# Park Road Development, LLC v. Akgg, LLC

> New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division · September 24, 2024

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10590979

## Case

- **Court:** New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division
- **Decided:** September 24, 2024
- **Precedential status:** Unpublished
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10590979

## Opinion text

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-2661-22

PARK ROAD DEVELOPMENT,
LLC,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

AKGG, LLC,

Defendant-Respondent.
___________________________

Submitted September 9, 2024 – Decided September 24, 2024

Before Judges Gooden Brown and Chase.

On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Cape May County, Docket No. C-
000068-21.

Cooper Levenson, PA, attorneys for appellant (Fredric
L. Shenkman, on the briefs).

Hornstine & Vanderslice, LLC, attorneys for
respondent (Brian A. Pelloni, on the brief).

PER CURIAM
Plaintiff Park Road Development, LLC ("Park Road"), appeals from the

trial court's April 21, 2023 final judgment denying its complaint seeking specific

performance by AKGG, LLC ("AKGG"), pursuant to a contract to sell three

adjoining lots in Sea Isle City ("Agreement"). We affirm.

I.

AKGG is the owner of a property which consists generally of lots located

at 4216 Park Road and a portion of 4210 Park Road in Sea Isle City ("Property").

AKGG is comprised of two principals, Gloria Giampietro and Ann Marie Kelly.

Giampietro and Kelly are sisters and have been business partners for decades.

Giampietro is the managing member and spokesperson of AKGG; however, the

longstanding policy between the sisters was that all business decisions would be

jointly made.

Park Road is comprised of two principals, Frank Edwardi and Michael

Monichetti. Edwardi and Monichetti formed Park Road for the sole purpose of

acquiring and developing the Property. Edwardi is a real estate developer and

Sea Isle City councilman. Monichetti owns a local seafood restaurant and store

located adjacent to the Property. Edwardi and Monichetti jointly manage Park

Road and have otherwise operated as business partners for several years.

Edwardi reviews binding documents on behalf of Park Road.

A-2661-22
2
In March 2021, AKGG listed the Property for sale. AKGG entered into a

listing agreement with T.I. Realty Group ("T.I.") and Christopher Glancey,

giving T.I. the exclusive right to sell the Property and naming Glancey the

broker of record and AKGG's agent. All negotiations for the sale of the Property

occurred through Glancey. Park Road and AKGG never communicated directly

regarding the sale.

Don Wilkinson, Esq., was retained to represent Park Road in the

transaction. Wilkinson spoke to Glancey with the understanding Glancey was

either an agent for Park Road as the buyer or a disclosed dual agent. Wilkinson

sent a draft of the proposed Agreement to both Glancey and Edwardi purporting

to convey the Property from AKGG to Park Road for $3.6 million. Due to

difficulty ascertaining the bounds of the Property to be conveyed from the local

tax maps, Wilkinson inserted language into the draft Agreement describing the

conveyance as Lots 6, 7, 8, and "an approximate ten foot (10') wide portion of

Current Lot 9." Wilkinson also informed Glancey and Edwardi of his

uncertainty to the amount of land involved in the transaction.

On April 28, 2021, AKGG and its attorney, Anthony Monzo, Esq.,

reviewed the Agreement. Park Road and AKGG subsequently executed the

A-2661-22
3
Agreement and an addendum the same day. The addendum stated in pertinent

part:

The real property to be sold is known as 4216 Park
Road and a portion of 4210 Park Road in the City of
Sea Isle City, in the County of Cape May, and State of
New Jersey. It is shown on the municipal tax map as
Lot(s) 4, 5, 6.01, 6.02, 7, 8, and an approximate ten foot
(10') wide portion of current Lot 9 (to be created by
subdivision pursuant to Article 34) Block 41.05.

[(emphasis added).]

Additionally, the addendum changed the closing date and shortened the due

diligence period to forty-five days contingent on subdivision approval from the

Sea Isle City Planning Board.

The "Due Diligence Inspection" provision of the Agreement stated, in

pertinent part, that Park Road would

investigate and determine [Park Road's] ability to
subdivide and develop the property into three separate
conforming lots and develop on each lot a mixed[-]use
structure in conformance with all applicable
governmental zoning and building regulations. If [Park
Road] determines that it is not satisfied in its sole
discretion . . . [Park Road] may terminate.

