Merlin v. Rodine

The respondents sued to recover fifteen hundred dollars paid as earnest money on the purchase of a home. The trial court was confronted with the question of whether the following provision in the earnest-money receipt executed by both parties could be varied by parol evidence:

“Total purchase price is Thirteen thousand seven hundred fifty and 00/100 Dollars ($13,750.00), payable as follows: $2,250.00 additional cash shall be paid when deal is closed making a total down payment of $3,750.00 and the balance of the purchase price namely $10,000.00 shall be paid in cash from the proceeds of a…