Therese B. Jensen, Resp. v. Russell J. Jensen, Jr., App. ( 2015 )


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  •       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    In re the Marriage of                         ]         No. 72601-3-1
    THERESE BROWN JENSEN,                         ]         DIVISION ONE
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    Respondent,                                                  CO
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    RUSSELL JAMES JENSEN, JR.,                              UNPUBLISHED
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    Appellant.               )         FILED: September 21. 20T5
    Cox, J. - In a dissolution proceeding, the entry of a final decree
    determines the rights of the parties and renders moot prior interlocutory orders.1
    Moreover, a trial court has the authority to order the sale of the family home in
    such a proceeding.2 Here, Russell James Jensen (Jamie) argues that the court
    erred by ordering the sale of the family home without his joinder. Because that
    argument is without merit under the circumstances of this case, we affirm.
    In 1981, Therese and Jamie married in Minnesota.3 They moved to
    Washington in 2007. The parties owned real estate in Washington and
    Minnesota, including their residence in Mukilteo, Washington. In August 2013,
    Therese commenced this dissolution proceeding. She then moved to Omaha,
    1 Fortier v. Fortier. 
    23 Wash. 2d 748
    , 749, 
    162 P.2d 438
    (1945).
    2 In re Marriage of Sedlock, 
    69 Wash. App. 484
    , 503, 
    849 P.2d 1243
    (1993).
    3This opinion refers to the parties by their first names to avoid confusion. We
    refer to Russell James Jensen as "Jamie," consistent with his pleadings.
    No. 72601-3-1/2
    Nebraska to live in a senior living community. Jamie continued to live in the
    Mukilteo residence.
    In December 2013, Therese moved for a temporary order, seeking
    monthly maintenance and authority to list for sale the parties' real estate. Jamie
    did not contest the motion, and the trial court issued an interlocutory order, giving
    Therese "control and authority" to list the parties' real estate for sale.
    In January 2014, the parties brought competing motions regarding their
    Mukilteo residence. Jamie sought to amend the court's interlocutory order
    granting Therese authority to list the residence for sale. Therese sought
    exclusive control and possession of the Mukilteo residence, arguing that Jamie
    had been interfering with her efforts to list the home for sale.
    In a February 2014 order, the court determined that Jamie had been
    obstructing the listing of the Mukilteo residence. The court also noted that, at the
    hearing, Jamie agreed to remove his separate listing of the property and "fully
    cooperate with the sale of the Mukilteo residence up to [the] point of signing
    closing documents."4 Because Jamie agreed to this, the court did not order him
    to vacate the residence before the closing of the sale. The court also noted that
    Therese could bring a motion to effectuate the sale if Jamie refused to sign the
    closing documents.
    A court commissioner later approved the sale of the residence, with each
    party to receive 50 percent of the proceeds. The commissioner ordered Jamie to
    Clerk's Papers at 9-10.
    No. 72601-3-1/3
    sign the closing documents and also appointed Therese to execute the
    necessary documents if Jamie refused.
    Jamie moved to revise the commissioner's order, which a superior court
    judge denied. Jamie then sought discretionary review in this court. We
    determined that discretionary review was not warranted. There was no further
    review of this court's order denying review.
    Nevertheless, the pending sale of the Mukilteo residence did not close.
    After the denial of discretionary review, the parties participated in
    mediation. As a result, they executed a CR 2A settlement agreement. In the
    settlement, the parties acknowledged that the "agreement is binding upon
    execution and enforceable in court."5
    Under the terms of the agreement, Therese received the Mukilteo
    residence that had not been sold. The settlement also provided that:
    Each party hereby agrees to execute upon presentation, any
    and all papers, deeds, applications, security agreements, deeds of
    trust, promissory notes, titles, waivers or relinquishments of
    interest, or other documents necessary to carry out the terms of this
    Agreement.!61
    Therese later moved to compel Jamie to sign the documents necessary
    for her to close the sale of the Mukilteo residence. Jamie had transferred his
    interest in the property to Therese by quit claim deed. But the title insurance
    company closing the sale discovered that the initial title had been placed under
    5id at 338-39.
    6 
    Id. at 340.
    No. 72601-3-1/4
    "Jamie Jensen" rather than "Russel[l] James Jensen, Jr.," Jamie's legal name.7
    Accordingly, the title insurance company wanted Jamie to approve the closing
    documents, something he refused to do.
    The court granted Therese's motion to order Jamie to execute the closing
    documents. Jamie failed to execute the closing documents. Accordingly, the
    court imposed the sanctions it had previously outlined in its order directing him to
    execute the closing documents.
    Subsequently, the court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law as
    well as a final decree based on the parties' CR 2A settlement agreement. The
    decree, consistent with the settlement, awarded the Mukilteo residence to
    Therese. The court's findings state that Jamie "did not dispute that he entered
    into the CR 2A agreement while represented by counsel and the document
    accurately represented what he intended to agree to, nor was there a motion to
    vacate the agreement based on fraud or any other ground."8
    Jamie appeals.
    INTERLOCUTORY ORDERS
    Jamie argues that the court violated several statutes when it authorized
    Therese to list and sell the house. We disagree.
    The threshold issue is whether he can properly appeal the interlocutory
    orders in this case regarding the Mukilteo property after the entry of the final
    decree to which he agreed. We hold that he cannot.
    7 ]d at 334-35.
    8 
    Id. at 33.