Edwardi testified he had no definitive plans for developing the Property when

signing the Agreement, and when he did ultimately sign, he did not know what

the term "approximate" meant regarding the amount of land to be conveyed.

A-2661-22
4
After the due diligence period expired and Wilkinson reviewed the survey

of the land, he was still unable to determine the amount of land involved in the

transaction. Wilkinson calculated the amount of frontage for lots involved,

which amounted to 140 feet; however, Wilkinson marked "150??" to indicate

the discrepancy between the amount of land calculated and the amount his

clients expected to receive in the sale. Wilkinson then drafted a second

addendum to the Agreement, which stated the amount of land to be conveyed

should not be less than 150 feet of frontage. This was the first time a document

involved in the sale described the Property to be no less than 150 feet. AKGG

never executed this addendum.

Monzo contacted Wilkinson expressing AKGG's concerns that the

addendum described the sale of 150 total feet of frontage, which included twenty

feet of Lot 9, when AKGG understood the sale to include only ten feet. Monzo

requested a copy of the concept plan of the subdivision to ensure it was

consistent with the parties' understanding when entering into the agreement.

After receiving notice of the dispute over the amount of land, Edwardi indicated

to Park Road's surveyor, Ryan McCreesh, that the subdivision plans needed to

reflect three lots each consisting of fifty feet of frontage in order to develop the

A-2661-22
5
land in compliance with local ordinances without a need for variances.1

Wilkinson, Glancey, and Edwardi then prepared an exhibit plan detailing 150

feet of frontage to be purchased by Park Road and sixty feet to be retained by

AKGG, thus establishing three lots each consisting of the required fifty feet.

Monzo advised Wilkinson the concept plan was inconsistent with both the

language and AKGG's understanding of the Agreement because the concept plan

would leave the sellers ten feet short of the amount of land contemplated on Lot

9 as detailed in the Agreement. Monzo indicated the subdivision application

would need to contain larger dimensions so AKGG would retain their expected

amount of Lot 9.

Park Road nonetheless submitted its subdivision application to the Sea

Isle City Planning Board without AKGG's consent and with knowledge of

AKGG's opposition to the plan as written. Thereafter, AKGG sent Park Road a

letter dated September 14 indicating AKGG would not provide their signature

1
According to the Sea Isle City Code Section 26-54.8 concerning minimum lot
area dimensions in the Marine Commercial/Industrial District, where the
Property is situated, "No lot shall be less than fifty (50') feet wide at the street
line or less than ninety-five (95') feet deep." The Lots subject to the Agreement
were each 100 feet deep but there is a discrepancy amongst the parties as to the
amount of land at the "street line" being sold. To remain compliant with the
local ordinance, Park Road would need to obtain fifty feet per lot. AKGG
allegedly expected to sell only forty feet of Lot 9, thus this dispute arose.
A-2661-22
6
of approval for the subdivision plan. AKGG sent notice of its cancellation of

the Agreement based on Park Road's attempt to apply for a subdivision

inconsistent with the terms of the Agreement.

Park Road then filed a complaint for specific performance claiming it

would suffer irreparable harm that could not be made whole by monetary

damages if AKGG refused to go forward with the Agreement. Park Road

asserted AKGG's conduct was performed wantonly, negligently, and in bad

faith. The complaint sought relief against AKGG in the form of: (1) a

declaration that Park Road had not anticipatorily breached the Agreement; (2)

an order enjoining and restraining AKGG and ordering the performance

pursuant to the Agreement thereby selling the Property to Park Road; (3)

compensatory damages; (4) punitive damages if compensatory damages were

awarded; (5) legal fees; (6) other related costs of the suit; (7) and any other relief

deemed appropriate.

In its Answer, Counterclaim, and Third-Party Complaint, filed together,

AKGG demanded an order dismissing Park Road's complaint, declaring Park

Road breached the Agreement, and rendering the Agreement void and

unenforceable. AKGG also demanded all other financial compensation related

to damages, fees, and other associated costs. AKGG later dismissed its Third-

A-2661-22
7
Party Complaint without prejudice against T.I. and Glancey on the counts of

breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of the implied covenant

of good faith and fair dealing.

A three-day bench trial was held, after which the court made factual

findings, assessed credibility, and applied the governing legal principles

resulting in an April 2023 order dismissing Park Road's complaint and AKGG's

counterclaim. The trial court further ordered the return of escrowed money to

Park Road within thirty days of the Order.

