Rosen v. University of South Carolina

HUFF, J. Harvey J. Rosen, Joseph B. Rosen, and Rebecca Nurick (collectively, Rosens) appeal the trial court’s order granting summary judgment to the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club (collectively, the University) on the Rosens’ claims for breach of contract and constitutional taking. We reverse and remand. FACTS/PROCEDURAL HISTORY The Rosens donated approximately $140,000 in money and property to the University and, in exchange, became Lifetime Silver Spur Scholarship members in the Gamecock Club. In 1987, the parties executed contracts memorializing the terms of the agreement. Exhibit A to the contracts listed the benefits and priorities the Rosens received. The exhibit provided: LIFETIME FULL SCHOLARSHIP —Four Season Football Tickets (Best Available) —Additional Four Season Football Tickets (Total of 8) —Assigned Reserved Parking —Second Priority on Away and Bowl Game Tickets —Tickets May Be Assigned to One Designated Heir —Four Season Basketball Tickets (Best Available) —Assigned Parking at the Coliseum (If Available) —Second Priority on Away and Tournament Game Tickets —Second Priority on any Tickets Involving any other South Carolina Athletic Events In the contracts, each of the Rosens designated a beneficiary to receive the lifetime membership upon the Rosens’ deaths. This designation provided: “Upon the death of [], this Lifetime Silver Spur membership will be transferred to [ ] for his lifetime only.” [707] In 2007, the University initiated a fee for the assigned reserved parking at the football stadium for the Gamecock Club donors. Until that time, the Rosens had not paid for parking. However, they had paid for the athletic event tickets. The Rosens brought this action against the University originally asserting causes of action for breach of contract, conversion, and violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act (UTPA) 1 They amended their complaint to add a claim for a constitutional taking. The University denied their claims. Both sides moved for summary judgment. The trial court found all of the issues were subsumed in the breach of contract issue.2 It held the contracts between the University and the Rosens were not ambiguous and contained no language that the privileges were “free” or signified any value was assigned to the privileges. It noted the Rosens had paid for the football tickets over the years, including the increases in the price of the tickets. It found that lifetime donors, such as the Rosens, only received the benefit of maintaining their donor level in the Gamecock Club, regardless of any increase in dues, without ever having to contribute yearly dues in the future. The trial court granted the University’s motion for summary judgment. The Rosens filed a motion to alter or amend, which the trial court denied. This appeal followed. STANDARD OF REVIEW This court reviews the grant of a motion for summary judgment applying the same standard that governs the trial court. Wogan v. Kunze, 379 S.C. 581, 585, 666 S.E.2d 901, 903 (2008). Summary judgment is proper where no genuine issue exists as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id.; Rule 56(c), SCRCP. In determining whether any triable issues of fact exist, the evidence and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Law v. S.C. Dep’t of Corr., [708] 368 S.C. 424, 434, 629 S.E.2d 642, 648 (2006). “Even when there is no dispute as to the evidentiary facts, but only as to the conclusions or inferences to be drawn from them, summary judgment should be denied.” Wilson v. Style Crest Prods., Inc., 367 S.C. 653, 656, 627 S.E.2d 733, 735 (2006). “[I]n cases applying the preponderance of the evidence burden of proof, the non-moving party is only required to submit a mere scintilla of evidence in order to withstand a motion for summary judgment.” Hancock v. Mid-South Mgmt. Co., 381 S.C. 326, 330, 673 S.E.2d 801, 803 (2009). LAW/ANALYSIS The Rosens argue the trial court erred in finding the language of the contracts to be unambiguous. “It is a question of law for the court whether the language of a contract is ambiguous.” S.C. Dep’t of Natural Res. v. Town of McClellanville, 345 S.C. 617, 623, 550 S.E.2d 299, 302-03 (2001). “Whether a contract is ambiguous is to be determined from the entire contract and not from isolated portions of the contract.” Farr v. Duke Power Co., 265 S.C. 356, 362, 218 S.E.2d 431, 433 (1975). A contract is ambiguous when it