Court Opinion

ID: 4200817
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-09-01 15:19:23.624224+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:38.681113
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Edith R. White, by and through her
power of attorney and next friend,                                               FILED
Naomi June Hutchinson,                                                      September 1, 2017
Plaintiff Below, Petitioner                                                    RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                 OF WEST VIRGINIA
vs) No. 16-0577 (Nicholas County 14-C-83)

James Scott White, Brenda J. White,
James Scott White, as administrator of
The Estate of Ronald R. White, and
Kelli D. White, Premier Bank, Inc., and
Monongahela Power Company,
Defendants Below, Respondents

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
         Petitioner Edith R. White, by and through her power of attorney and next friend, Naomi
June Hutchinson, by counsel Thomas K. Fast, appeals the May 12, 2016, “Order Ruling on
Defendants’ Laches Motions; Dismissing Defendant Kelli D. White; Dismissing Defendant
Premier Bank, Inc.; and Dismissing Defendant Monongahela Power Company” entered by the
Circuit Court of Nicholas County. Respondents James Scott White; Brenda J. White; and James
Scott White, as administrator of the estate of Ronald R. White, by counsel William A. McCourt
Jr., filed their response. Respondent Kelli D. White, by counsel Gregory A. Tucker, filed her
response. Respondent Premier Bank, Inc., by counsel J. Mark Adkins and Joshua A. Johnson,
filed its response.1 Petitioner filed a reply only to Respondent Kelli D. White.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law. For these reasons, a memorandum
decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.
       Esau White died on March 13, 1973, survived by his widow, Edith White. In addition, he
was survived by their daughter, Naomi June Hutchinson, who also holds Edith White’s power of
attorney; their son, John White, who is not a party to this action or the action below; and their

       1
           There was no response from Monongahela Power Company filed with this Court.

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son, Ronald R. White. Ronald R. White’s Estate and heirs are also respondents in this action.2
Through Esau White’s will, petitioner inherited all of his rights, title, and interest in “one
hundred acres by level measurement” situate on the water of Little Beaver Creek, Beaver
District, Nicholas County, West Virginia (“the property”). By deed dated May 6, 1974, petitioner
conveyed a remainder interest in the full 100 acres of the property to Ronald R. White, under the
following language: “The said Edith White hereby reserves unto herself for and during the term
of her natural life, a life estate in and to the property herein described and conveyed.” That deed
was recorded with the Clerk of the County Commission of Nicholas County. Both petitioner and
Ronald White lived on the property until November of 2008 when petitioner moved to a nursing
home. Ronald White continued to live on the property until his death on August 28, 2012, and
after that time his widow, Respondent Brenda J. White, continued to live on the property.

        While petitioner and Ronald R. White lived on the property, a farm was continuously
operated by him. After Ronald R. White’s death, his son, Respondent James Scott White,
continued farming operations on the property. As holder of the remainder interest in the property,
Ronald R. White executed various deeds and leases with respect to the property, including the
following: 1) a 1978 deed executed by Ronald R. White and Brenda White conveying an
easement to Respondent Monongahela Power Company across the property for their personal
benefit, though petitioner did not sign that conveyance; 2) two oil and gas leases, one in 1980
and another in 2008, to the property, which were also not signed by petitioner; 3) by deed dated
February 8, 2012, Ronald R. White and Brenda White conveyed 2.446 acres of the property to
Respondent Kelli D. White, which deed expressly reserved unto Ronald R. White a life estate for
the use, occupancy, and control of the 2.446 acres; and 4) by deed dated August 15, 2012,
Ronald R. White and Brenda White conveyed the entire 100 acre tract, excepting the 2.446 acres
previously conveyed to Kelli D. White, to Brenda White, James Scott White, and Kelli D. White,
though the deed expressly reserved unto Ronald R. White a life estate in common with Brenda
White and James Scott White, for their use, occupancy, and control of the subject real estate.
However, by deed dated July 25, 2013, Kelli D. White relinquished her interest in the property
and conveyed her interest in all but the 2.446 acres to Brenda White. Following Ronald R.
White’s death, James Scott White qualified as the administrator of his estate.

        By trust deed dated October 26, 2012, Kelli D. White conveyed her interest in the 2.446
acres of the property to secure the Bank of Gassaway on a promissory note in the amount of
$125,000. That money was used to build a home situated on the property, and during
construction of the same there were no objections by petitioner or Naomi June Hutchinson.
Thereafter, Respondent Premier Bank acquired or merged with the Bank of Gassaway. Kelli D.
White defaulted on her loan, and by deed dated April 23, 2014, she conveyed her interest in the
2.446 acres to Premier Bank. Kelli D. White does not currently occupy or reside on the 2.446
acres or on any of the property.
        On June 24, 2013, petitioner executed a durable power of attorney appointing Naomi
June Hutchinson as her power of attorney. No suit was brought against Ronald D. White or the
other respondents related to the use of the property until this action was filed in 2014.