In denying Park Road's complaint and AKGG's counterclaim, the court

held there was no meeting of the minds between the parties which resulted in no

enforceable contract being formed and, thus, no remedy available under contract

law. The court demonstrated the uncertainty of the Agreement terms by

referencing Wilkinson's uncertainty as scrivener of the Agreement. The court

explained Wilkinson, after meeting with Edwardi and Glancey to discuss the

dimensions of land involved, inserted the language "approximate" into the

Agreement because neither Glancey nor Edwardi clearly stated what was being

conveyed. The court scrutinized the initial Agreement being drafted by the

buyer's attorney without a survey, then later obtaining a survey which calculated

the land conveyed at 140 feet, and then subsequently including terminology like

A-2661-22
8
"150??", and then drafting an addendum which provided the amount of land sold

was no less than 150 feet.

Regarding Edwardi, the court determined no written instrument involved

in this transaction included the phrase "buildable lot" as he testified to . The

court determined Edwardi knew Wilkinson was unsure about the exact amount

of land being conveyed through the Agreement and he did not know how the

Property would be developed at the signing. The court further found Edwardi

did not know what "approximate" meant in the Agreement.

Regarding Giampietro, the court found it difficult to discern her

understanding of the Agreement. However, the court deferred to Monzo's

testimony explaining his review of the Agreement with Giampietro and his notes

from the meeting which reflected AKGG believed it was selling 140 feet of land

to Park Road and not 150 feet.

The court found the record contained no credible evidence suggesting

Park Road honestly believed it was purchasing 150 feet and not 140 feet. To

support this finding, the court referenced Edwardi advising his surveyor on

August 23, 2021, to prepare the exhibit plan with Park Road receiving 150 feet

even though Edwardi was aware Monzo had informed Wilkinson of the

discrepancy in the parties' understanding of the conveyance.

A-2661-22
9
The court determined the discrepancy was the result of Park Road's failure

to conduct due diligence in obtaining a survey of the Property. The court

explained "[Park Road's] failure to exercise due diligence caused delays which

could not have been rectified by the closing date, or even shortly thereafter."

The court further explained that had Park Road taken the time to survey the

Property, the discrepancy in the Agreement would have been discovered at a

time when the Agreement could have been reformed by consent of the parties or

cancelled altogether without any harm. The court held even if there was a

meeting of the minds to create mutual assent, Park Road's lack of due diligence

demonstrated it was not ready or willing to perform its obligations under the

Agreement. On this point, the court concluded, due to the lack of understanding

between the parties, no meeting of the minds could have occurred to form an

enforceable contract, and additionally Park Road failed to prove the Property

consisted of three fifty-foot lots despite the "approximate" language in the

Agreement.

Park Road then initiated this appeal. Park Road's essential argument is

they are entitled to reformation and the court's decision was against the weight

of the evidence. Park Road also argues the court's consideration of extrinsic

evidence was improper and violative of the parol evidence rule.

A-2661-22
10
II.

Our review of a trial court's fact-finding in a non-jury trial is

limited. Seidman v. Clifton Sav. Bank, S.L.A., 205 N.J. 150, 169 (2011). Our

inquiry is "whether . . . there is substantial evidence in support of the trial judge's

findings and conclusions." Sipko v. Koger, Inc., 214 N.J. 364, 376 (2013)

(quoting Seidman, 205 N.J. at 169). Appellate courts do not disturb the factual

findings of the trial judge unless convinced that "they are so manifestly

unsupported by or inconsistent with the competent, relevant and reasonably

credible evidence as to offend the interests of justice." Tractenberg v. Twp. of

W. Orange, 416 N.J. Super. 354, 365 (App. Div. 2010) (quoting Rova Farms

Resort v. Investors Ins. Co., 65 N.J. 474, 484 (1974)); see also Beck v. Beck, 86

N.J. 480, 496 (1981).

