1 This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Reports. Please
2 see Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the citation of unpublished memorandum opinions.
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6 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
7 MELBA SILVA, GREG CHAVEZ, and
8 ELENA ELLISON,
9 Plaintiffs-Appellees,
10 v. NO. 30,404
11 RAYMOND CHAVEZ,
12 Defendant-Appellant.
13 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF VALENCIA COUNTY
14 John W. Pope, District Judge
15 Pedro G. Rael
16 Los Lunas, NM
17 for Appellees
18 Law Offices of Nicholas R. Gentry, L.L.C.
19 Nicholas R. Gentry
20 Albuquerque, NM
21 for Appellant
22 MEMORANDUM OPINION
1 CASTILLO, Judge.
2 Raymond Chavez (Defendant) appeals from the district court’s final judgment,
3 and the district court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law. [RP 230, 214]
4 Defendant raises four issues on appeal. [DS] This Court filed first and second
5 calendar notices proposing summary affirmance in part and summary reversal in part.
6 [CN1, CN2] Melba Silva (Plaintiff) filed responses in support of both of the calendar
7 notices, indicating that she did not oppose the proposed summary dispositions.
8 [PMIS1, PMIS2] We addressed the arguments Defendant raised in his memorandum
9 in opposition to the first calendar notice in the second calendar notice. [DMIO1,
10 CN2] Defendant has filed a memorandum in opposition to the second calendar notice
11 that we have duly considered. [DMIO2] Unpersuaded, however, we affirm in part
12 and reverse in part.
13 DISCUSSION
14 Issue 1 - Imposition of a Constructive Trust
15 Defendant continues to contend that clear and convincing evidence does not
16 support the imposition of a constructive trust on the bank account funds in the amount
17 of $58,185.88, or the district court’s decision that Defendant misappropriated
18 $42,230.84 of those funds for his own purposes. [DS 4, DMIO1, DMIO2] In his first
19 and second memorandums, Defendant argues that the district court’s imposition of a
2
1 constructive trust was not legally correct, because the trial court did not enter any
2 findings or conclusions that proof of a clear and convincing nature existed. [DMIO1
3 3; MIO2 3-4] Defendant points out that the district court did not find any evidence
4 of undue influence or that Defendant dominated or controlled his mother, Josefita
5 Chavez. [DMIO1 3; MIO 3-4] The district court found that Josefita Chavez was
6 competent at all material times. [Id.] Defendant further continues to contend that the
7 imposition of a constructive trust is inconsistent with the plain language of the power
8 of attorney, which granted him broad powers and allowed him to spend the money in
9 the bank account as an owner of the account until his mother’s death. [DMIO1 1,2,
10 4; DMIO2 4] Defendant also continues to argue that if this Court concludes that
11 Defendant was not entitled to spend the money in the bank account or spent it
12 inappropriately, then the total amount that was inappropriately spent was $27,225.69,
13 rather than $42,230.84. [DMIO1 4] Defendant further continues to argue that the
14 district court disregarded certain evidence that he presented that more expenditures
15 were made on behalf of his mother. [DMIO2 6] We remain unpersuaded and affirm
16 the district court on this issue.
17 “The imposition of a constructive trust is an equitable remedy, and as such is
18 within the broad discretion of the district court.” In re Estate of Duran,
19 2003-NMSC-008, ¶ 35, 133 N.M. 553, 66 P.3d 326. “A court will impose a
3
1 constructive trust ‘to prevent the unjust enrichment that would result if the person
2 having the property were permitted to retain it.’” Gushwa v. Hunt, 2008-NMSC-064,
3 ¶ 34, 145 N.M. 286, 197 P.3d 1 (quoting Duran, 2003-NMSC-008, ¶ 34). Courts have
4 held that certain conduct, “such as fraud, constructive fraud, duress, undue influence,
5 breach of a fiduciary duty, or similar wrongful conduct[,]” may warrant the imposition
6 of a constructive trust. Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “If a court
7 imposes a constructive trust, the person holding legal title is subjected to an equitable
8 duty to convey the property to a person to whom the court has determined that duty
9 is owed.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
10 In this case, as Defendant points out, the district court found that Josefita
11 Chavez’s will, the warranty deed, and the power of attorney were valid instruments
12 executed during Josefita’s lifetime, and that Defendant did not exert undue influence
13 over his mother and that he did not dominate or control her. [RP 215-16, fofs 14-22]
14 The district court also found that Defendant had validly used the power of attorney to
15 accomplish various tasks on behalf of his mother including recovering his mother’s
16 money from Elena Ellison and opening the bank account with the proceeds of that
17 lawsuit in the amount of $46,103.53, in 2003. [RP 216, fofs 23-27]
