September 01, 2011

Court reviews a case involving a breach of implied warranty dispute over unimproved real property

JERRY ANN WINN v. WELCH FARM, LLC, ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. September 1, 2011)

The buyer of unimproved real property sued the sellers for breach of implied warranties, imposition of a permanent nuisance, and diminution in value of the property; buyer also sought damages for alleged violations of the Tennessee Real Estate Broker License Act, the duty of good faith and fair dealing, the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, and negligence.

The trial court held that Tennessee does not provide a cause of action for breach of implied warranty in the sale of unimproved real property; the court also held that buyer had not demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the lot was "unbuildable." The court granted summary judgment to the defendants, and the buyer appealed. Buyer asserts that the sellers had a duty to disclose "possible adverse soil conditions." She also urges this Court to adopt a cause of action for breach of implied warranty of suitability for residential construction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/winnj_090111.pdf