Purchase of Property From Foreign Government—Deed Signed by Former Official Was Void—Official Lacked Authority to Convey Title—No Written Authorization for the Transfer—Statute of Frauds—Lack of Actual or Apparent Authority—Unreasonable to Close Absent Receipt of Written Authorization—Duty of Inquiry—Lack of Reasonable Reliance—Foreign Missions Act—Equitable Estoppel Claim Against Government Rejected—Innocent Purchaser Defense Rejected Since Deed Was Void

A foreign country (plaintiff) brought an action against the defendants seeking to void two deeds to a parcel of real property (property). Deed I, was signed by “A,” the former Director of Administration of plaintiff’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deed I purported to convey the property to defendant “B.” Deed II purported to convey the property from “B” to defendant “C.” The plaintiff alleged that “A” “lacked…authority to convey the property as an agent of [plaintiff] and that the defendants lack the writing required by the statute of frauds [SOF] to show ['A'] had such authority.” “A” and “B” argued that “A” was “not an agent for [SOF] purposes and therefore did not need written authorization to convey the property.” They further argued that “A” had both “actual and apparent authority to convey the property.” The plaintiff moved for summary judgment and the defendants cross-moved for summary judgment.

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