Sarwat GAD, M.D., et ux. v. Robert Ray GRANBERRY, et al., 30 So. 3d 265

CHATELAIN, Judge Pro Tempore. | plaintiffs appeal the trial court’s grant of

summary judgment in favor of defendant real estate agent and her broker. For the following reasons, we reverse. Facts and Procedural History This is a redhibition action concerning a residence sold by Ray Granberry to Dr. and Ms. Sarwat Gad in May 1995. The Gads filed suit against Mr. Granberry and other defendants, which included Defendants, Melanie Lunn and Van Eaton and Romero, Inc., the real estate agent and firm that represented Mr. Granberry in the sale. The facts and procedural history of this matter are set forth in our prior opinion, Gad v.

Granberry, 07-117 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/30/07), 958 So.2d 125, writs denied, 07-1336, 07-1361 (La.9/28/07), 964 So.2d 364, 365, where we reversed the trial court’s dismissal of the Gads’ redhibition suit on exceptions of prescription filed by five defendants and remanded the matter to the trial court for further proceedings. After remand, Defendants filed a motion for

summary judgment, alleging that the Gads cannot prove Defendants are liable to them for negligent misrepresentation or fraud. The motion was supported with deposition testimonies of Ms. Lunn, Mr. Granberry, the Gads, and others and documentary evidence. Pertinent to the motion for

summary judgment is Ms. Lunn’s deposition testimony in which she denied having seen any activity at the residence which indicated there were problems with it and having any conversations or discussions with Mr. Granberry about any moisture-related problems with the residence or the exterior finish which is at issue herein. After a hearing, the trial court granted the motion and dismissed the Gads’ claims against Defendants. The Gads appealed. | ¡.Motion for

Summary Judgment Appellate courts review motions for

summary judgments de novo to determine whether any genuine issue of material fact exists and whether the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(B). A motion for

summary judgment will be granted “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact, and that mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Id. While the initial burden of proof is on the mover to show that no genuine issue of material fact exists, if he will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the issue that is presented by the motion for

summary judgment, he is not required “to negate all essential elements” of his opponent’s claim but need only point out that there is “an absence of factual support for one or more elements essential” to his opponent’s action. La.Code Civ.P. art. 966(C)(2). If the opponent “fails to produce factual support sufficient to establish that he will be able to satisfy his evidentiary burden of proof at trial, there is no genuine issue of material fact.” Id. Issues Presented for Review In their appeal, the Gads present four issues for our review: 1) is

summary judgment precluded because Ms. Lunn’s knowledge of the defects or problems with the residence is an issue; 2) was the deposition testimony of Ms. Lunn submitted in support of the motion for

summary judgment sufficient to carry Defendants’ burden of proof; 3) can they meet their burden of proof with regard to their fraud claim; and 4) did Ms. Lunn assume the risk that Mr. Granberry discovered/learned of the redhibitory defects between the listing and the sale of the residence? | Discussion In Waddles v. LaCour, 06-1245, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/7/07), 950 So.2d 937, 942, writs denied, 07-827, 07-882 (La.6/22/07), 959 So.2d 496, 498 (citations omitted) (quoting Osborne v.

Ladner, 96-863, p. 16 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2/14/97), 691 So.2d 1245, 1257), this court discussed the duties of a real estate broker or agent: A purchaser’s remedy against a real estate broker is limited to damages for fraud under LSA-C.C. art. 1953 et seq. or for negligent misrepresentation under LSA-C.C. art. 2315. The action for negligent misrepresentation arises ex delicto, rather than from contract.

In order for a plaintiff to recover for negligent misrepresentation, there must be a legal duty on the part of the defendant to supply correct information, a breach of that duty, and damage to the plaintiff caused by the breach. A real estate broker or agent owes a specific duty to communicate accurate information to the seller and the purchaser and may be held liable for negligent misrepresentation. However, the duty to disclose any material defects extends only to those defects of which the broker or agent is aware.

Negligent Misrepresentation The Gads’ first complaint is that the trial court erred in dismissing their claim for negligent misrepresentation. Defendants assert they are entitled to

summary judgment because no evidence establishes that Ms. Lunn knew or should have known of the existence of the defects at issue herein. The Gads argue that an issue of material fact exists because Ms. Lunn’s deposition testimony does not establish that she did not have knowledge of any defects with the residence and Defendants did not submit an affidavit in which she denied such knowledge. Ms. Lunn had a duty to relay accurate information to the Gads about the Granberry residence. Accordingly, whether she had knowledge of any defect is a material issue of fact. Ms.

Lunn testified that she never saw any activity or repairs at the Granberry residence and that she never had any conversations or discussions with Mr. Granberry about the moisture-related problems with the residence or the 14exterior finish which caused and/or contributed to those moisture-related problems. Defendants assert that her testimony is sufficient to establish that the Gads do not have the evidence required to establish one criteria of their claim, i.e., she was aware of a defect. The Gads argue that Ms.

