Opinion ID: 1627217
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellant further asserts the court should have created a trust by operation of law in the fund.

Text: The only request made in the trial court for creation of a constructive trust is in the amendment to motion, filed April 6, 1955. This was after the court had ruled upon the motion. Nowhere in the record does it appear that such amendment was ever presented to the court. It is urged in argument that many attempts were made to bring the matter before the court and that it refused to act thereon. Hence, it was asserted, the same should be deemed to have been denied, at least for purpose of this appeal. Accepting this theory and assuming a denial by the trial court, we find no merit to appellant's claim. A constructive trust is an appropriate remedy against unjust enrichment, whether initially tainted with fraud or not. 54 Am.Jur.Trusts, Section 219; 89 C.J.S., Trusts, § 139; Restatement, Trusts, Section 44; Rance v. Gaddis, 226 Iowa 531, 284 N.W. 468. However, in order to establish such a trust, it is necessary that there be a res or specific fund on which the trust may be fixed. 89 C.J.S., Trusts, § 139. As is held in Independent Van & Storage Co. v. Iowa M. Co., 189 Iowa 874, 179 N.W. 157, one who seeks to establish such trust must actually identify his property which is the subject of the trust, or other property into which it has passed and that it is actually in the possession of the party sought to be charged. See also Carpenter v. Lothringer, 224 Iowa 439, 275 N.W. 98. Now, as to the record before us. That funds belonging to appellant have passed into the hands of persons not entitled thereto may be conceded. Somewhere along the line there is an unjust enrichment. It may be accepted that appellee Darragh, at the time of the matters here involved, was a resident of the state of Utah. This creates no obstacle as personal jurisdiction obtained in the original proceedings continued into the instant case. 90 C.J.S., Trusts, § 455; Meents v. Comstock, 230 Iowa 63, 296 N.W. 721. However, from this point on, the record is lacking in essential elements. It appears that an order was made directing the referee to pay the funds in hand to Fahey, as attorney for Darragh. From the referee's pleadings it may be accepted that he made such payment. Nowhere does it appear what Fahey did with the money; but assuming it was paid to Darragh, whether she now has such fund or has property into which the fund was transformed, does not appear. Appellant tells us in his brief and argument that such fund has been invested in a home in Utah by appellee Darragh. Assuming this statement to be true, nothing in the record warrants same, and it certainly may not be accepted here as proof of an essential element in appellant's case. The trial court entered judgment against Darragh for the amount claimed by appellant which was all that the court could properly do under the showing made. The judgment of the trial court must be affirmed. Affirmed.