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Omnibus Order on Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings, Motions for Summary Judgment and Related Motions — Santidrian v. Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc.

Factual and Procedural Background

On July 3, 2006, Plaintiffs Raul and Paula Santidrian entered into an Agreement for Sale with Defendant Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc. for a custom single-family estate to be built on Lot 12 of the Landmark Ranch Estates subdivision. Plaintiffs paid $420,000 (a ten percent deposit). Plaintiffs later were unable to obtain financing because they waited until 2007 to search for financing and market changes constrained their ability to finance the $4.2 million purchase. Defendants continued construction and substantially completed the home within two years; Plaintiffs concede Defendants did not default on the Agreement. A factual dispute remains whether the 44 lots were part of a "common promotional plan" within the Interstate Land Sales Act (ILSA) definition.

Procedurally, Plaintiffs filed suit May 23, 2008 alleging ILSA violations, seeking relief against Landmark and individual liability against Richard Bell and sales agent Joe Caprio, plus a breach of contract claim. The Court previously granted in part motions to dismiss, and Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint. Multiple dispositive motions were filed: motions for judgment on the pleadings, motions for summary judgment by the defendants, Plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment, Plaintiffs' request to extend discovery and to amend the complaint, and a motion to strike an affidavit. The Court considered the full record and the pending motions in the omnibus order.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the Agreement is exempt from ILSA under 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2) because it requires completion of the home within two years.
  2. Whether Plaintiffs may seek rescission under common law due to alleged lack of mutuality of remedies in the Agreement.
  3. Whether defendant Joe Caprio is personally liable as an agent for a known principal under ILSA.

Arguments of the Parties

Plaintiffs' Arguments

  • Plaintiffs asserted ILSA violations against Landmark and sought equitable remedies (including rescission) tied to those alleged statutory violations.
  • Plaintiffs argued that the Agreement's remedy limitation (refund of deposits plus interest as sole remedy before closing) supports relief, and they maintain they had notice and intended to seek common-law rescission.
  • Plaintiffs opposed Caprio's motions, emphasizing that ILSA expressly includes "agent" and arguing that agents may be liable under the statute; plaintiffs also argued that Caprio had extensive involvement in Landmark's sales operation.

Defendants' Arguments (Landmark and Richard Bell)

  • Defendants argued the Agreement is exempt from ILSA under the two-year completion exemption of 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2), relying on contract language that conditions completion on certain delays and on precedent distinguishing similar contract clauses.
  • Defendants argued Plaintiffs sought rescission for inability to obtain financing rather than because of seller misconduct, and urged the Court not to extend ILSA protection on equitable grounds beyond the statute's plain language.
  • Defendants moved to strike Plaintiff Raul Santidrian's affidavit as inconsistent with deposition testimony and for lack of foundation for website evidence.

