Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ok-supreme-court/1894372.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FindLawOklaSup+%28FindLaw+Case+Law+Updates+-+OK+Supreme+Court%29
Timestamp: 2018-09-21 08:33:29
Document Index: 192317387

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2002706', '§\u2002735', '§\u2002719', '§\u2002735', '§ 726', '§ 726', '§ 726', '§\u2002735', '§\u2002719', '§\u2002706', '§\u2002719', '§\u2002735', '§ 30', '§\u2002720', '§\u2002721', '§\u2002726', '§\u2002735', '§\u20026', '§\u2002735', '§ 1963', '§\u2002720', '§\u2002721']

TARACORP LTD TARA BARLEAN KELLY BARLEAN v. JEFF DAILEY BARGAIN WORLD | FindLaw
TARACORP LTD TARA BARLEAN KELLY BARLEAN v. JEFF DAILEY BARGAIN WORLD
TARACORP, LTD., TARA BARLEAN, and KELLY BARLEAN, Plaintiffs/Appellants, v. JEFF DAILEY and A.J.'s Bargain World, d/b/a BARGAIN WORLD, Defendants/Appellees.
Reynolds Ridings, Jason McCart, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Plaintiffs/Appellants. Jeffrey S. Landgraf, Madill, Oklahoma, for Defendants/Appellees.
¶3 Three days later, on June 7, 2007, Taracorp filed the Colorado judgment in the District Court of Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, Case No. C-07-659. Taracorp is located in Sterling, Colorado, and Dailey resided in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma in 2007. The filing sought to impose a lien on real estate of the judgment debtors pursuant to 12 O.S. 2001 § 706.1 On July 27, 2007, Taracorp filed an Application to Require Judgment Debtor to Answer Assets. A court minute filed September 6, 2007, reflects that a hearing on assets was scheduled, but stricken because neither party appeared. The September 6, 2007, court minute is the last docket entry in that case.
¶4 Approximately nine years later, on May 23, 2016, Taracorp re-filed the 2007 Colorado judgment in the District Court of Marshall County, Oklahoma. Apparently, Dailey, now resides in Marshall County, Oklahoma. On June 8, 2016, Dailey filed a Motion to Quash Filing of Foreign Judgment, arguing that it was not enforceable pursuant to 12 O.S. 2011 § 735 because five years had lapsed from the 2007 date when the Colorado judgment was entered.2 Dailey also relied upon our decision in Drllevich Construction, Inc., v. Stock, 1998 OK 39, 958 P.2d 1277, which provides that an out-of-state judgment is enforceable in Oklahoma when it is filed in Oklahoma.
¶7 THE COLORADO JUDGMENT IS ENFORCEABLE IN OKLAHOMA AS LONG AS IT IS ENFORCEABLE IN COLORADO.
¶9 The Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (the Act) 12 O.S. 2011 §§ 719-726, governs judgments issued in another state and then filed in Oklahoma for purposes of execution/collection.5 The Act provides that such judgments, once filed in Oklahoma, are treated the same as if they were initially issued in Oklahoma.6 While the Act requires construction to effectuate uniformity and conformity to its general purpose, it does not address re-filing of judgments.7
¶11 Five years later, the judgment creditor re-filed the Colorado judgment in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, on December 31, 1982. The judgment debtor sought to quash the judgment, arguing that the re-filing did not revive the judgment, which had been dormant after five years pursuant to Oklahoma's dormancy statute, 12 O.S. 2011 § 735.8 The Riggs Court held that the rendition of judgment in the originating forum state starts the dormancy period running when the Act is brought into play. The Act in Oklahoma gives the foreign judgment the same effect as a judgment of this state. Consequently, the Colorado judgment, filed in Oklahoma, was to be treated as if it were rendered in Oklahoma on the same date it was rendered in Colorado. Under the facts of Riggs, the judgment became dormant in January of 1982.
¶12 Riggs, supra, did not remain the law for long. Five years later, in Drllevich Construction, Inc. v. Stock, 1998 OK 39, 958 P.2d 1277, we overruled Riggs, supra, noting that it was a minority view. Although Drllevich did not involve a second filing attempt in Oklahoma, it did concern a construction company which attempted to enforce a Washington state judgment in Oklahoma nearly ten years after the judgment was entered. The Washington judgment was rendered on November 14, 1985, as a result of an embezzlement case. Nearly ten years later, on July 6, 1995, the judgment debtor was served with a “Notice of Filing of Foreign Judgment” via certified mail.
