Georgia Court Of Appeals, (May 07, 1971)
Docket number: 46194
ARGUED
EBERHARDT, Judge. - ARGUED
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http://vlex.com/vid/barto-v-hicks-et-20483712
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Judgment affirmed. Hall, P. J., and Whitman, J., concur.

Supreme Court of Georgia - PRESSLEY et al. v. JENNINGS et al., 227 Ga. 366, 180 S.E.2.d 896 (1971)
Supreme Court of Georgia - HERRINGTON v. ROSE et al., 225 Ga. 452, 169 S.E.2.d 312 (1969)
Supreme Court of Georgia - BLANTON et al. v. WILLIAMS., 209 Ga. 16, 70 S.E.2.d 461 (1952)
Georgia Court Of Appeals - Carmichael v. Gonzalez., 107 Ga. App. 746, 131 S.E.2d 149 (1963)
Georgia Court Of Appeals - Cole v. Cutler., 96 Ga. App. 891, 102 S.E.2d 82 (1958)
Georgia Court Of Appeals - Barton Et Al. v. Gammell Et Al., 143 Ga. App. 291, 238 S.E.2d 445 (1977)
Walter W. Calhoun, for appellant.
Robert E. Barto, Jr., entered into a written contract for the purchase of a house and lot from G. Fletcher Magbee, the transaction having been arranged through the efforts of Sam Hicks, a realtor, who acted for Banner Realty Company with which Magbee had listed the property for sale. The sale price was recited as being $36,900, of which the purchaser paid $2,000 upon signing the contract and later paid $8,000, a total of $10,000 in earnest money. The purchaser agreed to procure a loan for two-thirds of the purchase price with interest at the current prevailing rate, and with principal and interest payable monthly for 20 years, and the balance in cash at closing. The house was not yet fully completed, and the contract specified in detail the items that were to be performed in its completion. Barto moved into the house, and the seller proceeded with the performance of most of the items required for completion, though some remained undone when Barto, after more than a month of occupancy, moved out, declined to go forward with completion of the sale, and demanded a return of the earnest money. He had applied for a 20-year loan in the sum of $24,600 (two-thirds of the sale price) and was tendered the loan at 8 percent, but he declined to accept it. Hicks, who held the earnest money, brought an action against Barto, Magbee and Banner Realty, alleging that under the sale contract he and Banner were jointly entitled to a realtor's commission of $922, and that because of Barto's repudiation Magbee claimed the remainder of the earnest money as liquidated damages, tendered into court the earnest money, less the realtor's commission, and asked that all other parties be required to interplead.Banner answered, agreeing that it, together with Hicks, was entitled to the realtor's commission. Magbee answered, claiming the balance as liquidated damages under the contract. Barto answered, contending that the contract was void and not binding, and sought judgment for the earnest money paid, and for certain damages claimed. He moved for summary judgment for the earnest money, the motion being grounded upon the contention that the contract was void and unenforceable. The motion was denied and, securing a certificate for review, he appeals. Held:1. (a) The contention that the contract is void for uncertainty of the description of the land is without merit. While there may he some lack of clarity in the detailed description as written, due to an error in one or more of the calls, the land is also described as being Lot 21 of Block E, Unit 18, of the Dunwoody North Subdivision in Land Lot 356 of the 18th District of DeKalb County, Georgia, according to a plat of survey recorded in Plat Book 50 page 96, dated August 1968, DeKalb County Records, and this is a definite, certain and adequate description. Talmadge v. Interstate B. & L. Assn., 227 Ga. 366 (1) (180 SE2d 896). If the plat referred to were itself insufficient in failing to provide a key, or in failing to show courses and distances, or with no fixed starting point (see Herrington v. Rose, 225 Ga. 452 (169 SE2d 312)), the burden was on movant to demonstrate that in connection with his motion, but he made no effort to do it.The property was further described as "improved property, known as 4587 Amberly Court, North, Doraville, DeKalb County, Georgia," and this, together with the other parts of the description has been held to be sufficiently definite for a realty sale contract. Boney v. Cheshire,Try vLex for FREE for 3 days
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