Defendant Joe Caprio's Arguments

  • Caprio argued that as an agent for a known principal he should not be held personally liable under traditional agency law absent allegations that he personally violated ILSA; he relied on Florida authority that disclaims personal liability where an agent discloses the principal's identity.
  • Caprio asserted he was merely the real estate agent and that Bell (the principal) personally negotiated and signed the contract; he argued that traditional agency principles should control even for statutory claims.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Moore v. Liberty Nat. Life Ins. Co., 267 F.3d 1209, 1213 (11th Cir. 2001) Standard for judgment on the pleadings (accepting complaint facts as true; plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts entitling relief). Cited to describe the standard for judgment on the pleadings; Court noted motions later addressed under summary judgment standard.
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) Movant's initial burden at summary judgment to identify absence of genuine issue and relevant record evidence. Used to explain summary judgment burdens and procedure for movant.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574 (1986) Nonmoving party must do more than show metaphysical doubt; requirement to present specific facts. Quoted to define the nonmoving party's necessary showing to avoid summary judgment.
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242 (1986) Requires affirmative evidence; scintilla not enough; evidence must allow jury to reasonably find for the nonmovant. Applied in summarizing the summary judgment standard the Court would use to resolve substantive motions.
Walker v. Darby, 911 F.2d 1573 (11th Cir. 1990) Scintilla-of-evidence standard reiterated. Cited as part of the standard for evaluating evidence at summary judgment.
Rollins v. TechSouth, Inc., 833 F.2d 1525 (11th Cir. 1987) Doctrine on "sham" affidavits: an affidavit may be disregarded if inherently inconsistent with prior deposition testimony. Applied to deny defendants' motion to strike Raul Santidrian's affidavit because defendants did not show inherent inconsistency.
Van T. Junkins & Associates v. U.S. Industries, Inc., 736 F.2d 656 (11th Cir. 1984) Additional authority on the "sham affidavit" rule. Applied together with Rollins to assess the motion to strike the affidavit and to deny the motion.
Kamel v. Kenco/The Oaks, 321 Fed.Appx. 807 (11th Cir. 2008) Found a completion obligation unrestricted and thus exempt from ILSA where the clause allowed only legally cognizable defenses such as impossibility. Defendants relied on this decision; Court distinguished Kamel based on different contract language and start-date triggering the completion period.
Dorchester Development, Inc. v. Burk, 439 So.2d 1032 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1983) Note that actual substantial completion within two years is irrelevant to the exemption determination under ILSA. Cited in a note to emphasize that completion within two years does not determine exemption status.
Harvey v. Lake Buena Vista Resort, LLC, 568 F.Supp.2d 1354 (M.D. Fla. 2008) Contract clause that extends completion by "any other grounds cognizable in Florida contract law" renders two-year requirement illusory and exemption inapplicable. Plaintiffs cited Harvey; Court discussed it as one line of authority but noted other district decisions disagreed.
Pilato v. Edge Investors, L.P., 609 F.Supp.2d 1301 (S.D. Fla. 2009) Completion clause may include other legally recognized defenses and still be exempt if phrasing limits to legally recognized defenses. Court cited Pilato as contrary authority to Harvey and referenced its reasoning in evaluating the Agreement's language.
Bloom v. Home Devco/Tivoli Isles, LLC, 2009 WL 36594 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 6, 2009) Failure to include the term "impossibility" does not necessarily render two-year clause illusory where other modifiers are present. Cited as part of district court decisions that support a finding of exemption in some contractual formulations; used for comparison.
Caswell v. Antilles Vero Beach, LLC, 2008 WL 4279555 (S.D. Fla. July 8, 2008) Similar support for upholding two-year exemption where clause contains appropriate qualifiers. Referenced among district court decisions distinguishing Harvey; used to analyze the contract language here.
Skidmore v. Swift & Co., 323 U.S. 134 (1944) Deference to administrative guidelines under the Skidmore standard. Cited to explain that Department of Housing guidelines on ILSA exemptions are entitled to some deference.
Pugliese v. Pukka Development, Inc., 550 F.3d 1299 (11th Cir. 2008) Referenced in connection with deference to agency guidelines under Skidmore. Cited to support the proposition that the Department of Housing guidelines deserve some weight.
Essex Ins. Co. v. Zota, 607 F.Supp.2d 1340 (S.D. Fla. 2009) Rescission is ordinarily granted only for fraud, accident or mistake — rescission is an extraordinary and harsh remedy. Cited to describe the high threshold for common-law rescission while assessing Plaintiffs' potential common-law claim.
Kaufman v. City Place South Tower, LLC, 2008 WL 4722106 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 21, 2008) Distinguishes determinations under ILSA rescission from common-law rescission analysis. Cited to note that an ILSA rescission determination differs from common-law rescission analysis.
Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178 (1962) Standards for granting leave to amend pleadings under Rule 15(a): freely given absent undue delay, bad faith, prejudice, futility, etc. Applied to conclude Plaintiffs' request to amend to add a common-law rescission claim should be denied for undue delay.
Jennings v. BIC Corp., 181 F.3d 1250 (11th Cir. 1999) Authority holding undue delay can justify denying leave to amend. Relied upon to support denial of Plaintiffs' late motion to amend the complaint.
Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. v. Olin Corp., 313 F.3d 1307 (11th Cir. 2002) It is not an abuse of discretion to deny amendment after close of discovery and deadlines. Used to support denial of Plaintiffs' motion to amend filed after deadlines and discovery closure.
Maynard v. Board of Regents of Div. of Universities of Florida ex rel. Univ. of South Florida, 342 F.3d 1281 (11th Cir. 2003) Amendment on the last day of discovery can constitute undue delay. Cited to reinforce the Court's conclusion that Plaintiffs' late amendment was undue delay.
Van D. Costas v. Rosenberg, 432 So.2d 656 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1983) Under Florida law, an agent may avoid personal contractual responsibility by disclosing the principal's identity. Caprio relied on this principle to argue lack of personal liability; the Court considered it but distinguished statutory liability under ILSA.
Meyer v. Holley, 537 U.S. 280 (2003) Traditional agency principles apply in certain statutory contexts; Supreme Court declined to impose vicarious liability on an officer who did not personally violate statute. Courts cited Meyer to support the view that personal involvement is required for liability; Court relied on Meyer in granting Caprio summary judgment.
Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, Inc. v. Key Colony #4 Condominium, 510 F.Supp.2d 1003 (S.D. Fla. 2007) An agent cannot absolve himself of liability if he took illegal actions; addressing agent liability in statutory context. Cited by Plaintiffs to argue agent liability remains possible if the agent took illegal actions; Court noted the proposition but found no evidence of Caprio's personal illegal acts here.
Dillon v. AFBIC Development Corp., 597 F.2d 556 (5th Cir. 1979) Fifth Circuit authority on agent liability cited for circumstances where agents are held responsible. Cited by Plaintiffs; Court noted Fifth Circuit decisions remain binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit per Bonner.
Bonner v. Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc) Rule that pre-1981 Fifth Circuit decisions are binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit. Used to justify citation to older Fifth Circuit decisions (e.g., Dillon) in discussing agent liability.
Paquin v. Four Seasons of Tennessee, 519 F.2d 1105 (5th Cir. 1975) Bench trial affirmed for a sales representative who lacked authority to set final price (relevant to agent liability analysis). Cited by defendants to support limited agent liability in certain contexts; Court noted ILSA's 1979 amendment broadened agents' civil liability.
Samara Dev. v. Marlow, 556 So.2d 1097 (Fla. 1990) Referenced regarding nonmutuality of remedies argument relevant to ILSA exemption analysis. Referenced in a footnote concerning Plaintiffs' nonmutuality argument to thwart ILSA exemption.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court first addressed procedural posture: although some parties moved for judgment on the pleadings, because defendants later filed summary judgment motions after briefing on the pleadings, and because the core issues required statutory construction and contract interpretation, the Court applied the summary judgment standard (Fed. R. Civ. P. 56) and set out the governing summary judgment burdens (Celotex, Matsushita, Anderson and related Eleventh Circuit law).

