Jane M. Wilbourn v. Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2005-CT-02244-SCT
JANE M. WILBOURN, AS TRUSTEE OF THE
JAMES G. WILBOURN IRREVOCABLE TRUST
v.
THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY
OF THE UNITED STATES AND WILLIAM J.
BYRD
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/03/2005
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. KENNETH L. THOMAS
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: QUITMAN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: RICHARD E. WILBOURN, III
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES: MARGARET OERTLING CUPPLES
W. WAYNE DRINKWATER, JR.
STEPHEN L. THOMAS
JEFFREY R. BLACKWOOD
JOHN ALEXANDER PURVIS
DANIELLE DAIGLE IRELAND
G. TODD BURWELL
W. JEFFREY COLLIER
WILLIAM LARRY LATHAM
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - CONTRACT
DISPOSITION: REVERSED AND REMANDED - 12/11/2008
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
RANDOLPH, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. On May 17, 2004, Jane W. Wilbourn, as Trustee of the James G. Wilbourn
Irrevocable Trust (“Trust”), filed suit against Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United
States (“Equitable”) and its agent, William J. Byrd. The Trust’s twenty-five-count complaint
sought actual and punitive damages based upon the alleged fraudulent concealment and oral
misrepresentations of Equitable, through Byrd, regarding “vanishing premiums” on a whole-
life insurance policy issued to the Trust in 1986. Thereafter, the Circuit Court of Quitman
County, Mississippi, granted the “Motion to Dismiss” of Equitable and Byrd, based upon the
statute of limitations. The circuit court concluded that “[t]he time for filing any claim arising
from the alleged representations to the contrary by the Defendants started to run on the date
of delivery of the policy in 1986. Thus, [the Trust’s] claim filed herein over 17 years later
is time[-]barred.” On appeal, the Mississippi Court of Appeals deemed the statute of
limitations issue to be dispositive and affirmed. See Wilbourn v. Equitable Life Assur.
Soc’y of the United States, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 501 at *2, 14 (Miss. Ct. App. August
7, 2007). This Court subsequently granted the Trust’s “Petition for Writ of Certiorari.”
FACTS 1
¶2. On August 7, 1986, the Trust purchased a $1,000,000 whole-life insurance policy
from Equitable’s agent, Byrd. The Trust’s complaint states that Byrd represented that “[the
Trust] would only have to pay eight years’ worth of out-of-pocket premiums and thereafter
the policy would sustain itself and the premiums would ‘vanish.’” The policy expressly
provides, “[i]nsurance payable upon death. Premiums payable for life. Policy participates
in dividends.” The policy further states that:
1
“When considering a motion to dismiss, the allegations in the complaint must be
taken as true . . . .” Scaggs v. GPCH-GP, Inc., 931 So. 2d 1274, 1275 (Miss. 2006) (quoting
Lang v. Bay St. Louis/Waveland Sch. Dist., 764 So. 2d 1234 (Miss. 1999)). Therefore, this
Court’s factual summary largely incorporates the Trust’s complaint and takes the allegations
contained therein as true.
2
[t]his policy, and the attached copy of the application for this policy, make up
the entire contract.
Only our President or one of our Vice Presidents can modify this contract or
waive any of our rights or requirements under it. The person making these
changes must put them in writing and sign them.
Thereafter, the Trust paid $28,600 to Equitable. This complied with the policy provision that
“[t]he first premium is $28,600.00 and is due on or before delivery of the policy. Subsequent
premiums[2 ] are due on August 9, 1987 and every 12 months thereafter . . . .”
¶3. The Trust duly made premium payments of $14,300 in each of the following six years.
On July 23, 1993, the Trust received a “Notice of Payment Due” from Equitable. The Trust,
believing it had completed its obligation of eight premium payments of $14,300,3 contacted
Byrd inquiring why such notice had been received. Byrd assured the Trust that one
additional premium payment was needed (the eighth), but that the premiums would thereafter
vanish.4 Thereafter, the Trust made its eighth premium payment (one for $28,600; seven for
$14,300).
