Opinion ID: 2335333
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Laws is liable to her because he failed to disclose the error in the property settlement agreement.

Text: Only the first argument was presented to the trial court. Hence, that is the only argument we will address. The appropriate standard of review when reviewing a grant of summary judgment has often been announced by this court: We have repeatedly held that summary judgment is to be granted by a trial court only when it is clear that there are no genuine issues of material fact to be litigated, and the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. George v. Jefferson Hosp. Ass'n, Inc., 337 Ark. 206, 987 S.W.2d 710 (1999); Pugh v. Griggs, 327 Ark. 577, 940 S.W.2d 445 (1997). Once the moving party has established a prima facie entitlement to summary judgment, the opposing party must meet proof with proof and demonstrate the existence of a material issue of fact. Id. On appellate review, we determine if summary judgment was appropriate based on whether the evidentiary items presented by the moving party in support of its motion leave a material fact unanswered. Id. This court views the evidence in a light most favorable to the party against whom the motion was filed, resolving all doubts and inferences against the moving party. Adams v. Arthur, 333 Ark. 53, 969 S.W.2d 598 (1998); Pugh, 327 Ark. 577, 940 S.W.2d 445. Our review is not limited to the pleadings, as we also focus on the affidavits and other documents filed by the parties. Wallace v. [Broyles], 331 Ark. 58, 961 S.W.2d 712 (1998); Angle v. Alexander, 328 Ark. 714, 945 S.W.2d 933 (1997). After reviewing undisputed facts, summary judgment should be denied if, under the evidence, reasonable men might reach different conclusions from those undisputed facts. George, 337 Ark. 206, 987 S.W.2d 710. Worth v. City of Rogers, 341 Ark. 12, 20, 14 S.W.3d 471, 475 (2000). See also Ark. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(2). An attorney owes a client a fiduciary duty of undivided loyalty. Norfleet v. Stewart, 180 Ark. 161, 20 S.W.2d 868 (1929). Breach of fiduciary duty involves betrayal of a trust and benefit by the dominant party at the expense of one under his influence. 36A C.J.S., Fiduciary, pp. 388-389 (1961). Recently, this court set out the various aspects of the fiduciary relationship: [A] person standing in a fiduciary relationship may be held liable for any conduct that breaches a duty imposed by the fiduciary relationship. Long v. Lampton, supra [324 Ark. 511, 922 S.W.2d 692 (1996)]. It follows that, regardless of the express terms of an agreement, a fiduciary may be held liable for conduct that does not meet the requisite standards of fair dealing, good faith, honesty, and loyalty. See Berry v. Saline Memorial Hosp., 322 Ark. 182, 907 S.W.2d 736 (1995); Texas Oil & Gas Corp. v. Hawkins Oil & Gas, Inc., 282 Ark. 268, 668 S.W.2d 16 (1984); Yahraus v. Continental Oil Co., 218 Ark. 872, 239 S.W.2d 594 (1951). The guiding principle of the fiduciary relationship is that self-dealing, absent the consent of the other party to the relationship, is strictly proscribed. See Hosey v. Burgess, 319 Ark. 183 890 S.W.2d 262 (1995). Sexton Law Firm, P.A. v. Milligan, 329 Ark. 285, 298, 948 S.W.2d 388, 395 (1997). Self-dealing breaches the fiduciary duty even when the action taken is innocent and unintentional. Hosey v. Burgess, 319 Ark. 183, 890 S.W.2d 262 (1995). The pivotal question therefore becomes whether, under the undisputed facts surrounding the June 4, 1996 meeting, Laws engaged in self-dealing. From our reading of the allegations, Ms. Cole asserts that Laws was sloppy, careless, and hurried on the morning when the property settlement agreement was finalized and that he made a mistake. Further, she claims that through his body language and his demeanor, he implicitly put pressure on her to sign the property settlement agreement. In so doing, she maintains that he put his own interest in reaching an agreement, and the chancellor's interest in having a timely hearing, above her interest, which was to get a full and fair property settlement agreement. Despite these contentions, we fail to discern any proof that Law's action amounted to self-dealing. It is true that Laws acquiesced in what is alleged to be a mistake to the detriment of his client. That allegation falls more readily into the category of negligence, and the jury returned a verdict in Laws's favor on this claim. However, at no time is it alleged that Laws attempted to procure assets for himself or obtain any benefit for himself at the expense of Ms. Cole. Nor did he bargain with an opposing party in order to make a personal gain. In fact, the undisputed facts give no indication whatsoever that Laws engaged in self-dealing on the day the property settlement agreement was agreed to. We cannot say that Laws's interest in obtaining a property settlement agreement for his client amounted to self-dealing or that the trial court erred in entering summary judgment in Laws's favor.