Lunn’s testimony is not a denial of knowledge and does not establish that she did not have knowledge of any repairs or activities at the residence which indicated there were defects or moisture-related problems with the residence. They claim the following circumstantial evidence defeats Defendants’ motion for

summary judgment: 1) extensive repairs performed on the residence in 1995, including the replacement of a large banque of windows and a large beam in the attic, were such that it is likely Ms. Lunn learned of the repairs; 2) Ms. Lunn would not have shown the residence when such repairs were being made and probably learned of the repairs when she called to make an appointment for that purpose; 3) a maid or the Granberry children may have mentioned the repairs to Ms. Lunn; and 4) Defendants “lost” a list of potential purchasers they normally maintain for listed properties they are contracted to sell.

Defendants argue that because it took experts to determine the source of the problems with the residence and that determination required removal of exterior walls, Ms. Lunn could not have had the requisite knowledge to defeat

summary judgment. Generally,

summary judgment is not appropriate if issues regarding subjective facts, such as intent or knowledge, are present. Murphy’s Lease & Welding Serv., Inc. v. Bayou Concessions Salvage, Inc., 00-978, 00-979 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/8/01), 780 So.2d 1284, writ denied, 01-1005 (La.6/1/01), 793 So.2d 195. However, “summary | judgment may be granted on subjective intent issues when no issue of material fact exists concerning the pertinent intent.” Smith v. Our Lady of the Lake Hosp., Inc., 93-2512 (La.7/5/94), 639 So.2d 730, 751 (citing Simoneaux v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 483 So.2d 908, 912 (La.1986), where the supreme court held that

summary judgment is an appropriate method for disposing of a case in which intent is a critical question if conclusory statements of a plaintiff are insufficient to support a finding of intent by reasonable minds). A fact is material if it “would matter at trial on the merits. Any doubt as to a dispute regarding a material issue of fact must be resolved against granting the motion and in favor of a trial on the merits.” Suire v. Lafayette City-Parish Consol. Gov’t., 04-1459, 04-1460, 04-1466, p. 11 (La.4/12/05), 907 So.2d 37, 48.

Defendants will not bear the burden of proof at trial; therefore, they are not required “to negate all essential elements” of the Gads’ claim. However, neither Ms. Lunn’s testimony nor the other evidence submitted in support of the motion for

summary judgment establishes that she did not have knowledge of any repairs or activities at the residence which indicated there were defects or moisture-related problems with the residence. Furthermore, the circumstantial evidence regarding the extent of the repairs performed by Mr. Granberry may be such that a jury would determine the required repairs indicated the residence had a defect, regardless of its souree, and that Ms. Lunn learned of the extensive repairs from someone other than Mr. Granberry. Accordingly,

summary judgment is inappropriate. Fraud The Gads next urge that the trial court erred in dismissing their claim for fraud. Fraud is defined as “a misrepresentation or a suppression of the truth made with the | ¿intention either to obtain an unjust advantage for one party or to cause a loss or inconvenience to the other.” La.Civ. Code art. 1953. Silence and inaction are also elements of fraud. Id. If Ms. Lunn knew of problems with the residence and she did not tell the Gads, she created an unjust advantage for herself, Van Eaton, and Mr. Granberry and caused a loss to the Gads. Her knowledge, or lack thereof, is subjective and, under the circumstances present here, not appropriate for

summary judgment. Assumption of the Risk The Gads’ last argument is that the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment because Ms. Lunn assumed the risk that the disclosure sheet prepared by Mr. Granberry in 1991 was inaccurate when she refused Ms. Gad’s request prior to closing in 1995 to have it updated by Mr. Granberry. Defendants argue that Ms. Lunn’s duty to the Gads was that she disclose only defects of which she had knowledge, citing jurisprudence which holds that a purchaser’s claims against real estate agents are for fraud and negligent misrepresentation. The legal premise stated above is correct; however, it may not be the only remedy available to the Gads.

There is no legal duty to provide purchasers with a disclosure form like the one Ms. Lunn had Mr. Granberry complete. Waddles, 950 So.2d 937. However, if Defendants undertook a duty to provide the disclosure form to the Gads, they were obligated “to perform the task in a reasonable and prudent manner.” Schulker v. Roberson, 91-1228, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/5/96), 676 So.2d 684, 688 (quoting Crane v. Exxon Corp., U.S.A., 613 So.2d 214, 221 (La.App. 1 Cir.1992)). Whether they assumed a duty by providing the disclosure form to the Gads |7is a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact. Bujol v.

Entergy Serv., Inc., 03-492, 03-502 (La.5/25/04), 922 So.2d 1113. The only evidence on this issue is the testimonies of Ms. Gad and Ms. Lunn. Ms. Gad testified that prior to closing in 1995, Ms. Lunn presented her with the disclosure sheet which had been completed by Mr. Granberry in 1991, that she requested it be updated, but Ms. Lunn refused to comply with the request. Ms. Lunn testified that Ms. Gad did not ask her to have Mr. Granberry update the disclosure form. This evidence does not establish that Defendants are entitled to

summary judgment on this issue. Disposition Genuine issues of material fact exist with regard to the Gads’ claims against Ms. Lunn and Van Eaton and Romero, Inc. Accordingly, the trial court’s judgment is reversed, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings. All costs are assessed to Defendants. REVERSED AND REMANDED. GREMILLION, J., dissents and assigns written reasons, THIBODEAUX, Chief Judge, dissents for the reasons expressed by Judge GREMILLION. Honorable David E. Chatelain participated in this decision by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court as Judge Pro Tempore.