"Deference is especially appropriate when the evidence is largely

testimonial and involves questions of credibility. Because a trial court hears the

case, sees and observes the witnesses, and hears them testify, it has a better

perspective than a reviewing court in evaluating the veracity of the

witnesses." Seidman, 205 N.J. at 169 (quoting Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394,

411-12 (1998)). However, we owe no deference to a trial court's "interpretation

of the law and the legal consequences that flow from established

A-2661-22
11
facts[,]" Manalapan Realty, L.P. v. Twp. Comm. of Manalapan, 140 N.J. 366,

378 (1995), and we review such decisions de novo, 30 River Court E. Urban

Renewal Co. v. Capograsso, 383 N.J. Super. 470, 476 (App. Div. 2006)

(citing Rova Farms, 65 N.J. at 483-84).

When issues on appeal present mixed questions of law and fact, we give

deference to the supported factual findings of the trial court but review de novo

the trial court's application of legal rules to the factual findings. State v. Pierre,

223 N.J. 560, 576 (2015); State v. Nantambu, 221 N.J. 390, 404 (2015); State v.

Harris, 181 N.J. 391, 416 (2004). Such de novo review would include the

interpretation of a contractual agreement. Serico v. Rothberg, 234 N.J. 168, 178

(2018); see also Kieffer v. Best Buy, 205 N.J. 213, 222 (2011).

Contract law requires "an 'offer and acceptance' by the parties, and the

terms of the agreement must 'be sufficiently definite [so] "that the performance

to be rendered by each party can be ascertained with reasonable certainty."'"

GMAC Mortg., LLC v. Willoughby, 230 N.J. 172, 185 (2017) (quoting Weichert

Co. Realtors v. Ryan, 128 N.J. 427, 435 (1992)) (alteration in original). For a

contract to be formed, the parties must "agree on essential terms and manifest

an intention to be bound by those terms. . . ." Weichert Co. Realtors, 128 N.J.

A-2661-22
12
at 435. However, "[w]here the parties do not agree to one or more essential

terms, . . . courts generally hold that the agreement is unenforceable." Ibid.

"The polestar of contract construction is to discover the intention of the

parties as revealed by the language used by them." Karl's Sales & Serv. v.

Gimbel Bros., 249 N.J. Super. 487, 492 (App. Div. 1991). A legal and

enforceable contract requires proof of: (1) a meeting of the minds and (2) mutual

assent between the parties. Johnson & Johnson v. Charmley Drug Co., 11 N.J.

526, 538 (1953). A meeting of the minds is "evidenced by each side's express

agreement to every term of the contract." State v. Ernst & Young, L.L.P., 386

N.J. Super. 600, 612 (App. Div. 2006).

"Generally, the terms of an agreement are to be given their plain and

ordinary meaning." M.J. Paquet, Inc. v. N.J. Dept. of Transp., 171 N.J. 378, 396

(2002) (citation omitted). "[W]here the terms of a contract are clear and

unambiguous[,] there is no room for interpretation or construction and the courts

must enforce those terms as written." Karl's Sales & Serv., 249 N.J. Super. at

493 (citing Kampf v. Franklin Life Ins., 33 N.J. 36, 43 (1960)); see also Cnty.

of Morris v. Fauver, 153 N.J. 80, 103 (1998). Courts may not "remake a better

contract for the parties than they themselves have seen fit to enter into, or to

alter it for the benefit of one party and to the detriment of the other." Karl's

A-2661-22
13
Sales & Serv., 249 N.J. Super. at 493 (citing James v. Fed. Ins., 5 N.J. 21, 24

(1950)). "A court has no power to rewrite the contract of the parties by

substituting a new or different provision from what is clearly expressed in the

instrument." E. Brunswick Sewerage Auth. v. E. Mill Assocs., 365 N.J. Super.

120, 125 (App. Div. 2004).

III.

Park Road contends the trial court failed to give the proper weight to the

Agreement signed by the parties and the provisions contained therein which

gave meaning to the term "approximate" as it related to the ten-foot conveyance

of Lot 9. They further argue the court erred in finding Giampietro's testimony

partially credible and relying on it in denying their complaint. Park Road

explains Giampietro's conflicting testimony and the court labeling it as

"confused" should have resulted in prohibiting any portion of the testimony from

being considered.

The court's findings based on the evidence and testimony presented,

combined with the conduct of the parties involved during the negotiating of the

Agreement, provide sufficient credible evidence for the trial court's

determination that there was no meeting of the minds. The record is replete with

evidence of uncertainty as to the exact terms being negotiated in the Agreement

A-2661-22
14
and differences of opinion between Park Road and AKGG. The only consistent

fact is Park Road desired to purchase three lots owned by AKGG that were

adjacent to Monichetti's restaurant and store for some type of development

project and AKGG desired to sell those lots. Beyond that, the parties were at

odds throughout the remainder of negotiations and the transaction.

