Ault, D. v. Ault, E. and Ault, T. ( 2016 )

J. A09006/16
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
DAVID AULT : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
ETHEL H. AND THOMAS E. AULT, : No. 1818 MDA 2015
:
Appellants :
Appeal from the Judgment Entered October 16, 2015,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County
Civil Division at No. 2014-2108
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., JENKINS AND PLATT,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.: FILED MAY 24, 2016
Ethel1 H. Ault and Thomas E. Ault (collectively, “appellants”) appeal
the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County that entered
judgment in favor of David Ault in the amount of $35,506.
On September 25, 2001, Harland E. Ault, Ethel H. Ault, Thomas E.
Ault, Clint Frazier, in his individual capacity and as trustee of the J.H. Ault
Trust, Jaime Ault, and David Ault, in his individual capacity and as trustee
for Dillon Ault, a minor (collectively, referred to as the “Partnership”)
entered into a limited partnership agreement (“Partnership Agreement”) for
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
Curiously, Ethel Ault’s first name is spelled “Ethyl” in certain documents
and in the trial court caption even though she testified she spelled her name
as “Ethel.” (Notes of testimony, 6/24/15 at 4.) The trial court
acknowledged that her name was spelled incorrectly in the caption there.
J. A09006/16
the purpose of the ownership and management of real estate. Harland E.
Ault and Ethel H. Ault were the general partners as well as limited partners.
Upon the death of Harland E. Ault, Ethel H. Ault became the sole general
partner. Each limited partner currently has an interest of 14.8221 percent.
The Partnership entered into an agreement with S & A Homes for the
sale of some real property owned by the Partnership. Under the terms of
the agreement, S & A Homes made an initial payment to the Partnership and
then annual payments for several years. In June 2013, S & A Homes made
the last payment to the Partnership in the amount of $238,802. In July
2013, Ethel H. Ault wrote distribution checks to each limited partner. The
check for David Ault, Ethel Ault’s grandson, was made payable to David Ault
or Thomas [E.] Ault. Thomas E. Ault is Ethel Ault’s son and David Ault’s
father. Thomas E. Ault deposited the check into a Uniform Gifts to Minors
custodial account for the benefit of David Ault’s three children. David Ault
did not receive the check in the amount of $35,506.00. He learned of the
distribution when he received the Partnership’s K-1 form in 2014.
On or about June 4, 2014, David Ault commenced an action in the trial
court and alleged that appellants violated the terms of the Partnership
Agreement when the check was issued to Thomas Ault but deposited into the
account for the benefit of David Ault’s children. David Ault filed suit for
$46,062 plus interest from July 2, 2013 plus costs.
-2-
J. A09006/16
In answer and new matter, appellants alleged that Thomas E. Ault and
David Ault discussed the 2013 distribution and that David Ault agreed that
his distribution should be put in a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act custodial
account with David Ault’s siblings, Nichole M. Mansell or Jaime J. Ault,
appointed as custodians for the benefit of David Ault’s three children.
Appellants requested that the complaint be dismissed.
Initially, the case proceeded to a panel of arbitrators due to the
amount in dispute. The arbitrators awarded judgment in favor of David Ault
in the amount of $10,556. Appellants appealed to the trial court.
On June 24, 2015, the trial court conducted a non-jury trial. Ethel H.
Ault testified on cross-examination that as general partner she was the only
person in charge of making disbursements. (Notes of testimony, 6/24/15 at
5.) When asked why she made the July 2, 2013 distribution check payable
to Thomas or David, she replied, “I guess that’s the way I wanted it.” (Id.
at 6.) She further testified that she gave the check to Thomas E. Ault and
did not tell David Ault that she wrote the check to Thomas or David. (Id. at
6.) Although the K-1 showed a distribution of $46,062 to David Ault, Ethel
Ault explained that the actual amount was approximately $35,000. (Id. at
7.)
