in Re Martin Wallich Trust No 1 & Phyllis S Wallich Trust No 1 ( 2017 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In re ESTATE OF MARTIN WALLICH TRUST
NO. 1 & PHYLLIS S. WALLICH TRUST NO. 1.
PATRICK J. WALLICH, UNPUBLISHED
November 9, 2017
Appellant,
v No. 333512
Lenawee Probate Court
CHRISTOPHER WALLICH and MARTIN J. LC No. 12-047919-CZ
WALLICH,
Appellees.
Before: BECKERING, P.J., and O’BRIEN and CAMERON, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Appellant, Patrick J. Wallich, appeals as of right from the trial court’s April 11, 2016
order regarding Appellee, Christopher Wallich’s, motion for removal of forensic auditor. We
affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
This case involves years of contentious litigation between three brothers. Patrick,
Christopher, and appellee Martin J. Wallich, Jr., are the children of Martin F. Wallich, Sr., and
Phyllis S. Wallich. Martin, Sr., founded Tecumseh Plywood Company, Inc. (TPC), and Patrick
managed the company for approximately 40 years. In 2003, the parents updated their individual
trusts, wherein they remained trustees and their three sons were the intended beneficiaries. TPC
is trust property. After both parents’ death, Patrick would receive 60% of TPC’s stock and real
property, while Christopher and Martin, Jr., would each receive a 20% share of TPC’s stock and
real property. Each son would receive a third of all non-TPC trust assets.
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Phyllis passed away shortly after on March 17, 2003. At the time, each of the three sons
had a 2% interest in TPC, the Martin, Sr., trust had a 69% interest in TPC, and the Phyllis trust
had a 25% interest in TPC. On April 11, 2003, Martin, Sr., signed a proxy, which appointed
Patrick sole power of attorney with the authority to vote Martin, Sr.’s shares on all TPC matters.
On July 19, 2004, the trial court determined that Martin, Sr., was incapacitated and appointed the
three sons co-guardians. They were later appointed co-trustees of the Martin, Sr., trust.
On May 23, 2012, Christopher and Martin, Jr., filed a petition seeking to remove Patrick
as a co-trustee and to terminate his power of attorney. The petition alleged that Patrick breached
his duties as co-trustee and as Martin, Sr.’s power of attorney because (1) Patrick failed to
provide accountings despite his role as co-trustee and having control over TPC matters; (2)
engaged in self-dealing, and (3) engaged in situations that created a conflict of interest. Patrick
filed an answer, affirmative defenses, and counter-petition. In his counter-petition, Patrick
alleged, inter alia, that his brothers had attempted to gain control of TPC since their parents
executed their estate plan in 2003, attempted to cancel the proxy that Martin, Sr., executed,
refused to cooperate in TPC’s refinancing, and routinely withdrew money from TPC for their
own personal benefit without authorization.
On January 9, 2013, Martin, Sr., passed away. On May 15, 2013, the trial court ordered
the parties to retain Gross, Puckey, Gruel & Roof, P.C. (Gross Puckey), to perform a business
valuation of TPC. The trial court also ordered the parties to identify any issues or claims arising
from the trusts and TPC or else have such claims deemed waived and the trust property
distributed under the terms of the trusts.
The parties filed numerous pleadings, and instead of addressing each issue at the October
11, 2013 evidentiary hearing, the trial court appointed Bob Best as special master to oversee a
resolution among the parties. The trial court stated, “I’ve not given my judicial powers to the
special master, but I will entertain their recommendation as to all aspects of the resolution
proposed by the special master.” Best held a two-day hearing on May 5, 2014, and May 6, 2014.
The hearing was tape recorded and later transcribed. On the second day, the parties reached a
stipulation on a number of matters, including specific amounts that Christopher and Martin, Jr.,
would pay back to the Martin, Sr., trust and to TPC. The parties also agreed that Best would
appoint a forensic accountant to conduct a limited forensic audit and determine how much
Patrick owed TPC after being paid a reasonable compensation, which would also be determined
by the accountant. The stipulation further included some terms regarding the use of the family
lake cottage, a discount to Christopher on materials from TPC, reimbursement to Christopher for
the out-of-pocket expense for the earlier business valuation, and more.
On May 15, 2014, the attorney for Christopher and Martin, Jr., sent an email to Patrick’s
attorney explaining that Christopher and Martin, Jr., intended to honor the stipulation once the
parties reviewed certain source documents so that they could “resolve the minor discrepancies in
the outstanding debts of the parties.” On June 20, 2014, Best submitted his Special Master’s
First Status Report to the trial court and outlined the stipulation. The report, however, did not
include any terms relating to Christopher’s TPC discount. Best sent a letter to the trial court on
September 24, 2014, requesting that it enter an order requiring Christopher and Martin, Jr., to
sign the necessary documents in order for the trust to pay for the forensic accountant.
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Christopher and Martin, Jr., filed separate objections to the special master’s proposed
order, claiming that the special master modified the stipulation and that it was no longer binding.
Christopher also argued that he should be able to obtain his own forensic accountant to conduct a
full audit, rather than using the stipulated forensic accountant for the purpose of conducting only
a limited audit. Patrick filed a response, claiming the stipulation was binding, Christopher had
been reimbursed for the business valuation, and the stipulation was legally enforceable. On
November 17, 2014, the trial court held a hearing, and it ordered a full forensic audit. Patrick’s
attorney then placed on the record “for preservation purposes” his objection to conducting a full
forensic audit because the stipulation was a binding contract. After the hearing, but before the
trial court entered its order, Patrick filed a motion to enforce the stipulation and a motion for
reconsideration. Then on February 23, 2015, the trial court entered an order holding, “A full and
complete forensic audit including but not limited to the assets and operations of [TPC] shall be
conducted in this matter by John T. Alfonsi, CPA of Cendrowski Corporate Advisors.” The trial
court also held, “As a matter of fact there was no meeting of the minds regarding the purported
stipulation discussed by the parties at an evidentiary hearing held before the Special Master on
May 6, 2014 and therefore the court finds that there is no stipulated agreement.”
On March 16, 2015, Patrick filed a motion for reconsideration of the February 23, 2015
order and argued that the trial court did not have the benefit of the special master’s
recommendations or the transcript of the stipulation hearing. On July 31, 2015, the case was
reassigned to a new judge.1 The trial court then entered a scheduling order discharging Best as
the special master and requiring the parties to submit all motions by August 19, 2015.
Afterwards, Patrick filed three motions, including his second motion to enforce the stipulation.
A hearing was held on October 15, 2015, and the trial court ordered: “A forensic audit of [TPC]
shall be conducted in this matter by [Gross Puckey]. In the event the parties cannot agree, this
court shall select an accountant. The cost of this accounting shall not exceed $115,000 without
further order of this court, and shall be paid for by TPC.”
On February 1, 2016, Christopher filed a motion for the removal of the forensic auditor,
claiming the audit was not being conducted in a manner that complied with the trial court’s
order. The trial court held a hearing on February 10, 2016, but it determined that Christopher’s
motion was moot because Gross Puckey was withdrawing from the audit. The trial court then
raised the issue of who would replace Gross Puckey. Martin, Jr., requested Thomas Frazee,
CFA, Christopher requested an auditor from Plante Moran, and Patrick requested Gary Rogow,
CPA. After hearing argument on each of the forensic auditors, the trial court concluded that
Plante Moran would finish the audit because it was a national accounting firm. On April 11,
2016, the trial court entered an order appointing Plante Moran and mandating that the audit not
exceed $109,000. On May 2, 2016, Patrick filed a motion for reconsideration, claiming that the
trial court failed to rule on his two motions to enforce the stipulation and that the stipulation
controlled the terms of the forensic audit. The trial court denied the motion, and this appeal
followed.
1
There is no indication in the lower court file that the trial court ruled on Patrick’s motion for
reconsideration.
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II. ANALYSIS
Patrick argues that the trial court erred when it entered an order appointing Plante Moran
as the firm to conduct the full forensic audit. We disagree.
On appeal, Patrick claims the 2014 stipulation, which included the terms for a limited
forensic audit, was binding on all parties. However, the trial court entered an order denying that
very argument on February 23, 2015, and Patrick did not appeal that order.2 Further, the trial
court entered a subsequent order on October 15, 2015, appointing a different forensic auditor,
and Patrick failed to appeal that order as well. “A party cannot wait until the entry of a
subsequent final order to untimely appeal an earlier final order.” Surman v Surman, 277 Mich
App 287, 294; 745 NW2d 802 (2007).
Even if somehow this argument could be raised, Patrick failed to raise it at the latest
hearing on February 10, 2016, and instead argued that Rogow should be appointed to conduct a
full forensic audit of TPC. He no longer argued that the stipulation was binding, and he cannot
now harbor error for something that he asked for below, i.e., the appointment of a different
accounting firm to complete a full forensic audit. Marshall Lasser, PC v George, 252 Mich. App.
104, 109; 651 NW2d 158 (2002). If Patrick argued on appeal that the trial court erred when it
chose Plante Moran, instead of Rogow, that issue had to be raised, addressed, and decided.
