Debra A. Dunn v. Harold E. Dunn, Sr.

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REL: 04/05/2013 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , A l a b a m a A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 2111121 Debra A. Dunn v. H a r o l d E. Dunn, Sr. Appeal from Mobile C i r c u i t Court (DR-11-501042) THOMAS, J u d g e . H a r o l d E. Dunn, ("the w i f e " ) were m a r r i e d on J a n u a r y children filed S r . ("the h u s b a n d " ) , of the marriage. a complaint 13, 2005. On November i n the Mobile a n d D e b r a A. Dunn T h e r e a r e no 28, 2 0 1 1 , t h e w i f e Circuit Court seeking a 2111121 divorce and a d i v i s i o n of the m a r i t a l assets and d e b t s . On A p r i l 26, 2012, t h e c a s e was c a l l e d f o r a t r i a l ; a t t r i a l , t h e wife a p p e a r e d p r o s e a n d t h e h u s b a n d was r e p r e s e n t e d attorney. That same day, t h e c i r c u i t court b y an entered i t s judgment, which i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e p a r t i e s ' s e t t l e m e n t agreement ("the s e t t l e m e n t a g r e e m e n t " ) , w h i c h a l s o was r e a c h e d t h a t same day. The j u d g m e n t d i v o r c e d t h e p a r t i e s , residence automobile t o t h e husband, to the w i f e ; awarded t h e m a r i t a l a n d a w a r d e d a 1999 Dodge A v e n g e r each party retained the personal p r o p e r t y t h a t was i n h i s o r h e r p o s s e s s i o n . On May 25, 2012, the w i f e , filed then represented b y an a t t o r n e y , a verified m o t i o n t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e t h e A p r i l 26, 2012, j u d g m e n t or, i n the a l t e r n a t i v e , wife's circuit and, postjudgment f o r a new t r i a l . motion was h e l d on J u l y 6, c o u r t h e a r d t h e arguments o f t h e p a r t i e s ' on t h e 2012. The attorneys, t h a t same d a y , i t e n t e r e d i t s j u d g m e n t d e n y i n g t h e w i f e ' s postjudgment motion without s t a t i n g i t s reasons. On A u g u s t 17, 2012, t h e w i f e this A hearing court circuit seeking court postjudgment our review filed a t i m e l y appeal with o f one i s s u e -- w h e t h e r t h e exceeded i t s d i s c r e t i o n by d e n y i n g t h e w i f e ' s motion without taking 2 testimony at the 2111121 postjudgment hearing. she reached the The wife settlement agreement w i t h s u f f e r e d from v a r i o u s medical an a t t o r n e y , and the and was husband]'s attorney." p r o v e n , may Barganier be v. to request 669 So. separation d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t must be from f r a u d , duress, 2d 547 a divorce 933, So. agreement by [ t h e that husband she was or c o e r c i o n , i f 2d 555, judgment. See (Ala. Civ. 938 App. 556 (Ala. Civ. incorporated coercion."). and into j u s t , and However, " ' [ a ] n agreement r e a c h e d i n s e t t l e m e n t of l i t i g a t i o n i s as b i n d i n g on t h e p a r t i e s as any o t h e r c o n t r a c t Moreover, there i s a s t r o n g p o l i c y of law f a v o r i n g compromises and s e t t l e m e n t s o f l i t i g a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y in suits involving families, since the h o n o r and p e a c e o f t h e f a m i l y i s o f t e n a t stake.' " P o r t e r v. P o r t e r , 441 So. 2d 921, 923 ( A l a . C i v . A p p . 1 9 8 3 ) . However, i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t , o u r c o u r t s have h e l d t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s n o t b o u n d by t h e p a r t i e s ' a g r e e m e n t b u t may a c c e p t the agreement or r e j e c t the agreement, i n 3 she residence. f a i r , reasonable, or other husband, an a w a r d t h a t w o u l d i n c l u d e grounds t o s e t a s i d e Barganier, 1989))("A alleges a l l e g a t i o n s of f r a u d , duress, 1 9 9 5 ) ( c i t i n g K u n k e l v. K u n k e l , App. She time unable to a f f o r d coerced i n t e r e s t i n the m a r i t a l Generally, the p r o b l e m s , was " i n t i m i d a t e d and unaware o f h e r a b i l i t y a l i m o n y o r an complains t h a t , at the a free 2111121 w h o l e o r i n p a r t . See, e . g . , P o r t e r , 441 So. 2d a t 924; s e e a l s o M u l l i n s v. M u l l i n s , 770 So. 2d 624 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 0 ) ; Kohn v. Kohn, 52 A l a . App. 636, 296 So. 2d 725 ( C i v . App. 1 9 7 4 ) . " A l l e n v. A l l e n , The 903 So. 2d 835, 840 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 4 ) . wife contends refusing t o hear regarding her occurring the elicit any proceeding a l l e g a t i o n s of on circuit-court at 26, 2012. judge testimony fraud, A review on court duress, erred or reveals the wife's the wife's by hearing coercion of the t r a n s c r i p t of motion d i d not allow c o n s i s t s o f arguments behalf. of counsel, that the attorney The which to entire are not See S i n g l e y v. B e n t l e y , 782 So. 2d 799, ( A l a . C i v . App. 2000.) the beginning circuit a t the postjudgment the postjudgment considered evidence. 