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Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Ramsey <br />March 19, 2013 <br />Page 4 <br />noted above, numerous factual arguments or disputes would likely result as to what Landform <br />actually did in performance of its services under the Agreement. While it is my conclusion that <br />some brokerage type services likely had to have been performed by Landform in fulfilling the <br />plain language of the Agreement, absent extensive testimony and auditing of worked performed <br />and invoices received from Landform, one can reach no absolute conclusion as to the extent of <br />the performance of such brokerage -type services by Landform. <br />It is also clear from the Agreement that Landform was to provide a broad range of services <br />which did not require a license to the HRA in furtherance of the Agreement's development <br />objectives. For example, the services contemplated to be performed by Landform in Article III, <br />Sections A — C of the Contractor's Proposal to the Agreement would not appear to require a <br />license. Based upon the limited information available to me regarding Landform's actual <br />performance under the Agreement, it is also appears fair to state, notwithstanding Article X of <br />the Agreement, that any brokerage -type services constituted a smaller portion of the services <br />provided by Landform in the performance of its duties under the Agreement. The Agreement <br />clearly provides that Landform would be compensated for this broad range of services, not <br />including those that contemplate a broker's license pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 82. <br />In light of the very limited investigative review that was conducted by me concerning this matter, <br />I can make no definitive conclusions as to what should or should not be withheld from any <br />additional payments to Landform under the Agreement. <br />Upon consideration of the Agreement in its entirety, it is my opinion that if the HRA alleged a <br />breach by Landform, or failed to pay Landform pursuant to the Agreement terms based solely on <br />the argument that Landform was required to have a real estate broker license to perform <br />purported services, that the HRA would not be successful in doing so. The inclusion of the <br />broker license language in Section X in the Agreement leads to the conclusion that the HRA and <br />Landform were aware of the concern as to whether Landform needed a license. I also believe <br />that a court would not be very sympathetic to the HRA if the HRA now attempted at this late <br />hour to argue a breach of the Agreement to avoid payment under the Agreement, which <br />otherwise appears to have been performed as promised. <br />license. The main enforcement mechanism is a ban of the person who should have had the <br />license from bringing a cause of action for unpaid compensation if in fact the person should have <br />had a license. <br />2 One other provision of the Agreement, the "Compensation Carryover" terms set forth in Article <br />IV.B.7. of the Contractor's Proposal to the Agreement (among other terms set forth in Article <br />IV.B. as to Incentive Based Development Compensation, many of which appear convoluted and <br />difficult to apply) requires a brief comment. Article IV.B.7. appears similar to an agreement to <br />protect a broker upon termination of a services agreement. Determining how to enforce this <br />Agreement language appears problematic on its face; thus, as is noted in part C of my letter, I <br />reiterate my practical suggestion to attempt to negotiate a clear resolution and termination of the <br />Agreement. <br />420721v1 SJR RAl25-69 <br />