John Minor v. City of Indianola, Mississippi
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2004-CP-00211-COA
JOHN MINOR
APPELLANT
v.
THE CITY OF INDIANOLA, MISSISSIPPI, VALIANT
INSURANCE COMPANY, ZURICH OF NORTH
AMERICA AND GAB ROBINS NORTH AMERICA,
INC.
DATE OF JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
APPELLEES
12/8/2003
HON. W. ASHLEY HINES
SUNFLOWER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
JOHN MINOR (PRO SE)
WALKER REECE GIBSON
CHARLES HENRY RUSSELL
BENJAMIN NOAH PHILLY
MICHAEL WAYNE BAXTER
GEORGE H. RITTER
CIVIL - PROPERTY DAMAGE
MOTION TO DISMISS-GRANTED
AFFIRMED: 08/16/2005
BEFORE KING, C.J., MYERS AND ISHEE, JJ.
KING, C.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1.
On June 5, 2003, John Minor as a pro se plaintiff filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Sunflower
County. In his complaint, Minor sought compensation for damages that resulted from the flooding of his
home on or about September 30, 2001. Minor identifies a number of alleged conspirators who he says
has prevented him from obtaining appropriate funding for the flood repairs. Upon the motion of defendants,
City of Indianola, the trial court dismissed the complaint for failure to file his complaint within the one year
statute of limitation pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated Sec. 11-46-11(3) (Rev. 2002). The trial court
further determined, as to the defendants GAB Robbins of North America, Inc. and Valiant Insurance
(erroneously named in the Complaint as Zurich North America), that Minor could not maintain a direct
action against the insurance company of the City of Indianola. Aggrieved by the trial court’s dismissal with
prejudice, Minor requests the following relief, we quote verbatim:
(1) Remanding this cause back to the lower court
(2) Said lower court issue an order of change of venue
(3) Judge Ashley Hines shall recuse himself from said cause
(4) Judge Ashley Hines shall disqualify himself from said cause and rescind all orders of
final judgment issued by Judge Ashley Hines
(5) Said order shall grant appellant, John Minor, permission to joinder [sic] other
defendants to include but not limited to all attorneys for defendants in the cause John Minor
V. [sic] The City of Indianola, MS etals[sic], Sunflower County Miss Circuit Clerk, Ms
Sharon McFadden, and her servants/agents and other
(6) In alternative, apellant, [sic] John Minor, requests the Miss State Supreme Court to
order a hearing to detrimine [sic] the disqualification of Judge Ashley Hines,
aaaaaaaaaaaaaathe [sic] judicial misconduct of judge Ashley Hines, and the misconduct
and illegal litigation of the attorneys representing defendants in the cause John Minoor[sic]
V [sic] The City of Indianola, MS etals.
¶2.
Finding no error, we affirm.
ISSUES AND ANALYSIS
¶3.
In reviewing issues presented before this Court we must adhere to the well-established principle
that, “[i]t is the duty of counsel to make more than an assertion; they should state reasons for their
propositions, and cite authorities in their support.” Williams v. State, 708 So.2d 1358 (Miss. 1998).
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¶4.
We summarize the convoluted language in Minor’s brief by stating that he alleged that several
parties, including the trial judge, the trial court clerk and the appellees willfully, wantonly, maliciously and
capriciously engaged in a conspiracy to prevent him from obtaining appropriate funds for repairs to his
home. Minor’s brief before this Court has failed to even allege error on the part of the trial court. Minor
fails to cite to any case or statutory authority and fails to support his assertions with any kind of argument,
logic, or reason. He merely provides a listing of allegations. The record that Minor has provided to this
Court does not provide evidence to support his claims. This Court "must decide each case by the facts
shown in the record, not assertions in the brief. . . ." Burney v. State, 515 So.2d 1154, 1160 (Miss.
1987). The burden falls upon an appellant to ensure the record contains "sufficient evidence to support his
assignments of error on appeal." Id. Minor has failed to do so.
¶5.
The only document in the record, which may be considered as evidence by this Court is the order
granting the motion to dismiss. That order is entitled to a presumption of correctness. Branch v. State, 347
So.2d 957, 958 (Miss. 1977). Minor provides nothing to overcome that presumption. In the absence of
said evidence, this Court must affirm. The issue is barred for failure to support the argument with “citations
to the authorities, statutes and parts of the record relied upon.” M.R.A.P. 28(a)(6). This Court finds no
error.
¶6.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF SUNFLOWER COUNTY IS
AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE APPELLANT.
BRIDGES AND LEE, P.JJ., IRVING, MYERS, GRIFFIS AND ISHEE, JJ., CONCUR.
CHANDLER, J., CONCURS IN PART. BARNES, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
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