Court Opinion

ID: 3189792
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-30 15:02:19.133826+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:08.706474
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                      DIVISION IV
                                      No. CV-15-350

THOMAS URAL FALLIN III                           Opinion Delivered   March 30, 2016
                    APPELLANT
                                                 APPEAL FROM THE COLUMBIA
V.                                               COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                                 [NO. DR-12-136]

KATHY LEANNE FALLIN                              HONORABLE HAMILTON H.
                                 APPELLEE        SINGLETON, JUDGE

                                                 AFFIRMED

                         RAYMOND R. ABRAMSON, Judge

       Thomas Ural Fallin III (“Tommy”) appeals the Columbia County Circuit Court order

enforcing a property-settlement agreement (“PSA”) with his ex-wife, Kathy Leanne Fallin

(“Leanne”). On appeal, Tommy argues that the circuit court erred in enforcing the PSA and

awarding Leanne attorney’s fees. We affirm.

       Tommy and Leanne were married on November 23, 1985. On May 9, 2012, Leanne

filed a pro se complaint for divorce. The complaint stated, “There are marital property rights

and debts to be adjudicated by this [c]ourt. However, it is anticipated that Plaintiff and

Defendant will reach an agreement as to the division of property and debts.” Leanne also

attached Tommy’s entry of appearance and waiver of service of summons to the complaint.

Paragraphs three and four of the waiver of service of summons state as follows:

       3. I have reached an agreement with Plaintiff regarding all property and debt issues.
       Our agreement is contained in the Property Settlement Agreement that I have signed
       contemporaneously with this document.
                                Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

       4. I have had an opportunity to visit with an attorney prior to entering into my
       agreement with the Plaintiff, and fully understand the terms and effect of the
       agreement and decree.

       On June 6, 2012, Tommy filed a withdrawal of his entry of appearance and a

withdrawal of his waiver of service of summons. He stated that he desired to be represented

by counsel and to be present at the final hearing. Also on June 6, Tommy’s counsel filed an

answer to Leanne’s complaint for divorce and a counterclaim for divorce. In his answer,

Tommy stated that “any attempts of settlement between the parties prior to the final hearing

of this matter is inadmissible and should not be considered by th[e] [c]ourt.”

       On June 27, 2012, Leanne filed a motion to enforce the agreement and a motion for

contempt. She alleged that she and Tommy had entered into a PSA on May 9, 2012, and she

asked the court to enforce the agreement. She also asked the court to hold Tommy in

contempt for selling the marital business, Fallin Tractor Company (“Fallin Tractor”), to his

father and disposing of marital savings. She attached the PSA to her motion. The relevant

paragraphs of the PSA provide the following:

       1. PROPERTY AND DEBT SETTLEMENT

       During the course of this marriage, the parties acquired various items of real and
       personal property and debts, and such items and debts are disposed of as follows:

              Property
              Property is awarded to each party as follows:

              A. Real Estate

                     Commercial Property:
                     Wife shall be entitled to sole possession and ownership of 1010 North
                     Dudney, Magnolia, AR 71753, more commonly known as the Fallin
                     Professional Building. Wife shall be responsible for all debt thereon, and

                                              2
                         Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

              shall indemnify and hold Husband harmless therefrom. Husband shall
              execute all documents necessary to effectuate this provision.

              Marital Home:
              Wife shall be entitled to sole possession and ownership of the marital
              home located at 1102 Hazel Circle, Magnolia, AR 71753. Wife shall be
              responsible for all debt thereon, and shall indemnify and hold Husband
              harmless therefrom. Husband shall execute all documents necessary to
              effectuate this provision. If remarriage occurs or home is sold then wife
              shall pay [$]80,000.00 to Husband for home at the time of sale.

       B. Retirement Accounts and Pensions
             Wife shall be entitled to sole ownership . . . in the following retirement
             accounts:
                    Ameriprise account ending 7004
                    Ameriprise account ending 9004
                    Plan Administrator: Candy Adams
       Husband shall execute all documents necessary to effectuate this provision.
....

