Court Opinion

ID: 9662707
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:15:52.542489+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:41.527516
License: Public Domain

Robert H. Dudley, Justice. Appellant, the owner of P.D.Q. Pawnshop in North Little Rock, filed suit in chancery court seeking injunctive and declaratory relief from the enforcement against her of Act 87 of 1981, codified as Ark. Stat. Ann. §§ 71-5401 — 71-5408, and North Little Rock Ordinance 5369. The act and ordinance regulate the purchasing for resale of precious metals or stones and require licensing, fees and record keeping. Appellant contends that her business does not come within the purview of the act or ordinance, that she should not be required to comply with them, and that she received a letter threatening prosecution under the penal provisions of the act and ordinance for her failure to comply. The trial court in its decree recited that it had considered the matter on the pleadings, the testimony and evidence presented, the briefs and the argument of counsel. It found that pawnbrokers are included in Act 87 of 1981 and North Little Rock Ordinance No. 5369, that the business operation conducted by appellant is within the purview of the act and ordinance and that appellant must follow the requirements of the act. The trial court denied appellant’s request for a permanent injunction, and it is from this order appellant appeals. Jurisdiction is in this Court pursuant to Rule 29 (1) (c). The burden was on appellant to bring up a record sufficient to show that the trial court was wrong. Armbrust v. Henry, 263 Ark. 98, 562 S.W.2d 598 (1978); A.R.A.P. 6 (b). No testimony and none of the evidence relied upon below have been included in the record. The record before us consists merely of briefs and pleadings. Appellant refers to a stipulation of facts introduced below, but none appears in the record. The answer filed by appellee denies the following: (1) that appellant has paid all privilege taxes or license fees, (2) that appellant is not in the business of buying precious metals for resale and (3) that threats of arrest were made. The answer admits that the statute and ordinance exist. Therefore, the answer admits no facts material to the basis of this appeal. In Armbrust v. Henry, supra, we emphasized that an appellate court must presume that the missing testimony in a record on appeal supports the finding of the lower court. See also, Phillips v. Arkansas Real Estate Com’n., 244 Ark. 577, 426 S.W.2d 412 (1968). Without the benefit of the evidence from which the trial court made its findings, an affirmance of the trial court is imperative. Affirmed. Purtle, J., dissents.