is capable of more than one meaning when viewed objectively by a reasonably intelligent person who has examined the context of the entire integrated agreement and who is cognizant of the customs, practices, usages, and terminology as generally understood in the particular trade or business. Hawkins v. Greenwood Dev. Corp., 328 S.C. 585, 592, 493 S.E.2d 875, 878 (Ct.App.1997) (quoting 17A Am.Jur.2d Contracts § 338, at 345 (1991)). Construction of an ambiguous contract is a question of fact. Skull Creek Club Ltd. P’ship v. Cook & Book, Inc., 313 S.C. 283, 286, 437 S.E.2d 163, 165 (Ct.App.1993). At oral argument, the University urged this court to consider that the Rosens paid for football tickets, including the increases in football ticket prices, as the “customs, practices, [and] usages” of the Gamecock Club. In considering the payment of ticket prices, we must also consider that during the same time period, the Rosens were not required to pay for [709] the parking spaces. Exhibit A made no distinction in the language used describing the tickets and parking spaces. It neither stated additional charges would apply or that the benefits would be free. When considering “the customs, practices, [and] usages” of the Gamecock Club that despite similar language, the members paid for tickets but did not pay for parking, we find the contracts to be ambiguous as to the parking issue. The Rosens also contend the designation of beneficiary provision is ambiguous. The provision specified: “Upon the death of [], this Lifetime Silver Spur membership will be transferred to [ ] for his lifetime only.” As the Rosens assert, this provision is completely silent as to whether the beneficiary can be changed. The University relies on this court’s opinion in Abu-Shawareb v. S.C. State Univ., 364 S.C. 358, 613 S.E.2d 757 (Ct.App.2005), to support its contention that the provision is not ambiguous. In Abu-Shawareb, this court found the absence of any mention of a bailment action in a settlement agreement in which the appellant released “any and all claims” against the respondent did not create an ambiguity that would allow the appellant to introduce parol evidence that the parties did not intend to include the bailment action in the agreement. Id. at 362-63, 613 S.E.2d at 759-60. This court noted silence alone does not create an ambiguity. Id. at 363, 613 S.E.2d at 760. However, our supreme court and this court have also recognized when an agreement is silent as to a particular matter and because of the nature and character of the transaction an ambiguity arises, parol evidence may be admitted in order to supply a deficiency in the language of the contract. Penton v. J.F. Cleckley & Co., 326 S.C. 275, 281, 486 S.E.2d 742, 745 (1997); Lindsay v. Lindsay, 328 S.C. 329, 343, 491 S.E.2d 583, 591 (Ct.App.1997); Ebert v. Ebert, 320 S.C. 331, 339, 465 S.E.2d 121, 126 (Ct.App.1995); U.S. Leasing Corp. v. Janicare, Inc., 294 S.C. 312, 318, 364 S.E.2d 202, 205, (Ct.App.1988). Parol evidence is admissible not to contradict the terms of the written agreement but to determine the intent of the parties as to that particular matter. Id. [710] In the present case, the contracts did not specifically prohibit or allow a change of the designated beneficiary. It is impossible from the plain language of the contracts to determine if the parties intended to allow the change. Thus, we find this provision is also ambiguous. We hold the trial court erred in holding the contracts were not ambiguous. Accordingly, the trial court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of the University is REVERSED AND REMANDED.3 SHORT, J., concurs. PIEPER, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part in a separate opinion. Footnotes [1] S.C.Code Ann. §§ 39-5-10 to -560 (1985 & Supp.2010). [2] The Rosens abandoned their UTPA claim at the hearing. [3] Because of our disposition of this issue, we decline to address the Rosens’ remaining issues and the University’s arguments purporting to be additional sustaining grounds. See I'On, L.L.C. v. Town of Mt. Pleasant, 338 S.C. 406, 420, 526 S.E.2d 716, 723 (2000) (holding it is within the appellate court's discretion whether to address any of respondent’s additional sustaining grounds); Futch v. McAllister Towing of Georgetown, Inc., 335 S.C. 598, 613, 518 S.E.2d 591, 598 (1999) (stating that if an appellate court's ruling on a particular issue is dispositive of an appeal, rulings on remaining issues are unnecessary).