       D. Bank Accounts
             Wife shall have sole possession of the following marital bank account(s):
                    Farmers Bank Checking Account (account ending 3025)
             Husband shall have sole possession of the following marital bank
             account(s): NONE

       E. Tangible Personal Property
             The parties have divided all personal property, and each shall have
             ownership and possession of that property currently in their respective
             possession. Each party shall be responsible for any debts associated with
             personal property which they receive in this division. Wife and Husband
             agree to indemnify and hold each other harmless from any such debts.

       F. Debts
       Wife shall be responsible for the following debts:

       REAL ESTATE DEBT:                  Creditor
       1010 North Dudney Suite
       Fallin Professional Building
       Magnolia, AR 71753                  Farmers Bank and Trust
       Wife agrees to pay off or refinance property loan as soon as [practicable].

                                       3
                  Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

Wife shall be responsible for all other debts incurred solely in her name, as well
as any debts associated with Physiques, Inc. and TLC of Magnolia, Inc.

Husband shall be responsible for the following debts:

                                    Creditor
       Credit Card                  Chase
       Husband shall be responsible for all other debts incurred solely in his
       name, as well as any debts associated with Fallin Tractor, Inc.

G. Corporations
      Husband and Wife have ownership interest in the following
      corporations: 1) Physiques, Inc.; 2) Fallin Tractor, Inc.; 3) TLC of
      Magnolia, LLC. The parties agree to the following division:

       Wife shall be the sole owner of Physiques, Inc. and shall have all
       corporate shares or units, as well as any property, both real and personal,
       tangible and intangible of said corporation as her sole and separate
       property. Wife shall be responsible for all debts and accounts payable
       related to Physiques, Inc. and shall indemnify and hold Husband
       harmless therefrom. Husband relinquishes his interest in said business
       upon the execution of this Agreement, and shall execute all documents
       necessary to effectuate this provision.

       Wife shall be the sole owner of TLC of Magnolia, LLC and shall have
       all corporate shares or units, as well as any property, both real and
       personal, tangible and intangible, of said corporation as her sole and
       separate property. Wife shall be responsible for all debts and accounts
       payable related to TLC of Magnolia, LLC and shall indemnify and hold
       Husband harmless therefrom. Husband relinquishes his interest in said
       business upon the execution of this Agreement, and shall execute all
       documents necessary to effectuate this provision.

       Husband shall be the sole owner of Fallin Tractor, Inc. and shall have
       all corporate shares or units, as well as any property, both real and
       personal, tangible and intangible, of said corporation as his sole and
       separate property. Husband shall be responsible for all debts and
       accounts payable related to Fallin Tractor, Inc. and shall indemnify and
       hold Wife harmless therefrom.Wife relinquishes her interest in said
       business upon the execution of this Agreement, and shall execute all
       documents necessary to effectuate this provision.

                                4
                                Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

       2. SPOUSAL SUPPORT

       Husband agrees to pay to Wife spousal support in the sum of $2,000 per month on the
       first day of the month, beginning 4/1/2012. Payments of spousal support shall
       terminate upon the death of either party, the remarriage of the party receiving spousal
       support, or after 120 months.

       3. HEALTH INSURANCE

       Husband agrees to provide health insurance coverage for Wife that is at least
       comparable to the health insurance offered to employees of Fallin Tractor, Inc. until
       remarriage of Wife.

       4. OTHER

       Husband agrees that Wife will be entitled to receive one (1) tank of gasoline for her
       vehicle each week from Fallin Tractor, Inc. at no cost to her.

       Wife agrees to allow Husband to have gym membership for next 5 years.

       ....

The PSA is signed by Tommy and Leanne and is dated May 9, 2012.

       On December 16, 2013, Tommy filed a motion for summary judgment. He asked the

court to cancel the PSA and to divide their marital property based on evidence submitted by

the parties. The court set a final divorce hearing for April 22, 2014.

       On the morning of the final hearing, Tommy filed a motion in limine asking the court

to preclude Leanne from offering into evidence the PSA. The court addressed Tommy’s

motion in limine at the onset of the hearing. Both parties made arguments on whether the

PSA was enforceable, and the court orally ruled that the PSA was unenforceable. However,

the court allowed Leanne to introduce the PSA into evidence.

