PATRICIA A TOKAR V ESTATE OF THOMAS P TOKAR
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PATRICIA A. TOKAR,
FOR PUBLICATION
September 4, 2003
9:00 a.m.
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 238946
Oakland Circuit Court
LC No. 98-609400-DO
ESTATE OF THOMAS TOKAR,
Defendant-Appellant.
Updated Copy
October 23, 2003
Before: Jansen, P.J., and Neff and Kelly, JJ.
KELLY, J.
Defendant, Stephen C. Albery, personal representative of the estate of Thomas Tokar,
deceased, appeals as of right the trial court's order denying a motion brought by decedent's
attorney to confirm an arbitration award.1 The trial court concluded it lost jurisdiction when
decedent died after the arbitration award was filed, but before the judgment of divorce was
entered. We affirm.
I. Basic Facts
1
Although we address the issues raised in defendant's brief on appeal, we note that the motion at
issue and this appeal, at a basic level, are faulty. First, decedent's attorney was without authority
to act on behalf of decedent or defendant when he filed the motion because the motion was filed
after decedent's death, but before the probate court issued letters of authority. Henritzy v Gen
Electric Co, 182 Mich App 1, 7-8; 451 NW2d 558 (1990); see also MCR 2.202(A)(1)(b).
Although the probate court issued the letters of authority before the trial court dismissed the
action, there was no motion for substitution in the trial court. Thus, while decedent was the only
defendant in the trial court, the personal representative of his estate is the only defendant on
appeal. Despite our belief that this appeal and the motion filed in the lower court are
procedurally faulty, we address the issues raised on appeal to conserve judicial resources because
upon remand, the personal representative of the estate could be substituted for decedent and the
motion brought before the trial court again. Our conclusion, regardless of whether the correct
procedure was followed, would be the same.
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Plaintiff Patricia A. Tokar and decedent married in 1971. After plaintiff filed for divorce
in 1998, the parties agreed to submit disputed property issues to arbitration. In relevant part, the
"Stipulated Order for Arbitration" provided:
2. . . . For purposes of arbitration, the Arbitrator shall have all powers
ordinarily conferrable by MCLA 600.5001 et seq. [sic] and as though she were
sitting as a Circuit Court Judge in the County of Oakland. . . .
3. The award of the Arbitrator shall be confirmed as a judgement [sic] of
this court pursuant to statute and shall be the Judgment of the Court in this cause.
* * *
7. The parties further agree and stipulate . . . that such a proceeding is
binding upon both parties and that the decision of the Arbitrator shall be final and
have the same effect as if issued by the Circuit Judge assigned to this case.
After the arbitrator filed the "Findings of Fact Conclusions of Law and Award," but before the
trial court entered a judgment of divorce, decedent died. Despite the death of his client,
decedent's attorney filed a motion for confirmation of the arbitration award and entry of a
judgment of divorce. The trial court denied the motion on the basis of the general rule that a
court does not have jurisdiction to render a judgment of divorce after the death of a party.
II. Analysis
Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying the motion to confirm the
arbitration award for lack of jurisdiction. We disagree.
We review de novo a trial court's decision to enforce, vacate, or modify a statutory
arbitration award. Gordon Sel-Way, Inc v Spence Bros, Inc, 438 Mich 488, 496-497; 475 NW2d
704 (1991). We also review de novo jurisdictional issues. Oberlies v Searchmont Resort, Inc,
246 Mich App 424, 426; 633 NW2d 408 (2001).
A. Jurisdiction
The trial court did not err in denying the motion because the arbitration award, standing
alone, did not operate to divorce the parties and, once decedent died, the trial court lacked
jurisdiction to enter the divorce judgment. The most vital component of any divorce judgment is
the formal dissolution of the marriage between the parties. A judgment of divorce cannot be
entered unless there is evidence and a corresponding finding by the trial court "that there has
been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have
been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved."
MCL 552.6(3). Only the trial court can find that the statutory grounds for divorce have been
met. An arbitration agreement "does not purport to make of the arbitrator a judge 'acting under
the color of right as a duly appointed judge.'" Dick v Dick, 210 Mich App 576, 580; 534 NW2d
185 (1995), quoting Brockman v Brockman, 113 Mich App 233, 238; 317 NW2d 327 (1982).
Because the trial court retains ultimate control over a divorce action, an arbitration award,
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standing alone, does not have full force and effect unless and until the trial court enters a
judgment of divorce based on that award.