¶4. However, on July 27, 1994, the Trust received another “Notice of Payment Due.” The
Trust again made the premium payment of $14,300 and then contacted Byrd. Byrd
confirmed that the Trust had fulfilled its premium obligation and promised that upon receipt
2
In the amount of $14,300 annually.
3
In fact, the Trust had made one premium payment of $28,600 and six premium
payments of $14,300, for a total of seven premium payments. However, the Trust’s
complaint alleges that the initial payment of $28,600 “constituted two year’s worth of
premiums.”
4
According to the Trust’s complaint, “although [the Trust’s] premiums should have
vanished, [the Trust] sent [Equitable] payment . . . for what its insured was told would be the
ninth and final premium payment.”
3
of a written request for a refund, the subject premium payment would be returned. Byrd
further instructed the Trust to submit a form so that future premiums could be taken out of
the policy’s earnings. The Trust complied and subsequently received a premium refund
check in the amount of $14,300 from Equitable.
¶5. On July 14, 1995, yet another “Notice of Payment Due” was received by the Trust.
Once again, the Trust made the premium payment and contacted Byrd, who reiterated that
the policy’s premiums had vanished and were being paid from the policy earnings. Byrd
added that the Trust should ignore future “Notices of Payment Due.” On August 31, 1995,
the Trust’s uncashed check was returned by Equitable.
¶6. In 1996 and 1997, the Trust received “Notices of Payment Due” from Equitable.
These notices were disregarded by the Trust based upon the aforementioned advice of Byrd.
Following the 1997 “Notice of Payment Due,” the Trust did not receive another “Notice of
Payment Due” until 2002. During this period, the Trust believed that the policy premiums
had indeed vanished as represented.
¶7. On August 9, 2002, the Trust received a statement from Equitable to remit payment
for past due premiums or have the policy lapse.5 Upon contacting Byrd, the Trust’s
complaint provides that it was informed:
that the policy had not performed as expected and further premium payments
would be required or the policy would lapse. However, [the Trustee] insured
was also told that the Trust could pay these premiums with loans from the
5
The Trust’s complaint provides that “[t]he statement was not in the amount of the
yearly premiums. Rather, it represented the difference between the policy’s earnings and the
yearly premium amount.”
4
policy. [The Trust] opted to pay the amount required to keep the policy from
lapsing with a loan.
According to the complaint, the Trust:
was further told that the policy’s earnings likely would again reach a level
where the policy would sustain itself. Since 2002, there has continued to be
a difference between the amount of the yearly premium due and the amount
the policy earns. [The Trust] has made all subsequent payments of this
difference through loans against the policy.
¶8. On May 17, 2004, the Trust filed a complaint in the circuit court containing twenty-
five counts and alleging various torts arising out of the purported fraudulent concealment and
misrepresentations regarding “vanishing premiums” of the policy. Equitable filed a “Notice
of Removal” to federal court on the basis of diversity jurisdiction, claiming that Byrd was
fraudulently joined in order to defeat federal jurisdiction. The United States District Court
for the Northern District of Mississippi-Delta Division subsequently granted the Trust’s
“Motion to Remand” based on Equitable’s failure to demonstrate fraudulent joinder.
¶9. Equitable and Byrd then renewed their “Motion to Dismiss” in the circuit court,
arguing that the Trust’s complaint was barred by the statute of limitations.6 The circuit court
granted that motion, entering an “Order of Dismissal with Prejudice” of the Trust’s
complaint, finding that the policy clearly stated that the premiums were payable “for life,”
and that “[t]he time for filing any claim arising from the alleged representations to the
contrary . . . started to run on the date of delivery of the policy in 1986.”
6
The motion further stated that “[n]or can [the Trustee] establish that she was diligent
in attempting to discover her claims, where the clear language of the policy, of which [the
Trust] had a copy, contradicted the alleged misrepresentations.” (Emphasis added).
5
¶10. On appeal, the Court of Appeals determined that even if the circuit court’s analysis
was in error, a separate analysis under its interpretation of Stephens v. Equitable Life
Assurance Society of the United States, 850 So. 2d 78 (Miss. 2003), renders the same result,
as the facts and issues presented in Stephens are “almost identical to those presented here.”
