Court Opinion

ID: 2828201
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-18 20:57:29.894416+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:31:30.092414
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                   OOtIPfi OP APPEALS
                                                                                       DIVISION II

                                                                                   015 AUG 18 AM 9: On

                                                                                  STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                                                                  B

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF                                             WIMINGTON
                                                    DIVISION II

DEBORAH DESPAIN,                                                                    No. 46321 -1 - II

                                         Respondent,

            V.

                                                                              UNPUBLISHED OPINION
DUANE LUND,

                                         Appellant,

 ESTATE OF GEORGE LUND, JR.; JOHN
 DOES 1- 10,

                                         Defendants.

            MAXA, P. J. —       Duane Lund appeals the trial court' s judgment in favor of his sister,

Deborah Kellogg (formerly DeSpain), based on a ruling that their father, George Lund, held

certain property specifically identified on a surveyor' s diagram in constructive trust for

Deborah.'        The trial court ruled that imposing a constructive trust was appropriate because

Deborah had moved onto the family property in reliance on George' s promise to give the

specifically identified property to her. Duane argues that a constructive trust could not be based

on George' s promise to give the specifically identified property to Deborah because that promise

did   not   induce Deborah to         move onto   the   family   property –   she already had been living on the

1 In order to more easily identify the various members of the Lund family, this opinion refers to
them   by    their   first   names.   No disrespect is intended.
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property for years at the time of that promise. Instead, Duane argues that Deborah previously

had moved onto the family property in reliance on a more general promise to give her

unspecified property amounting to one- third of the family property.

         We agree with Duane. We hold that the trial court erred in concluding that the

constructive trust encompassed the specifically identified property George promised to give:to

Deborah many years after she had moved onto the property. The evidence would support a legal

conclusion only that Deborah is entitled to a constructive trust that encompasses the unspecified

one- third of the property George promised to give to Deborah to induce her to move onto the

family property. We remand for the trial court to address this issue.

          We reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.2

                                               FACTS

          George Lund and his wife June ( referred to collectively as George) purchased 40 acres. of

property' in Cowlitz County and built a house in the middle part of that property at 2403 Mt.

Pleasant Road. They raised their son, Duane, and their daughters, Deborah and Diane, on that

land. George sold five acres of the property to his sister and her husband.

          Years later, George asked Diane and her husband if they would.move onto the family

property, and told them he would give them one- third of that property. Diane and her husband

moved to the western portion of George' s property soon afterward, built a house there, and

improved the surrounding area.

2 Duane also argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a continuance when he
was too ill to attend trial and denying his motion for reconsideration after trial. Because we
reverse on other grounds, we do not address these issues.

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         George also invited Deborah and her husband to move onto the property, and represented

that he would give them one- third of the total property. In 1988, Deborah and her husband

moved to the property and built a house at 2409 Mt. Pleasant Road, just north of George' s house

in the middle portion of the property. No testimony established that George promised to give

Deborah any specific portion of the property before she moved to the property in 1988. All the

witnesses agreed only that George had promised to divide the property equally among the three

children.

          Duane lived in a house north of Deborah' s at 2407 Mt. Pleasant Road, in the center -north

of the property. There were no houses on the eastern portion of the property.

          George and June at some point each executed wills devising their property to the

surviving spouse at death, then distributing it equally among the three children once the second

spouse passed. However, the wills did not describe how the property was to be divided or devise

any particular portions to each child.

          At some time before 2005, George hired a surveyor to survey the property and create

roughly three equal parcels, apparently for the purpose of determining which child would receive

which part of the property. The surveyor prepared a diagram of the property, which George used

to designate the portions he planned to give to his children. George designated the western

portion for Diane, the, central portion (including George' s house at 2403 Mt. Pleasant Road, but

not including Duane' s house at 2407 Mt. Pleasant Road) for Deborah, and the eastern portion

and the property immediately surrounding Duane' s house at 2407 Mt. Pleasant Road for Duane.

          June died in 2005, and George subsequently became ill. Duane began to take a very

active role      in George'   s care, and some   animosity developed   among   Duane, his   sisters,   family
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friends,   and neighbors.   George changed his will to devise the entirety of the family property to

Duane.