¶10 Riggs' approach places its only real emphasis on the judgment's date of rendition in the originating state. Any ability to enforce the judgment in the state of origin plays no role in the ability to register the judgment for enforcement in Oklahoma under Riggs. This lack of focus on the original judgment's enforceability is not a universally shared approach. In fact, Oklahoma's position is a minority one. ¶11 The Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act “shall be interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.” 12 O.S. 1991 § 726. Oklahoma's minority position is such that it does not achieve the purpose expressly outlined in § 726, “to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.” In addition, the current interpretation of the law under Riggs provides a framework within which judgment debtors may be able to shield themselves from legitimate judgments, simply by making Oklahoma their home. ¶12 We can find nothing in Oklahoma's Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act or any other enactments of our Legislature indicating this is a public policy either adopted or encouraged by our state. In an effort to achieve the goals of § 726 and provide a framework within which legitimate judgments may be executed upon in a timely manner, Riggs' limited and unwavering focus on the judgment's rendition in the originating state must be reconsidered.
¶15 Pan Energy, supra, involved a 1982 judgment rendered in Oklahoma and filed in Utah in August of 1987. Pursuant to 12 O.S. 1991 § 735,10 the Oklahoma judgment lapsed after five years. In August of 1987, one month before the Oklahoma judgment became dormant, the plaintiff filed the Oklahoma judgment in Utah. Because the judgment subsequently became unenforceable in Oklahoma, the judgment debtor sought to prevent enforcement in Utah. The Utah Supreme Court held that if a foreign judgment is filed in Utah, and subsequently becomes dormant in the state of rendition, its enforceability in Utah is unaffected.
¶16 While the policies supporting both the Drllevich, supra, and Pan Energy, supra, remain persuasive, neither case is wholly dispositive of this cause. Here, the Colorado judgment was timely filed in Oklahoma in 2007. However, it was abandoned without following any of Oklahoma's or Colorado's renewal statutes, and subsequently re-filed in 2016, after Oklahoma's dormancy period of five years had lapsed, but within Colorado's twenty year dormancy period. Neither Drllevich, supra, nor Pan Energy, supra, address this situation directly. Nor does Watkins v. Conway, 385 U.S. 188, 87 S. Ct. 357, 17 L.Ed.2d 286 (1966), a United States Supreme Court case relied upon by Taracorp.
¶22 The Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (the Act) 12 O.S. 2011 §§ 719-726, governs judgments issued in another state and then filed in Oklahoma for purposes of execution/collection.14 The Act provides that such judgments, once filed in Oklahoma, are treated the same as if they were initially issued in Oklahoma.15 Although the Act does not address re-filing of sister-state judgments, a judgment creditor may enforce a domesticated judgment in Oklahoma. Enforcement may be done, even if Oklahoma's limitation period for enforcement of judgments has run on the original domesticated foreign judgment.
