The Third District Court of Appeal reversed a trial court decision on a derailed $4.5 million real estate deal that left the seller and would-be buyer fighting over nearly $700,000 in deposits.

After more than a decade of legal wrangling, the appeals court sided Wednesday with seller Francis J. Dirico against mobile home park developer Redland Estates Inc. in a case that centered on whether ambiguity in their contract prevented a summary judgment.