       2
        Respondent Brenda J. White is Ronald White’s widow, and Respondents James Scott
White and Kelli D. White are Ronald White’s children (and petitioner’s grandchildren).

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        According to the circuit court, the following structures exist on the property: 1)
petitioner’s unoccupied mobile home;3 2) a stick-built home built by Ronald R. White in 1985­
86, which is occupied by Brenda White; 3) a double-wide mobile home placed on the property in
2006 by James Scott White, which is occupied by James Scott White and his wife, Michelle
White; and 4) the stick-built home built by Kelli D. White on the 2.446 acres, which was
unoccupied and owned by Premier Bank in May of 2016.

        Petitioner filed the underlying action on July 21, 2014, essentially seeking to eject all of
the respondents from the property, have them remove and/or destroy all structures and homes on
the property, and have them restore the property to its original condition as farm land, as well as
seeking to extinguish all leases and easements. Petitioner also sought rent, royalties, and profits
arising from respondents’ residences on the property, farming operations, and oil and gas leases.

        On December 29, 2015, the circuit court entered an order denying a joint motion to
dismiss for lack of standing but granting a motion to compel the deposition of petitioner. As part
of that order, the circuit court found that while petitioner moved into a nursing home in 2008, she
“had the ability to manage property or business affairs by receiving and evaluating information”
in 2013.

        Respondents filed three motions to dismiss, all based on the doctrines of laches and
estoppel, pursuant to Rule 12(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. On May 12,
2016, the circuit court entered its “Order Ruling on Defendants’ Laches Motions; Dismissing
Defendant Kelli D. White; Dismissing Defendant Premier Bank, Inc.; and Dismissing Defendant
Monongahela Power Company.” In its order, the circuit court stated that because the parties
relied upon facts outside the pleadings in support of and in opposition to the motions to dismiss,
each motion would be treated as one for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the West
Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. The circuit court also found that petitioner does not contest
the existence of the elements necessary for the application of laches, but she argued that laches is
inapplicable and that summary judgment is not appropriate. In considering the parties’
arguments, the circuit court stated that it was undisputed that petitioner holds a life estate in the
property and that respondents, with the exception of Kelli D. White, each possess the remainder
interest. It found that petitioner’s life estate in the property would not be affected by the
application of the doctrine of laches. It further held that because it is not an action of legal title,
laches may apply to petitioner’s equitable demands.

        Petitioner argued below that summary judgment was not appropriate because there were
questions of fact as to the handling of the money from the farm, the sale of the cattle, rentals
from use of the land, and additional issues. The circuit court stated that “[w]hile these facts may
be disputed, they do not relate to or affect the [circuit c]ourt’s ruling on the legal issue of the
application of the doctrine of laches.” The circuit court considered the elements of laches set
forth in State ex rel. Smith v. Abbot, 187 W. Va. 261, 264-65, 418 S.E.2d 575, 578-79 (1992),

       3
          Petitioner asserts that she wanted to return to the mobile home but cannot do so until the
steps are returned. However, Respondent Kelli D. White states that it is clear from the record that
petitioner cannot return to the mobile home given petitioner’s advanced age and incompetency.

                                                  3

and found that the existence of those elements was undisputed. Based on these findings, the
circuit court concluded that there were no genuine issues of material fact regarding the
application of laches and granted respondents summary judgment as to petitioner’s claims for
ejectment and damages.

       After dismissing a number of the claims in the complaint due to the application of laches,
the remaining claims were the following: 1) petitioner’s demand for the return of her mobile
home steps and personal items or compensation for the same; 2) attorney’s fees and costs; and 3)
any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. Specifically, petitioner alleged that James Scott
White removed the entrance steps to her mobile home, in addition to multiple personal items
from inside the mobile home. The circuit court determined that laches did not bar that claim. It
also concluded that

       as a life-tenant, [petitioner] has the full right to occupy and use the [p]roperty.
       Notwithstanding [petitioner’s] rights as a life tenant, the White [respondents] may
       continue to reside in their homes on the [p]roperty, rent free, and the White
       [respondents] are entitled to unrestricted ingress and egress to their residences and
       reasonable enjoyment of the property surrounding their residences. Similarly, the
       home owned by [respondent] Premier Bank on the 2.446 acres of the [p]roperty
       may remain and may be reasonably maintained by [respondent] Premier Bank or
       its agents or employees. However, for the remainder of [petitioner’s] life-tenancy,
       [respondent] Premier Bank may not permit anyone to occupy the home on the
       2.446 acres without paying reasonable rent to [petitioner].