18 The district court also found, however, that the bank account was created for
19 the sole benefit of Josefita Chavez and that all deposits made into the bank account
4
1 were made for her sole benefit. [RP 217, fofs 30-31] The district court further found
2 that of the $58,185.88 that had been deposited to his mother’s account for her sole
3 benefit, Defendant spent $15,995.04 of that amount on legitimate expenses relating
4 to the care of his mother and her property. [RP 217, fofs 31-34] In this regard, the
5 docketing statement indicates that “[t]here was much testimony and evidence at trial
6 about what expenditures by [Defendant] from that Bank Account were proper or
7 improper.” [DS 7] Plaintiff claimed that she was entitled to the return of all funds
8 illegally withdrawn by imposition of a resulting or equitable trust. [RP 3, Nos. 10-12;
9 RP 208, proposed findings nos. 10-20] Plaintiff eventually conceded that Defendant
10 appropriately withdrew $15,995.04 from the bank account for the benefit of their
11 mother. [RP 217, fofs 32-34] Plaintiff asserted in the complaint and she showed at
12 trial, to the satisfaction of the district court, that Defendant used for his own purposes,
13 rather than for his mother’s sole use and benefit, the rest of the funds in the bank
14 account in the amount of $42,230.84. We consider this the type of wrongful conduct
15 that would warrant imposition of a constructive trust.
16 After trial, the district court concluded that Defendant had failed to present any
17 credible testimony or evidence that he had spent the $42,230.84 for the benefit of his
18 mother: “The Court finds that no credible evidence was presented entitling
19 [Defendant] to any credit against the disputed amount of $42,230.84.” [RP 218, fof
5
1 38; see also fofs 35, 36, 37, 39] To the extent Defendant continues to argue that the
2 factual findings of the district court are not supported [DMIO2 6], it is well
3 established that this Court does not reweigh the evidence or the credibility of the
4 witnesses. See, e.g., Buckingham v. Ryan, 1998-NMCA-012, ¶ 10, 124 N.M. 498, 953
5 P.2d 33 (“[W]hen there is a conflict in the testimony, we defer to the trier of fact.”);
6 see also Maestas v. Martinez, 107 N.M. 91, 93, 752 P.2d 1107, 1109 (Ct. App. 1988)
7 (stating that a reviewing court may not assess the weight of evidence except “[w]here
8 an issue to be determined rests upon the interpretation of documentary evidence.”).
9 We affirm the district court’s conclusion as to the amount of money in his mother’s
10 bank account that Defendant used for his own purposes rather than for the benefit of
11 his mother in the amount of $42,230.84.
12 Defendant continues to argue, however, that these conclusions are inconsistent
13 with the express terms of the durable power of attorney, which grant him broad
14 powers over his mother’s finances. [DMIO1 3; DMIO2 4] The district court
15 determined, however, that the bank account was created for the sole benefit of
16 Defendant’s mother. [RP 217, fof 30] Defendant, his mother, and Plaintiff Melba
17 Silva were signatories on the bank account. [Id.] Defendant did not present any
18 evidence that his mother executed the power of attorney for the purpose of gifting the
19 funds in her bank account for Defendant’s own use during her lifetime. Rather, as
6
1 discussed above, Plaintiff showed and the district court found that Defendant used a
2 substantial portion of the funds ($42,230.84) in his mother’s bank account for his own
3 use instead of using them for the benefit of his mother. [RP 217, fof 30-40]
4 Defendant provided “no credible evidence” to rebut Plaintiff’s showing. [RP 218, fof
5 38; see also fofs 35, 36, 37, 39] As such, notwithstanding the broad powers granted
6 in the power of attorney, Defendant’s conduct that supports the imposition of the
7 equitable remedy of a constructive trust is Plaintiff’s evidence that Defendant used
8 $42,230.84 in the bank account, which was created for his mother’s sole benefit, for
9 his own use during her lifetime.
10 We affirm the district court on this issue.
11 Issues 2 and 3—The Parties’ Relative Interests in the Bank Account
12 Defendant claims that the district court’s decision to apportion the interests in
13 the bank account at 75% (Plaintiff) and 25% (Defendant) is not supported by the
14 evidence or the district court’s own findings of fact. [DS 6] Defendant also contends
15 that the district court erred in deciding that Defendant owes 75% of the
16 misappropriated funds in the amount of $31,673.13, plus interest at the rate of 15%
17 from July 31, 2005, until paid, to Plaintiff Melba Silva. [DS 7] This Court’s first
18 calendar notice proposed summary reversal on these two Issues. In their response to
19 the first and second calendar notices, neither Defendant nor Plaintiff opposed this
7
1 Court’s factual or legal analysis with regard to these two Issues. Accordingly, we
2 reverse for the reasons set forth in the first calendar notice as discussed below.