           Diane brought a quiet title action against George to secure title to the western part of the

property, which she and her husband had occupied and improved in reliance on George' s

promise to devise. The court quieted title in Diane' s favor by imposing a constructive trust on

the western third of the land. In the wake of this action, the bad blood between the family

members intensified.

           George died in September 2008. Duane began living in George' s old.house at 2403 Mt.

Pleasant Road. Deborah moved away in 2011, but her children continued to live at her house at

2409 Mt. Pleasant Road.

           Pursuant to, George' s second will, Duane was to receive title to George' s remaining

property —the     original land minus the western portion deeded to Diane after her quiet title action.

In January 2009, Deborah brought a quiet title action against George' s estate and Duane, arguing

that she was entitled to the central portion of the property outlined by the surveyor, including her

house at 2409 Mt. Pleasant Road and George' s house at 2403 Mt. Pleasant Road.

           On the eve of trial, Duane informed his attorney that he had a severe hernia and would

not be able to attend trial because he required bed rest until a scheduled surgery. On the morning

of trial, Duane' s attorney moved to continue the trial, offering her own affidavit and oral

argument briefly describing the situation. The trial court denied the motion, but allowed Duane

to listen in and testify telephonically. However, Duane' s attorney was unable to reach him by
telephone before trial started or over the lunch break to inform him of the arrangement.

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Apparently, Duane' s wife had turned down the volume of the ringer on their home telephone in

order to allow Duane to sleep.

         The trial court proceeded with the trial on March 18, and heard testimony from several

witnesses called by Deborah. The trial court also considered as an exhibit the diagram the

surveyor prepared showing what portions of the property would be allocated to Diane, Deborah,

and Duane respectively. Duane called no witnesses.

         On April 7, the trial court issued findings of fact,: conclusions of law, and an order

imposing a constructive trust over the central portion of George' s former property, including

George' s house, in favor of Deborah.

         Duane appeals.

                                                    ANALYSIS

A.       CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST

         Under certain circumstances, courts will intervene and impose a constructive trust to

compel the legal owner of property to convey title to another person who justly deserves that

                            Leonard, 120 Wash. 2d 538, 547, 843 P.2d 1050 ( 1993). " `           A constructive trust
property. Baker        v.

arises where a person holding title to property is subject to an equitable duty to convey it to

another on the ground that he would be unjustly enriched if he were permitted to retain it.' "

Dave Johnson Ins., Inc.          v.   Wright, 167 Wn.   App.    758, 773, 275 P.3d 339 ( 2012) ( quoting     Baker,
120 Wash. 2d      at   547- 48).   Unjust enrichment occurs when a person retains property that in justice

and   equity belongs to        another.   Wright, 167 Wn.      App.   at   773.   Constructive trusts arising in

equity can be imposed only when supported by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence. Baker,
120 Wash. 2d at 547.

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          Courts often will impose a constructive trust in cases involving fraud, bad faith, or other

wrongful conduct. See id. When there is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing, a constructive

trust can be imposed if an equitable base is established through evidence of the decedent' s intent

that the legal title holder        was not    the intended   beneficiary.   Id. at 548.   Specifically, constructive

trusts   can    be   established   by   evidence of an oral agreement.       Wright, 167 Wash. App. at 774.

B.        SUFFICIENCY OF EvIDENCE

          Duane argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the trial court' s findings of

fact that George' s promise to give Deborah the property specifically identified in the surveyor' s

diagram induced her to move onto the family property. We agree.

           1.        Standard of Review

          We review a trial court' s findings of fact after a bench trial to determine whether they are

supported by substantial evidence. Kitsap County v. Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club, 184 Wash.
252, 256, 337 P.3d 328 ( 2014),                  denied, _    P. 3d _ (    2015).   Substantial evidence
App.                                              review

is the amount of evidence sufficient to convince a rational, fair-minded person that a premise is

true. Id.

           However, as noted above, the factual basis for imposing a constructive trust must be

established       by   clear, cogent, and     convincing   evidence.   Wright, 167 Wash. App. at 774. Therefore,

to qualify as substantial evidence in this case the evidence must show that the ultimate fact in

issue is "      highly   probable."     Id.