                                              5
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

       Leanne then presented her case. She first called Tommy as a witness. Tommy testified

that he worked as the sales manager at Fallin Tractor, a business founded by his grandfather.

He noted that his father now owns the majority of the company and acts as the manager. He

testified that, at the time of the hearing, he owned 383 shares of Fallin Tractor, his brother

owned 382 shares, and his father owned 2235 shares. He testified that his grandfather gave

him 383 shares in 1972. He noted that he receives a monthly salary and commission of $4901

after deductions. He testified that he and Leanne own TLC of Magnolia (“TLC”), a

commercial-property building, and Physiques, Inc. (“Physiques”), a fitness center where

Leanne operates a cardiovascular-nursing business. He explained that Physiques rents its

business space from TLC. Tommy recognized that Leanne’s take-home pay from Physiques

is roughly $2700 per month.

       Tommy testified that he and Leanne’s relationship began to deteriorate in early 2012

and that they began to discuss divorce and the division of their property at that time. He

explained that Leanne found a form agreement on the Internet and that she drafted the PSA.

He noted that they negotiated the terms and that she completed several drafts before they

came to a final agreement. He testified that he signed the final version of the PSA on May 9,

2012, but that he did not think it was binding and that Leanne told him she would not file

it. He testified that he did not consult an attorney during the negotiation process and that he

signed the agreement under duress because he wanted to save his marriage. He admitted that

he had affairs during the marriage and that one affair had occurred with an employee of Fallin

Tractor. He further admitted that he had been taking hormone-replacement therapy and that

                                              6
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

Leanne did not approve of the drugs. He also noted that he had moved into his family’s cabin

during the separation.

       Tommy testified that in November 2011, prior to signing the PSA, he purchased his

father’s 2235 shares in Fallin Tractor. Tommy explained that he and his father had entered

into a purchase agreement wherein he agreed to pay his father $6000 a month for the shares.

He testified that they did not consult an appraiser, but they placed the total value of the

business at $800,000. He explained that he had purchased the shares from his father because

Leanne had pressured him, and he thought it would save his marriage.

       Tommy stated that he defaulted on the loan with his father and that he consequently

transferred the shares back to his father in July 2012—after he and Leanne had executed the

PSA. He noted that he could have made payments toward the loan but that the sale had

caused tension in his relationship with his father and his brother. He admitted that his father

had given him notice of default only a month before the transfer occurred, but he denied

reconveying the shares to avoid their inclusion in the marital estate. Tommy testified that he

did not tell his father about the PSA and that Leanne had voluntarily relinquished any interest

in Fallin Tractor. However, he admitted telling his parents that Leanne wanted an interest in

the company so she could sell it. He stated that he did not recall whether he had told Leanne

that he had transferred his shares back to his father so that the shares would not be marital

property, but he “probably” did.

       Tommy discussed an incident that occurred on April 17, 2012, when he gave Leanne

a fraudulent stock certificate that purported to transfer 1309 shares in Fallin Tractor. He

                                              7
                                Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

explained that he gave Leanne the certificate because he wanted her to rethink the divorce.

       Tommy testified that both he and Leanne had signed promissory notes and mortgages

for TLC. He explained that the initial debt on TLC was over $1 million dollars, but the debt

was below $950,000 at the time of the hearing. He testified that Leanne had been the primary

manager of both TLC and Physiques and that she had made payments toward the companies’

debts during their separation. Tommy agreed with Leanne’s counsel that the value of his

shares in Fallin Tractor at the time they executed the PSA exceeded the total value of

Physiques and TLC combined. He also testified that he believed the value of their marital

home to be $225,000.

