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155498 - North American Brokers v Howell Public Schools

​
North American Brokers, LLC, and Mark Ratliff,
 
Richard E. Shaw
 
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
 
v
(Appeal from Ct of Appeals)
 
 
(Livingston – Hatty, M.)
 
Howell Public Schools,
 
Stacy J. Belisle
Thomas J. McGraw
 
Defendant-Appellant,
 
and
 
 
 
St. John Providence,
 
 
 
 
                   Defendant.
 

​Application for leave to Appeal

Appellee's Answer

Appellant's Reply

Amicus Brief by MI Realtors

Appellant's Supplemental Brief - MOAA

155498 Order
 
 
 
 
 

Summary

Plaintiffs, a real estate agent and real estate broker, filed suit against defendant Howell Public Schools, alleging that they had engaged a buyer to purchase property owned by the school district but received no broker commission for the sale. The school district moved for summary disposition, arguing that the statute of frauds barred plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs responded by relying on the promise conveyed by the “broker protected” sign on the property and oral communications with defendants. The trial court granted summary disposition to the school district on grounds that the statute of frauds barred plaintiffs’ claims. In an unpublished opinion, the Court of Appeals reversed, holding that promissory estoppel remains an exception to the statute of frauds and remanding for further proceedings. The Court of Appeals explained that it was compelled to reach this result by binding precedent, opined that it was the wrong result, and urged the Supreme Court to grant leave to appeal to address the issue. The Supreme Court has ordered oral argument on the school district’s application for leave to appeal to address whether promissory estoppel is an exception to the statute of frauds.  MCL 566.132.