Wingate v. Coombs

We granted this appeal to resolve a conflict in this Court’s decisions on the question whether an oral partnership agreement among individuals for the purpose of acquisition and development of real property for profit is valid and not within the statute of frauds. As pertinent to this controversy, the statute provides: “No action shall be brought . . . [ujpon any contract for the sale of real estate . . . [ujnless the promise, contract, agreement, ... or some memorandum or note thereof, be in writing and signed by the party to be charged thereby, or his agent . . . .” Code § 11-2(6).

In 1986,…