       Tommy’s father, Thomas Fallin, Jr.(“Tom”), testified that he sold 2235 shares in Fallin

Tractor to Tommy for $600,000 in November 2011, but that he received only one payment

from Tommy toward the debt. He explained that he gave Tommy a notice of default in July

2012 and that Tommy agreed to return the stock to him at that time. He testified that he

knew Tommy and Leanne had been engaged in a bitter divorce and that Tommy had told

him that Leanne wanted Tommy’s shares in Fallin Tractor. He also testified that he filed a

declaratory-judgment action against Tommy and Leanne in 2012 because he believed that

Leanne wanted Tommy’s shares in Fallin Tractor. He explained that when he filed the suit,

he did not know that Tommy had entered into a PSA with Leanne wherein she agreed to

relinquish all her rights to the company. He noted that he did not learn about the PSA until

January 2013.

       During Tommy’s cross-examination of Tom, Tommy introduced into evidence the

                                              8
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

pleadings from the declaratory-judgment action. In the complaint, Tom had asked the court

to declare void the 2011 transfer of shares from Tom to Tommy because Leanne had engaged

in a “deliberate and intentional fraud” against Tommy. Specifically, the complaint alleged that

Leanne forced Tommy to buy the 2235 shares from Tom in 2011. The complaint also cited

the fraudulent stock certificate that Tommy gave Leanne in April 2012 as part of Leanne’s

deceitful conduct.

       Bob Edstrom, a certified public accountant, testified about valuations of Fallin Tractor,

TLC, and Physiques. He explained that book value equals a company’s assets minus its

liabilities and noted that book value does not include goodwill. He testified that the combined

book value of TLC and Physiques equaled $175,750 and that the value of the 2235 shares that

Tommy purchased from his father equaled $679,374. Tommy objected to Edstrom’s

testimony, arguing that Arkansas law requires the use of the fair-market-value standard for

valuing businesses in a divorce context, not the book value. The court overruled his

objection.

       Leanne then testified that she is a registered nurse and operates a cardiovascular-

rehabilitation business through Physiques. She noted that Physiques also has a fitness center

and a deli and that she manages both of them. She testified that TLC owns Physiques and that

she and Tommy own TLC. She testified that she also manages TLC. Leanne agreed with

Tommy that the appraised value of their home is $225,000.

       Leanne explained that she and Tommy initially separated because of his affairs and his

testosterone consumption. She testified that she told Tommy about her frustrations and that

                                               9
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

he vowed to change, but he did not. She discussed the fraudulent stock certificate that

Tommy gave her in April 2012 and noted that when she received the certificate, she believed

it to be genuine. She testified that Tommy’s gesture gave her hopes of reconciliation and that

he moved back into their marital home that same week. She explained, however, that a week

later, she discovered a Facebook conversation between Tommy and another woman and an

email about an appointment with a doctor who distributes testosterone.

       As to the PSA, Leanne testified that she found a form on the Internet and drafted the

PSA. She stated that when Tommy signed the PSA, she believed that they had reached an

agreement. She explained that she had composed more than one draft of the PSA because she

and Tommy had disagreed on spousal support and the marital home; however, she stated that

they always agreed that Tommy would receive all the shares in Fallin Tractor. Leanne testified

that Tommy did not tell her that he assumed the PSA was not binding. She noted that she

also drafted the entry of appearance and waiver of service signed by Tommy.

       Leanne testified that she first learned that Tommy had given the Fallin Tractor shares

back to his father through a text message that stated, “[H]a ha you’ve waited long enough

now my dad has the tractor place back. It’s not mine any longer.” She stated that she received

the text message after she had filed for divorce. She testified that she did not know that

Tommy had failed to make loan payments to his father.

       Leanne also testified that she had incurred substantial legal fees during the litigation of

the divorce. She stated that she took out a loan for $15,000 and that she owed $9000 on that

loan. She noted that she owed her attorney an additional $7000, which did not include the

                                               10
                                Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

fees associated with the hearing. She requested that Tommy be responsible for those fees.

Upon questioning by the court, Leanne testified that when she used the term “sole” in the

PSA, she meant “everything that you had.”

       Tommy then testified on his own behalf. He testified that he bought his father’s shares

in November 2011 because Leanne gave him an ultimatum: buy the shares or she would leave

him. He stated that he returned the stock to his father because the sale had hurt their

relationship, not because he could not make the payments.