Wilbourn, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 501 at *8. In analyzing the “Motion to Dismiss” and the
circuit court’s “Order of Dismissal with Prejudice,” the Court of Appeals looked at the
express terms of the policy, identifying at least three “clear and unambiguous” points:
[f]irst, the “Premiums and Benefits” section states that the premiums are due
annually “FOR LIFE.” Second, the “Other Important Provisions” section
clearly states that the written policy statement is the entire contract. Third,
only the President or one of the Vice Presidents of [Equitable] had the power
to modify the contract and such modification was required to be in a signed
writing.
Id. at *11. Based upon the “for life” language, the Court of Appeals concluded that the Trust
had failed to demonstrate “some affirmative act or conduct was done to prevent discovery
of a claim . . . .” Id. at *12-13 (quoting Stephens, 850 So. 2d at 83). As such, the Court of
Appeals found that the Trust had failed to establish a claim of fraudulent concealment, thus
the statute of limitations was not tolled. See Wilbourn, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 501 at *13.
Furthermore, the Court of Appeals stated:
it is undisputed that the Trust was required to make an additional premium
payment beyond the eight allegedly promised by Byrd in July 1993. Assuming
that everything that the Trust claims is true, the Trust, in accordance with
Stephens, was put on notice of a possible misrepresentation in 1993.
6
Id. at *13-14. As such, the Court of Appeals determined that “whether the statute began to
run in 1986 and expired in 1992[7 ] or began to run in 1993 and expired in 1996, the action
is time-barred.” Id. at *14. Therefore, the Court of Appeals affirmed the circuit court’s
“Order of Dismissal with Prejudice” of the Trust’s complaint.8 See id.
ISSUE
¶11. This Court will consider:
Whether the circuit court erred in entering an “Order of Dismissal with
Prejudice” of the Trust’s complaint.
ANALYSIS
¶12. Procedurally, this Court notes that the “Motion to Dismiss” of Equitable and Byrd
alleges that it was brought pursuant to Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure 9(b) and
12(b)(6). Rule 9(b) states, in part, that “[i]n all averments of fraud or mistake, the
circumstances constituting fraud or mistake shall be stated with particularity.” Miss. R. Civ.
P. 9(b). Rule 12(b)(6) provides “the following defenses may at the option of the pleader be
made by motion: . . . (6) Failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted . . . .”
Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). According to this Court:
[a] motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil
Procedure raises an issue of law, which is reviewed under a de novo standard.
Cook v. Brown, 909 So. 2d 1075, 1077-78 (Miss. 2005). A Rule 12(b)(6)
motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim tests the legal sufficiency of the
complaint. Id. at 1078 (citing Little v. Miss. Dep’t of Human Servs., 835 So.
2d 9, 11 (Miss. 2002)). The allegations in the complaint must be taken as true,
7
For claims that accrued prior to July 1, 1989, Mississippi Code Annotated Section
15-1-49 imposed a six-year statute of limitations.
8
Four judges concurring; one judge concurring in part and in result; four judges
dissenting; and one judge not participating.
7
and there must be no set of facts that would allow the plaintiff to prevail.
Ralph Walker, Inc. v. Gallagher, 926 So. 2d 890, 893 (Miss. 2006). . . . This
Court must find that there is no set of facts that would entitle a defendant to
relief under the law in order to affirm an order granting the dismissal of a
claim on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. Id. (citing Lowe v. Lowndes County Bldg.
Inspection Dep’t, 760 So. 2d 711, 713 (Miss. 2000)).
Rose v. Tullos, 2008 Miss. LEXIS 573 at *4-5 (Miss. 2008). See also State v. Dampeer, 744
So. 2d 754, 756 (Miss. 1999) (quoting Weeks v. Thomas, 662 So. 2d 581, 583 (Miss. 1995))
(“in order to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the complaint need only state a set of facts that
will allow the plaintiff ‘some relief in court.’”).
¶13. However, Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b) further states that:
[i]f, on a motion to dismiss for failure of the pleading to state a claim upon
which relief can be granted, matters outside the pleading are presented to and
not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary
judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56, and all parties shall be given
reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion
by Rule 56; however, if on such a motion matters outside the pleadings are not
presented, and if the motion is granted, leave to amend shall be granted in
accordance with Rule 15(a).
Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(b) (emphasis added). See also Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(c) (similar language
regarding a “Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings”). The circuit court clearly considered
“matters outside the pleading” in finding that “[t]he policy clearly states that premiums are
payable for ‘life[,]’” 9 but did not treat the “Motion to Dismiss” as a motion for summary
judgment in accordance with Rule 12(b). Nonetheless, this Court has stated that “[t]he
motion for summary judgment is the functional equivalent of the Rule 12(b)(6) motion to
9
According to the “Motion to Dismiss,” while the Trust “bases [its] case on the life
insurance policy and application, [it] did not attach these documents to [its] [c]omplaint.”
Therefore, the subject policy was attached to the “Motion to Dismiss” as an exhibit.
8
dismiss, only it occurs at a subsequent stage of the proceedings.” Jones v. Regency Toyota,
Inc., 798 So. 2d 474, 475 (Miss. 2001) (quoting Gray v. Baker, 485 So. 2d 306, 307 (Miss.
1986)). In fact:
[a] party against whom a motion to dismiss under M.R.C.P. 12(b)(6) has been
filed is thereby on actual notice that the motion to dismiss may be treated as
a motion for summary judgment if the conditions prescribed in [Mississippi
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)] are found, including the opportunity to present
any relevant material.
Jones, 798 So. 2d at 475 (citing Walton v. Bourgeois, 512 So. 2d 698, 700 (Miss. 1987))
(emphasis added). Here, however, the motion was not “disposed of as provided in Rule 56,”
nor were “all parties . . . given reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent
to such a motion by Rule 56 . . . .” Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(b). Furthermore, this Court has stated
that “[w]here a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is converted into one for summary judgment, . . . the
trial court must give ten days’ notice for such a hearing . . . .” Jones, 798 So. 2d at 476
(emphasis added). See Miss. R. Civ. P. 56(c) (“[t]he motion shall be served at least ten days
before the time fixed for the hearing.”). “The requirements of Rule 56(c), far from being a
mere extension of our liberal procedure exalting substance over form, represents a procedural
safeguard to prevent the unjust deprivation of a litigant’s constitutional right to a jury trial.”
Jones, 798 So. 2d at 476 (quoting Palmer v. Biloxi Reg’l Med. Ctr., Inc., 649 So. 2d 179,
182-84 (Miss. 1994)). Accordingly, this Court concludes that the circuit court erred in
merely entering an “Order of Dismissal with Prejudice” after considering “matters outside
the pleading,” but failing to properly convert the Rule 12(b)(6) motion into a Rule 56 motion
for summary judgment via proper notice of said hearing, see Miss. R. Civ. P. 56(c), or the
“reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion by Rule 56
9
. . . .” Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(b). Therefore, the circuit court’s “Order of Dismissal with
Prejudice” is vacated and this case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion.
¶14. Additionally, this Court would be remiss if it failed to include the following
substantive discussion. This analysis is pertinent to the circuit court’s determination on
remand, insofar as it addresses the expansive analysis of the Court of Appeals regarding the
policy, the representations of Byrd and Equitable, and the statute of limitations.
¶15. Initially, this Court questions the clear and unambiguous nature of the “for life” policy
language upon which both the circuit court and Court of Appeals relied. The policy provides
“[p]remiums payable for life. Policy participates in dividends.” (Emphasis added). As to
“How Dividends Are Paid,” the policy provides “[w]e will determine your policy’s share,
if any, of our divisible surplus annually. It will be payable as a dividend at the end of each
policy year if the policy is then in effect with all premiums duly paid.” Regarding “Dividend
Options,” the policy states that the policyholder may choose to use dividends “to help pay
any premium then due.” Furthermore, under the “Additional Dividend Option Rider,” the
policy provides:
[w]hile this option is in effect, no other dividend option in the policy will apply
and the premiums under the policy will be due annually. On each policy
anniversary:
1. The current dividend will be used to pay the annual premium then due; then
10
2. To the extent necessary, dividend credits[10] will be used to help pay the
balance of that premium; and then
3. Any excess of that premium over the sum of the amounts obtained in items
1 and 2 above will be paid by policy loan to the extent that the policy’s loan
value is then sufficient.