On the ILSA two-year exemption (15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2)), the Court analyzed the Agreement's completion clause. The clause required the seller to "substantially complete construction of the Home ... by a date no later than two years from the date Seller obtains a building permit" and made that date subject to delays caused by buyer, acts of God, unavailability of materials, strikes, governmental orders, or "other events beyond Seller's control." The Court compared this language to authority finding a clause acceptable where the exceptions are limited to legally recognized defenses (e.g., Kamel/Kenco, Pilato). The Court identified two differences from cases finding exemption: (1) the phrase "other events beyond Seller's control" in the Agreement is unmodified and thus could encompass events not tied to legally recognized defenses, making the two-year requirement potentially illusory; and (2) the two-year clock in the Agreement does not begin at execution but upon issuance of a building permit, which could permit the seller to delay the start of the period. Citing Department of Housing guidance and district court precedent, the Court concluded that the Agreement does not limit seller nonperformance to defenses recognized by Florida law and therefore is not exempt under § 1702(a)(2).

On Plaintiffs' sought common-law rescission claim, the Court observed Plaintiffs had not pled a separate common-law rescission cause of action in the Amended Complaint, despite opportunities to do so. The Court recognized that, on the contract language alone, rescission might be a close question, but emphasized that rescission at common law is extraordinary and typically requires fraud, accident, or mistake (Essex). The Court denied Plaintiffs' belated request for leave to amend to add a common-law rescission claim, applying Rule 15(a) and Foman, and concluding amendment was untimely and would be undue delay under the circumstances (citing Jennings, Lowe's, Maynard).

On agent liability, the Court addressed Caprio's position that, as an agent for a known principal, he cannot be held personally liable absent proof of personal wrongdoing or involvement. The Court noted that ILSA includes "agent" in its coverage, and that policy arguments could be made for including agents to encourage compliance. Nonetheless, applying traditional agency principles and the Supreme Court's Meyer v. Holley decision, the Court found Plaintiffs had not established a genuine issue of material fact that Caprio had personal involvement in an ILSA violation: there was no evidence he had authority to set price, no evidence he had personal responsibility for registration/reporting, and the principal was known. Accordingly, the Court granted Caprio summary judgment.

Regarding Defendants' motion to strike Raul Santidrian's affidavit, the Court applied the Eleventh Circuit sham-affidavit standard (Rollins, Van T. Junkins). The Court found no inherent inconsistency between the affidavit and the deposition; further, challenges to authenticity/foundation of attached website evidence went to weight and not admissibility at summary judgment. The motion to strike was denied, though the Court stated the affidavit did not affect resolution of the pending motions.

Holding and Implications

Core Rulings (dispositions):

  • Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [DE 93] — DENIED.
  • Defendants Landmark and Rick Bell's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [DE 94] — DENIED.
  • Defendant Joe Caprio's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [DE 105] — DENIED.
  • Plaintiffs' Motion for Extension of Time to Complete Discovery and to Amend Complaint [DE 111] — DENIED.
  • Defendants Landmark and Rick Bell's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 114] — DENIED.
  • Defendant Joe Caprio's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 118] — GRANTED; summary judgment in favor of Joseph Caprio will be entered.
  • Defendants' Motion to Strike Raul Santidrian's Affidavit [DE 127] — DENIED.
  • Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint Contingent Upon Court's Ruling [DE 151] — DENIED.

Implications:

  • The Court held the parties' Agreement is not exempt from ILSA under the two-year completion provision, because the Agreement's exception language ("other events beyond Seller's control") is unqualified and the two-year period is triggered only by issuance of a building permit — issues that, in the Court's view, could render the two-year requirement illusory.
  • Plaintiffs were denied leave to add a separate common-law rescission claim because the claim was not timely pled and the Court found undue delay; the Court noted that common-law rescission is an extraordinary remedy typically reserved for fraud, accident, or mistake.
  • Defendant Caprio was dismissed from the case by summary judgment because Plaintiffs failed to show a genuine issue of material fact that he had personal involvement in any ILSA violation under traditional agency principles and the cited Supreme Court authority (Meyer).
  • The only remaining issue for trial is whether Plaintiffs' lot was part of a common promotional plan of 100 lots or more; that factual determination will decide applicability of certain registration/disclosure and revocation provisions of ILSA to this transaction.
  • The opinion does not purport to create new controlling precedent; it applies existing statutory interpretation and agency-law principles to the parties' contract language and procedural posture and resolves the motions accordingly.

