97-206
No. 97-206
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1997
ROBERT J. BLACKWELL,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
RONALD U. LURIE,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eighteenth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Gallatin,
The Honorable Mike Salvagni, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Ronald U. Lurie, Pro Se, Bozeman, Montana
For Respondent:
Phillip F. Walsh, Walsh & McKenna,
Bozeman, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: June 26, 1997
Decided: September 4, 1997
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Jim Regnier delivered the Opinion of the Court.
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This is an appeal by Ronald U. Lurie from the Gallatin County District Court's
March 3, 1997, memorandum and order denying his motions to compel the release of a
foreign judgment against him filed by Robert J. Blackwell. We affirm and remand.
The issues on appeal are:
1. Did the District Court err in upholding the Bankruptcy Court's
determination that Lurie was unable to close as a matter of law and that the release
filed
by Lurie on October 22, 1996, did not comply with 25-9-311, MCA, and therefore was
unenforceable?
2. Did the District Court err in holding that Blackwell had conformed with the
requirements of 25-9-504, MCA?
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On November 9, 1994, Robert J. Blackwell filed a foreign judgment and affidavit
in support of filing foreign judgment in the Eighteenth Judicial District Court,
Gallatin
County. The judgment originated from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding in the
United
States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Missouri (the Bankruptcy Court), Case
No.
92-42218-293. Blackwell, as the liquidating trustee for the Popkin & Stern
Liquidating
Trust, filed an adversary action against Ronald U. Lurie in the Chapter 11
proceeding.
On October 20, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court entered a judgment in favor of Blackwell
and
against Lurie in the amount of $1,121,743. The judgment was entitled "judgment in
favor of plaintiff, liquidating trustee, and against defendant Ronald U. Lurie on
complaint
to recover deficiency pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 723."
Also, on November 9, 1994, an execution was issued and property was seized
from the Lurie home by the Gallatin County Sheriff pursuant to the writ of
execution.
Blackwell, the Luries, and other interested parties entered into negotiations
to settle
all claims and disputes arising from the Chapter 11 proceeding. These negotiations
resulted in three Global Settlement Agreements (agreements): one involving Ronald
Lurie, one involving Nancy Lurie, and one involving their sons, Michael and Ryan.
The
Bankruptcy Court approved the agreements on October 19, 1995. On October 21, 1995,
the Bankruptcy Court entered an order extending the closing date of the agreements
from
November 18, 1995, to December 13, 1995.
On December 15, 1995, the Bankruptcy Court held a show cause hearing to
determine whether the Luries were capable of closing in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the agreements. On January 18, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court issued its
findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order on show cause order. The Bankruptcy
Court found, as a matter of law, that the Luries were unable to close the agreements
on
November 18, 1995, and December 13, 1995. The Luries did not appeal the Bankruptcy
Court's findings, conclusions, and order.
In the Bankruptcy Court, two adversary proceedings involving the fraudulent
transfer of assets proceeded to trial against the Luries. In these proceedings, the
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Luries
moved to dismiss Blackwell's claims based on the release language in the agreements.
On April 16, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court ruled against the Luries on their motion,
stating
that the agreements are unenforceable as releases.
On October 22, 1996, Lurie filed a "release" in the Gallatin County District
Court.
Attached to the filed "release" were the three agreements dated August 30, 1995,
August
31, 1995, and September 13, 1995, and designated Release A, Release B, and Release
C, respectively. As stated above, the sole purpose of the agreements was to
compromise
and settle all claims arising in the bankruptcy proceeding between Blackwell and the
Luries. The agreements were signed by Blackwell in his capacity as Liquidating
Trustee
of the Popkin & Stern Liquidating Trust. The clerk of court who filed the "release"
did
not release the foreign judgment because the agreements were not signed by Lurie, nor
was there any documentation from Blackwell satisfying the judgment, nor was there an
order from the court.
On November 18, 1996, Lurie filed the first of multiple motions to compel,
requesting that the District Court of Gallatin County order that the foreign
judgment be
fully released as in compliance with 25-9-311, MCA. Since Lurie only appeals the
District Court's determinations on the motions filed on November 18, 1996, and
December 3, 1996, we set forth the background of these motions as they are relevant
to
this Court's discussion.
The essence of Lurie's first motion is that he executed the three agreements,
all
of which became effective on November 18, 1995, the date first set for closing by the
Bankruptcy Court. Lurie claimed that the agreements did not require that a closing
actually take place for them to be effective. Blackwell argued that because there
was no
closing, as contemplated by the agreements, the agreements do not release the filed
foreign judgment.
Another motion filed by Lurie on December 3, 1996, claimed that the foreign
judgment was defective because it did not state the name of the judgment creditor, as
required by 25-9-504, MCA. He argued that Blackwell incorrectly identified himself
in his individual capacity, rather than as the liquidating trustee of the trust.
The District Court held a hearing on February 13, 1997, to consider all four of
Lurie's motions. On March 3, 1997, the District Court issued a memorandum and order
denying all of Lurie's motions. The District Court ruled that because the closing
never
took place, the agreements were never completed and, thus, were unenforceable. The
District Court also concluded that Blackwell properly identified himself in his
filing of
the foreign judgment because 25-9-504, MCA, only requires that the notice identify
the
plaintiff/judgment creditor, and does not require that their representative capacity
be
identified. Lurie appeals from the memorandum and order of the District Court.
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ISSUE 1
Did the District Court err in upholding the Bankruptcy Court's determination
that
Lurie was unable to close as a matter of law and that the release filed by Lurie on
October 22, 1996, did not comply with 25-9-311, MCA, and therefore was
unenforceable?
Our standard of review for findings of fact is whether a finding is "clearly
erroneous." Steer, Inc. v. Department of Revenue (1990), 245 Mont. 470, 474, 803
P.2d
601, 603. "[A] finding is 'clearly erroneous' when, although there is evidence to
support
it, a review of the record leaves the court with the definite and firm conviction
that a
mistake has been committed." Steer, 245 Mont. at 474, 803 P.2d at 603.
When we review a district court's conclusions of law, our standard of review is
plenary and we must determine whether the court's conclusions are correct as a matter
of law. In re Matter of Kovatch (1995), 271 Mont. 323, 326, 896 P.2d 444, 446;
Steer,
245 Mont. at 474-75, 803 P.2d at 603.
Lurie argues that the District Court erred in failing to release the foreign
judgment
obtained by Blackwell and filed with the District Court when Lurie filed his release
along
with copies of the three agreements. Lurie contends that the three agreements filed
with
his release on October 22, 1996, comply with the provisions of 25-9-311, MCA, and
thus, satisfy the judgment. Section 25-9-311, MCA, provides:
Entry of satisfaction of judgment in docket. Satisfaction of a judgment
may be entered in the clerk's docket upon an execution returned satisfied
or upon an acknowledgment of satisfaction filed with the clerk, made in the
manner of an acknowledgment of a conveyance of real property by the
judgment creditor or by his endorsement on the face or on the margin of the
record of the judgment or by his attorney unless a revocation of his
authority is filed. Whenever a judgment is satisfied in fact otherwise than
upon an execution, the party or attorney must give such acknowledgment
or make such endorsement, and upon motion, the court may compel it or
may order the entry of satisfaction to be made without it.
Lurie claims that it is undisputed that the three agreements have been executed
by
Blackwell, that the agreements were executed by Blackwell in the manner of an
acknowledgment of a conveyance of real property according to the provisions of 25-
9-
311, MCA, and that the three agreements were appropriately filed with the District
Court
on October 22, 1996. Lurie asserts that the District Court's finding that there
exists no
documentation executed by Blackwell satisfying the foreign judgment is clearly
erroneous.