Cite Name Level Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals Cases Cite Name Level 2006 OK CIV APP 152, 149 P.3d YORKSHIRE WEST CAPITAL, INC. v. RODMAN 1088, Discussed Oklahoma Supreme Court Cases Cite Name Level 1998 OK 39, 958 P.2d 1277, 69 DRLLEVICH CONSTRUCTION, INC. v. STOCK OBJ 1788, Discussed at Length 1984 OK 36, 692 P.2d 1358, First of Denver Mortg. Investors v. Riggs Discussed Title 12. Civil Procedure Cite Name Level 12 O.S. 706, Judgments as Liens - Filing - Execution Discussed 12 O.S. 719, Short Title Cited 12 O.S. 720, Definition Discussed 12 O.S. 721, Filing and Status of Foreign Judgments Discussed 12 O.S. 726, Uniformity of Interpretation Discussed 12 O.S. 735, Must Be Issued within Five Years or Judgment Becomes Dormant - Discussed at Length Inapplicable to Municipalities Title 20. Courts Cite Name Level 20 O.S. 30.5, Opinions - Publications Cited
1. The version of 12 O.S. 2001 § 706 in effect at the time of the Pottawatomie County filing provided in pertinent part:A. Scope. This section applies to all judgments of courts of record of this state, and judgments of courts of record of the United States not subject to the registration procedures of the Uniform Federal Lien Registration Act, Section 3401 et seq. of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which award the payment of money, regardless of whether such judgments also include other orders or relief. B. Creation of Lien. A judgment to which this section applies shall be a lien on the real estate of the judgment debtor within a county only from and after a Statement of Judgment made by the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor's attorney, substantially in the form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts, has been filed in the office of the county clerk in that county. 1. Presentation of a Statement of Judgment and tender of the filing fee, shall, upon acceptance by the county clerk, constitute filing under this section. 2. A lien created pursuant to this section shall affect and attach to all real property, including the homestead, of judgment debtors whose names appear in the Statement of Judgment; however, judgment liens on a homestead are exempt from forced sale pursuant to Section 1 of Title 31 of the Oklahoma Statutes and Section 2 of Article XII of the Oklahoma Constitution.The pertinent portions of the current version remain substantially unchanged. See also, the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, 12 O.S. 2001 §§ 719et seq.
2. Title 12 O.S. 2011 § 735 provides in pertinent part:A. A judgment shall become unenforceable and of no effect if, within five (5) years after the date of filing of any judgment that now is or may hereafter be filed in any court of record in this state: ․B. A judgment shall become unenforceable and of no effect if more than five (5) years have passed from the date of: 1. The last execution on the judgment was filed with the county clerk; 2. The last notice of renewal of judgment was filed with the court clerk; 3. The last garnishment summons was issued; or4. The sending of a certified copy of a notice of income assignment to a payor of the judgment debtor.
3. Colorado Revised Statutes Annotated 13-52-102 provides in pertinent part:․ (2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), execution may issue on any judgment described in subsection (1) of this section to enforce the same at any time within twenty years from the entry thereof, but not afterwards, unless revived as provided by law, and, after twenty years from the entry of final judgment in any court of this state, the judgment shall be considered as satisfied in full, unless so revived. ․
4. Title 12 Ch.15, App. 1, Rule 1.200, Opinions of the Supreme Court and of the Court of Civil Appeals provides in pertinent part:․ (2) Opinions of the Court of Civil Appeals which resolve novel or unusual issues may be designated for publication, at the time the opinion is adopted, by affirmative vote of at least two members of the division responsible for the opinion. Such opinions shall remain unpublished until after mandate issues, after which time they shall be published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, the Oklahoma State Courts Network, and in any unofficial reporter. Such opinions shall bear the notation “Released for publication by order of the Court of Civil Appeals”, and shall be considered to have persuasive effect. Any such opinion, however, bearing the notation “Approved for publication by the Supreme Court” has been so designated by the Supreme Court pursuant to 20 O.S. § 30.5, and shall be accorded precedential value. The Supreme Court retains the power to order opinions of the Court of Civil Appeals withdrawn from publication. ․
5. Title 12 O.S. 2011 § 720 provides:In this act “foreign judgment” means any judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or of any other court which is entitled to full faith and credit in this state.
6. Title 12 O.S. 2011 § 721 provides:A copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with the applicable Act of Congress or of the statutes of this state may be filed in the office of the court clerk of any county of this state. The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of the district court of any county of this state. A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of a district court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner. Provided, however, that no such filed foreign judgment shall be a lien on real estate of the judgment debtor until the judgment creditor complies with the requirements of subsection B of Section 706 of this title.
7. 12 O.S. 2011 § 726 provides:This act shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.
8. We reference the current version of 12 O.S. 2011 § 735, because, while the statute has been amended since 1977, the amendments have no bearing on the issues in this case. Section 735 provides:A. A judgment shall become unenforceable and of no effect if, within five (5) years after the date of filing of any judgment that now is or may hereafter be filed in any court of record in this state: 1. Execution is not issued by the court clerk and filed with the county clerk as provided in Section 759 of this title; 2. A notice of renewal of judgment substantially in the form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts is not filed with the court clerk; 3. A garnishment summons is not issued by the court clerk; or 4. A certified copy of a notice of income assignment is not sent to a payor of the judgment debtor. B. A judgment shall become unenforceable and of no effect if more than five (5) years have passed from the date of: 1. The last execution on the judgment was filed with the county clerk; 2. The last notice of renewal of judgment was filed with the court clerk; 3. The last garnishment summons was issued; or 4. The sending of a certified copy of a notice of income assignment to a payor of the judgment debtor.C. This section shall not apply to judgments against municipalities or to child support judgments by operation of law.