Additional procedural note: The case remained on calendar for trial, with the Court directing entry of separate summary judgment in favor of Joseph Caprio and scheduling calendar call and trial logistics as stated in the Order.

Raul SANTIDRIAN and Paula Santidrian, Plaintiffs, v. LANDMARK CUSTOM RANCHES, INC., a Florida corporation, Rick Bell a/k/a Richard Bell, Indi

OMNIBUS ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS, MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND RELATED MOTIONS

JAMES COHN, District Judge

THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [DE 93], Defendants Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc. and Rick Bell's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [DE 94], Defendant Joe Caprio's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [DE 105], Plaintiffs' Motion for Extension of Time to Complete Discovery and to Amend Complaint [DE 111], Defendants Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc. and Rick Bell's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 114], Defendant Joe Caprio's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 118], Defendants' Motion to Strike Affidavit [DE 127] of Raul Santidrian [DE 133] and Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint Contigent Upon Court's ruling [DE 151]. The Court has carefully considered the entire record, and is otherwise fully advised in the premises.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On July 3, 2006, Plaintiffs Raul and Paula Santidrian, husband and wife ("Plaintiffs"), entered into a contract with Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc. ("Landmark") for the sale and purchase of a single family estate residence to be built on Lot 12 of a subdivision named Landmark Ranch Estates consisting of 44 lots in Broward County, Florida. Plaintiffs paid a total of $420,000 as a ten percent deposit on the purchase, pursuant to the Agreement for Sale. Exhibit 1 to Complaint (hereinafter, "Agreement"). The Agreement was between Landmark as seller and Plaintiffs as buyer.

Plaintiffs were unable to obtain financing to complete the purchase. It is undisputed that Plaintiffs waited until later in 2007 to begin a search for financing. By that time, changes in the real estate market limited their ability to obtain financing to complete the purchase of the $4.2 million home. Defendants, meanwhile, were constructing the home per the agreed upon plans.

Although not relevant to the legal issues decided herein, Plaintiffs assert that Defendants were going to build the home pursuant to preexisting plans on speculation, while Defendants assert that this is a custom built home just for Plaintiffs.

On April 29, 2008, Plaintiffs demanded that all of Landmark's defaults be cured, that the contract be cancelled or rescinded, and all deposits returned. Defendants refused and this action followed. After discovery, it is clear that Defendants intended for this purchase to be exempt from the Interstate Land Sales Act ("ILSA") as they did not comply with the property report and other disclosure requirements of the ILSA. Defendants did substantially complete construction of the home within two years, per the Agreement, and Plaintiffs concede that Defendants did not default on the Agreement. A factual dispute does exist as to whether the 44 lots in Landmark Ranch Estates were part of a "common promotional plan," as defined in the ILSA.

II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs filed this action on May 23, 2008 for violations of the ILSA, 15 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq., related to the sale of a custom home site by Landmark. In its initial Complaint, Plaintiffs alleged various violations of the ILSA by Landmark, individual liability under the ILSA against Landmark's owner, Richard Bell, and its sales agent, Joe Caprio, and a breach of contract claim against Landmark [DE 40]. The Court granted in part Bell's motion to dismiss as to Count II and Landmark and Bell's motion to dismiss Count III (breach of contract). Santidrian v. Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc., 2008 WL 4571820 (S.D.Fla. Oct. 14, 2008).

In response to that order, Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint [DE 42]. The Amended Complaint contains claims under the ILSA against Landmark in Count I, against Defendants Bell and Caprio in Count II, and a claim for "Foreclosure of Vendee's Lien" in Count III. The Amended Complaint also added two paragraphs of allegations concerning Defendant Bell's personal involvement in the sale of the property. Am. Compl., ¶¶ 12-13. Defendant Landmark filed an Answer as to Count I and Defendant Caprio filed an Answer to Count II but Defendants Landmark and Bell moved to dismiss Counts II and III, strike the class action allegations, and strike the entire Amended Complaint for failure to obtain leave of court.

The Court denied the motion to strike the entire pleading because a plaintiff can file an amended complaint that seeks to remedy the deficiencies found by a Court, if the Court's dismissal of claims was not "with prejudice," and if filed prior to the filing of an Answer to a remaining claim by a defendant. Santidrian v. Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc., 2009 WL 210668, *1 (S.D.Fla. Jan. 28, 2009) (hereinafter, " Santidrian II"). The Court granted the motion to strike the class allegations (without prejudice), denied the motion to dismiss the claim against Bell, and granted the motion to dismiss the equitable lien claim in Count III. Id. at *2. The Court entered a separate order setting new pretrial deadlines for the case, including a deadline to amend the pleadings, though specifically limiting any amendment to the class allegations [DE 84].

