order herein appealed is hereby affirmed.
Affirmed.
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Citator
Cited By (16 total)
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de Vaux v. Westwood Baptist Church, 953 So. 2d 677 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)…s to be taken by the parties are clear, definite and certain.” Brown v. Dobry, 311 So. 2d at 160; accord Drost v. Hill, 639 So. 2d at 106; Lasseter v. Dauer, 211 So. 2d 584, 585 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968); see also Bay Club, Inc. v. Brickell Bay Club, Inc., 293 So. 2d 137, 139 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974). Further, the acceptance of the offer must be communicated to the offeror. Kendel v. Pontious, 261 So. 2d 167, 169-70 (Fla.1972)(“An acceptance, ... which only re mains in the breast of the acceptor without being communicated…
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Dania MUÑIZ and Arturo A. Chao v. Crystal Lake Project, LLC, 947 So. 2d 464 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006)…2d 1147, 1149 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). In order for a court to grant specific performance, the parties must have entered into an agreement that is definite, certain, and complete in all of its essential terms. Bay Club, Inc. v. Brickell Bay Club, Inc., 293 So. 2d 137, 138 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974); see also 3S0 Michigan Ave., Inc. v. Cambridge Hotel, Inc., 183 So. 2d 725, 726-27 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966)(“Specific performance will not be enforced where the contract is not definite and certain as to essential terms and provisi…
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Horbein Brigante and Esperanza Brigante v. VAN Buren Corp., 374 So. 2d 83 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979)…PER CURIAM. Affirmed. Webster Lumber Co. v. Lincoln, 94 Fla. 1097, 115 So. 498 (1927); Bay Club, Inc. v. Brickell Bay Club, Inc., 293 So. 2d 137 (Fla.3d DCA 1974); Brown v. Dobry, 311 So. 2d 159 (Fla.2d DCA 1975).…
Previewing 3 of 16 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Morgan Rundel v. Gordon, 92 Fla. 1110 (Fla. 1927)
- Hotel Halcyon Corp. & Thomas J. Peters v. Miami Real Est. Co., 89 Fla. 156 (Fla. 1925)
- Hart v. Freeman & Sons, Inc., 226 So. 2d 708 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969)
- Cantor v. Galloway, 97 Fla. 258 (Fla. 1929)