Opinion ID: 1630945
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether there existed a genuine issue of material fact which precluded the granting of summary judgment to Cleve B. Brock.

Text: ¶ 25. The homeowners argue a genuine issue of material fact does exist based on a chancery court complaint in which they characterize Brock as stating that he acted outside or individually in relation with Robert Buchanan of Brock & Buchanan, Inc. Therefore, the homeowners argue Brock is judicially and collaterally estopped from claiming that he was acting corporately due to this previous proceeding. The homeowners support this election of remedies argument by several authorities including Coral Drilling, Inc. v. Bishop, 260 So.2d 463, 465-66 (Miss.1972). In Coral Drilling, Inc., the plaintiff stated in one suit one fact and in another suit a different fact regarding the same thing. Id. The homeowners contend that since Brock elected to recognize himself as partner in this previous proceeding, then Brock should be considered only a partner and thus acting individually as opposed to corporately on this appeal. Therefore, the homeowners argue this poses a material issue that should prevent entry of summary judgment for Brock. ¶ 26. Despite the argument, the homeowners failed to include this chancery court complaint as part of the record as required by M.R.A.P. 10., and due to this Court's denial of their motion to enlarge the record in an attempt to include the chancery court complaint that could possibly raise the only material issue in this case, this chancery court complaint may not be considered on appeal. Mississippi appellate courts may not consider information that is outside the record. Dew v. Langford, 666 So.2d 739, 746 (Miss. 1995). The trial court's rulings are presumed correct, and this presumption will prevail unless the record shows otherwise. Id.; Myers v. Miss. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 749 So.2d 1173, 1174 (Miss.Ct. App.1999). ¶ 27. Brock argues this chancery court complaint is irrelevant since it is not included in the record. ¶ 28. This Court affirms the circuit court's decision based on the fact that the only possible material issue (the chancery court complaint stating Cleve B. Brock elected to be considered a partner of Brock & Buchanan, Inc. as opposed to a corporate entity) the homeowners could argue on appeal has not been allowed to be included in the record. Therefore, the homeowners have raised no genuine issue of material fact. With no genuine issue present, Rule 56(c) of the Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure controls, and the summary judgment for Brock must be affirmed.