9. The ten year period was applied from a Washington State Statute, Wa. St. § 6.17.020(4) which provided:Except as provided in subsection (2), (3), and (4) of this section, the party in whose favor a judgment of a court of record of this state or a district court of this state had been or may be rendered, or the assignee, may have an execution issued for the collection or enforcement of the judgment at any time within ten years from the entry of the judgment.
10. Title 12 O.S. 1991 § 735.:
11. DrllevichConstruction, Inc., v. Stock, 1998 OK 39, 958 P.2d 1277 relied on cases from Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Connecticut, and North Carolina. Paragraphs 17-19 provides:¶17 The Utah Supreme Court noted that its interpretation creating a new Utah judgment, upon the proper registration of a foreign judgment, was consistent with the approach taken by federal courts in their application of 28 U.S.C. § 1963, a similar federal registration statute.3 The Utah court noted a line of federal cases which found a new judgment was created with the registration of a foreign judgment. Id. (citing Stanford v. Utley, 341 F.2d 265, 268 (8th Cir. 1965) (Judge, later Justice, Blackmun wrote, “We feel that registration provides, so far as enforcement is concerned, the equivalent of a new judgment of the registration court.”, emphasis added); United States v. Palmer, 609 F.Supp. 544, 548 (E.D.Tenn. 1985); Dichter v. Disco Corp., 606 F.Supp. 721, 724 (S.D.Ohio 1984); Anderson v. Tucker, 68 F.R.D. 461, 463 (D.Conn. 1975); Junaeu Spruce Corp v. Int'l Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union, 128 F.Supp. 715, 717 (N.D.Cal. 1955)); But see Robinson v. First Wyoming Bank, 909 P.2d 689 (Mont. 1995). ¶18 The Court of Appeals for the Western District of Missouri, applying Missouri law, made a finding similar to that of Pan Energy, viewing a foreign judgment filed in a Missouri court as a new judgment and applying Missouri's ten year statute of limitations from the effective date of that new Missouri judgment. Walnut Grove Prod. v. Schnell, 659 S.W.2d 6 (W.D.MO. 1983). ¶19 Other jurisdictions with holdings similar to that of Pan Energy include: The Texas Supreme Court dismissing an appeal for want of jurisdiction held that when a creditor proceeds under the Uniform Enforcement of Judgments Act, “the filing of the foreign judgment comprises both a plaintiff's original petition and a final judgment.” WalnutEquipmentLeasingCo. v. Wu, 920 S.W.2d 285, 286 (Tex. 1996); The Supreme Court of Nevada, citing PanEnergy v. Martin and others, found “that when a party files a valid foreign judgment in Nevada, it constitutes a new action for the purposes of the statute of limitations.” Trubenbach v. Amstadter, 849 P.2d 288, 290 (Nev. 1993). See also Galef v. BuenaVistaDairy, 875 P.2d 1132 (N.M.Ct.App. 1994); Mee v. Sprague, 545 N.Y.S.2d 268 (N.Y.Sup. 1989); Payne v. Claffy, 315 S.E.2d 814 (S.C.Ct.App. 1984); Warner v. Warner, 668 P.2d 193, 195 (Kan.Ct.App. 1983) (“registration of a foreign judgment which is enforceable when registered gives the judgment creditor a new and additional five years to execute, regardless of when the judgment was rendered in the foreign state.”).
12. Colorado Revised Statutes Annotated 13-52-102, see note 3, supra.
13. Watkins v. Conway, 385 U.S. 188, 87 S. Ct. 357, 17 L.Ed.2d 286 (1966).
14. Title 12 O.S. 2011 § 720, see note 5, supra.
15. Title 12 O.S. 2011 § 721 see note 6, supra.