finding a special relationship where “the bank possessed information of no interest to ‘society in general,’ but of great interest to the [plaintiffs]”
How later courts described this case
- finding a special relationship where “the bank possessed information of no interest to ‘society in general,’ but of great interest to the [plaintiffs]”
- “Where a lender making a construction loan to a borrower creates a special relationship with the borrower by maintaining oversight of, or intervening in, the construction process, that relationship brings with it a duty to disclose any information that would be critical to the integrity of the construction project”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
MAYNARD, Justice,
dissenting, in part, and concurring, in part.
I agree with the majority that a lender creates a special relationship with a borrower when the lender maintains oversight of, or intervenes in, the construction process. I also agree with the majority that once a special relationship is created, the lender must disclose to the borrower any information that would be critical to the integrity of the construction project. However, I do not believe that under the facts of this case, the bank created the requisite special relationship with the Glaseocks which necessitated disclosure of the bank’s second inspection report. Consequently, I concur, in part, and dissent, in part, to the majority opinion.
*68 Initially, I note that the majority opinion details at least eight independent inspections which the Glaseocks instituted. The bank’s second inspection, performed by Robert Lemon, was completed after the Glaseocks’ third inspection was completed by Structural Concepts. The Glaseocks had five inspections performed following the bank’s second and final inspection. It appears to me that the Glaseocks certainly should have had the same information available to them independent of the bank’s report. In fact, the bank’s second inspection was completed in October 1995. The Glaseocks had inspections performed in November 1995 and in December 1995.
There is no evidence presented in this case that would lead to a conclusion that the Glaseocks had an agreement with the bank whereby they would rely on the bank’s structural inspections to uncover defects in the construction of the house. In fact, the Glas-cocks signed a document which stated, “Inspections required with respect to this loan are solely for the bank’s benefit; borrowers shall receive no comfort or rights with respect to such inspections or bank’s evaluation thereof.”
Under these circumstances, I simply cannot find that a special relationship exists between the Glaseocks and the bank. I believe the circuit court properly granted summary judgment to the bank.