After filing answers, Defendants then moved for judgment on the pleadings, while Plaintiffs moved for partial summary judgment. After discovery was completed, Defendants moved for summary judgment. On the last day for discovery and the limited deadline for amending pleadings, Plaintiffs moved for a thirty day discovery extension to resolve pending discovery disputes (i.e., not for new discovery). Plaintiffs' Reply Memorandum in Support of Motion for Extension of Time at ¶ 1 [DE 120]. Plaintiffs also seek an extension of time to complete this discovery review and seek leave for amendments that "will focus on making sure that the pleadings fully reflect the ILSA violation at issue and the enforceability (or lack thereof) of the contract between the parties." Id., ¶ 2. Plaintiffs did later move for leave to amend its complaint to add a claim for common law rescission based upon lack of mutuality of remedies in the contract.

III. DISCUSSION

There are several legal issues in this case which are presented in the various motions for judgment on the pleadings and for summary judgment. First, there is the issue of whether Defendants are exempt from the ILSA because the parties' Agreement requires completion of the new home within two years pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2). A second issue is whether Plaintiffs can seek rescission of the agreement under a theory of common law rescission due to lack of mutuality of obligations. A third issue is whether Joe Caprio remains liable as an agent for a known principal.

A. Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings

Judgment on the pleadings is appropriate only when the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief, accepting all the facts in the complaint as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs. Moore v. Liberty Nat. Life Ins. Co., 267 F.3d 1209, 1213 (11th Cir. 2001). In this case, Defendants filed motions for summary judgment four weeks after completion of briefing on Landmark's motion for judgment on the pleadings, and ten days after briefing was complete on Caprio's motion for judgment on the pleadings. As the first two issues regarding ILSA exemption and availability of rescission are either statutory construction and/or contract interpretation issues, the Court will address the substance of the motions under a summary judgment standard.

B. Summary Judgment Standard

The Court may grant summary judgment "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 any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The movant "bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of [the record] which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). To discharge this burden, the movant must point out to the Court that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case. Id. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

After the movant has met its burden under Rule 56(c), the burden of production shifts and the nonmoving party "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). According to the plain language of Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e), the non-moving party "may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party's pleadings," but instead must come forward with "specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348.

Essentially, so long as the non-moving party has had an ample opportunity to conduct discovery, it must come forward with affirmative evidence to support its claim. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 257, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). "A mere `scintilla' of evidence supporting the opposing party's position will not suffice; there must be a sufficient showing that the jury could reasonably find for that party." Walker v. Darby, 911 F.2d 1573, 1577 (11th Cir. 1990). If the evidence advanced by the non-moving party "is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, then summary judgment may be granted." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

C. ILSA Exemption — Two — Year Completion Provision

Defendants argue that the parties' Agreement for the sale of land under a contract obligating the seller to erect a building within a period of two years is exempt from the ILSA. 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2). The parties agreement states that:

the Seller does, however, agree to substantially complete construction of the Home in the manner specified in this Agreement by a date no later than two years from the date Seller obtains a building permit from the appropriate governmental authority subject however, to delays caused by Buyer, acts of God, the unavailability of materials, strikes, other labor problems, governmental orders or other events beyond Seller's control.

Agreement, ¶ 7.

Defendants rely upon a recent unpublished United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit opinion in which the Court found that the developer's obligation to build was unrestricted and the agreement exempt from the ILSA because the defenses of impossibility of performance were available to the developer regardless of the contract provision. Kamel v. Kenco/The Oaks, 321 Fed.Appx. 807, 811 (11th Cir. 2008). The comparable contract language stated:

by a date no later than one (1) year and eleven (11) months from the date Buyer and Seller execute this Agreement, subject however to delays caused by Buyer or acts of God, the unavailability of materials, strikes, other labor problems, governmental orders, or other events which would support a defense based upon impossibility of performance for reasons beyond the Seller's control.
Id., at 810.

Two key distinctions are apparent when comparing the Kenco contract to the one at bar. First, the language "which would support a defense based upon impossibility of performance for reasons" is omitted from modifying "other events . . . beyond Seller's control." Thus, the "other events" could be unrelated to recognized legal defenses. Second, the two year time period does not begin to run until "the date Seller obtains a building permit," rather than from the date the Agreement is executed. This change also could allow the time period to extend beyond two years.

Under the facts of this case, it is important to note that the fact that construction was substantially completed within two years is irrelevant to the exemption determination. Dorchester Development, Inc. v. Burk, 439 So.2d 1032, 1034 n. 1 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1983).

Plaintiffs cite to Harvey v. Lake Buena Vista Resort, LLC, 568 F.Supp.2d 1354, 1359 (M.D.Fla. 2008), wherein the court determined that the exemption did not apply because the contract language stated that:

The date for completion may be extended by reason of delays incurred by circumstances beyond Seller's control, such as acts of God, war, civil unrest, imposition by a governmental authority of a moratorium upon construction of the Unit or providing of utilities or services which are essential to such construction, casualty losses or material shortages or any other grounds cognizable in Florida contract law as impossibility or frustration of performance, including, without limitation, delays occasioned by wind, rain, lightning and storms.

