Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

Harkins v. Channell

The plaintiffs unambiguously elected to proceed under the parties' contract when they asked the trial court to reform the contact and enforce it.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

On July 26, 2002, Robert Harkins and his wife Karen signed an agreement to purchase 12 rental properties in Richmond County for $567,459 from professional realtor and longtime friend Cliff Channell. After problems developed, they brought suit against Channell and his company for fraud. The defendants moved for summary judgment, which the trial court granted, and the Harkinses appeal that decision. Construed in favor of the nonmovants, the evidence shows that Robert Harkins had sold homes as a licensed realtor during the late 1980s, and he and his wife had begun purchasing rental properties in late 2000. They had acquired 14 properties ranging in price from $19,000 to $115,000 by the summer of 2002. For four years prior to the transaction in question, Harkins had often sought advice on the rental business from Channell, who had 30 years experience and owned his own company, Channell Realty.

By the summer of 2002, Mr. and Mrs. Harkins were looking to acquire more rental property. Channell told Harkins that he owned property in Richmond County that might be of interest. Harkins was enthusiastic, and over the course of several meetings at the Harkinses’ home, Harkins and Channell negotiated the details of the transaction, and Channell prepared a package with the lease information for the rental units. Harkins testified that he told Channell he was relying on him with regard to the deal.

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
Southeastern Legal Awards 2025
May 01, 2025
Atlanta, GA

The Daily Report is honoring those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession.


Learn More
Complex Claims & Litigation Forum 2025
February 24, 2025 - February 26, 2025
Las Vegas, NV

This conference aims to help insurers and litigators better manage complex claims and litigation.


Learn More
Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2025
March 24, 2025
New York, NY

Recognizing innovation in the legal technology sector for working on precedent-setting, game-changing projects and initiatives.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
Associate Professor or Professor

The University of Iowa College of Law anticipates hiring lateral faculty members in the areas of Family Law and Business Law. APPLICATION ...


Apply Now ›
TRIAL ATTORNEY

NY auto defense firm seeks experienced TRIAL ATTORNEY to do trials, motions, court appearances, and depositions.Salary range 115K-150K depen...


Apply Now ›
ASSISTANT DEPUTY COUNSEL FOR THE NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM

The New York State Unified Court System is one of the largest court systems in the nation with over 16,000 judges and non-judicial employees...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs