Charlie D. Jackson v. Baldwin Sand & Gravel ( 2019 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2017-CA-01261-COA
CHARLIE D. JACKSON APPELLANT
v.
BALDWIN SAND & GRAVEL, A DIVISION OF APPELLEES
W.G. YATES & SONS, AND JERRY STEEN JR.
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/09/2017
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. JOSEPH KILGORE
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: CARROLL COUNTY CHANCERY COURT,
SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: CHARLIE D. JACKSON (PRO SE)
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES: G. TODD BURWELL
SAM N. FONDA
EMILY KINCSES LINDSAY
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - REAL PROPERTY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 05/28/2019
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE BARNES, C.J., TINDELL AND McCARTY, JJ.
McCARTY, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. In this case, we must determine whether the chancery court abused its discretion in
denying a motion for clarification. Finding no error, we affirm.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. This case began as a land dispute between the heirs of Queen M. Jackson Lewis (the
Jacksons) and Baldwin Sand & Gravel and Jerry Steen Jr. Both Baldwin and Steen had filed
actions against the Jacksons to quiet and confirm title to certain land located in Carroll
County, Mississippi.1 The chancery court ruled in favor of Baldwin, partly in favor of Steen,
and partly in favor of the Jacksons. The final judgment was entered on February 3, 2014.
¶3. On February 18, 2014, the Jacksons filed a motion to amend the judgment under
Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e). The chancery court ruled that the Rule 59(e)
motion was untimely and without merit. The chancery court further noted that even if the
motion sought relief under Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), it was without merit.
2014 Appeal from Final Judgment: Shaffer v. Baldwin Sand & Gravel, No.
2014-CA-01551
¶4. The Jacksons then appealed the chancery court’s findings of facts and conclusions of
law,2 the final judgment, and the order denying the Rule 59(e) motion. Baldwin filed a
motion to dismiss alleging that the appeal was untimely. The Supreme Court granted
Baldwin’s motion to dismiss, stating that the Rule 59(e) motion “was untimely and did not
toll the time for filing a notice of appeal.” The Jacksons filed a motion to reconsider, but the
Supreme Court denied the motion.
2016 Appeal from Contempt Action: Jackson v. Steen, No. 2016-CP-00068
¶5. On January 14, 2016, the Jacksons filed a notice of appeal in a separate contempt
action between Charlie Jackson and Steen. Although the appeal primarily concerned the
contempt action, the notice also indicated that the parties intended to challenge the chancery
court’s 2014 judgment regarding the land dispute. The Supreme Court entered an order
1
The two actions were eventually consolidated.
2
On January 10, 2014, the chancery court entered its findings of facts and
conclusions of law.
2
noting that the appeal was limited to the contempt action “and that all questions concerning
the ownership of the property in question have been adjudicated in prior proceedings.” The
appeal was ultimately dismissed for the failure of the Jacksons to file a brief. The mandate
issued July 13, 2017.
2017 Appeal from Denial of the Motion for Clarification
¶6. On March 15, 2017, the Jacksons filed a motion for clarification in the chancery court
claiming that the 2014 order denying their Rule 59(e) motion was not clear. The Jacksons
took issue with the following language from the chancery court’s order: “[T]o the extent the
motion may be seen as one pursuant to [Rule] 60(b) rather than [Rule] 59, denial is still
appropriate . . . . No exceptional circumstances are present which would call for relief from
the final judgment” pursuant to Rule 60(b). During the hearing, the chancery court noted that
the motion for clarification was an attempt at “another bite at the trial apple and at the
appellate apple.” The chancery court denied the motion, stating that the 2014 order “does
not need clarification and was a final order.”
¶7. Charlie Jackson, acting pro se, filed a notice of appeal on behalf of himself and other
heirs.3 Charlie lists fifteen issues, all of which attack the chancery court’s findings in the
final judgment.
DISCUSSION
3
Willie Jackson, on behalf of Lewis’s estate, also filed an appeal, but it was
dismissed. Although Charlie claims to represent several other heirs, he is not an attorney
and is prohibited from representing anyone other than himself in court. See Sapukotana v.
Sapukotana, 179 So. 3d 1105, 1112 (¶20) (Miss. 2015) (“Individuals not licensed to practice
law may represent themselves in court, but not others.”).
3
¶8. As a preliminary matter, Baldwin argues that Charlie failed to address the central issue
on appeal – whether the chancery court erred in denying the motion for clarification.
Although all of his issues on appeal attack the final judgment, Charlie does briefly assert that
the chancery court erred in denying his request for relief under Rule 60(b).
¶9. Our Rules provide two avenues to attack a final judgment: (1) file a motion for a new
trial or to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59, or (2) file a motion for relief from the
final judgment under Rule 60. The timing of the motion can determine whether it is a Rule
59 or a Rule 60 motion. City of Jackson v. Jackson Oaks Ltd. P’ship, 792 So. 2d 983, 985
(¶3) (Miss. 2001). Here, the Jacksons filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment under
Rule 59(e). The chancery court determined that the Rule 59(e) motion was untimely but
addressed the merits under both Rule 59(e) and Rule 60.
¶10. Under the guise of seeking clarity, the Jacksons filed their motion for clarification in
2017, seeking relief from the 2014 final judgment. During the hearing on the motion for
clarification, the chancery court determined that the motion was filed only to attack the final
judgment and denied the motion.
¶11. The motion for clarification was clearly a Rule 60(b) motion as it sought to attack the
final judgment. As such, our review is limited to whether the chancery court abused its
discretion in denying the motion. Woods v. Victory Mktg. LLC, 111 So. 3d 1234, 1237 (¶9)
(Miss. Ct. App. 2013). It is well established that a Rule 60(b) motion should be denied where
it is merely an attempt to relitigate the case. Id. at (¶13). The chancery court held that the
Jacksons were attempting to do just that.
4
¶12. This case began the better part of a decade ago. The chancery court decided the
entirety of the dispute in 2014. The Jacksons have attempted to appeal or modify that final
judgment numerous times in the five years since. None of these attempts had merit, and
multiple efforts at appeal were dismissed as either untimely or for failure to file a brief. We
agree with the chancery court that the Jacksons’ latest effort is yet another attempt to
relitigate the 2014 final judgment. There was no abuse of discretion in refusing to grant the
motion to clarify. This litigation must come to a close.
¶13. Regarding Charlie’s fifteen assignments of error, “[t]he appeal from a denial of a Rule
60(b) motion brings up for review only the order of denial itself and not the underlying
judgment.” Stevens v. Wade, 214 So. 3d 301, 304 (¶11) (Miss. Ct. App. 2017) (internal
quotation marks omitted). So we need not consider the underlying issues of the final
judgment.
¶14. As a final matter, we note that Baldwin filed a motion to dismiss this appeal based on
the theories of res judicata and collateral estoppel. However, since we are affirming the
chancery court’s ruling, we find it unnecessary to address the merits of this motion.
Baldwin’s motion to dismiss the appeal is denied as moot.
¶15. AFFIRMED.
BARNES, C.J., CARLTON AND J. WILSON, P.JJ., GREENLEE,
WESTBROOKS, TINDELL, McDONALD, LAWRENCE AND C. WILSON, JJ.,
CONCUR.
5