The firm’s client owned a property that was initially titled as a joint tenancy between the client, the client’s spouse, and another family member. Disputes between the parties led to litigation that culminated in a verbal agreement on the record for the property to remain in joint tenancy, but the family member was only to have a right of first refusal to purchase the property at a discounted price. Years later, after the client’s spouse passed away, the client retained the firm to assist the client with the sale of the property. The family member refused to exercise their right of first refusal, yet also refused to deed over their interest in the property, contending they were a fifty percent title owner of the property because the client’s spouse passed away. The firm filed an action for specific enforcement of the verbal agreement, breach of contract, quiet title, and partition of the property. After a negotiated settlement, the firm’s client obtained full title to the property without the family member receiving an interest in the property.
Counsel: Jeffrey B. Baird and Christopher R. Sillari