Brief Fact Summary. Plaintiff brought suit after he bought a house from Defendant, which was later found to be infested by termites.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. This case fails to extend tort liability for nondisclosure in a contract situation.
The law has not yet, we believe, reached the point of imposing upon the frailties of human nature a standard so idealistic as this.
View Full Point of LawIssue. This case considers whether nondisclosure in a contractual situation can also lead to tort damages.
Held. Affirmed.
* The court found the Defendant was not liable for failure to disclose a non-apparent defect, when it may not have known of the defect. The demurrer of Plaintiff’s declaration that Defendant knowingly failed to disclose the condition of the property was proper.
Discussion. While a seller is contractually obligated to disclose non-apparent defects, he may not be held liable, in tort, for nondisclosure, without a showing of malice.