Opinion ID: 1797186
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the lower court erred in failing to impose a constructive trust as regards certain realty and personalty rightfully belonging to griffin of which armana gained possession and refused to return to griffin.

Text: Griffin argues that the chancellor erred in not imposing a constructive trust regarding certain real and personal property Armana held which rightfully belonged to him. This Court has defined a constructive trust as follows: A constructive trust is one that arises by operation of law against one who, by fraud, actual or constructive, by duress or abuse of confidence, by commission of wrong, or by any form of unconscionable conduct, artifice, concealment, or questionable means, or who in any way against equity and good conscience, either has obtained or holds the legal right to property which he ought not, in equity and good conscience, hold and enjoy. Planters Bank & Trust Co. v. Sklar, 555 So.2d 1024, 1034 (Miss. 1990) (citing Sojourner v. Sojourner, 247 Miss. 342, 153 So.2d 803, 807 (1963)). See also Conner v. Conner, 238 Miss. 471, 119 So.2d 240 (1960). Constructive trusts are created for the purpose of preventing unjust enrichment, whereby one unfairly holding a property interest may be compelled to convey that interest to whom it justly belongs. Allgood v. Allgood, 473 So.2d 416 (Miss. 1985). It is unjust enrichment under cover of the relation of confidence, which puts the court in motion. Russell v. Douglas, 243 Miss. 497, 506, 138 So.2d 730 (1962) (citing Sinclair v. Purdy, 235 N.Y. 245, 139 N.E. 255 (1923) (Cardozo, J.)). In Russell v. Douglas, 243 Miss. 497, 505-506, 138 So.2d 730, 734 (1962), this Court summarized Mississippi constructive trust law. A constructive trust is a fiction of equity. It is the formula through which the conscience of equity finds expression. When property has been acquired in such circumstances that the holder of the legal title may not in good conscience retain the beneficial interest, equity converts him into a trustee. The equity must shape the relief and courts are bound by no unyielding formula. It arises regardless of intention or agreement, express or implied. The trust is raised by implication of law. Fraud need not be shown. It is necessary only to establish such conduct and bad faith as would shock the conscience of the court. Sojourner v. Sojourner, 247 Miss. 342, 153 So.2d 803 (1963). It is the relationship plus the abuse of confidence imposed that authorizes a court of equity to construct a trust for the benefit of the party whose confidence has been abused. Summer v. Summer, 224 Miss. 273, 80 So.2d 35 (1955). An abuse of confidence within the rule may be an abuse of either a technical fiduciary relationship or of an informal relationship where one person trusts in and relies upon another, whether the relation is moral, social, domestic, or merely personal. The origin of the confidence reposed is immaterial. A confidential relationship within the rule need involve neither a promise for the benefit of another nor an express fiduciary relationship. 76 Am.Jur.2d Trusts §§ 201, 205-212 (1992). Generally, a constructive trust will be raised where, at the time the promise is made, the grantee does not intend to perform it, or it is intentionally false, or where confidential relationships exist between the parties and there is no other consideration for the conveyance except the promise, or where the promise is the inducing cause of the conveyance, no other consideration being given, and is relied on by the grantor. In today's opinion, this Court finds that Armana did wrongfully take title to the Florida property by taking and recording the deed without the knowledge or consent of Griffin. Accordingly, the deed is set aside and cancelled. The chancellor in the case sub judice found that Armana was in possession of certain personal property, to wit, pieces of jewelry, properly belonging to Griffin and ordered that it be returned. In light of the fact that Armana was living in France prior to trial, and that the trial necessitated her return to Mississippi, the imposition of a constructive trust was a reasonable request and the chancellor erred in not imposing one on Armana concerning the jewelry she had in her possession.