       Following the hearing, the court issued a letter on October 30, 2014, informing the

parties that it planned to change its oral ruling and enforce the PSA. On November 6, 2014,

Tommy filed a motion for Rule 52 findings by the court. On December 2, 2014, Leanne filed

proposed facts and conclusions of law.1

       On December 29, 2014, the court entered a divorce decree. In the decree, the court

set aside its oral ruling from April 22, 2014, and approved and enforced the PSA with one

modification. Specifically, the court struck paragraph four of the PSA because the clause

provided for frequent contact between the parties. The court also denied Tommy’s summary-

judgment motion and adopted Leanne’s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in

toto. Accordingly, the court specifically found that the PSA was an equitable division of the

marital property at the time the parties executed the agreement; that Tommy intentionally

did not pay his father on the loan; that Tommy’s income was nearly double Leanne’s income;

       1
        Tommy informed the court that he would not submit proposed facts and conclusions
of law because he “did not believe that submitting findings of facts and conclusions of law…
would change the [c]ourt’s view” as expressed in its October 30, 2014 letter.

                                             11
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

and that Tommy’s deceptive conduct had substantially increased the litigation. The court also

awarded Leanne attorney’s fees in the amount of $10,000 “because much of the time and

energy of the parties and their lawyers had been caused by [Tommy’s] deceptive conduct.”

Tommy timely appealed the December 29, 2014 order to this court.

       On appeal, Tommy first argues that the court erred in enforcing the PSA because the

PSA did not provide for equitable distribution of the marital property pursuant to Arkansas

Code Annotated section 9-12-315 (Repl. 2015). In making his argument, Tommy relies on

this court’s decision in Rutherford v. Rutherford, 81 Ark. App. 122, 98 S.W.3d 842 (2003).

       In Rutherford, this court upheld a circuit court’s refusal to enforce a settlement

agreement. Id. In setting aside the agreement, the circuit court found that the wife had

substantially breached the terms of the agreement and had exerted undue influence, duress,

and fraud in the inducement on the husband in obtaining the agreement. Id. The wife

appealed to this court and argued that Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-12-313 required

a court to enforce a valid agreement of the parties. Id. Section 9-12-313 provides that

“[c]ourts of equity may enforce the performance of written agreements between husband and

wife made and entered into in contemplation of either separation or divorce.” Ark. Code

Ann. § 9-12-313. This court disagreed with the wife and stated,

       [T]he [circuit] court is not bound by a stipulation entered into by the parties: rather,
       it is within the sound discretion of the court to approve, disapprove, or modify the
       agreement. Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-12-313 merely provides the court
       with the means to enforce an agreement entered into and approved by the court and
       does not limit the court’s discretion to accept or reject the agreement of the disputing
       parties. Even so, the trial court in exercising its discretion in the division of property
       matters must consider the factors set out in section 9-12-315.

                                              12
                                  Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

Rutherford, 81 Ark. App. at 128-29, 98 S.W.3d at 845. Section 9-12-315 provides that “[a]ll

marital property shall be distributed one-half (1/2) to each party unless the court finds such

a division to be inequitable. In that event the court shall make some other division that the

court deems equitable taking into consideration” nine factors.

       Here, Tommy focuses on the statement in Rutherford that “the trial court in exercising

its discretion in the division of property matters must consider the factors set out in section

9-12-315,” and asserts that Rutherford requires a circuit court to consider the factors in section

9-12-315 when deciding whether a settlement agreement is enforceable. In other words,

Tommy argues that if a settlement agreement does not follow section 9-12-315, a court

cannot enforce it. We find Tommy’s argument unpersuasive. Rutherford does not require a

court to consider the factors in section 9-12-315 when deciding whether to enforce a

settlement agreement. Rutherford points out that a circuit court must follow section 9-12-315

in dividing the marital property only if it concludes that a settlement agreement is

unenforceable.