           2.        Disputed Findings of Fact

           The trial court' s imposition of a constructive trust was based on four key findings of fact:

                                                               2
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         2.      George Lund, Jr. and June Lund promised 11. 2 acres, more or less, to Deborah
         Kellogg. Said property encompassed the residence of George Lund, Jr., prior to his
         death, located at 2403 Mt. Pleasant Road and bare land located at 2409 Mt. Pleasant.
         Road      on which   Deborah   Kellogg had   resided   in   as   her   own residence.             Currently,
         2403 Mt. Pleasant Road is inhabited by Duane Lund or a third party with his
         permission:

         3. Exhibit 1 admitted at the March 18, 2014 trial of this matter accurately depicts
         the real property that was promised to Deborah Kellogg.

          8.     In reasonable, justifiable reliance upon her parents' promise, Deborah Kellogg
         and her former husband, Jeff DeSpain, moved to the property located at 2409 Mt.
         Pleasant Road in or about 1988.

          9. In reasonable, justifiable reliance upon her parents' promise, Deborah Kellogg
          and her former husband, Jeff DeSpain, utilized the property located at 2403 Mt.
          Pleasant Road for recreation, including riding horses and additional pasture. In
          order to recreate on the property, Deborah Kellogg cleared brush and developed
          trails over a several year period.

Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 184- 85. Findings of fact 8 and 9 do not expressly identify the promise to

which they refer, but the only promise mentioned in the previous findings is the one described in
findings of fact 2 and 3.

          Exhibit 1 was a roughly sketched diagram of the Lund property on which two witnesses

highlighted the boundaries of the portions promised to Deborah and Diane. Finding 3 refers to a

portion Deborah' s ex-husband, Jeff DeSpain, highlighted during his testimony, showing the

boundaries of the portion promised to Deborah. Taken together, findings 2 and 3 state that

George and June promised Deborah the central third of the Lund property, including their house

at 2403 Mt. Pleasant Road.

          Duane      acknowledges   that the   evidence supports     findings     of   fact 2   and   3.    However, he

argues that these findings do not support a conclusion that George' s promise occurred before

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46321 - 1 - II

Deborah moved onto the property, which is the basis for the trial court' s imposition of a

constructive trust. We agree. These findings do not purport to address the timing of the promise.

         However, findings of fact 8 and 9 do expressly state that Deborah moved onto the family

property and utilized the property located at 2403 Mt. Pleasant Road after the promise identified

in findings      of   fact 2   and   3.   Duane argues that the evidence is undisputed that the promise to give

Deborah the specific property identified in the surveyor' s diagram occurred long after Deborah

moved onto the property. Again, we agree.

          Deborah and her husband testified that they moved onto the family property in 1988.

Further, Deborah' s husband testified that George hired the surveyor a few years before 2005.

There is no evidence in the record that George promised Deborah the specific property identified

in findings      of   fact 2   and   3 before 1988.    In fact, all the testimony established that at least before

the surveyor' s diagram              was prepared,   George'   s promise was a general one — to     give each child

an unspecified one- third of the property.

          We hold that findings of fact 8 and 9 are not supported by substarrtial evidence.

Therefore, the trial court erred in making those findings.

                  Failure to Assign Error

          Duane assigned error to finding of fact 9, but inexplicably failed to assign error on appeal

to   finding     of   fact 8. Under RAP 10. 3( g), an appellant must include a separate assignment of

error for each finding of fact he contends was improperly made, with reference to the finding by

number. We typically do not review a claimed error not included in an assignment of error.

RAP 10. 3( g);         CalPortland Co. v. LevelOne Concrete, LLC, 180 Wash. App. 379, 392, 321 P.3d
1261 ( 2014). Nevertheless, in the              exercise of our   discretion   we will address   findings   of   fact   not
46321 - 1 - II

included in specific assignments of error where the nature of the challenge is apparent from the

content of the opening brief. Harris v. Urell, 133 Wash. App. 130, 137- 38, 135 P.3d 530 ( 2006).

         Here, in    discussing    findings   of   fact 2, 3,   and   9 — the findings to which he did assign error

  Duane argued without mentioning finding of fact 8 that the facts stated in that finding were

erroneous:

         The error that defendant does assign to these two findings [ findings of fact 2 and 3]
          is that no evidence supports either an implicit or an explicit conclusion that George
         Lund made such a promise as an inducement to get Deborah and her then husband
         to move onto the property and build their home. Rather, the evidence from each of
         the witnesses was clear that the only promise George Lund made to Deborah and
         her husband building on the property and moving into that home was to eventually
          devise one- third of the property to Deborah.

