Opinion ID: 2445325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: submission of certificate

Text: Lastly, the Tacketts argue that the trial court had no authority to reopen the record and allow First Savings to include a document not introduced at trial. At issue, is a certified copy of the document concerning the corporate change of title from First Federal S & L to First Federal Savings. Mr. Williams testified as to the corporate name change, noting that documents supporting this change were filed in the county records, although he did not have them in court. There were no objections to his remarks in this regard. Following trial, the parties submitted post-trial briefs. First Savings attached to its brief, a certified copy of a recorded document noting Mr. Williams' testimony concerning the corporate name change. In her opinion letter of March 16, 1990, the chancellor referred to the document and to Mr. Williams' testimony as the bases for her finding that there was no substantial change in entities. The court noted the document was a public record and stated that the trial record would be reopened to allow First Savings to insert a certified copy. The Tacketts later filed a written request for findings of fact and conclusions of law, which included a request for the court to cite its authority for reopening the record; the court answered the request, in her own handwriting opposite each request, but did not do so until after the entry of the decree of record and after the notice of appeal and designation of record was perfected by the Tacketts. When filing their record on appeal with the Court of Appeals (the case was later transferred to this court), the Tacketts filed a motion to strike, having discovered that the certified copy had been inserted into the transcript and noting further that the document was never file marked, was never included as a pleading by any party, and was not proper evidence. As a result, the court of appeals remanded the matter to the chancellor to settle the record. Although not abstracted by either party, an examination of the record reveals the chancellor, upon remand, conducted a hearing at which the parties were represented by counsel. Following oral arguments, the chancellor formally introduced the certificate into the record and concluded that such introduction, and the hearing, properly settled the record. We disagree. The purpose in settling the record, under Ark.R.App.P. 6(e) is to ensure that the record truly discloses what occurred in the trial court. (emphasis added) It is undisputed that the certificate was not introduced at trial, nor does there appear to have been any discussion concerning its introduction. Furthermore, the procedure by which the certificate was introduced after trial was improper. Granted, a trial court has discretion to reopen the record before entry of a final decree. See Kennedy v. Kennedy, 243 Ark. 773, 421 S.W.2d 611 (1967). Before doing so, however, the trial must afford both parties the opportunity to be heard on the matter. This was not done. Without entertaining motions or conducting a hearing on the issue, the chancellor merely announced in her opinion letter, that the record is to be opened to allow the insertion of this new evidence. The chancellor entered her final decree on April 3, 1990, without mention of the certificate, yet it appears in the original record as plaintiff's Exhibit 1. In sum, we cannot approve the procedures utilized by the chancellor in receiving Exhibit 1 as evidence and causing it to be placed into the record, nor can we agree with the chancellor's apparent assumption that by settling the record the improper introduction of a certified copy into evidence was cured. Although considering this certificate as evidence and placing it in the record was error, we do not see that the Tacketts have been prejudiced. Evidence of the corporate name change, and its relation as to the transference of the note between corporations, was sufficiently introduced through the testimony of Mr. Williams. The certificate has no bearing on our decision on the merits. Based on the foregoing reasons, we affirm.