Goodwin, Inc v. Orson E Coe Pontiac, Inc

This case forcefully demonstrates the costly consequences of formally contracting to buy and sell realty without describing it precisely in metes and bounds. The written contract of the parties refers to the realty conveyed merely as:

"[Property owned by Seller on 28th Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan, approximately across from Berger, Chevrolet * * * .”

As the facts of this case illustrate, such a description was sorely deficient.

Two issues are raised for our consideration:

First, did the trial court properly receive parol evidence of the negotiations of the seller and buyer prior to the…