The court in the Middle District did not have the benefit of the Kenco decision, but concluded that because this clause went beyond "acts of God" and impossibility to include "any other grounds cognizable in Florida contract law," it broadened the exceptions to the completion date provision to the point that the two-year requirement was illusory.

Recent decisions in this District would disagree with the Harvey decision. In Pilato v. Edge Investors, L.P., 609 F.Supp.2d 1301, 1306, 1308 (S.D.Fla. 2009), the court held that the completion clause may include other legally recognized affirmative defenses under Florida law and still be exempt (clause specifically stated that the two year date was subject to "delays caused by matter which are legally recognized as defense to contract actions [in Florida]"). Other district courts have held that failure to include the term "impossibility" to describe the events that could cause a delay does not necessarily mean the two-year completion requirement is illusory. See Bloom v. Home Devco/Tivoli Isles, LLC, 2009 WL 36594, *5-6 (S.D.Fla. January 6, 2009). However, it is important to note that the clauses in those decisions include the modifier "similar" to describe the "events beyond Seller's control." Id., at *1; Caswell v. Antilles Vero Beach, LLC, 2008 WL 4279555, *1 (S.D.Fla. July 8, 2008).

Applying these cases to the contract language at issue, the Court concludes that the Agreement is subject to the ILSA because it does not limit Defendants to defenses recognized as legal defenses under Florida law. The phrase "other events beyond Seller's control" is not modified by any language, making the two year completion requirement illusory. Moreover, the two year period does not begin until Seller obtains a building permit, which could also delay completion beyond two years due to factors within Seller's discretion. All the other agreements in the cases found by the Court begin the two year period upon execution of the Agreement. Therefore, the parties' Agreement is not exempt under 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2).

The United States Department of Housing guidelines on this issue state that "the contract must not allow nonperformance by the seller at the seller's discretion." Guidelines for Exemptions under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 61 Fed.Reg. 13596 (Mar. 27, 1996), cited in Pilato, 609 F.Supp.2d at 1307. These guidelines are entitled to some deference under Skidmore v. Swift Co., 323 U.S. 134, 65 S.Ct. 161, 89 L.Ed. 124 (1944). Pugliese v. Pukka Development, Inc., 550 F.3d 1299, 1305 (11th Cir. 2008).

Defendants also argue that the ILSA was not intended to protect plaintiffs such as the Santidrians because they admittedly sought rescission due to their inability to obtain financing and not because of any default or fraud by the Defendants. Defendants are essentially asking the Court to look beyond the plain language of a consumer protection statute which the parties agree is unambiguous to find an equitable reason to exempt Defendants (or the Plaintiffs) from the coverage of the statute. This the Court does not have the power to do. Rather, Defendants could have drafted their agreements to be exempt from the ILSA but did not.

D. Rescission Claim

Plaintiffs urge this Court to assume that it has pled a common law rescission claim and address the issue of whether the limitation of remedies in the parties' contract, wherein the buyer is limited to a refund of all deposits plus interest as its sole and exclusive remedy (before closing), lacks sufficient mutuality of obligations to render the entire contract unenforceable. See Agreement, ¶ 12. However, Plaintiffs have not pled a separate claim for common law rescission apart from the ILSA claim, despite having sufficient opportunity to include such a claim in its Amended Complaint. The actual contract language in this case presents a close question of whether rescission, though a harsh remedy to be used sparingly under Florida law, should be applied herein, in the absence of an ILSA claim. Essex Ins. Co. v. Zota, 607 F.Supp.2d 1340, 1351 (S.D.Fla. 2009) (rescission is ordinarily granted only for fraud, accident or mistake).

Plaintiffs' complaint seeks rescission as an equitable remedy for the alleged violation of ILSA, and not as a separate common law claim. The cases cited by Defendants make clear that the determination under ILSA as to whether rescission is appropriate is a different question than application of common law rescission. Kaufman v. City Place South Tower, LLC, 2008 WL 4722106, *6 (S.D.Fla. Oct. 21, 2008). In this case, Plaintiffs take the position that they have always included notice in their Complaint and Amended Complaint that they were seeking common law rescission. However, Plaintiffs never separately stated a rescission claim apart from ILSA, and did not put Defendants on notice that there could be a common law rescission claim.

The argument of nonmutuality of remedies is raised to thwart ILSA exemption. Samara Dev. v. Marlow, 556 So.2d 1097 (Fla. 1990). As discussed above, the Court concludes that the contract is not exempt under the two-year completion provision in § 1702(a)(2). Plaintiffs' common law claim is not moot however, if the Defendants' development is exempt from the 100 lot requirement.

