Title: Ex Parte Mid-Continent Systems, Inc.
Citation: 447 So. 2d 717
Docket Number: N/A
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: March 2, 1984

447 So. 2d 717 (1984)
Ex parte MID-CONTINENT SYSTEMS, INC., and D.G. Seago, Jr.
(In re V-J CORPORATION,
v.
BESSEMER OIL COMPANY, INC.; William T. Allen; Mid-Continent Systems, Inc., D.G. Seago, Jr., et al.)
83-156.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
March 2, 1984.
Robert H. Loeb and Thomas M. Ray of Gordon, Silberman, Loeb, Cleveland &amp; Gordon, Birmingham, for petitioners.
Richard F. Ogle and Douglas J. Centeno of Denaburg, Schoel, Meyerson, Ogle, Zarzaur &amp; Max, Birmingham, and Arthur Green of Paden, Green &amp; Paden, Bessemer, for respondents.
EMBRY, Justice.
This is an original petition for the writ of mandamus seeking to require the Honorable Walter G. Bridges, Judge of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Bessemer Division, to set aside an order requiring production of records for examination by a court appointed auditor. The records are those of Mid-Continent Systems, Inc., of which D.G. Seago, Jr., is chief executive officer and chairman of its board of directors.
The action giving rise to this petition was brought by V-J Corporation against Mid-Continent *718 and Seago, among others, seeking money damages on an open account, for worthless checks, and under the legal theories of: unjust enrichment, corporate alter egoinstrumentality theory, conspiracy to defraud, fraud, fraudulent suppression of material facts, deceit, and tortious interference with business relationships.
V-J filed a motion for preliminary injunction and other relief which requested the trial court to
In the course of a hearing on that motion, an agreement was reached by V-J Corporation, Mid-Continent Systems and Seago. That agreement contains the following provisions pertinent to this appeal:
The court proceeded to appoint, as auditor, a firm of certified public accountants that embarked upon the duties assigned them under the agreement. During the course of their examination of books and records of the parties litigant, the auditors determined there was a need to examine books and records of Mid-Continent at West Memphis, Arkansas. They went there to do so and learned of the existence of certain further records pertinent to their assigned task. After being denied the right to examine those records, they returned to Birmingham and reported this, after which V-J filed a motion to compel production and for sanctions. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court ordered Mid-Continent and Seago to produce the documents. This original petition was then filed in this court for the writ of mandamus or prohibition.
Pertinent portions of the order complained of by Mid-Continent and Seago read:
Petitioners stated the issues to be:
Respondent states the issues as:
The controlling principles of law under which this court will determine whether to issue the writ of mandamus are: (1) Absent a clear abuse of discretion we will not disturb the trial court's order requiring production of the documents. Ex parte Allstate Insurance Co., 401 So. 2d 749 (Ala. 1981). We find no such abuse and will therefore deny the petition. (2) The writ of mandamus will not issue when the right sought to be enforced is doubtful. We find the right sought to be enforced more than doubtful. Ex parte Dorsey Trailers, Inc., 397 So. 2d 98 (Ala.1981).
Petitioners' statement of the issues is somewhat misleading. Apparently they would have this court review this case confined within a very limited context of their construction of the agreement and without regard to the authority of the trial court under the law and appropriate procedural rules. Under the agreement itself, the only limitations placed upon the auditor are found in paragraphs one and five. The auditor's work, or investigation, is limited to transactions, directly or indirectly, between and among Mid-Continent, Seago, Bessemer Oil Company, V-J, and Southeast, and information gathering is confined to records of the various parties to this action, and other relevant records. The exhibits to the petition (which make the record in this kind of proceedings) demonstrate that the documents ordered produced were in the records of Mid-Continent and contained information relevant to transactions indirectly between and among these parties. They also constituted "other relevant records." The order of production was therefore well within the discretion of the trial court, as well as being within the *720 powers granted the auditor by the agreement. Additionally, paragraph seven of the agreement is an ample grant of power to the parties, and thus to the auditor, for the latter to examine the records ordered produced. From all of this, it is quite clear the trial court's production order is not overly broad and was appropriate.
Neither did the trial court err in its construction of the limits imposed by its order of production. That court was not confined to the agreement in its power to compel production of the records it ordered produced. Rule 53(a), A.R.C.P., provides that in any action pending the court may appoint a special master; the rule goes on to state: "As used in these rules the word `master' includes a referee, an auditor, and an examiner." Rule 53(c) states in part: "He may require the production before him of evidence upon all matters embraced in the reference, including the production of all books, papers, vouchers, documents and writings applicable thereto." See Pathe Laboratories, Inc. v. du Pont Film Manufacturing Corp., 3 F.R.D. 11 (S.D.N.Y. 1943).
Regarding petitioners' contention that the trial court unlawfully delegated its authority to the auditor, we recognize that a court may not delegate a judicial function. This the trial court did not do. Only when the trial court allows a master to resolve purely legal questions can it be said there is an unlawful delegation of judicial powers. See Reed v. Cleveland Board of Education, 607 F.2d 737 (6th Cir.1979). In this case the auditor was merely seeking factual information to be made a part of its report of investigation of the transactions, directly or indirectly, between the parties to this litigation. See Cruz v. Hauck, 515 F.2d 322 (5th Cir.1975). For further enlightment respecting the trial court's power to order a reference more broad than a stipulation of the parties without abusing its discretion, see Torres v. International General Electric, S.A., 303 F.2d 615 (1st Cir.1962).
The court having concluded that petitioners show no right to have the writ of mandamus issue, the writ is denied.
WRIT DENIED.
TORBERT, C.J., and FAULKNER, ALMON and ADAMS, JJ., concur.
[1]  The words in handwriting are: "No person receiving any such information from any counsel shall disclose such information to any other person."