Br. of Appellant at 22- 23.

          Thus, to the extent findings two and three can be interpreted to hold that George
          Lund promised Deborah his home at 2403 Mt. Pleasant prior to Deborah' s move to
          the property that interpretation is unsupported by substantial evidence.

           T] here is no evidence that George Lund or his wife ever made a promise to give
          their home at 2403 Mt..Pleasant to Deborah until some time well after she had built
          a   home   on   the property   and moved        into it.     Thus, to the extent that this finding
           finding of fact 9] can be interpreted to hold that George and his wife promised
          their home to Deborah as an inducement to get her to move to the property and
          build a home such an interpretation is not supported by substantial evidence.

Br. of Appellant at 23.

          We will disregard a violation of RAP 10. 3( g) only in exceptional circumstances. See

Harris, 133 Wash. 137. Such                               here for     several reasons.            First, Duane' s
                      App.   at               circumstances exist

                                          the factual     finding              in   finding        fact 8.    Second, Deborah
opening brief    directly    challenged                               made                    of

did not oppose Duane' s argument on the ground that he had failed to assign error to finding of

fact 8. Third, there is absolutely        no evidence       in the    record   supporting      finding       of   fact 8 — that

                                                                D
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Deborah moved onto the Lund property in 1988 in reliance on a promise George made some 15

years later.

         Under the circumstances, justice would not be served by strict application of RAP

10. 3( g).    Accordingly, we hold that the trial court erred in making finding of fact 8 even though

Duane did not assign error to that finding.

C.           CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

             Duane argues that because there was insufficient evidence that George promised to give

the specifically identified property to Deborah, the trial court erred in imposing a constructive

trust on that property. We agree.

             We review a trial court' s conclusions of law after a bench trial to determine if they are

supported by its findings of fact. Kitsap Rifle, 184 Wash. App. at 266. If a finding of fact is not

supported by substantial evidence, a conclusion of law based on that finding cannot stand.

             Here, the trial court concluded that the property Deborah sought had been held in

constructive       trust   for her. This   conclusion was   based   on other conclusions —which   actually were

mixed    findings     offfact and conclusions of    law —that    George promised the property to Deborah to

induce her to move onto the family property:

             5.   The Lunds' promise to devise the real property to Deborah Kellogg was
             supported by valuable consideration and had been clearly intended by the
             decedents.

             6. The Lunds had agreed to will or leave the real property to Deborah Kellogg.

             7.   The services contemplated as consideration for the agreement to will or leave
             the real property to Deborah Kellogg, including moving her family onto the
             property and developing such, was actually performed by Deborah Kellogg.

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          8. Deborah Kellogg moved her family to the real property and developed such in
         reliance upon the Lunds' agreement to devise or leave the real property to her.

         9.  The Lunds should have reasonably expected their promise to leave the real
         property to Deborah Kellogg to induce action on the part of Deborah Kellogg.

          10. The Lunds' promise induced action by Deborah Kellogg.

          11.    Deborah Kellogg justifiably relied upon the Lunds' promise to leave her the
         real property.

          12.    Injustice can only be avoided by enforcement of the Lunds' promise to give
         the real property to Deborah Kellogg.

CP at 186.

          However, all these conclusions depend on the finding of fact that George promised to

give Deborah the property specifically identified in the surveyor' s diagram before she moved

onto the property and developed the property. As discussed above, there simply is no evidence

in the record supporting such a finding. Deborah moved onto' the property in 1988, and the

surveyor' s diagram was not prepared until the early 2000s. As a result, these conclusions of law

are not supported by the trial court' s findings of fact. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court

erred in*entering these conclusions of law.

D.        PROCEEDINGS ON REMAND

          The evidence in the record does support a finding that George' s promise before 1988 to

give Deborah an unspecified one- third of the property induced Deborah to move onto the

property. This evidence would support a legal conclusion that Deborah is entitled to a

constructive trust on an unspecified one- third of the property. However, the trial court did not

make such a finding or conclusion. Accordingly, we remand to the trial court to address this
issue.

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         We reverse and remand for.proceedings consistent with this opinion.

         A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

2. 06. 040, it is so ordered.

                                                         MAXA, P. J.

We concur:

 I 0E, J.

  SUTTON, J.

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