3 “Unless clearly erroneous or deficient, findings of the trial court will be
4 construed so as to uphold a judgment rather than to reverse it.” Herrera v. Roman
5 Catholic Church, 112 N.M. 717, 721, 819 P.2d 264, 268 (Ct. App. 1991). As
6 Defendant explains in the docketing statement [DS 6], the district court’s finding of
7 fact: “Plaintiffs Hepolito Greg Chavez and Elena Ellison were not owners of, and had
8 no legal right in, that bank account[]” [RP 216, fof 25], conflicts with the district
9 court’s decision to award Plaintiff Melba Silva 75% of the misappropriated funds or
10 $31,673.13 as of July 31, 2005, based on Plaintiffs Greg Chavez and Elena Ellison
11 having gifted their interests in the bank account to Plaintiff Melba Silva. [RP 218,
12 fofs 29, 40] We noted in the first calendar notice, therefore that it is unclear to this
13 Court how Greg and Elena could gift their interest in the bank account to Melba when
14 the district court also found that they had had no interest in it. [DS 6; RP 216, fof 25]
15 Moreover, as Defendant points out, under their mother’s will, which the district court
16 found to be valid, Greg and Elena were entitled to nothing. [DS 6]
17 As such, because the district court’s finding of fact No. 25 cannot be read to be
18 consistent with findings of fact Nos. 29 and 40, we reverse the district court on these
19 issues. In Issue 1, we hold that the district court was correct in finding that Defendant
8
1 did not spend $42,230.84 for the benefit of his mother. Therefore, with regard to
2 Issues 2 and 3, we hold that Defendant owes Melba 50% of $42,230.84, plus interest
3 as discussed in Issue 4 below, rather than 75% of $42,230.84, plus interest.
4 Issue 4—Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest
5 Defendant contends that the district court erred in ruling that Plaintiff was
6 entitled to 15% annual pre- and post-judgment interest. [DS 8] In his first
7 memorandum, Defendant argues that the imposition of pre-judgment interest was in
8 error because the district court did not enter any findings or conclusions that the
9 money was retained without the owner’s consent expressed or implied, pursuant to
10 NMSA 1978, § 56-8-3 (1983). [DMIO1 5] In addition, Defendant contends that the
11 imposition of post-judgment interest should be at the rate of 8 3/4% rather than at the
12 rate of 15%, because the district court made no findings that Defendant had engaged
13 in any tortious conduct, bad faith, or intentional or willful acts, pursuant to NMSA
14 1978, § 56-8-4 (2004).
15 In the second calendar notice, we continued to propose to affirm the district
16 court’s award of pre-judgment interest at the rate of 15%; we proposed to reverse the
17 district court’s award of post-judgment interest at the rate of 15%, however. In the
18 second memorandum, Defendant continues to contest the award of pre-judgment
19 interest at the rate of 15% on the basis that Plaintiff could not have actually earned
9
1 that much on the constructive trust money during that time period. [DMIO2 7]
2 Defendant now agrees with this Court’s proposal in the second calendar notice that
3 post-judgment interest should be imposed at the rate of 8 3/4% rather than at the rate
4 of 15%. [DMIO2 8] We remain persuaded, however, that this Court’s analysis in the
5 second calendar notice was correct and appropriate under the circumstances of this
6 case.
7 The award of pre-judgment and post-judgment interest is governed by statute
8 in New Mexico. Sections 56-8-3; -4. The meaning of a statute is a question of law,
9 which we review de novo on appeal. Souter v. Ancae Heating & Air Conditioning,
10 2002-NMCA-078, ¶ 8, 132 N.M. 608, 52 P.3d 980. We review an award of
11 prejudgment interest, however, for an abuse of discretion. Bird v. State Farm Mut.
12 Auto. Ins. Co., 2007-NMCA-088, ¶ 27, 142 N.M. 346, 165 P.3d 343.
13 Section 56-8-3(B) (pre-judgment interest) provides:
14 The rate of interest, in the absence of a written contract fixing a different
15 rate, shall be not more than fifteen percent annually in the following
16 cases:
17 ....
18 B. on money received to the use of another and retained without
19 the owner’s consent expressed or implied[.]
20 Section 56-8-4(A)(2) (post-judgment interest) provides:
21 A. Interest shall be allowed on judgments and decrees for the
22 payment of money from entry and shall be calculated at the rate of eight
10
1 and three-fourths percent per year, unless:
2 ....