The trial court's supremacy in all arbitrated actions is clearly established by the statutes
and court rule governing arbitration. A stipulated agreement to arbitrate is subject to MCL
600.5001 et seq.; Dick, supra at 588.2 Under MCL 600.5025, the trial courts "have jurisdiction
to enforce the agreement and to render judgment on the award." The trial court's enforcement
and review of arbitration agreements and awards are governed by MCR 3.602. According to
MCR 3.602(I):
An arbitration award filed with the clerk of the court designated in the
agreement or statute within one year after the award was rendered may be
confirmed by the court, unless it is vacated, corrected, or modified, or a decision
is postponed, as provided in this rule.
Further, MCR 3.602(L) provides:
The court shall render judgment giving effect to the award as corrected
confirmed, or modified. The judgment has the same force and effect, and may be
enforced in the same manner, as other judgments.
These rules clarify the relationship between the trial court and the arbitration process. Unless the
trial court vacates an arbitration award, it must enter a judgment on the award as corrected,
confirmed, or modified. But equally clear is the fact that an arbitration award depends on the
trial court to give it effect. The arbitration award is not effective until the trial court enters
judgment on it. In a divorce case, when the parties agree to arbitrate issues of property
distribution, spousal support, or child custody,3 the trial court's judgment must incorporate an
unvacated award, as corrected, confirmed, or modified, but only the trial court can adjudge the
parties divorced.
Applying this reasoning to the present case, we conclude that the trial court properly
denied the motion to confirm the arbitration award and enter a judgment of divorce. The
arbitration award did not operate to divorce the parties and cannot substitute for a judgment of
divorce entered by the trial court. When decedent's attorney brought the motion to confirm the
arbitration award and enter a divorce judgment, the trial court no longer had jurisdiction to
render a judgment of divorce because decedent had died. A court must have jurisdiction over
both the parties to an award before an order confirming the award can be entered. "A court is
without jurisdiction to render a judgment of divorce after the death of one of the parties. 'There
must be living parties, or there can be no relationship to be divorced.'" Tiedman v Tiedman, 400
2
Since March 28, 2001, domestic relations arbitrations have been subject to the domestic
relations arbitration act, MCL 600.5070 et seq.
3
Dick, supra at 582-588; Krist v Krist, 246 Mich App 59; 631 NW2d 53 (2001).
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Mich 571, 576; 255 NW2d 632 (1977), quoting Wilson v Wilson, 73 Mich 620, 621; 41 NW 17
(1889).
B. Tiedman Exceptions
Relying on Tiedman, supra, defendant argues that two exceptions to this jurisdictional
rule apply: (1) after the arbitration award was filed, only the "ministerial act" of entering a
divorce judgment remained, and (2) decedent acted in reliance on the award. We disagree.
First, the trial court's entry of the judgment of divorce would not have been merely
ministerial. Id. at 577. At the time of the motion to confirm the arbitration award and enter a
divorce judgment, the trial court had not yet made findings regarding the statutory grounds for
divorce. Further, according to letters exchanged by the parties, the arbitration award failed to
resolve the division of household furnishings and the parties were still negotiating spousal
support. The letters also indicated that the parties might return before the arbitrator to clarify
ambiguities in the award. Moreover, before the judgment of divorce was entered, the parties had
the option to reconcile or stipulate to an agreement entirely different from the arbitration award.
Second, defendant has not shown substantial reliance on the arbitration award. Id. at 571.
Defendant argues that decedent's payoff of the mortgage on the marital home to prevent
foreclosure constituted reliance. But the "Order After Arbitration Award" on which defendant
relies, states:
Defendant Thomas P. Tokar shall, from his own assets anticipated to be
awarded upon a judgment for divorce, shall [sic] cause to immediately pay off the
underlying mortgage on the former marital home . . . . [Emphasis added.]
Because this order explicitly anticipates the filing of a judgment of divorce to finalize the action,
it does not support defendant's argument that decedent relied on the arbitration award as a final
judgment. "[T]he amount of reliance required should be substantial. Meaningful proof of
conduct indicating the parties themselves in good faith believed they were divorced is required."
Ensman v Ensman, 86 Mich App 91, 96; 272 NW2d 176 (1978). After reviewing the record, we
conclude that defendant failed to demonstrate the required reliance.
Affirmed.
/s/ Kathleen Jansen
/s/ Janet T. Neff
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
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