         In addition to those findings, the circuit court held that all claims against Kelli D. White
are barred by the doctrine of laches and are also moot due to the fact that she has no possessory
or ownership interest in any of the property. She was, therefore, dismissed from the underlying
case. Petitioner’s sole claim against respondent Monongahela Power Company for
extinguishment of the easement was also barred by the doctrine of laches, so it was dismissed
from the matter. The claims against Premier Bank were also barred by the doctrine of laches, and
it was dismissed from the case. However, the circuit court specifically held that Premier Bank’s
right, title, and interest in the 2.446 acres of the property is subject to petitioner’s life estate.
Thereafter, the circuit court granted, in part, the White Respondents’ motion to dismiss pursuant
to the doctrine of laches; granted Kelli D. White’s motion to dismiss pursuant to laches and
estoppel; granted Premier Bank’s motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, motion for summary
judgment pursuant to laches and estoppel; and dismissed Monongahela Power Company, Kelli
D. White, and Premier Bank.

       “We review a circuit court’s summary judgment order de novo. Syllabus Point 1, Painter
v. Peavy, 192 W.Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755 (1994).” Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. v. Hickman,
236 W. Va. 421, 434, 781 S.E.2d 198, 211 (2015). Further,

       [s]ummary judgment is appropriate where the record taken as a whole could not
       lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, such as where the
       nonmoving party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element
       of the case that it has the burden to prove.

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Syl. Pt. 4, Painter v. Peavy, 192 W. Va. 189, 451 S.E.2d 755 (1994). As we have also explained,

       [r]oughly stated, a “genuine issue” for purposes of West Virginia Rule of Civil
       Procedure 56(c) is simply one half of a trialworthy issue, and a genuine issue does
       not arise unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the non-moving party for a
       reasonable jury to return a verdict for that party. The opposing half of a
       trialworthy issue is present where the non-moving party can point to one or more
       disputed “material” facts. A material fact is one that has the capacity to sway the
       outcome of the litigation under the applicable law.

Syl. Pt. 5, Jividen v. Law, 194 W. Va. 705, 461 S.E.2d 451 (1995).

       Stated another way, “[i]f the evidence favoring the nonmoving party is ‘merely
       colorable . . . or is not significantly probative’” a genuine issue does not arise, and
       summary judgment is appropriate. Williams [v. Precision Coil, Inc.], 194 W.Va.
       [52,] at 60-61, 459 S.E.2d [329,] at 337-38 (quoting Anderson [v. Liberty Lobby,
       Inc.], 477 U.S. [242,] at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. [2505,] at 2511 (citations omitted in
       original)).

Jividen, 194 W. Va. at 713-14, 461 S.E.2d at 459-60.

         On appeal, petitioner asserts two assignments of error: 1) the circuit court erred by
applying an equity claim, laches, to purely legal claims, and in so doing nullifying petitioner’s
life estate rights; and 2) the circuit court erred by granting respondents’ motions as motions for
summary judgment when there were material issues of fact.

        With regard to petitioner’s claim that the circuit court should not have applied equity
considerations to purely legal claims, she argues that a legal title of a life estate is a legal issue
rather than an equitable one. She admits that she gave permission to her son and grandson to
place residences on the property, but she argues that she has the right to revoke that permission
pursuant to Pifer v. Brown, 43 W. Va. 412, 27 S.E. 399 (1897).

        “[A]s this Court has suggested many times, laches is an equitable doctrine based on the
maxim that equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.” Province v. Province,
196 W. Va. 473, 483, 473 S.E.2d 894, 904 (1996) (internal citations omitted). The elements of
laches consist of (1) unreasonable delay and (2) prejudice. See State, Dept. of Health and Human
Resources, Child Advocate office on Behalf of Robert Michael B. v. Robert Morris N., 195 W.
Va. 759, 466 S.E.2d 827 (1995). “The burden of proving unreasonable delay and prejudice is
upon the litigant seeking relief. No rigid rule can be laid down as to what delay will constitute
prejudice; every claim must depend upon its own circumstances.” Province, 196 W. Va. at 484,
473 S.E.2d at 905. However, we have also stated that

       “[w]here a party knows his rights or is cognizant of his interest in a particular
       subject-matter, but takes no steps to enforce the same until the condition of the
       other party has, in good faith, become so changed, that he cannot be restored to
       his former state if the right be then enforced, delay becomes inequitable, and
       operates as an estoppel against the assertion of the right. This disadvantage may
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       come from death of parties, loss of evidence, change of title or condition of the
       subject-matter, intervention of equities, or other causes. When a court of equity
       sees negligence on one side and injury therefrom on the other, it is a ground for
       denial of relief.” Carter v. Price, 85 W.Va. 744, 102 S.E. 685 (1920), Syllabus
       Point 3.