Accordingly, Lurie argues that the District Court's failure to release the foreign
judgment
based on that finding is erroneous and asks this Court to reverse the District
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Court's
memorandum and order and direct it to release the foreign judgment filed against him.
Blackwell counters that the District Court did not err in relying on the
Bankruptcy
Court's determination that Lurie was unable to close as a matter of law and that the
release language contained in the agreements between Lurie and himself was
unenforceable. Blackwell argues that the Bankruptcy Court's findings of fact,
conclusions
of law, and order on show cause order were binding on the District Court under 26-
3-
201, MCA, and by the
language of the agreements themselves. Thus, the agreements do not operate to
satisfy
the judgment under the provisions of 25-9-311, MCA, because they are unenforceable.
Section 26-3-201, MCA, provides:
Effect of judgment or final order -- when conclusive. The effect
of a judgment or final order in an action or special proceeding before a
court or judge of this state or of the United States having jurisdiction to
pronounce the judgment or order is as follows:
(1) In case of a judgment or order against a specific thing, or in
respect to the probate of a will or the administration of the estate of a
decedent, or in respect to the personal, political, or legal condition or
relation of a particular person, the judgment or order is conclusive upon the
title to the thing, the will or administration, or the condition or relation of
the person.
(2) In other cases, the judgment or order is, in respect to the matter
directly adjudged, conclusive between the parties and their successors in
interest by title subsequent to the commencement of the action or special
proceeding, litigating for the same thing under the same title and in the
same capacity, provided they have notice, actual or constructive, of the
pendency of the action or proceeding.
This Court determines that the District Court was correct in relying upon the
Bankruptcy Court's findings, conclusions, and order dated January 18, 1996. The
Bankruptcy Court's findings, conclusions, and order are final. Lurie did not appeal
the
Bankruptcy Court's finding that the closing, as contemplated by the agreements, could
not take place "because Ronald and Nancy Lurie are not ready and able to close."
Under
26-3-201(2), MCA, the findings of the Bankruptcy Court regarding the agreements and
their enforcement are conclusive between Lurie and Blackwell. Neither, the District
Court nor this Court can alter or amend the findings or conclusions contained in the
Bankruptcy Court's January 18, 1996, order.
Furthermore, as Blackwell points out, the language of the agreements precludes
any litigation in the courts of Montana concerning the agreements. Each agreement
includes the
following provision:
IX. Governing Law and Forum. This agreement shall by governed
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri. All
disputes or legal proceedings arising out of or relating to the binding effect
of this Agreement upon claimants under the Popkin & Stern Liquidating
Trust Agreement or relating to the scope, binding effect, duration or
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interpretation of the injunction issued by the Bankruptcy Court shall be
submitted to and heard by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the
Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division, pursuant to its original
jurisdiction. If any party hereto files a Motion to Withdraw the reference
of P& S's Bankruptcy Case with respect to an adversary proceeding among
the parties hereto relating to a breach or interpretation of this Agreement
then the other parties hereto shall be deemed to consent to the Motion to
Withdraw the Reference.
Under this forum selection clause, the Gallatin County District Court is not the
appropriate forum for Lurie to litigate any issue relating to the enforcement of the
agreements because it lacks jurisdiction. Both parties agreed that any legal
proceedings
involving any aspect of the agreements and their enforcement would be heard only by
the
Bankruptcy Court.
Thus, this Court concludes that the District Court did not err in finding that
the
agreements were unenforceable and did not, by Lurie's filing with his "release,"
operate
to satisfy the foreign judgment filed by Blackwell. Pursuant to 26-3-201(2), MCA,
the
District Court correctly relied upon the Bankruptcy Court's determination that the
closing
never took place and that the agreements were never completed. The issues relating
to
the agreements or to whether Lurie had closed cannot be litigated in the District
Court
or by this Court.