In its January Order extending various pretrial deadlines, the Court specifically limited the new deadline for filing of amended pleadings to addition of class action allegations [DE 84 at p. 1]. Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures provides that a party may amend the party's pleading "by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party" and that "leave shall be freely given when justice so requires." In construing Rule 15(a), the Supreme Court has held that:

In the absence of any apparent or declared reason — such as undue delay, bad faith, or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of the allowance of the amendment, futility of amendment, etc. — the leave sought should, as the rules require, be "freely given."
Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962).

This Court concludes that Plaintiffs' motion to amend should be denied for undue delay. Plaintiffs have provided no explanation for why the rescission claim could not have been filed in the Amended Complaint, rather than waiting until the close of discovery. Jennings v. BIC Corp., 181 F.3d 1250 (11th Cir. 1999). Though Plaintiffs in this case did not have as much undue delay as the plaintiff in Jennings, this Court concludes that Plaintiffs have not provided a sufficient explanation for late filing of the amendment. Accord Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. v. Olin Corp., 313 F.3d 1307, 1314-15 (11th Cir. 2002) (it is not an abuse of discretion for a district court to deny a motion for leave to amend following the close of discovery, past the deadline for amendments and past the deadline for filing dispositive motions); Maynard v. Board of Regents of Div. of Universities of Florida Dept. of Educ. ex rel. University of South Florida, 342 F.3d 1281, 1285, 1287 (11th Cir. 2003) (amending complaint on the last day of the already extended discovery period — set 18 months after case filed was undue delay).

E. Agent Liability

Defendant Joe Caprio moves for judgment on the pleadings and for summary judgment on the issue that as the agent for a known principal, he cannot be held liable for any ILSA violations under traditional agency law absent allegations that he personally violated the ILSA. Caprio cites to Van D. Costas v. Rosenberg, 432 So.2d 656 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1983), although distinguishable on its facts, wherein the court stated the general principle in Florida that an agent can avoid personal responsibility on a contract by disclosing the true identity of his principal. Caprio argues that traditional agency principles apply even to statutory actions. Meyer v. Holley, 537 U.S. 280, 287, 123 S.Ct. 824, 154 L.Ed.2d 753 (2003) (decision declining to impose Fair Housing Act vicarious supervisor liability on corporate officer who did not personally violate the statute). Caprio asserts that the undisputed facts are that he was merely the real estate agent who showed the property and acted as a go-between for Defendants Landmark and Richard Bell. It is undisputed that Bell was personally involved in negotiating the contract and signing the contract on behalf of Landmark.

Defendant Caprio also argues that the contract is exempt from the ILSA using similar citations as Defendants Landmark and Bell. See infra ¶ III.C.

Plaintiffs oppose the motion because the ILSA specifically includes liability for an "agent," an issue the Court addressed in denying the initial motion to dismiss. 15 U.S.C. § 1701(6), § 1703(a); Santidrian I, *3 ("there is no language in the ILSA that requires an agent to have authority to sell a property, since the definition of "agent," includes those who participate in the "offering to sell" any lot in a subdivision.") Plaintiffs distinguish the cases put forth by Defendants on their facts, in that none of those cases exclude liability for an agent. Moreover, an agent does not absolve himself of liability under a statute by stating that he was acting at the behest of his employer if he took illegal actions. Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, Inc. v. Key Colony # 4 Condominium, 510 F.Supp.2d 1003, 1013-14 (S.D.Fla. 2007), citing Dillon v. AFBIC Development Corp., 597 F.2d 556, 562 (5th Cir. 1979).

The decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, as that court existed on September 30, 1981, handed down by that court prior to the close of business on that date, shall be binding as precedent in the Eleventh Circuit, for this court, the district courts, and the bankruptcy courts in the Circuit. Bonner v. Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1207 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc).

Plaintiffs also oppose the motion on the grounds that the record indicates that Defendant Caprio was the exclusive sales director for the Landmark development at issue and had an extensive involvement in Landmark's sales operation. However, other than perhaps lending short-term funds to Defendants Landmark and Bell prior to the contract at issue in this case, there is no evidence that Caprio acted as anything other than Landmark and Bell's agent in this transaction.

Although the ILSA allows an action to be brought against an agent, and the Act states that it is "unlawful for any developer or agent, directly or indirectly" to sell a lot without providing a property report and registering the subdivision, as well as not employing any scheme, untrue statement, or omission of material fact, the statute is silent as to whether personal involvement of a real estate agent is required for liability. 15 U.S.C. § 1703(a). Plaintiffs argue that the ILSA is a strict liability statute and specifically includes "agent," while Defendants rely on the caselaw listed above that traditional agency principles are still to be applied to statutory civil rights actions.

On the one hand, the Court does not accept Defendant's argument that the ILSA could not have intended to include real estate agents where his known principal, the actual developer, is known to the buyer, and where it is clearly the developer's obligation to comply with the reporting and registration requirements of ILSA. Caprio argues that because of title searches and public records, owners of land who are the agent's principal are always known to buyers. Plaintiffs argue that at the time of contract, principals may not be known, though in this case, the principal was known. Caprio's argument goes too far in suggesting that real estate agents can never be liable under the ILSA.

