TR-One, Inc. v. Lazz Development Co. Case Brief

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York2012Docket #62353895
95 A.D.3d 1303 945 N.Y.S.2d 416

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

3 min read

tl;dr: An option contract for the sale of land was held unenforceable because the property description was too vague. The agreement stated the exact boundaries were to be determined and agreed upon later, failing to satisfy the Statute of Frauds’ requirement for a definite subject matter.

Legal Significance: This case affirms that a contract for the sale of land is void under the Statute of Frauds if the property description requires a future agreement between the parties to be made certain. The writing itself must sufficiently identify the subject matter.

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

On May 20, 2004, plaintiff TR-One, Inc. granted defendant Lazz Development Co., Inc. (Lazz) an exclusive option to purchase real property. The agreement described the parcel as “approximately 48 acres of vacant land located at 89 Mount Tom Road, Pawling, New York.” Crucially, the contract stipulated that “[t]he exact size and location of the parcel subject to this option… is to be defined and determined by a Survey map to be obtained by Optionee [Lazz]… and which description will be agreed upon by the parties and then added as an exhibit to the contract of sale.” The purchase price was set at a minimum of $1,600,000, with the final amount contingent on the property’s future development. When a dispute arose, TR-One sued for breach of contract. The defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing the agreement was unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds due to the indefinite property description.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does an option agreement for the sale of real property satisfy the Statute of Frauds when it describes the land as an approximate acreage and expressly states that the exact description will be determined by a future survey and subsequently agreed upon by the parties?

No. The court affirmed summary judgment for the defendants, holding that the 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 reprehender

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Does an option agreement for the sale of real property satisfy the Statute of Frauds when it describes the land as an approximate acreage and expressly states that the exact description will be determined by a future survey and subsequently agreed upon by the parties?

Conclusion

The case underscores the strict requirement of the Statute of Frauds that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, q

Legal Rule

Under New York's Statute of Frauds (General Obligations Law § 5-703), a 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 dolor

Legal Analysis

The court's analysis centered on the sufficiency of the property description as 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, qu

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • A contract for the sale of real property violates the Statute
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 occa

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