Mouzon v Achievable Visions, 308 Mich. App. 415, 419; 864 NW2d 606 (2014). To that extent,
plaintiff’s claim would be preserved, but he does not argue on appeal that the trial court erred
when it decided to appoint Plante Moran, rather than Rogow, to conduct the forensic audit. We
do not have to consider an issue a party failed to properly raise on appeal. Neiderhouse v
Palmerton, 300 Mich. App. 625, 637 n 3; 836 NW2d 176 (2013).
2
The February 23, 2015 order appointing Alfonsi of Cendrowski Corporate Advisors to conduct
a full forensic audit of TPC using trust funds is a final order pursuant to MCR 5.801(B)(2)(e) and
(B)(2)(x), which provides:
(B) Order Appealable to the Court of Appeals. Orders appealable of right to
the Court of Appeals are defined as and limited to the following:
* * *
(2) a final order affecting the rights or interests of an interested person in a
proceeding involving . . . a trust created under a will. These are defined as and
limited to orders resolving the following matters:
* * *
(e) approving or denying a settlement relating to a governing instrument;
* * *
(x) allowing or disallowing an account, fees, or administration.
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Patrick’s argument would also fail on its merits. “[A]n agreement to settle a pending
lawsuit constitutes a contract, and therefore the agreement is governed by legal principles
applicable to the interpretation and construction of contracts.” Columbia Assoc, LP v Dep’t of
Treasury, 250 Mich. App. 656, 669; 649 NW2d 760 (2002). We review the existence and
interpretation of a contract de novo. Kloian v Domino’s Pizza, LLC, 273 Mich. App. 449, 452;
733 NW2d 766 (2006). A settlement is a contractual agreement that must also satisfy MCR
2.507(G), In re Draves Trust, 298 Mich. App. 745, 767; 828 NW2d 83 (2012), and the
interpretation of a court rule is subject to de novo review. Michigan Mut Ins Co v Indiana Ins
Co, 247 Mich. App. 480, 483-485; 637 NW2d 232 (2001). However, a trial court’s finding
concerning the validity of a parties’ consent to a settlement agreement will not be overturned
absent a finding of an abuse of discretion. Vittiglio v Vittiglio, 297 Mich. App. 391, 397; 824
NW2d 591 (2012).
MCR 2.507(G) states: “An agreement or consent between the parties or their attorneys
respecting the proceedings in an action is not binding unless it was made in open court, or unless
evidence of the agreement is in writing, subscribed by the party against whom the agreement is
offered or by that party's attorney.” Patrick admits that the special master did not have judicial
authority, and therefore, the agreement was not made in “open court.” However, he claims that
there was an “agreement . . . in writing, subscribed . . . by that party’s attorney.” According to
Patrick, the stipulation was tape recorded and later transcribed, thereby satisfying the writing
requirement. Patrick also claims that the subscription requirement was satisfied when
Christopher’s attorney sent an email stating that Christopher and Martin, Jr., intended to follow
the stipulation and included an electronic signature at the bottom. This argument fails.
“Subscribe means to append, as one’s signature, at the bottom of a document or the like;
sign.” Kloian, 273 Mich. App. at 459 (citation and quotation marks omitted). An electronic
signature at the bottom of an email will satisfy the subscription requirement. Id. at 459-460,
citing MCL 450.837(4). However, the email cannot simply be subscribed; it must also contain
the terms of the settlement, Kloian, 273 Mich. App. at 459-460, and the email did not contain any
of the terms. While the email referenced the stipulation, the email also indicated that the issue of
the parties’ debt to the company was not yet resolved—an issue that was apparently resolved
before the special master. The email explained that documents sent to Patrick would “resolve the
minor discrepancies in the outstanding debts of the parties,” and that “[o]nce resolved, we have a
stipulation in place that precludes re-litigating those debts.” Therefore, not only did the email
fail to include the terms of the agreement, it showed the parties were not yet in full agreement on
the terms of the stipulation. Making matters worse, the special master’s report did not contain all
the terms that were agreed on at the stipulation hearing, such as those involving Christopher’s
TPC discount and all the details underlying the forensic audit. Given the circumstances on
which the stipulation was made, we cannot conclude that the requirements under MCR 2.507(G)
were satisfied. Even if we could, there was not a “meeting of the minds” sufficient to form a
contract when considering the stipulation transcript, email, and the special master’s report. “A
contract requires mutual assent or a meeting of the minds on all the essential terms.” Clark v Al-
Amin, 309 Mich. App. 387, 394; 872 NW2d 730 (2015) (emphasis added). The stipulation
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transcript, email, and the special master’s report either contained varying terms or they omitted
pertinent terms altogether. Therefore, even if we could review the trial court’s decision as to the
enforceability of the stipulation, its decision did not amount to an abuse of discretion.
Affirmed.
/s/ Jane M. Beckering
/s/ Colleen A. O'Brien
/s/ Thomas C. Cameron
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