803 the her testimony on A p r i l hearing that The f o l l o w i n g e x c h a n g e t o o k of the postjudgment place hearing: "[The w i f e ' s a t t o r n e y ] : I f i l e d t h e [ p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n ] on [ t h e w i f e ] ' s b e h a l f a f t e r -- when t h i s C o u r t r e n d e r e d a d i v o r c e on -- J u d g m e n t o f D i v o r c e on A p r i l the 26th o f 2012 b a s e d on what was a l l e g e d l y an a g r e e m e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s . I was g o i n g t o have h e r t e s t i f y . "THE COURT: W e l l , I'm n o t g o i n g t o have new t e s t i m o n y . I mean, you c a n a r g u e why t h e Judgment o f D i v o r c e was e n t e r e d i n e r r o r . "[The w i f e ' s a t t o r n e y ] : W e l l , t h e r e was no t e s t i m o n y t a k e n o r i g i n a l l y . T h i s was -- I'm a c t u a l l y a s k i n g 4 2111121 f o r t h e d i v o r c e t o be s e t a s i d e a n d t o r e o p e n t h e case, b u t I can argue t h i s p a r t i c u l a r motion. " "THE COURT: No, no, no. No, no, no. I ' l l -- y o u c a n make y o u r a r g u m e n t , b u t I want j u s t t h e l e g a l argument as t o why t h i s d i v o r c e d e c r e e was i n ^ II Thereafter reached the settlement assistance attorney agreement o f an a t t o r n e y , different alleged the wife's medical "abusive argued t h a t the wife had when under problems," s h e was w i t h o u t t h e the stress and coerced and c o n t r o l l i n g " o f "a l o t of by t h e husband's intimidation of her. The w i f e ' s a t t o r n e y f u r t h e r argued t h a t t h e husband had committed f r a u d by f a i l i n g t o d i s c l o s e h i s S o c i a l - S e c u r i t y income a n d h i s employment income a n d b y c o n v i n c i n g t h e w i f e t h a t he d i d not own t h e m a r i t a l The testimony husband's attorney b e c a u s e , he s a i d , continuance provide residence. at the A p r i l evidence intimidated Furthermore, into opposed the taking the w i f e had f a i l e d t o request 26, 2 0 1 2 , t r i a l of her medical reaching t h e husband's of further problems the attorney 5 a and had f a i l e d t o or that settlement said that s h e was agreement. the wife had 2111121 failed to provide committed we v. C l a y b r o o k , concluded discretion vacate indicating that the t r i a l by d e n y i n g t h e w i f e ' s judgment, settlement agreement. the t r i a l court which We had amend, o r incorporated reversed the t h e judgment o f c o u r t a n d remanded t h e c a u s e , i n s t r u c t i n g t h e t r i a l In Claybrook, settlement the had exceeded i t s motion t o a l t e r , court t o conduct f u r t h e r proceedings. 658. t h e husband had 56 So. 3d 652 ( A l a . C i v . App. the divorce parties' that fraud. In Claybrook 2010), evidence the wife Claybrook, admitted 56 So. 3d a t t h a t she h a d s i g n e d a a g r e e m e n t b u t c l a i m e d t h a t she h a d b e e n c o e r c e d b y h u s b a n d t o do s o . I d . a t 658-59. She h a d n o t h a d t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f an a t t o r n e y when she e n t e r e d i n t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t agreement. entered, I d . a t 659. the settlement wife had agreement Before filed the divorce a motion and a l l e g i n g d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e ; she i n f o r m e d Id. a t 653. exhibits the settlement Furthermore, i n support court of t h a t she no agreement a g r e e m e n t was i n e q u i t a b l e . "[t]he wife of her motion." 6 the and t h r e a t s longer consented t o the p r o v i s i o n s of the settlement b e c a u s e , she s a i d , was repudiating coercion the t r i a l judgment submitted Id. numerous The t r i a l court 2111121 incorporated judgment settlement without settlement mentioning agreement. motion, with trial the court denied other than the settlement Claybrook of repudiation filed a and, after a hearing, I d . a t 654-55. repudiations obvious difference 2 0 1 1 ) , we to e x h i b i t s to her Whitman, 75 considered conduct a the So. 3d 1192, 1194 1193-94. I n Whitman, we the cause f o r the t r i a l at wife's 1194. In 1193. attached reversed i n her our Whitman, an like affidavit case court's hearing on a settlement Whitman, 75 So. 3d a t j u d g m e n t and c o n c l u s i o n , we remanded discussed postjudgment motion that grounds to s e t a s i d e In the the c o u r t t o h o l