Opinion ID: 2514340
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Issue 2: Must the adoption be set aside because of fraud?

Text: M.P.'s first alternative argument for setting aside the adoption decree is based on K.S.A. 60-260(b)(3), which provides that fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party can justify relief from a judgment. Fraud entitling a party to relief from a judgment under K.S.A. 60-260(b)(3) must be committed by an adverse party. Although the typical standard of review for a district court's application of the fraud rule under K.S.A. 60-260(b)(3) to a set of facts is abuse of discretion, see In re Marriage of Hampshire, 261 Kan. 854, 862, 934 P.2d 58 (1997); In re Marriage of Reinhardt, 38 Kan.App.2d 60, 161 P.3d 235 (2007), we agree with M.P. that the question of whether N.T. was an adverse party involves statutory interpretation. This raises a preliminary question of law over which this court has de novo review. See In re K.M.H., 285 Kan. 53, 79-80, 169 P.3d 1025 (2007), cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 36, ___ L.Ed.2d ___ (2008). M.P.'s argument that the adverse party language is meant to relate only to other misconduct and not to fraud is not persuasive. When this court is asked to interpret a statute, we first attempt to give effect to the intent of the legislature as expressed through the language enacted. If a statute is plain and unambiguous, as we find this to be, this court will neither speculate regarding legislative intent nor read the statute to add something not readily found in it. There is no need to resort to statutory construction. It is only if the statute's language or text is unclear or ambiguous that we move to the next analytical step, applying canons of construction or relying on legislative history construing the statute to effect the legislature's intent. 285 Kan. at 79, 169 P.3d 1025 (citing CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc. v. Kansas Dept. of Human Resources, 272 Kan. 1288, 1296, 38 P.3d 666 [2002]; State v. Robinson, 281 Kan. 538, 539-40, 132 P.3d 934 [2006]). We see no ambiguity in the wording of K.S.A. 60-260(b)(3). It lists three ways in which relief from a court order may be obtained: fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct. Regardless of whether one reads the phrase of an adverse party to modify all three possibilities explicitly or only other misconduct explicitly, one ends up with the same interpretation. The legislature's choice of listing implies equality among the elements in the list. The plain meaning of the words bears this out. Fraud certainly qualifies as misconduct; so does misrepresentation. [O]ther misconduct of an adverse party references the two other specifically stated types of misconduct. Its third position in the list also tells the reader that each of the three examples of misconduct in the list shares the modifying characteristic of the last, i.e., that it must be the misconduct of an adverse party. We also note that the language of K.S.A. 60-260(b)(3) is identical to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Our interpretation is consistent with that of at least three federal circuit courts of appeals. See, e.g., Frederick v. Kirby Tankships, 205 F.3d 1277, 1287 (11th Cir.2000) (to obtain relief under federal rule, the losing party must prove the prevailing party obtained verdict through fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct); Atkinson v. Prudential Property Co., Inc., 43 F.3d 367, 372-73 (8th Cir. 1994) (to prevail on motion to vacate judgment for fraud, movant must show, with clear and convincing evidence, that opposing party engaged in fraud or misrepresentation that prevented movant from fully and fairly presenting its case); Varden v. Danek Medical, Inc., 58 Fed.Appx. 137, 139 (6th Cir.2003) (unpublished opinion) (not entitled to relief under federal rule because plaintiff's attorneys, of whose actions he complained, were not adverse parties to the action and motions were filed more than 1 year after court's dismissal of judgment). Adoptions are not perfectly analogous to the usual adversary proceedings in our courts. In this case, to the extent M.P. has an adverse party, that role is filled by the adoptive parents, who filed the petition for termination of M.P.'s parental rights. As noted above, the district court found that the adoptive parents and the adoption agency acted in good faith, and M.P. does not argue otherwise. N.T. had already voluntarily relinquished her parental rights and had surrendered custody of A.A.T. Under these circumstances, we affirm the district court's decision that N.T. did not qualify as an adverse party and that M.P. is not entitled to relief under K.S.A. 60-260(b)(3).