Opinion ID: 1832312
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: the chancery court was without jurisdiction to close the estate.

Text: ¶ 67. McNeil appealed the chancellor's denial of his Motion for Accounting and Other Relief on December 26, 1996. On June 23, 1997, while the appeal was pending, the chancellor entered an order authorizing the closing of the estate and discharging the executors. On September 8, 1997, McNeil filed a Motion to Vacate and Set Aside the chancellor's order, arguing that the order is void because the chancery court no longer had jurisdiction to close the estate as McNeil had already noticed his appeal to this Court. McNeil also argued that the order was allegedly procured through the misconduct of the executors' counsel, Ms. Brown. McNeil requested that Brown be held in contempt of court and assessed with sanctions for earwigging the chancellor under Rule 3.10 of the Uniform Chancery Rules. McNeil also argued that Brown violated Rule 4.2 of the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct by communicating directly with McNeil, who was represented by counsel. The chancery court held a hearing on McNeil's motion on October 31, 1997, and the chancellor subsequently denied the motion on November 7, 1997. ¶ 68. All parties to this appeal concede that the chancery court lacked jurisdiction to enter its order of June 23, 1997, and that the order is therefore void. This Court has held that the filing of a notice of appeal transfers jurisdiction of a matter from the lower court to this Court, and that the lower court is thus without authority to amend, modify, or reconsider its judgment. Wright v. White, 693 So.2d 898, 903 (Miss.1997) (citing In re Estate of Moreland, 537 So.2d 1345, 1346-47 (Miss. 1989) (when a proper appeal is taken, the case is ipso facto removed to the appellate court)). See also Dunavant Enterprises, Inc. v. Ford, 294 So.2d 788, 792 (Miss. 1974); Crocker v. Farmers & Merchants Bank, 293 So.2d 444 (Miss.1974); Lindsey v. Lindsey, 219 Miss. 720, 723, 69 So.2d 844, 844-45 (1954). If the appeal is without supersedeas, as is the appeal at hand, the appellee may proceed to execute on the decree in the lower court. Lindsey, 219 Miss. at 723, 69 So.2d at 844-45. The lower court may not, however, broaden, amend, modify, vacate, clarify, or rehear the decree. Moreland at 1346. The chancellor's order discharging the executors and closing the estate broadens its judgment of November 15, 1996. Consequently, the order entered June 23, 1997, must be vacated as null and void because it exceeds the subject matter jurisdiction of the lower court. See Duvall v. Duvall, 224 Miss. 546, 552, 80 So.2d 752, 754 (1955). ¶ 69. McNeil also contends that counsel for the executors, Brown, should be sanctioned for professional misconduct. First, McNeil asserts that Brown violated Rule 4.2 of the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct by mailing directly to McNeil, who was represented by counsel, a copy of the order closing the estate and a check disbursing McNeil's share of the estate proceeds. Second, McNeil argues that Brown violated Rule 3.10 of the Uniform Chancery Court Rules by securing the order closing the estate without notice to McNeil. ¶ 70. McNeil presented these arguments to the chancellor at the hearing on McNeil's Motion to Vacate and Set Aside the order closing the estate. The chancellor found that after full consideration of the matter including the record in this cause, the testimony of witnesses and exhibits received at the hearing, the relief requested should be denied. McNeil's request for sanctions against Brown are likewise denied by this Court. The chancellor's order closing the estate is void, as is his denial of McNeil's Motion to Vacate and Set Aside that order. There is thus no denial of relief from which to appeal to this Court. The proper forum for an ethics complaint against Brown is specified in Rule 8 of the Mississippi Rules of Discipline. If McNeil receives an unfavorable disposition, he may then appeal to this Court pursuant to Rule 9 of the Rules of Discipline.