Because this Court concludes that the District Court was correct in finding
that the
agreements were unenforceable and do not operate to release the foreign judgment, we
decline to address Lurie's arguments regarding whether the agreements were effective
without there being a closing, and whether he has standing to assert the release
provisions
in the agreements regarding his wife, Nancy, and his sons, Michael and Ryan.
ISSUE 2
Did the District Court err in holding that Blackwell had conformed with the
requirements of 25-9-504, MCA?
We review a district court's conclusions of law to determine whether they are
correct. Carbon County v. Union Reserve Coal Co. (1995), 271 Mont. 459, 469, 898
P.2d 680, 686.
Lurie claims that the foreign judgment is defective because the notice of
filing does
not state the name of the judgment creditor as required by 25-9-504, MCA. Section
25-9-504(1), MCA, provides:
At the time of the filing of the foreign judgment, the judgment
creditor or his attorney shall file with the clerk of the court an affidavit
setting forth the name and last-known post-office address of the judgment
debtor and the judgment creditor. The affidavit must also include a
statement that the foreign judgment is valid and enforceable, and the extent
of which it has been satisfied.
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Lurie argues that the notice of filing incorrectly names "Robert J. Blackwell"
as
the plaintiff and judgement creditor instead of "Robert J. Blackwell, Liquidating
Trustee
of the Popkin & Stern Liquidating Trust" as the true plaintiff and judgment
creditor.
Blackwell counters that there is no requirement that the judgment creditor must
acknowledge his representative capacity or provide any information other than his
name
and address. Thus, he contends he has fully complied with the statutory provision.
As stated above, the statute provides that the notice sent by the judgment
creditor
to the judgment debtor "must include the name and post office address of the judgment
creditor." Section 25-9-504(1), MCA. The plain language of the statute requires
only
that the person preparing the notice identify the judgment creditor; there is no
requirement that the judgment creditor must acknowledge his representative capacity
or
provide any information other than his name and address. In addition, Rule 17(a),
M.R.Civ.P., states in relevant part that:
A personal representative, guardian, bailee, trustee of an express trust, a
party with whom or in whose name a contract has been made for the benefit
of another, or a party authorized by statute may sue in that person's own
name without joining the party for whose benefit the action is brought . .
. .
In his capacity as the liquidating trustee for the Popkin & Stern Liquidating Trust,
Blackwell is allowed to file suit in his own name. Thus, Blackwell has complied with
both the statutory requirements of 25-9-504, MCA, and Rule 17(a), M.R.Civ.P.
This Court notes that the caption of the present action was styled after the
caption
of the judgment from the Bankruptcy Court. The caption only identifies Blackwell as
the
plaintiff and makes no mention of his capacity as the liquidating trustee for the
Popkin
& Stern Liquidating Trust. However, Blackwell is clearly identified as the
liquidating
trustee in the title of the judgment, as well as in the first paragraph of the
judgment.
Furthermore, from the Bankruptcy Court proceedings, Lurie must have known or
should have known that Blackwell was suing him, not in an individual capacity, but as
the liquidating trustee of the Popkin & Stern Liquidating Trust. The foreign
judgment that
Blackwell filed with the Gallatin County District Court resulted from the Bankruptcy
Court proceedings. Also, with the notice of filing of foreign judgment, Lurie
received
a copy of the foreign judgment and an affidavit of Blackwell's attorney, both of
which
identify Blackwell as the liquidating trustee for the Popkin & Stern Liquidating
Trust.
Therefore, if Lurie could not determine Blackwell's status from the notice itself,
he could
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have reasonably concluded Blackwell's status from the attached copy of the foreign
judgment and the affidavit.
This Court concludes that the District Court did not err in ruling that
Blackwell's
notice of filing of foreign judgment conformed with the requirements of 25-9-504,
MCA. Blackwell fulfilled all statutory requirements regarding the notice and filing
of the
foreign judgment and Lurie suffered no prejudice from the procedure involved.
Affirmed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
/S/ JIM REGNIER
We Concur:
/S/ J. A. TURNAGE
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
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