The evidence suggests Park Road and AKGG agreed to complete the sale

of three lots, in full, along with a portion of a fourth lot with AKGG retaining

some of the lot. The initial transaction was for an amount that totaled 140 feet

of frontage across the four lots combined; however, after Park Road learned that

amount of land would be insufficient for approval of a subdivision for

development without the need for a variance, they determined they would need

to purchase 150 feet of frontage instead. AKGG did not desire to sell more than

the 140 feet initially agreed to, and this disagreement led to litigation and the

present appeal. The trial court determined the uncertainty concerning the

amount of land involved in the Agreement was evidenced by the testimony of

not only Giampietro, but the attorneys, the owners of Park Road, and even the

surveyor. Thus, even with the questionable nature of Giampietro's testimony

regarding her understanding of the Agreement terms, there is overwhelming

A-2661-22
15
evidence in the record that supports the trial court's finding no meeting of the

minds or mutual assent present for a valid and enforceable contract to exist.

Beyond the testimony the trial court considered, the terms of the

Agreement itself are evidence of the lack of mutual assent. Wilkinson's

addendum including the term "150??", a clear indication of the uncertainty

toward the amount of land involved, shows the parties were negotiating a deal

in which neither side was ever in lockstep on the terms. Given the deferential

standard of review and the applicable legal principles, Park Road and AKGG

never expressly agreed or demonstrated their unequivocal assent to the terms of

the Agreement.

IV.

We disagree with Park Road's assertion the trial court erroneously

attributed too much weight to documentary evidence created after the

Agreement was signed. Park Road reasons the Agreement terms, specifically

the term "approximate," were not ambiguous and thus any use of extrinsic

evidence violated the parol evidence rule. Park Road argues the court

erroneously attributed greater weight to the semantics of the situation when

substantial evidence was provided explaining the custom, usage, and the parties '

interpretation of the Agreement's terms.

A-2661-22
16
Our Supreme Court has adopted an expansive view of the parol evidence

rule that permits consideration of "all of the relevant evidence that will assist in

determining the intent and meaning of the contract." Conway v. 287 Corp. Ctr.

Assocs., 187 N.J. 259, 269 (2006). Thus, when the terminology used in a

contract is not free from doubt as to its meaning, a party should be given an

opportunity to present evidence of extrinsic circumstances that bear on the

proper interpretation of the document's language. Schor v. FMS Fin. Corp., 357

N.J. Super. 185, 192 (App. Div. 2002).

"In general, the parol evidence rule prohibits the introduction of evidence

that tends to alter an integrated written document." Conway, 187 N.J. at 268.

However, as we have made clear,

the parol evidence rule appl[ies] only to prevent the
substantive alteration of contractual terms agreed upon
by parties and expressed in an integration of their
bargain, by resort to other prior or contemporaneous
agreements or understandings. But the parol evidence
rule does not even come into play until it is first
determined what the true agreement of the parties is—
i.e., what they meant by what they wrote down. Only
when that is determined is one in an appropriate
position to raise the bar of the parol evidence rule to
prevent alteration or impugnment of the agreement by
the asserted contradictory prior or contemporaneous
agreement. . . . [I]n the process of interpretation and
construction of the integrated agreement[,] all relevant
evidence pointing to meaning is admissible because
experience teaches that language is so poor an

A-2661-22
17
instrument for communication or expression of intent
that ordinarily all surrounding circumstances and
conditions must be examined before there is any
trustworthy assurance of derivation of contractual
intent, even by reasonable judges of ordinary
intelligence, from any given set of words which the
parties have committed to paper as their contract.

[Garden State Plaza Corp. v. S.S. Kresge Co., 78 N.J.
Super. 485, 496 (App. Div. 1963).]

Here, considering all the circumstances both prior to and after the drafting

of any document relating to this transaction, it is completely unclear as to the

intent and understanding of the parties in attempting to execute a sale of the

Property. The record is chock-full with evidence of miscommunications and

misunderstandings as to the basic terms of the Agreement, which, in turn,

demonstrate an unclear intent of the parties in buying and selling the land. Even

beyond the evidence in the record, the parties' arguments on appeal further

evidence the lack of clarity in this attempted transaction. Park Road argues for

the sale of 150 feet of frontage of the Property while AKGG argues for the sale

of 140 feet. Neither party agrees as to which quantum of land is correct or when

either number was the true term of the Agreement. Due to the lack of clarity,

the court was required to determine the intent and meaning of the Agreement to

the extent that the quantum of land could even be determined from the evidence

presented, previous negotiations, and communications between the parties.