d an e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g . reaching allegations specific of (Ala. Civ. d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t t h a t had i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e p a r t i e s ' Id. Thus, filings. postjudgment agreement c o n s t i t u t e d r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r . the between i s s u e whether a t r i a l requested the postjudgment wives' the of and t h i s c a s e i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e w i f e i n t h i s I n Whitman v. failure wife the f a i l e d to attach supporting App. divorce The the w i f e ' s motion. agreements, its wife's exhibits, timing into the Id. supporting agreement the divorce i n Claybrook, and supporting 7 judgment. supra, the exhibits the included Id. at wife had to her 2111121 postjudgment motion. concluded that, Whitman, 75 So. 3d a t 1193. based on the affidavit This and court supporting e x h i b i t s , w h i c h were a p a r t o f t h e r e c o r d on a p p e a l , t h e r e probable merit In Wicks 2010), to to the wife's postjudgment v. W i c k s , hold a requested i n w h i c h he fraud by court failing incorporated 3d judgment 700, claimed the the that parties' the wife Again, settlement I d . a t 700. the agreement was and had referenced allegation, agreement; motion. we c a u s e , r e l y i n g on 200 7 ) . Id. We i f proven, might thus, Dubose, the refusing postjudgment had committed information to the the t r i a l court had agreement into its be reversed the before the divorce that filing in his concluded a ground judgment that his fraud to set aside the and the remanded Dubose v. Dubose, 964 So. 2d 42 I d ^ at App. The h u s b a n d h a d f i l e d a m o t i o n of entered Id. (Ala. Civ. husband's pertinent proceeding. 702 c o u r t e r r e d by enforcement postjudgment In on to disclose d i v o r c e judgment. stay hearing had i n a divorce App. So. we d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e t r i a l motion to 49 contentions. was (Ala. Civ. 702. trial court that i n c o r p o r a t e d the purported 8 entered agreement a divorce judgment of the p a r t i e s . 964 2111121 So. 2d at 44. postjudgment The motion" husband that p e r t a i n i n g to the d i v o r c e . he alleged had not in signed In f o o t n o t e 1 we "his any verified documents explained that " ' " [ a ] v e r i f i e d p l e a d i n g may be t r e a t e d as an a f f i d a v i t and u s e d i n t h e a c t i o n i n any way i n w h i c h an a f f i d a v i t w o u l d be s u i t a b l e [ , ] " ' p r o v i d e d t h a t the p l e a d i n g ' " c o n t a i n [ s ] f a c t s t h a t the a f f i a n t knows t o be t r u e o f h i s o r h e r own k n o w l e d g e and [has] a c e r t a i n l e v e l o f f a c t u a l s p e c i f i c i t y . " ' Ex parte Quinlan, 922 So. 2d 914, 917 ( A l a . 2005) ( q u o t i n g 5A C h a r l e s A l a n W r i g h t & A r t h u r K. M i l l e r , F e d e r a l P r a c t i c e and P r o c e d u r e : C i v i l 3d § 1339 (2004))." 964 So. 2d a t 44 In this n.1. case, the wife did not attach affidavits s u p p o r t i n g e x h i b i t s as d i d t h e p a r t i e s i n C l a y b r o o k , and Wicks; however, postjudgment verified like was motion the verified. postjudgment motion motion, or Whitman, in Dubose, the wife's We treat the wife's which contained factual s p e c i f i c i t y r e g a r d i n g the w i f e ' s a l l e g e d reason f o r p r o c e e d i n g pro se at the trial, a l l e g e d abusive her problems, and r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e h u s b a n d t h a t , she resulted in her feeling attorney, as an affidavit. amount and a l l e g e d medical the type coerced by the Furthermore, of p r o p e r t y 9 husband she and specified she b r o u g h t t o t h e the said, his the marriage. 2111121 We conclude that the circuit court exceeded i t s d i s c r e t i o n b y f a i l i n g t o c o n d u c t an e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g on t h e wife's postjudgment motion. court's order remand We t h e r e f o r e r e v e r s e t h e c i r c u i t d e n y i n g t h e w i f e ' s p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n , a n d we t h e cause with instructions conduct an e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g . circuit court evidence shall the wife the c i r c u i t However, independently presents that on remand, t h e determine establishes court that whether the the divorce j u d g m e n t s h o u l d be s e t a s i d e . REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH Pittman, Thompson, INSTRUCTIONS. Moore, a n d D o n a l d s o n , J J . , c o n c u r . P.J., concurs i n the r e s u l t , without 10 writing.

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