Any balance of a premium not paid in accordance with the preceding
paragraph will then be due in cash.
As the “[p]olicy participates in dividends[,]” an ambiguity exists not in the payment of
premiums “for life,” but in the source of such payment.
¶16. If either the referenced “Dividend Option” or the “Additional Dividend Option Rider”
is applicable to the Trust, then genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether there was
any inherent conflict between the policy and the alleged representations regarding the source
of premium payments.11 Under either the referenced “Dividend Option” or the “Additional
Dividend Option Rider,” it is conceivable that after eight out-of-pocket annual premium
payments, the policy would become self-sustaining, such that the future premium payments
would “vanish.” 12 As Judge Chandler noted in his dissent, “[u]nlike Stephens, the
representation here concerned how, not whether, further premiums were to be paid. The
falsity of that representation would not have been apparent from reading the insurance
10
“Dividend credits” are defined in the policy as “the sum of dividend accumulations,
the cash value of dividend additions, and any dividend that has not been applied under an
option.” The policy adds that “[y]ou may use dividend credits toward making the policy
paid-up for its Face Amount. . . . No further premiums are due on a paid-up policy.”
11
In its “Petition for Writ of Certiorari,” the Trust asserts that it “specifically exercised
this option to have its policy dividends pay its annual premium.”
12
Furthermore, in assessing this ambiguity, this Court notes that “ambiguous terms
in an insurance contract are to be construed most strongly against the preparer, the insurance
company.” U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Omnibank, 812 So. 2d 196, 198 (Miss. 2002).
11
contract which in fact provided that premiums could be paid from the policy proceeds.”
Wilbourn, 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 501 at *21 (Chandler, J., dissenting).
¶17. Additionally, a genuine issue of material fact may exist regarding whether the express
language of the policy was inconsistent with Byrd’s 1993 statement that one additional
premium payment was needed, but that the premiums would thereafter vanish. The policy
provides that “[t]he first premium is $28,600.00 . . . .” (Emphasis added). Assuming that the
$28,600 payment in 1986 constituted only the “first premium” payment, then the eighth out-
of-pocket annual premium payment would have been made in 1993. While the Trust was
under the impression that the $28,600 payment satisfied two of the eight out-of-pocket
premium payments, it is unclear if that was an actual representation made by Byrd, in direct
conflict with the policy provision. If not, then the Trust would not have been put on notice
of a misrepresentation, as no misrepresentation would have existed.13
¶18. Finally, a fraud claim “accrues upon the completion of the sale induced by such false
representation, or upon the consummation[14 ] of the fraud . . . .” Stephens, 850 So. 2d at 82
(quoting Dunn v. Dent, 169 Miss. 574, 153 So. 798 (1934)) (emphasis added). As noted
supra, genuine issues of material fact may exist regarding whether the alleged representations
regarding the source of premium payments were inconsistent with the policy. Furthermore,
in the absence of a breach of the policy, or proof of an anticipatory breach, how could the
13
According to Judge Chandler, “Byrd’s promise that the policy’s performance was
such that the premiums would vanish in eight years was not substantially contradicted by
Equitable’s requirement of a single, final, out-of-pocket premium payment.” Wilbourn,
2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 501 at *24 (Chandler, J., dissenting).
14
“Consummation” is defined as “[t]he act of consummating: fulfillment.” Webster’s
II New College Dictionary 242 (3d ed. 2001).
