Jason Ellis v. Keystone Construction Corporation

FILED
Sep 05 2017, 5:33 am
CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Thomas A. Brodnik T. Joseph Wendt
Patrick M. Cline Edward M. Smid
Doninger Tuohy & Bailey LLP Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana
Scott Treadway
EST Law, LLC
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Jason Ellis, September 5, 2017
Appellant-Defendant/Counterclaimant, Court of Appeals Case No.
32A01-1607-PL-1477
v. Appeal from the Hendricks
Superior Court 4
Keystone Construction The Honorable Mark A. Smith,
Corporation, Judge
Appellee-Plaintiff/Counterclaim Trial Court Cause No.
Defendant. 32D04-1207-PL-77
Mathias, Judge.
[1] Jason Ellis (“Ellis”) challenges the order of the Hendricks Superior Court
granting summary judgment in favor of Keystone Construction Corporation
(“Keystone”). On appeal, Ellis presents four issues, one of which we find
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 1 of 15
dispositive, which we restate as whether the trial court erred in determining that
the doctrine of judicial estoppel precluded Ellis’s claims against Keystone.
[2] We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History1
[3] Keystone is a construction company formed by Ersal Ozdemir (“Ersal”) in
2002, with Ersal as the sole shareholder. Ellis was experienced in the
commercial construction industry, and in late 2002 and early 2003, Ersal
recruited Ellis to come to work for Keystone. Ellis claims that Ersal offered to
make him a “partner” in Keystone with a 20% ownership interest. Ellis agreed
and began to work for Keystone as the director of construction.
[4] Thereafter, although Ellis’s partnership or ownership status was never
formalized in writing, Ersal introduced Ellis to others as his “partner,” and told
others that he had a “partner” in Keystone. Ellis was also referred to on
Keystone’s website as a partner and in internal corporate records as a “partner”
and “director.” Ersal also discussed Keystone’s obligation to pay dividends to
Ellis, and Ellis received some dividends from Keystone in addition to his salary.
[5] After Ellis joined Keystone, Ersal’s younger brother, Huseyin Ozdemir
(“Huseyin”), also joined Keystone as a third member or shareholder. Huseyin’s
1
Keystone disputes many of the facts designated by Ellis in opposition to Keystone’s motion for summary
judgement. We set forth the facts in accordance with our standard of review of the trial court’s grant of
summary judgment, i.e., we construe all factual inferences in favor of Ellis as the non-moving party. See Hill
v. Gephart, 54 N.E.3d 402, 406 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), aff’d on reh’g at 62 N.E.3d 408, trans. denied.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 2 of 15
background was in finance and accounting, and he became the financial officer
of the company. Huseyin told others working for Keystone that he, Ersal, and
Ellis were “partners” or “owners” of Keystone. Appellant’s App. Vol. 4, p. 25.
[6] As the company grew, it became involved in several large commercial
construction projects. Ellis and Huseyin also pressured Ersal to reduce their
ownership status to writing in a formal shareholder or partnership agreement.
In 2006, Ersal sent Ellis and Huseyin an email stating that he had met with
attorneys who were preparing a partnership agreement, a buy/sell agreement,
and stock certificates. Apparently, however, these agreements were never
signed by the parties.
[7] In 2010, Huseyin sent Ersal an email demanding that Ersal purchase his shares
of Keystone for $2,500,000, which Huseyin believed represented his share of the
value of Keystone at the time, which he determined was in excess of
$7,500,000. Huseyin also complained of Ersal’s failure to formalize the
ownership of the company. Ersal responded by claiming that he had always
owned 100% of the company. He also stated that if Huseyin believed the
company was worth that much, he should buy it from Ersal for that price.
[8] At the same time as the dispute over ownership of Keystone was developing,
Ellis and his then wife, Brooke Ellis (“Brooke”) were in the process of
dissolving their marriage. Brooke filed for dissolution in February 2010.