Syl. Pt. 2, Mundy v. Arcuri, 165 W. Va. 128, 267 S.E.2d 454 (1980).

        Respondent Kelli D. White asserts that the circuit court’s order applies laches to
petitioner’s claim of ejectment rather than to petitioner’s legal title, and the White Respondents
simply agree with her. Respondent Premier Bank similarly argues that the circuit court
appropriately focused on petitioner’s specific requested relief to find that laches applied. As this
Court previously set forth,

       the character of the case, the situation of the parties, the nature of the relief
       sought, and whether the rights of third parties have been innocently acquired,
       should be considered in determining whether the delay is unreasonable and
       justifies application of the equitable doctrine of laches; and what constitutes
       laches depends upon the facts and the circumstances of each particular case.” Syl.
       pt. 6, Herzog v. Fox, 141 W.Va. 849, 93 S.E.2d 239 (1956).

Syl. Pt. 5, in part, White v. Manchin, 173 W. Va. 526, 318 S.E.2d 470 (1984).

        In petitioner’s amended complaint, she specifically requests that respondents be ejected
from the property; that all respondents be ordered to remove all structures, mobile homes, or
buildings installed, parked, or built upon the property; and the payment of rent, royalties, and
profits from the time various respondents built or installed those structures on the property. She
makes those requests in spite of her admission that she gave her son and grandson express
permission to build or place those structures on the property with full knowledge that she
maintained a life estate in the property. Further, she does not appear to dispute respondent Kelli
D. White’s contention that she also received permission from petitioner to build a residence on
the property. Based upon the specific facts of this case, particularly petitioner’s requested relief
and her long-standing permission to place the structures and items at issue on the property, we
find that the circuit court did not err in applying the doctrine of laches to petitioner’s claims.

        Petitioner’s second assignment of error is that the circuit court ignored genuine issues of
material fact that preclude summary judgment. Petitioner’s argument on this point is very short,
and she cites only one case, which stands for the general proposition that if there is a genuine
issue to be tried the motion for summary judgment shall be denied and the case allowed to
proceed to trial. See Syl. Pt. 2, Beard v. Beckley Coal Mining Co., 183 W. Va. 485, 396 S.E.2d
447 (1990). She points to what she contends are competing affidavits and the differences in the
factual assertions by the parties. However, petitioner does not deny giving her family member
respondents permission to live and build on the farm.

       As we set forth in one of our leading cases regarding summary judgment,

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       [i]f the moving party makes a properly supported motion for summary judgment
       and can show by affirmative evidence that there is no genuine issue of a material
       fact, the burden of production shifts to the nonmoving party who must either (1)
       rehabilitate the evidence attacked by the moving party, (2) produce additional
       evidence showing the existence of a genuine issue for trial, or (3) submit an
       affidavit explaining why further discovery is necessary as provided in Rule 56(f)
       of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure.

Syl. Pt. 3, Williams v. Precision Coil, Inc., 194 W. Va. 52, 459 S.E.2d 329 (1995). Further,

       “[t]he evidence must contradict the showing of the moving party by pointing to
       specific facts demonstrating that, indeed, there is a “trialworthy” issue. A
       “trialworthy” issue requires not only a “genuine” issue but also an issue that
       involves a “material” fact. See Anderson [v. Liberty Lobby], 477 U.S. at 248, 106
       S.Ct. at 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d at 211.

Williams, 194 W. Va. at 60, 459 S.E.2d at 337.

        As the circuit court found, “[w]hile these facts may be disputed, they do not relate to or
affect the [circuit c]ourt’s ruling on the legal issue of the application of the doctrine of laches.”
We agree. There appears to be no dispute that respondent Kelli D. White is not in possession of
any of the property at issue; further, she did not farm or take any subsidies for the property.
Therefore, we find that the circuit court did not err in granting summary judgment to Respondent
Kelli D. White. With regard to the other individual respondents, petitioner permitted these
respondents to construct homes on the property and live rent-free thereon until initiating the
underlying civil action. Therefore, her requests for rent, royalties, and profits from these
respondents were properly dismissed by the circuit court. The same is true for her claims for
ejectment; the removal of the structures respondents placed upon the property; rent, royalties,
and profits related to the property and the oil and gas leases at issue; for the sale, use, and
depletion of farm equipment and sales of cattle; and the extinguishment and termination of
easements over, upon, across, or under the property. Finally, petitioner does not point to any
alleged genuine issues of material fact related to either of the corporate respondents. In addition,
Respondent Premier Bank points out, and petitioner does not contest, that she took no action to
eject any party from the property for a period of approximately forty years.

       For these reasons, we find no error in the circuit court’s grant of summary judgment to
respondents.

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

ISSUED: September 1, 2017

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CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

DISQUALIFIED:

Justice Robin Jean Davis

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