Staggs v. Sells

The Sellses' (defendants) sales agent signed a contract representing to buyer Staggs (plaintiff) that the property had never been affected by flooding or storm runoff, without ever verifying that claim or even reading the contract's terms to the Sellses, and Staggs relied on that representation without independently investigating; the property flooded roughly 15 times in subsequent years, and the trial court found the Sellses 60% at fault and Staggs 40% at fault, awarding Staggs a reduced $15,000 judgment.