12
Trust divine that a fraud claim existed? The Trust asserts the following: in 1994 and 1995,
based upon Byrd’s representations, the Trust made the premium payments and then received
full reimbursement from Equitable; in 1996 and 1997, the Trust received additional “Notices
of Payment Due” from Equitable, ignored both based upon Byrd’s representations, and no
further action was taken by Equitable; for the next five years, the Trust received no “Notices
of Payment Due.” If these assertions are proven, how would the Trust have known to file
suit if it: (1) was told by Byrd that the “Notices of Payment Due” from 1994 through 1997
were mistaken; (2) received full refund or return of the 1994 and 1995 premium payments
from Equitable; (3) received “Notices of Payment Due” in 1996 and 1997, but no subsequent
demand for payment from Equitable; and (4) received no “Notices of Payment Due” from
Equitable after the 1997 notice until August 2002? Equitable’s purported errors of
commission (refunded or returned premium payment checks in 1994 and 1995) and omission
(“Notices of Payment Due” in 1996 and 1997 but inaction, and the absence of “Notices of
Payment Due” after the 1997 notice until August 2002) may well create a genuine issue of
material fact as to whether any alleged fraud was “consummated” before August 2002.15
¶19. This opinion should not be read as a retreat from the principle that, absent exceptional
circumstances, a fraud claim may not be predicated on false verbal representations which
contradict provisions of a written contract. See Ballard v. Commercial Bank of DeKalb,
2008 Miss. LEXIS 500 at *15 (Miss. October 9, 2008) (“[a]s a matter of law, one may not
15
Moreover, under an installment-type policy, the collection of each $14,300 premium
beyond that which was agreed upon would consummate a separate and distinct act of
misrepresentation, should the fact-finder conclude that any misrepresentation existed.
13
reasonably rely on oral representations, whether negligently or fraudulently made . . . , which
contradict the plain language of the documents”); Godfrey, Bassett & Kuykendall Architects,
Ltd. v. Huntington Lumber Co., Inc., 584 So. 2d 1254, 1257 (Miss. 1981) (“a person is
under an obligation to read a contract before signing it, and will not as a general rule be heard
to complain of an oral misrepresentation the error of which would have been disclosed by
reading the contract”). In the case sub judice, the policy provisions may not necessarily have
put the Trust on notice that the verbal representations of Byrd were false in light of
Equitable’s refund or return of its premium payments. The policy language, together with
Byrd’s representations and Equitable’s actions, reasonably could have been interpreted to
mean that the policy had become self-sustaining such that future premium payments would
“vanish.”
CONCLUSION
¶20. Based upon the aforementioned analysis, this Court reverses the Court of Appeals’
decision affirming the Circuit Court of Quitman County’s “Order of Dismissal with
Prejudice,” and remands for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
¶21. REVERSED AND REMANDED.
SMITH, C.J., WALLER, P.J., CARLSON, DICKINSON AND LAMAR, JJ.,
CONCUR. EASLEY, J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY. GRAVES, J., CONCURS
IN PART AND DISSENTS IN PART WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION,
JOINED BY DIAZ, P.J.
GRAVES, JUSTICE, CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART:
¶22. The majority of this Court finds that this matter should be reversed and remanded to
the circuit court for a determination of whether genuine issues of material fact exist. While
14
I agree that this matter should be reversed and remanded, I would find that it should be
remanded for trial and not for a summary judgment hearing. The majority opinion
acknowledges the existence of genuine issues of material fact. Rather than remand the
matter to the trial court for conversion of the Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)
motion to dismiss into one for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56(c), I would find that
this Court should convert the motion, apply its findings of genuine issues of material fact,
reverse this matter, and remand it for trial. Therefore, I concur in part and dissent in part.
¶23. The majority is careful to point out that genuine issues of material fact “may” exist.
Although the majority uses the word “may,” the record in this matter indicates that genuine
issues of material fact do exist. Moreover, the majority cites certain issues where there
“may” exist genuine issues of material fact and discusses specific assertions that may be
proven. The mere acknowledgment that there are these genuine issues which are unresolved
is an acknowledgment that there are genuine issues which are in dispute. The appropriate
vehicle for proving assertions or resolving disputed issues is a trial.
¶24. As I would find, based on the record in this matter, that genuine issues of material fact
exist, this matter should be reversed and remanded for trial. It is axiomatic that summary
judgment should be denied where there are genuine issues of material fact. See Newell v.
Hinton, 556 So. 2d 1037, 1041 (Miss. 1990). See also Miss. R. Civ. P. 56(c). Moreover,
it does not serve the interest of judicial economy to require a hearing on a matter where this
Court has already acknowledged findings. Further, inasmuch as this Court is reversing the
Court of Appeals, I would find it unnecessary for the circuit court below to examine the
15
“expansive analysis” of the Court of Appeals decision. Therefore, I concur in part and
dissent in part.
DIAZ, P.J., JOINS THIS OPINION.
16