        Tommy additionally argues that the circuit court erred in relying on the book value

of Fallin Tractor, TLC, and Physiques because section 9-12-315 requires the use of the fair-

market-value standard for valuing a business in a marital-property context. He asserts that

because the circuit court used the wrong standard, it erroneously found that the PSA equitably

divided the property. Because we have concluded that the PSA did not have to equitably

divide the property pursuant to section 9-12-315, we need not consider which valuation

standard section 9-12-315 requires. We must point out, however, that Tommy admitted at

                                               13
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

the hearing that at the time they executed the PSA, the value of his shares in Fallin Tractor

exceeded the total value of Physiques and TLC combined.

       Tommy also argues that the alimony award cannot be enforced because the award was

made in conjunction with an inequitable property division. Again, because we have

concluded that the PSA did not have to equitably divide the property pursuant to section 9-

12-315, we need not consider whether the alimony award was also inequitable.

       Tommy next argues that the PSA is unenforceable because it is incomplete. Tommy

asserts that the PSA is incomplete because it (1) does not divide some bank accounts shared

by him and Leanne, (2) suggests that the parties had divided tangible personal property when

they had not, and (3) does not provide how Tommy would collect on the $80,000 from the

marital home if Leanne predeceased him. However, Tommy cites no authority that requires

a property-settlement agreement to address every piece of marital property before a court can

enforce it. Indeed, Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-12-315 provides that “[a]t the time

a divorce decree is entered [a]ll marital property shall be distributed one-half (1/2) to each

party unless the court finds such a division to be inequitable . . . except [p]roperty excluded

by valid agreement of the parties.” Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315 (a)(1) & (b)(4). Thus, the

statute contemplates partial settlement agreements.

       Tommy also argues that the PSA is incapable of enforcement because it states that

Tommy “shall be the sole owner of Fallin Tractor.” Tommy points out that he has never

been the sole owner of the company because, at all times relevant to this case, his brother

owned shares. Questions relating to the construction, operation, and effect of separation

                                              14
                                 Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

agreements between husband and wife are governed, in general, by the rules and provisions

applicable in the case of other contracts. Sutton v. Sutton, 28 Ark. App. 165, 771 S.W.2d 792

(1989). It has long been established that the first rule of interpretation is to give to the

language employed by the parties to a contract the meaning they intended. Id. When

contracting parties express their intention in a written instrument in clear and unambiguous

language, it is our duty to construe the written agreement according to the plain meaning of

the language employed. Coble v. Sexton, 71 Ark. App. 122, 27 S.W.3d 759 (2000).

       In this case, the PSA initially states, “[T]he parties acquired various items of real and

personal property and debts, and such items and debts are disposed of as follows.” The PSA

then states that Tommy “shall be the sole owner of Fallin Tractor.” The agreement clearly

contemplates only the shares owned by Tommy, and we cannot say that the circuit court

erred in enforcing it.

       Tommy’s final argument is that the circuit court erred in awarding Leanne $10,000 in

attorney’s fees. In domestic-relations proceedings, the trial court has the inherent power to

award attorney’s fees, and whether the circuit court should award fees and the amount thereof

are matters within the court’s discretion. Tiner v. Tiner, 2012 Ark. App. 483, 422 S.W.3d 178.

Due to the circuit court’s intimate acquaintance with the record and the quality of services

rendered, we usually recognize the superior perspective of the circuit court in assessing the

applicable factors, and an award of attorney’s fees will not be set aside absent an abuse of

discretion. Id. Finally, when addressing a circuit court’s award of attorney’s fees, our courts

have often observed that there is no fixed formula in determining what is reasonable. Id.

                                              15
                                Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 179

       In this case, the court specifically considered both parties’ finances and found that

Tommy’s income was almost twice as much as Leanne’s. The court further found that

Tommy’s deceptive conduct had substantially increased the litigation. Accordingly, based on

our standard of review and the record before us, we cannot say that the circuit court abused

its discretion in awarding Leanne $10,000 in attorney’s fees.

       Affirmed.

       GRUBER and VAUGHT, JJ., agree.

       Brian G. Brooks, Attorney at Law, PLLC, by: Brian G. Brooks; and Eugene D.

Bramblett, for appellant.

       Bell & Boyd, PLLC, by: Michael W. Boyd and Karen Talbot Gean, for appellee.

                                             16