3 (2) the judgment is based on tortious conduct, bad faith or
4 intentional or willful acts, in which case interest shall be computed at the
5 rate of fifteen percent.
6 With regard to pre-judgment interest, “[o]ne of the foremost equitable considerations
7 before a trial court is the fact that a plaintiff has been denied the use of the money
8 during the pendency of the lawsuit.” Ranch World of N.M., Inc. v. Berry Land &
9 Cattle Co., 110 N.M. 402, 404, 796 P.2d 1098, 1100 (1990). With regard to post-
10 judgment interest, while an award of pre-judgment interest under Section 56-8-4(B)
11 is discretionary, an award of post-judgment interest under Section 56-8-4(A) is
12 mandatory. Weststar Mortg. Corp. v. Jackson, 2002-NMCA-009, ¶ 55, 131 N.M. 493,
13 39 P.3d 710, rev’d on other grounds, 2003-NMSC-002, 133 N.M. 114, 61 P.3d 823.
14 Although Defendant contends that Plaintiff could not have actually earned 15%
15 on the constructive trust money during the pre-judgement time period [DMIO2 7], that
16 is not the statutory test. In accordance with Section 56-8-3(B), the district court
17 specifically found that “[Defendant] got the benefit and use of the sum of $31,673.13
18 which belonged to Melba Silva from August [sic] 31, 2005 through the present.” [RP
19 218, fof 41] The district court further found that “Said use by [Defendant] unjustly
20 enriched him to the extent of the full amount of $31,673.13 at the expense of Melba
21 Silva.” [RP 218, fof 42] Finally, the district court found that “Melba Silva is entitled
11
1 to a reasonable return on $31,673.13 from July 31, 2005 until paid and is entitled to
2 interest thereon as damages for the missed opportunity to use said funds.” [RP 218,
3 fof 43] Thus, the district court concluded that “Melba Silva is entitled to judgment
4 against [Defendant] in the sum of $31,673.13, plus interest at the rate of 15% per
5 annum from August 1, 2005, until paid.” [RP 221 col 22]
6 As discussed above in Issues 2 and 3, we have held that Plaintiff Melba Silva
7 is entitled to 50% of $42,230.84, rather than $31,673.13. By awarding interest from
8 August 1, 2005, “until paid,” the district court was awarding both pre- and post-
9 judgment interest on that amount, 50% of $42,230.84. As discussed above, the district
10 court’s findings support the imposition of pre-judgment interest at the rate of 15%
11 expressly for the reasons allowed by Section 56-8-3(B). [RP 218, fofs 41-43]
12 As we discussed in the second calendar notice, however, we disagree with the
13 district court’s decision to award post-judgment interest at the rate of 15%, because
14 the district court did not make findings that the judgment is based on Defendant’s
15 “tortious conduct, bad faith or intentional or willful acts,” which would allow post-
16 judgment interest to be imposed at the rate of 15% per annum as provided in Section
17 56-8-4(A)(2), rather than at the rate of 8 3/4% as provided in Section 56-8-4(A).
18 Because the district court made no findings or conclusions that Defendant’s conduct,
19 in light of the fact that he had a power of attorney and he was a signatory on the bank
12
1 account, arose, as a legal matter, to the level of tortious, bad faith, intentional or
2 willful misconduct, the imposition of post-judgment interest at the rate of 15% is not
3 supported by the statute.
4 Thus, we affirm the district court’s imposition of pre-judgment interest at the
5 rate of 15% from August 1, 2005, until April 6, 2010, the date of the judgment
6 imposing a constructive trust. We reverse the imposition of post-judgment interest at
7 the rate of 15%, and hold that the rate of 8 3/4% per annum is applicable pursuant to
8 Section 56-8-4(A), from April 6, 2010, until paid.
9 CONCLUSION
10 For the reasons discussed above, we affirm Issue 1; we reverse Issues 2 and 3.
11 With regard to Issue 4, we affirm the imposition of pre-judgment interest at the rate
12 of 15% per annum from August 1, 2005 to April 6, 2010; we reverse the imposition
13 of post-judgment interest at the rate of 15% per annum on the basis that the rate of 8
14 3/4% per annum from April 6, 2010, until paid, is the rate of interest that is payable
15 pursuant to Section 56-8-4(A). We remand to the district court for re-entry of
16 judgment in accordance with this opinion.
17 IT IS SO ORDERED.
18 ________________________________
19 CELIA FOY CASTILLO, Judge
13
1 WE CONCUR:
2 __________________________________
3 JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge
4 __________________________________
5 TIMOTHY L. GARCIA, Judge
14