Defendant relies again upon Paquin v. Four Seasons of Tennessee, 519 F.2d 1105 (5th Cir. 1975), wherein the United States Court of Appeals for Fifth Circuit affirmed a bench trial decision in favor of a sales representative who did not have authority to set a final price. However, the civil liability section of the ILSA (§ 1709) was amended in 1979 to broaden the scope of coverage for agents who offer to sell lots.

The Court understands that a policy argument can be made that the purpose of including "agents" (and therefore real estate agents) under the ILSA, would force agents to either question their principal's compliance with the ILSA or remove themselves from participation in the transaction for fear of being liable under the ILSA. Nonetheless, Plaintiffs have not come forward with any case law holding real estate agents liable under ILSA where the principal was known at the time of contract, where there was no evidence of any violation of § 1703(a)(2), where the agent did not have authority to set the price, and where there was no evidence that the agent had personal responsibility for compliance with the registration and reporting requirements of the ILSA. Therefore, under traditional agency principles, Plaintiffs have failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact that Defendant Caprio as an agent had personal involvement in a violation of the ILSA. Meyer v. Holley, 537 at 287, 123 S.Ct. 824. Thus, Defendant Caprio's motion for summary judgment will be granted.

F. Motion to Strike Affidavit of Raul Santidrian

Defendants have moved to strike the affidavit of Plaintiff Raul Santidrian because it conflicts with his deposition testimony and includes the attachment of a website from 2008 that Defendants claim did not exist in 2006 at the time of the signing of the contract. As to the first issue, in order to disregard an affidavit as a sham, the Court must find an inherent inconsistency between an affidavit and a deposition. Rollins v. TechSouth, Inc., 833 F.2d 1525, 1530 (11th Cir. 1987); Van T. Junkins and Associates v. U.S. Industries, Inc., 736 F.2d 656, 657 (11th Cir. 1984). This rule is to be applied sparingly. Defendants have not met their burden to show an inherent inconsistency in this case.

Defendants also argue that the website evidence attached to the deposition lacks personal knowledge and is contradicted by Defendant Bell's testimony that the website for this project did not exist in 2006. First, the issue of a common promotional scheme is not before the Court on the pending motions. Second, Defendants' arguments to strike appear to be aimed at the weight of the evidence presented, rather than its admissibility at the summary judgment stage. Plaintiff's affidavit states that "[t]he content of the attached website looked virtually identical to the website back when the Contract was signed" is based upon personal knowledge. Affidavit of Raul Santidrian, ¶ 10 [DE 127]. Therefore, the motion to strike is denied, though the affidavit played no role in resolving the pending motions addressed in this Order.

IV. CONCLUSION

The remaining issue for trial is whether Plaintiffs' lot was part of a common promotional plan of 100 lots or more, see Santidrian, 2008 WL 4571820 at *2. If Plaintiffs' lot was not part of developments under a common promotional plan of more than 100 lots, then the registration and disclosure requirements in § 1703(a)(1) and the revocation rights in §§ 1703(b), (c), and (d) are not applicable to this transaction. Pugliese v. Pukka Development, Inc., 550 F.3d 1299, 1306 (11th Cir. 2008). Although the anti-fraud provision in § 1703(a)(1) would apply to developments over 25 units, the only allegations by Plaintiffs in this case on this claim are that Defendants violated the provisions for which they are exempt. See Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 41-43, 52-56. There is no evidence of any untrue statement or omission with regard to the sale of the lot at issue in this case.

Accordingly, it is ORDERED and ADJUDGED as follows:

1. Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [DE 93]is hereby DENIED;
2. Defendants Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc. and Rick Bell's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [DE 94] is hereby DENIED;
3. Defendant Joe Caprio's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings [DE 105] is hereby DENIED;
4. Plaintiffs' Motion for Extension of Time to Complete Discovery and to Amend Complaint [DE 111] is hereby DENIED;
5. Defendants Landmark Custom Ranches, Inc. and Rick Bell's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 114] is hereby DENIED;
6. Defendant Joe Caprio's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 118] is hereby GRANTED;
7. Defendants' Motion to Strike Affidavit [DE 127] of Raul Santidrian [DE 133] is hereby DENIED;
8. Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint Contigent Upon Court's ruling [DE 151] is hereby DENIED;
9. This case remains on for Calendar Call on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 9:00 am. The Court will hear argument on any remaining motions in limine at that time, if not resolved by the Court or parties before then. The Court also advises the parties that this case is the only remaining civil case left on the trial docket for the week of July 13, 2009. Although the Court had allowed counsel for Defendant Caprio to be excused from the first week of the trial docket [DE 171], now that Defendant Caprio is dismissed, the Court will try this case commencing Monday, July 13, 2009 at 9:00 am;
10. The Court shall separately enter summary judgment in favor of Defendant Joseph Caprio and shall deny his remaining motions at DE 140, 141 and 159.

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SANTIDRIAN v. LANDMARK CUSTOM RANCHES, INC. (S.D.Fla. 7-6-2009)
(Jul 6, 2009)