Eventually, Ellis and Brooke entered into a settlement agreement resolving all
issues in the dissolution, which the dissolution court accepted and incorporated
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 3 of 15
into the dissolution decree. This settlement agreement purported to disclose “all
the property and interest, both real and personal, now held by [Ellis and
Brooke].” Appellee’s App., Vol. 3, p. 164. The agreement also provided that
Ellis and Brooke “have amicably and equitably divided all personal property
acquired during the course of the marriage,” and that both parties “represent
and warrant to each other that there has been a full disclosure of assets and that
the property referred to in this Agreement represents all the property of any sort
whatsoever which either of them have an interest in or right to, whether legal or
equitable.” Id. at 168, 171. The settlement agreement also contained a provision
stating that, “[i]t is understood and agreed that this is an agreement to settle all
property rights[.]” Id at 171. The settlement agreement further contained an
integration clause stating, that “[e]ach party hereto acknowledges . . . that this
Agreement constitutes all of the terms of the contract between said parties.” Id.
On March 18, 2011, the dissolution court approved the Ellises’ proposed
Settlement Agreement. Notably, however, the settlement agreement contained
no mention of any ownership interest or shares of Keystone.
[9] In November 2011, Huseyin resigned from Keystone. He also transferred
$2,500,000 from Keystone to an organization he owned2 to compensate him for
what he believed was his share of the value of Keystone. Ellis questioned Ersal
about Huseyin’s departure from Keystone, asking in an email if Huseyin was
“still partners with us?” and if there would be a “distribution to shareholders
2
According to the bank statement listing the $2,500,000 transfer, the money was transferred from Keystone
to KeyEnterprises. Appellant’s App. Vol. 5, p. 177.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 4 of 15
soon for 2011.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 6, p. 124. Ersal responded with an email
stating:
Christi is trying to put the [Keystone] financials together by next
week. I am not sure if there will be any profit sharing distribution
at this time. I will let you know after I review the financials.
Sain [i.e., Huseyin] is not involved in Keystone.
Id. at 123.
[10] Ellis continued to pressure Ersal for documentation formalizing his ownership
interest in Keystone. In March 2012, Ersal and Ellis had a meeting at which
they discussed Ellis’s ownership interest in Keystone. Ellis recorded this
conversation, and stated that he had met with his attorneys who had sent him
documentation for what he referred to as “the partnership thing.” Appellant’s
App. Vol. 6, p. 79. But instead of showing Ellis with a 20% interest, the
documents Ersal presented to Ellis showed Ellis with only a 5% interest in
Keystone. Ellis rejected this, stating that he was supposed to be a “partner”
from “day one” and stated that he and Ersal had discussed a “10 to 20 percent”
ownership interest. Id. at 92-93. Ersal denied that this had been the case.
[11] Ellis and Ersal were unable to come to an agreement regarding the ownership
of Keystone, and Ellis resigned from the company in May 2012. On June 1,
2012, Ellis sent a letter to Keystone seeking access to certain financial and
corporate records of Keystone, asserting rights he would have as a shareholder.
Keystone responded by filing a complaint on June 15, 2012, seeking a
declaratory judgment that Ellis was not a shareholder or partner in Keystone.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 5 of 15
Ellis responded on July 26, 2012, with an answer to the complaint, affirmative
defenses, and seven counterclaims alleging breach of fiduciary duty; fraud and
constructive fraud; breach of contract, promissory estoppel, conversion; and
unjust enrichment; and also requesting compulsory production of corporate
records; an accounting; a declaratory judgment and imposition of a constructive
trust.
[12] After various filings by both parties, Keystone filed a motion for judgment on
the pleadings on January 31, 2013, with regard to Ellis’s counterclaims of
breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and fraud and constructive fraud. After
Ellis filed a response, the trial court granted Keystone’s motion on March 25,
2013. Keystone then filed a motion for summary judgment on May 12, 2014.
Ellis responded to this motion after successfully seeking an extension of time,
and the trial court denied Keystone’s motion on August 12, 2014.
[13] Undeterred, on November 17, 2015, Keystone filed another motion for
summary judgment as to the issue of damages. And before the trial court could
issue a ruling on this motion, on December 14, 2015, Keystone filed a motion
to renew its previously-denied motion for summary judgment on the grounds of
newly discovered evidence. In this motion, Keystone sought summary
judgment on the grounds of judicial estoppel, noting that Ellis’s settlement
agreement with his ex-wife Brooke contained no mention of any stock or
ownership interest in Keystone and claiming that Ellis was therefore estopped
from asserting an ownership interest in the present case. Ellis responded to both
motions for summary judgment, and Keystone filed replies.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 6 of 15
[14] On May 27, 2016, the trial court held a hearing on Keystone’s motion for
summary judgment based on judicial estoppel. The trial court issued an order
on June 6, 2015, granting Keystone’s motion for summary judgment. Keystone
then moved for entry of final judgment, which the trial court granted on July
12, 2016, by entering an order of final judgment in favor of Keystone. Ellis now
appeals.