    No. 72601-3-1/5
    In a dissolution proceeding, it is the court's final decree, not its
    interlocutory orders, which "determine[s] the rights of the parties."9 Here, the final
    decree awarded the Mukilteo residence to Therese. Jamie does not argue that
    the final decree was improper or challenge its division of property. Jamie cannot
    now challenge the court's interlocutory orders when he does not dispute the final
    resolution of the case.
    Further, even if those orders were properly before us in his appeal of the
    final decree, Jamie's arguments are unpersuasive.
    RCW26.16.030 and RCW 6.13.060
    Jamie first argues that the trial court violated RCW 26.16.030(3) and RCW
    6.13.060. We disagree.
    RCW 26.16.030(3) prohibits spouses from selling community real estate
    property without the other's consent. Similarly, RCW 6.13.060 requires both
    spouses' acknowledgement to convey a homestead.
    But the trial court in a dissolution case has authority to order the sale of
    the family home without both parties' consent.10 In dissolution proceedings, the
    court must dispose of all property and liabilities, both community and separate, in
    a just and equitable manner.11 The court has wide discretion to divide and
    9 
    Fortier. 23 Wash. 2d at 749
    .
    10 In re Marriage of Foley. 
    84 Wash. App. 839
    , 844, 
    930 P.2d 929
    (1997); 
    Sedlock. 69 Wash. App. at 503
    .
    11 RCW 26.09.080.
    No. 72601-3-1/6
    distribute the parties' property.12 To achieve an equitable distribution, the trial
    court has the authority to order the sale of the family home.13
    Accordingly, these statutes did not prohibit the trial court from ordering the
    sale of the home.
    RCW 26.09.080
    Jamie also argues that the court violated RCW 26.09.080 when it
    authorized the sale of the home. We disagree.
    RCW 26.09.080 instructs courts to make "just and equitable" distributions
    of property and lists several factors to consider.
    Here, the trial court did not violate RCW 26.09.080. Jamie does not
    challenge the court's ultimate property distribution, which followed the terms of
    the CR 2A settlement. Instead, he argues that the court's interlocutory orders,
    which allowed Therese to list and sell the house, violated RCW 26.09.080.
    But these interlocutory orders did not distribute property. The court's initial
    orders did not award the Mukilteo residence to Therese. The order allowing
    Therese to list the property states that the proceeds from the sale of any real
    estate would be held in trust pending the court's further orders. Similarly, the
    March 7, 2013 order provides that each party will receive 50 percent of the sale
    proceeds.
    While the court ultimately awarded the Mukilteo residence to Therese, it
    did so based on the parties' CR 2A agreement. Accordingly, the court's
    12 
    Foley. 84 Wash. App. at 843
    .
    13 id at 844; 
    Sedlock, 69 Wash. App. at 503
    .
    No. 72601-3-1/7
    interlocutory orders did not distribute property. Thus, the court did not violate
    RCW 26.09.080.
    OTHER CLAIMS
    Jamie's notice of appeal designated the court's final decree as well as
    several interlocutory orders. But Jamie fails to assign error to, or present
    argument about, the court's final decree or its findings of fact and conclusions of
    law.
    Jamie does assign error to the trial court's sanctions for his failure to sign
    the closing documents and to a later award of attorney fees to Therese. But
    Jamie's brief contains no arguments on these assignments of error. "A party that
    offers no argument in its opening brief on a claimed assignment of error waives
    the assignment."14 Thus, Jamie has waived these assignments of error.
    Accordingly, we decline to address Jamie's remaining requests for relief.
    ATTORNEY FEES ON APPEAL
    Both parties seek attorney fees on appeal. We award fees to Therese on
    the basis that Jamie's appeal is frivolous.
    Parties in Washington may recover attorney fees if a statute, contract, or
    recognized ground of equity authorizes the award.15 Under RAP 18.9(a), "[a]n
    appellate court may order a party to pay compensatory damages or terms for
    filing a frivolous appeal."16 "An appeal is frivolous if, considering the entire
    14 Brown v. Vail. 
    169 Wash. 2d 318
    , 336 n.11, 
    237 P.3d 263
    (2010).
    15 LK Operating. LLC v. Collection Gro.. LLC. 181 Wn.2d 117,123, 
    330 P.3d 190
    (2014).
    16 LutzTile. Inc. v. Krech, 
    136 Wash. App. 899
    , 906, 
    151 P.3d 219
    (2007).
    No. 72601-3-1/8
    record, the court is convinced that the appeal presents no debatable issues upon
    which reasonable minds might differ and that it is so devoid of merit that there is
    no possibility of reversal. And we resolve all doubts to whether an appeal is
    frivolous in favor of the appellant."17
    Therese seeks a fee award under RAP 18.9, arguing that Jamie's appeal
    was frivolous. Here, in view of the fact that Jamie does not challenge the court's
    final decree, we determine that his appeal had "no debatable issues upon which
    reasonable minds might differ."18 Thus, it is frivolous, and we grant Therese's
    request for fees, subject to her compliance with RAP 18.1.
    But we deny Therese's request to additionally sanction Jamie under CR
    11. CR 11 does not apply when a "more specific sanction rule better fits the
    situation."19 Here, RAP 18.9 governs sanctions for a frivolous appeal. Thus, it
    would be inappropriate to impose additional sanctions under CR 11 for Jamie's
    frivolous appeal.
    We affirm the trial court's decree and grant attorney fees to Therese,
    subject to her compliance with RAP 18.1.
    6oKZ
    WE CONCUR:
    ~TfNckew, r^
    17 id
    18 
    Id. 19 Washington
    State Physicians Ins. Exch. & Ass'n v. Fisons Corp.. 122Wn.2d
    299, 340, 
    858 P.2d 1054
    (1993).
    8