David Ault testified that in February or March of 2014 his father,
Thomas E. Ault, informed him that there was a distribution and that he had
“Put it into a certificate of deposit for [David Ault’s] three children, and it
-3-
J. A09006/16
turns out [David Ault’s] brother and sister were named. It was their CD and
benefit of the children.” (Id. at 10.) David Ault had to pay tax on this
distribution even though he did not receive it. (Id. at 10-11.) He testified
that he did not authorize Ethel H. Ault to distribute the funds for which he
was entitled in the manner that she chose to distribute them. (Id. at
11-12.) On cross-examination, David Ault denied that he reached an
agreement with his father to place his distribution into an account for the
benefit of his children and then forgot that he made such an authorization.
(Id. at 17-18.)
Thomas E. Ault testified on cross-examination that he directed Ethel H.
Ault to issue the distribution check to him or David Ault. Thomas E. Ault
admitted that he deposited the check based on an oral agreement with
David Ault. He admitted that he was estranged from his son. (Id. at
21-22.) Thomas E. Ault explained how he reached the alleged oral
agreement with David Ault:
Well, I talked to him in May of 2013, because the
payment was coming in June, and I said to him
about this payment coming, you know, and I
suggested it be put in for his children.
He said, well, I didn’t know we had another payment
coming.
I said, yeah. I said, this is the final payment from
S&A.
He said, well, I didn’t know it was coming so it’s not
like I’m going to miss it.
-4-
J. A09006/16
Id. at 22.
Thomas E. Ault explained that he took his son’s statement that he was
not going to miss the payment as his agreement with Thomas E. Ault’s plan
to set up an account for his grandchildren, David Ault’s children. (Id. at
23.) Thomas E. Ault did not inform David Ault after he opened the account
for the minor children. (Id. at 25.) Thomas E. Ault admitted that he had no
authority to direct Ethel H. Ault to issue the check to David Ault or
Thomas E. Ault. (Id. at 26.) On direct examination, Thomas E. Ault
testified that David Ault’s ex-wife agreed to the opening of the account for
the children as she normally received a portion of David Ault’s distribution as
a result of the divorce agreement. (Id. at 31.)
On August 19, 2015, the trial court entered judgment in favor of
David Ault in the amount of $35,506.2
On August 31, 2015, appellants moved for post-trial relief and moved
to modify the verdict. They asserted that David Ault was equitably estopped
from seeking judgment against them because David Ault induced Thomas E.
Ault to place the funds in the custodial account when he said that he would
not miss the money and failed to object to the placement of the funds.
On October 6, 2015, the trial court denied the motion for post-trial
relief:
2
Although the total amount withdrawn and distributed according to the K-1
was $46,062, the parties apparently agreed that the actual distribution from
S & A Homes was $35,506.
-5-
J. A09006/16
Here, [appellants] argue [David Ault] induced
Defendant Thomas Ault to place [David Ault’s]
distribution in a custodial account by stating that he
would not miss the money and by failing to object to
such placement of the funds. The conversation
regarding the 2013 distribution, however, did not
rise to the level of agreement or consent. The
conversation was not sufficiently clear as to place an
obligation on [David Ault] to further act or speak in
opposition to the proposal. There was conflicting
testimony regarding the conversation, and there was
no testimony regarding a discussion about the
manner in which the custodial account would be
created. Merely stating he would not miss the
money was insufficient to induce [appellants’]
actions.
Further, [appellants] were not justified in
relying on the conversation. The Partnership
Agreement states “[c]ash, when available, shall be
distributed by the general partners to all partners in
the same ratio as profits and losses are allocated.”
Agreement § 3.05. Under the partnership
agreement, Defendant Thomas Ault is a limited
partner and does not have the authority to alter the
distribution or to direct Defendant Ethel Ault to alter
the distribution. Defendant, Ethel Ault, as the
general partner, had a duty to follow the Limited
Partnership Agreement and dispense [David Ault’s]
portion of the funds to him. As such, [appellants]
were not justified in relying on the conversation with
[David Ault].
Trial court opinion, 10/6/15 at 2-3.
Appellants raise the following issues for this court’s review:
1. Whether the trial court erred as a matter of
law when it held that the law required an
agreement or consent for [David Ault’s] actions
to satisfy the element of inducement[?]
2. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in
holding that [appellants] were not justified
-6-
J. A09006/16
under the circumstances in relying on the
words and actions of [David Ault][?]
Appellants’ brief at 4.
This court’s review of a trial court’s denial of a motion for post-trial
relief is limited to determining whether the trial court abused its discretion or
committed an error of law. Paliometros v. Loyola, 932 A.2d 128, 132
(Pa.Super. 2007).
Initially, appellants contend that the trial court erred when it held that
the law required an agreement or consent for David Ault’s actions to
constitute inducement in order to satisfy the requirements of equitable
estoppel.
Equitable estoppel is a doctrine that prevents
one from doing an act differently than the manner in
which another was induced by word or deed to
expect. A doctrine sounding in equity, equitable
estoppel recognizes that an informal promise implied
by one’s words, deeds or representations which leads
another to rely justifiably thereon to his own injury
or detriment, may be enforced in equity. [Citations
omitted.]
The two essential elements of equitable
estoppel are inducement and justifiable reliance on
that inducement. The inducement may be words or
conduct and the acts that are induced may be by
commission or forbearance provided that a change in
condition results causing disadvantage to the one
induced. See generally, Funds for Business
Growth, Inc. v. Woodland Marble and Tile
Company. . . 278 A.2d 922 ([Pa.] 1971); Ham v.
Gouge . . . 257 A.2d 650 ([Pa.Super.] 1969).
The elements of equitable estoppel and the
burden of proof required to support such a claim are
-7-
J. A09006/16
well stated in Blofsen v. Cutaiar . . . 333 A.2d 841
([Pa.] 1975).
Equitable estoppel applies to
prevent a party from assuming a position
or asserting a right to another’s
disadvantage inconsistent with a position
previously taken . . . the person inducing
the belief in the existence of a certain
state of facts is estopped to deny that
the state of facts does in truth exist, over
a different or contrary state of facts as
existing at the same time, or deny or
repudiate his acts, conduct or
statements.
....
It is well established . . . that the burden
rests on the party asserting the estoppel
to establish such estoppel by clear,
precise and unequivocal evidence.
Blofsen, 333 A.2d at 844.
Novelty Knitting Mills, Inc. v. Siskind, 457 A.2d 502, 503-504 (Pa.
1983).
Here, appellants argue that David Ault’s statement that he would not
miss the distribution because he did not know it was coming induced them
to make the check payable to Thomas Ault or David Ault and to establish the
account for David Ault’s minor children. Further, the fact that David Ault did
not object to the idea contributed to the inducement, according to
appellants.
The trial court determined that David Ault’s statement that he would
not miss the money was insufficient to induce appellants’ actions.
-8-
J. A09006/16
Appellants failed to convince the trial court that they met their burden to
establish that David Ault was equitably estopped from challenging the
transfer of the distribution to which he was entitled to an account for his
children. This court is satisfied after reviewing the record that there is no
basis upon which to disturb the trial court’s conclusions. This court agrees
with the trial court that David Ault did not induce appellants to act.
Appellants also contend that the trial court abused its discretion when
it found that they could not rely on the words and actions of David Ault to
follow the course of action they did because the Partnership Agreement
required that the general partner distribute available cash to the limited
partners and that any change regarding the distribution was required to be
in writing. Because this court determines that the trial court did not err
when it found that David Ault did not agree to the placement of his share in
an account for his children, this court need not address in detail the
Partnership Agreement. However, this court notes that the trial court
accurately stated that the Partnership Agreement required Ethel H. Ault as
general partner to pay the distribution to David Ault, a limited partner. The
Partnership Agreement also states that any amendment to it requires the
written consent of all partners. Thomas E. Ault did not have authority under
the Partnership Agreement to direct Ethel H. Ault to take David Ault’s
distribution and make a check in the amount of the distribution to Thomas
-9-
J. A09006/16
Ault or David Ault. Further, Ethel H. Ault did not have the authority to make
that decision herself.
Judgment affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
JosephD.Seletyn,Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 5/24/2016
- 10 -