A-2661-22
18
Because the court was at the initial phase of understanding the parties'

intent and understanding of the deal without even considering the terms of the

Agreement itself, the parol evidence rule is not triggered, and the court was

permitted to rely on extrinsic evidence such as Monzo's handwritten notes.

These notes are merely jotted down comments on the terms of the Agreement as

Giampietro and Kelly understood them and what steps Monzo might be able to

take as the matter began requiring further legal action. Had the parol evidence

rule been triggered, the court could have reached the same outcome without

having to consider these notes. Nevertheless, the parol evidence rule is not in

effect here, and the court's denial of Park Road's complaint was correct.

We also disagree with Park Road's assertion they are entitled to contract

reformation due to the mutual mistake of facts between the parties. Park Road

explains a mutual mistake of fact exists due to their belief they were purchasing

150 feet of land under the Agreement. Park Road asserts the only evidence

suggesting they were purchasing 140 feet of land rather than 150 feet was

Monzo's handwritten notes which were created long after the parties signed the

Agreement and thus should not be considered.

A-2661-22
19
Park Road asserts the parties' intentions are abundantly clear when the

terms of the Agreement are considered together. Park Road explains the

Agreement, when read in its entirety and without isolating the one instance of

the term "approximate," demonstrates a mutual misunderstanding of the term

"approximate" by the parties. Park Road further explains its understanding of

the term is logical when considering the circumstances surrounding the desire

to enter into the Agreement with AKGG. Park Road posits the plain language

of the Agreement is not ambiguous and creates the implication that Park Road

was purchasing three buildable lots from AKGG without creating any additional

hardship or delays in completing the sale and beginning development on the lots.

Reformation of a contract has been used as an equitable remedy where a

contract cannot be rescinded. Dugan Constr. Co. v. N.J. Tpk. Auth., 398 N.J.

Super. 229, 242 (App. Div. 2008); see also Bonnco Petrol, Inc. v. Epstein, 115

N.J. 599, 612-13 (1989). Reformation is granted to rectify "'either mutual

mistake or unilateral mistake by one party and fraud or unconscionable conduct

by the other.'" Dugan Constr. Co., 398 N.J. Super. at 242-43 (quoting St. Pius

X House of Retreats, Salvatorian Fathers v. Diocese of Camden, 88 N.J. 571,

577 (1982)). "The problem normally arises when the agreement fails to specify

correctly the terms that the parties agreed upon[.]" Id. at 243.

A-2661-22
20
"'Reformation presupposes that a valid contract between the parties was

created but, for some reason, was not properly reflected in the instrument that

memorializes the agreement.'" Lederman v. Prudential Life Ins. Co. of Am.,

Inc., 385 N.J. Super. 324, 345 (App. Div. 2006) (quoting H. Prang Trucking Co.

v. Local Union No. 469, 613 F.2d 1235, 1239 (3d Cir. 1980)). A court will grant

reformation only if there is "'clear and convincing proof' that the contract in its

reformed, and not original, form is the one that the contracting parties

understood and meant it to be." Cent. State Bank v. Hudik-Ross Co., 164 N.J.

Super. 317, 323 (App. Div. 1978) (quoting Brodzinsky v. Pulek, 75 N.J. Super.

40, 48 (App. Div. 1962)).

Reformation is not an appropriate remedy here because there are no terms

that could be incorporated into a reformed agreement that would meet the

expectations of Park Road and AKGG. The parties hold fundamentally

mismatched understandings of essential terms of the Agreement where Park

Road expects to buy a certain amount of land and AKGG expects to sell less

than that amount. Further, there is no evidence that at any point the parties

agreed on the amount of land involved in the transaction, thus preventing a

mutual mistake of fact worthy of equitable remedy.

A-2661-22
21
We have carefully reviewed the record regarding all remaining arguments

and have determined they are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a

written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).

Affirmed.

A-2661-22
22

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10590979. Public record. Not legal advice.