Summary Judgment Standard
[15] Summary judgment is appropriate where there are no genuine issues of material
fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Ind. Trial Rule
56(C); Knighten v. E. Chi. Hous. Auth., 45 N.E.3d 788, 791 (Ind. 2015). The
movant’s burden is to show that its designated evidence, with all conflicts,
doubts, and reasonable inferences resolved in the non-moving party’s favor,
affirmatively negates the non-moving party’s claim. Hughley v. State, 15 N.E.3d
1000, 1003 (Ind. 2014). The burden then shifts to the non-moving party to show
an issue of fact affecting the outcome of the case that requires resolution by the
fact-finder. Id. We review the trial court’s ruling de novo as a question of law,
taking care that the nonmovant is not improperly denied her day in court. Id.We may affirm denial of summary judgment on any theory or basis found in
the designated evidence. Chang v. Purdue Univ., 985 N.E.2d 35, 45 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2013), trans. denied.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 7 of 15
Judicial Estoppel
[16] Ellis contends that the trial court erred when it determined that his claim of
having a share of ownership of Keystone is barred due to judicial estoppel.
Judicial estoppel is a judicially created doctrine that seeks to prevent a litigant
from asserting a position that is inconsistent with one asserted in the same or a
previous proceeding. Morgan Cty. Hosp. v. Upham, 884 N.E.2d 275, 280 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2008), trans. denied (citing Robson v. Texas E. Corp., 833 N.E.2d 461, 465
(Ind. Ct. App. 2005)). The doctrine is not intended to eliminate all
inconsistencies, but is instead designed to prevent litigants from playing “fast
and loose” with the courts. Id. Thus, the primary purpose of judicial estoppel is
to protect the integrity of the judiciary, not to protect litigants. Id. (citing
Robson, 833 N.E.2d at 466). As we have explained before, “[t]he basic principle
of judicial estoppel is that, absent a good explanation, a party should not be
permitted to gain an advantage by litigating on one theory and then pursue an
incompatible theory in subsequent litigation.” Id. Judicial estoppel applies only
to intentional misrepresentation. Id. Accordingly, “the dispositive issue
supporting the application of judicial estoppel is the bad-faith intent of the
litigant subject to estoppel.” Id.[17] Unlike equitable estoppel, which focuses on the relationship between the
parties, judicial estoppel focuses on the relationship between a litigant and the
judicial system. Turner v. Stuck, 778 N.E.2d 429, 432 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). That
is, judicial estoppel is intended to protect the integrity of the judicial system
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 8 of 15
rather than to protect litigants from allegedly improper action by their
opponents. Id.[18] This court has held that judicial estoppel is applicable when a bankrupt debtor
fails to disclose a cause of action as an asset in bankruptcy proceedings and then
pursues the omitted cause of action in a subsequent proceeding. Upham, 884
N.E.2d at 280 (citing Robson, 833 N.E.2d at 465). In this context, we adopted a
burden-shifting approach to determine whether to apply judicial estoppel. Id.An inference of bad faith arises when the party asserting judicial estoppel,
typically the defendant, demonstrates that the plaintiff-debtor had knowledge of
an unscheduled claim and motive for concealment in the face of a duty to
disclose. Id. If the defendant establishes the plaintiff’s knowledge of a claim and
motive for concealment, the debtor-plaintiff then has the burden of coming
forth with evidence indicating that the nondisclosure was made in good faith.
Id. (citing Robson, 833 N.E.2d at 467). Thus, while the plaintiff’s knowledge and
motive are “important in establishing judicial estoppel, the inquiry does not end
there if the debtor-plaintiff comes forward with evidence indicating that the
non-disclosure was made in good faith.” Id.[19] In applying this burden-shifting test, it is important to remember that the
ultimate purpose of the test is to determine the actual presence of bad faith. Id.Indeed, judicial estoppel “is not meant to be a technical defense for litigants
seeking to derail potentially meritorious claims[.]” Id. (citing Ryan Operations
G.P. v. Santiam–Midwest Lumber Co., 81 F.3d 355, 364 (3rd Cir. 1996)).
