Case Citation
Legal Case Name

OBDE v. SCHLEMEYER Case Brief

The Supreme Court of Washington, Department Two1960
56 Wn.2d 449 353 P.2d 672 Property Torts Contracts

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A seller sold a house with a known, serious termite problem without telling the buyer. The court rejected the “buyer beware” doctrine, holding that the seller’s failure to disclose the latent, dangerous defect constituted fraudulent concealment.

Legal Significance: This case established a key exception to the doctrine of caveat emptor in real estate transactions. It imposes an affirmative duty on sellers to disclose known, latent, and dangerous defects, treating non-disclosure as fraudulent concealment.

OBDE v. SCHLEMEYER Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

The defendants, the Schlemeyers, purchased an apartment building and discovered a severe termite infestation. They hired a pest control specialist who advised that a complete treatment required invasive work, which the defendants declined due to cost. They opted for a partial treatment, which concealed all surface evidence of the problem, and were informed that the treatment was incomplete and not guaranteed. Shortly thereafter, the Schlemeyers sold the property to the plaintiffs, the Obdes, without disclosing the termite condition or the partial nature of the treatment. The Obdes did not ask about termites during the transaction. After taking possession, the Obdes discovered the infestation and learned of the Schlemeyers’ prior knowledge. The Obdes sued for damages, alleging fraudulent concealment. The trial court found for the Obdes, and the Schlemeyers appealed, arguing they had no duty to disclose the latent defect.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does a seller of real property have an affirmative duty to disclose a known, latent, and dangerous condition to the buyer, such that the failure to do so constitutes fraudulent concealment?

Yes. The court held that the sellers had an affirmative duty to Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

Does a seller of real property have an affirmative duty to disclose a known, latent, and dangerous condition to the buyer, such that the failure to do so constitutes fraudulent concealment?

Conclusion

This decision represents a significant departure from the common law doctrine of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer

Legal Rule

Where a seller of real property knows of concealed defects that are Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo

Legal Analysis

The Supreme Court of Washington explicitly rejected the traditional doctrine of caveat Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • A seller of real property has an affirmative duty to disclose
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fug

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?