Therefore, the dispositive question is whether the plaintiff was playing “fast and
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 9 of 15
loose” with the courts, not whether the plaintiff merely omitted a claim on her
bankruptcy schedule (or, in the present case, failed to disclose assets in
settlement agreement). See id.[20] This balance-shifting test is applicable here, where the Ellis filed a document
with the dissolution court purporting to list all of his assets, yet omitted the
ownership interest he now claims. This court has applied judicial estoppel in a
similar situation. In Turner v. Stuck, the parties entered into an oral partnership
to purchase a boat. 778 N.E.2d at 430. Several years after the purchase of the
boat, Stuck sued to dissolve the partnership and sell the boat. Id. Turner then
executed a document to assign his interest in the boat to his uncle. Id. But
Turner answered Stuck’s complaint by counterclaiming for his share of the
value of the boat. Id. And before the litigation over the boat had commenced,
Turner’s wife filed to dissolve their marriage. Id. In the property settlement
agreement reached by the parties, Turner affirmatively denied owning the boat.
Id. On appeal from a grant of summary judgment in favor of Stuck, we held that
Turner was judicially estopped from claiming ownership in the boat:
Turner's position in the dissolution proceeding was that he did
not own the boat, which is contrary to his later assertion that he
does in fact own the boat as a partnership asset and that this
interest has not been transferred or assigned to anyone else.
Turner took the position that he did not own the boat in the
dissolution proceeding to prevent the boat from becoming part of
the marital estate. In the present litigation, he may not now argue
the opposite position.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 10 of 15
Id. at 432. Keystone argues that the same is true here, and that judicial estoppel
should apply to bar Ellis from claiming an ownership interest in Keystone.
[21] Under the burden-shifting test set forth in Upham and Robson, Keystone has
established that Ellis failed to disclose his claimed ownership interest in
Keystone to the dissolution court. Keystone also established Ellis had
knowledge of his claim and a motive for concealment, i.e. to hide the assets
from the dissolution court. As set forth in Upham and Robson, if the defendant
establishes the plaintiff’s knowledge of a claim and motive for concealment, the
plaintiff then has the burden of coming forth with evidence indicating that the
nondisclosure was made in good faith. Id.[22] Ellis claims that he designated evidence establishing a genuine issue of material
fact with regard to whether his non-disclosure of his claimed ownership interest
in Keystone in his settlement agreement was made in good faith. He refers to
the affidavits he and his ex-wife Brooke made showing that the couple
intentionally left the Keystone interest out of the settlement agreement because
they did not want to delay the dissolution proceedings. See, e.g., Appellant’s
App., Vol. 4, pp. 27-28 (affidavit of Brooke Ellis in which she averred that she
was aware of the ownership dispute between Ellis and Ersal, that she and Ellis
agreed that they would “address [Brooke’s] interest in those shares” after the
dispute was resolved, and that she did not believe that Ellis intended to deceive
her with regard to his ownership interest in Keystone); id., Vol. 7, pp. 38-39
(supplemental affidavit of Brooke Ellis in which she averred that “it was not
[her] intent to deceive the [dissolution court] by filing the divorce Settlement
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 11 of 15
Agreement,” that she signed the Settlement Agreement despite its failure to list
Ellis’s claimed ownership interest in Keystone so she could simply “be
divorced” as quickly as possible, and that she and Ellis had agreed to an
“equitable split” of his ownership interest in Keystone); id., Vol. 7, pp. 90-91
(deposition of Jason Ellis in which he admits to not listing his claimed
ownership in Keystone as a marital asset so he could “sort . . . out” his dispute
with Ersal).
[23] Even if we view this evidence in the light most favorable to Ellis, it establishes
that his omission of his claimed ownership interest in Keystone was intentional,
not merely a good-faith mistake, as was the case in Upham. See Upham, 884
N.E.2d at 283 (holding Upham’s affidavit created a genuine issue of material
fact about whether the nondisclosure of her malpractice action was a good-faith
mistake).
[24] We acknowledge, as we did in Upham, that “summary judgment is particularly
problematic in cases such as this one because the ultimate issue to be decided is
the plaintiff[]’s intent to play fast and loose with the courts.” 884 N.E.2d at 283.
But here, both Ellis and Brooke admitted in their affidavits that they knew
about Ellis’s claimed ownership interest in Keystone, yet intentionally left this
out of the Settlement Agreement which purported to divide the marital assets.
While this evidence might prevent a claim of fraud between the parties, we do
not consider this as evidence of good faith as it pertains to the court. To the
contrary, it was an intentional act to keep from the dissolution court a
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 12 of 15
potentially large marital asset. Indeed, the Settlement Agreement itself stated
that
Husband and Wife hereby represent and warrant to each other
that there has been a full disclosure of assets and that the property
referred to in this Agreement represents all the property of any sort
whatsoever and wheresoever located, real, personal, or mixed, which
either of them have an interest in or right to, whether legal or equitable.
***
Each party hereto acknowledges that no representations of any
kind have been made to him or her as an inducement to enter
into this Settlement Agreement, other than the representations set
forth herein, and that this Agreement constitutes all of the terms of the
contract between said parties.
***
It is understood and agreed that this is an agreement to settle all
property rights and other issues between Husband and Wife in the event
a dissolution should be granted by the Court.
Appellant’s App., Vol. 3, p. 171 (emphasis supplied).
[25] Ellis’s designated evidence simply shows that he and his ex-wife were
intentionally keeping from the dissolution court the existence of a potentially
large marital asset (Ellis’s twenty-percent claim of an allegedly multi-million-
dollar corporation). Under these facts and circumstances, we agree with the
trial court that Ellis has not established a genuine issue of material fact with
regard to the issue of his good faith in omitting his claimed ownership interest
in Keystone from his dissolution Settlement Agreement.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 13 of 15
[26] All of Ellis’s claims are based upon his position that he is entitled to an
ownership interest in Keystone. As we have concluded that Ellis is judicially
estopped from asserting any such interest, the remainder of his claims
necessarily fail. For example, Ellis’s claim of breach of a fiduciary duty
presumes that he was a shareholder. Since Ellis is judicially estopped from
asserting a claim that he is a shareholder, his claim of breach of a fiduciary duty
fails.3 And to the extent that Ellis’s claim for monetary damages was based on
his allegation of a breach of a fiduciary duty, this claim also fails.
[27] The same is true with regard to Ellis’s claims for breach of contract, promissory
estoppel, and unjust enrichment. Ellis summarizes his allegations on these
claims as follows:
Keystone agreed to provide Mr. Ellis twenty percent (20%) of
Keystone’s stock. He also alleges that he has not received that
stock, and has not received dividends. He also alleges that
Keystone has declared that he is no longer a shareholder in
breach of the agreement. Finally, he alleges he has been damaged
by Keystone’s withholding of dividends and profits.
Appellant’s Br. at 39–40 (record citations omitted).
3
Nevertheless, the general rule is that the directors, and not the corporation itself, owe a fiduciary duty to
shareholders. Ormond v. Anthem, Inc., 799 F. Supp. 2d 910, 936, 2011 WL 2619618 (S.D. Ind. 2011) (citing
Arnold v. Soc’y For Savs. Bancorp, Inc., 678 A.2d 533, 539–540 (Del. 1996)); Radol v. Thomas, 772 F.2d 244, 258
(6th Cir. 1985) (“There is not, and could not conceptually be any authority that a corporation as an entity has
a fiduciary duty to its shareholders.”); see also G & N Aircraft, Inc. v. Boehm, 743 N.E.2d 227, 238 (Ind. 2001)
(holding that corporation could not be held liable for damages awarded due to the majority shareholder’s
breach of his fiduciary duty, and therefore the recovery for any breach of fiduciary duty comes from
Goldsmith [the majority shareholder], not G&N [the corporation].”).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 14 of 15
[28] Again, these claims are based on his right to assert a claim that he is, in fact,
entitled to be a shareholder in Keystone. But we have concluded that judicial
estoppel prevents Ellis from asserting any such interest. Accordingly, these
claims also fail. And since Ellis’s claims are all precluded by judicial estoppel,
there is no need for further discovery, as Ellis also requests.
Conclusion
[29] The trial court did not err in concluding that Ellis, by intentionally omitting his
claimed ownership interest in Keystone from his dissolution Settlement
Agreement, is now judicially estopped from asserting a claim of an ownership
interest in Keystone. The trial court therefore properly granted summary
judgment in favor of Keystone.
[30] Affirmed.
Kirsch, J., and Altice, J., concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 32A01-1607-PL-1477 | September 5, 2017 Page 15 of 15