Court Opinion

ID: 9386796
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-13 17:02:32.510878+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:08.554888
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                  AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                     IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                 DIVISION ONE

                               In re the Matter of:

                       SARA FORD, Petitioner/Appellee,

                                         v.

                 SEAN P. ERICKSON, Respondent/Appellant.

                            No. 1 CA-CV 22-0387 FC
                                FILED 4-13-2023

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                           No. FC2019-007892
               The Honorable Tracey Westerhausen, Judge

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

Glickstein Law, PLLC, Phoenix
By Falynn S. Baum
Co-Counsel for Petitioner/Appellee

Hoffman Legal, LLC, Phoenix
By Amy Wilkins Hoffman
Co-Counsel for Petitioner/Appellee

Sean P. Erickson, Phoenix
Respondent/Appellant
                          FORD v. ERICKSON
                          Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Cynthia J. Bailey delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge Jennifer B. Campbell and Judge David D. Weinzweig joined.

B A I L E Y, Judge:

¶1           Sean P. Erickson (“Husband”) appeals the superior court’s
order enforcing a post-nuptial agreement with Sara Ford (“Wife”). He
argues the court abused its discretion by (1) excluding his expert witness
on California law, and (2) failing to make sufficient findings of fact and
conclusions of law. We disagree and affirm.

                FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2           In 2001, the parties married in California. About one year
later, the parties, each represented by counsel, entered a post-nuptial
agreement.

¶3           In 2018, the parties moved to Arizona. In September 2019,
Wife petitioned for dissolution, alleging the post-nuptial agreement
“controls the division of property, debt and spousal maintenance.”
Husband acknowledged the agreement, but claimed it was
“unconscionable and against public policy.”

¶4            Wife moved for partial summary judgment declaring the
post-nuptial agreement valid and enforceable. Husband responded that
the agreement was “unconscionable, inequitable, and unfair.” Both parties
relied exclusively on Arizona law for their arguments.

¶5            The court first granted Wife’s motion for summary judgment
as to the validity of the post-nuptial agreement, but later granted
Husband’s pro se motion to set aside that ruling based on a California
choice-of-law provision in the agreement. The court directed the parties to
file new motions for summary judgment on or before July 16, 2021. The
court also denied Husband’s motion to introduce an expert opinion on
California law.

¶6             Husband and Wife cross-moved for partial summary
judgment on July 16, but Husband neglected to file a separate statement of
facts until July 19. Wife argued the post-nuptial agreement was valid and

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                           FORD v. ERICKSON
                           Decision of the Court

enforceable under California law. Husband disagreed, pointing to an
expert opinion on California law. A few days later, Husband requested
findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 82(a), Ariz. R. Fam.
Law P.

¶7            Wife then moved to dismiss Husband’s motion for partial
summary judgment based on his untimely statement of facts and objected
to his expert witness on California law based on the court’s prior order.

¶8            The superior court dismissed Husband’s motion for partial
summary judgment in October 2021, concluding it was “not a motion for
summary judgment at all,” and Husband’s untimely statement of facts did
not comply with the court’s previous order. The court later sustained
Wife’s objection to Husband’s expert witness and denied Wife’s motion for
partial summary judgment, finding genuine issues of material fact
precluded summary judgment.

¶9           The next day, the court ordered the parties to provide joint or
separate pretrial statements by December 1, 2021. Wife timely filed a
separate pretrial statement and a memorandum of points and authorities.
Husband filed no pretrial statement.

¶10           At trial, the court heard testimony regarding the agreement’s
formation, the parties’ negotiations and disclosures, and Husband’s
contention that the agreement was waived because the parties did not
adhere to its terms. When Husband began to testify about the effect of
California law on the agreement, Wife’s counsel objected. The court
sustained the objection based on its prior rulings.

¶11           After taking the matter under advisement, the court made
factual findings and held the post-nuptial agreement was enforceable
under California law.

¶12           We have jurisdiction over Husband’s timely appeal. See Ariz.
Rev. Stat. (“A.R.S.”) § 12-2101(A)(1).

                              DISCUSSION

      I.     Exclusion of Expert Witness on California Law

¶13          Husband argues the superior court abused its discretion by
excluding his expert on California law.

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                             FORD v. ERICKSON
                             Decision of the Court

¶14           We review the decision whether to admit expert testimony for
an abuse of discretion. Gemstar Ltd. v. Ernst & Young, 185 Ariz. 493, 505
(1996); John C. Lincoln Hosp. & Health Corp. v. Maricopa Cnty., 208 Ariz. 532,
543, ¶ 33 (App. 2004). “The test for whether a person is an expert is whether
a jury can receive help on a particular subject from the witness.” Webb v.
Omni Block, Inc., 216 Ariz. 349, 352, ¶ 8 (App. 2007) (citation omitted).

¶15            Husband maintains that under Arizona Rule of Evidence 702,
the court should have allowed him to present expert testimony interpreting
the parties’ post-nuptial agreement. A witness who is qualified as an expert
may testify in the form of an opinion if “the expert’s scientific, technical, or
other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the
evidence or to determine a fact in issue.” Ariz. R. Evid. 702(a). An opinion
that embraces an ultimate issue is not automatically objectionable. Ariz. R.
Evid. 704.

¶16           Even so, opinion testimony need not be automatically
admitted. Testimony about ultimate issues may be excluded if it tells the
factfinder how to decide the case or is otherwise unhelpful. Webb, 216 Ariz.
at 353, ¶ 14. Moreover, a superior court judge is already considered an
expert on the law. See Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 27 (providing that judges “shall
declare the law” to juries); see also Marx & Co., Inc. v. Diners’ Club, Inc., 550
F.2d 505, 510 (2d Cir. 1977) (“The special legal knowledge of the judge
makes the witness’ testimony superfluous.” (citation omitted)); Loeb v.
Hammond, 407 F.2d 779, 781 (7th Cir. 1969) (“The question of interpretation
of the contract is for the jury and the question of legal effect is for the judge.
In neither case do we permit expert testimony.” (citation omitted)).

¶17           Husband does not explain how the expert’s report would
have helped the superior court in understanding the evidence or
determining a fact in issue, how California law supports his position that
the post-nuptial agreement was unenforceable, how the court’s ruling
misapplied California law, or how, had his expert and the expert’s report
been admitted, the result would have been different. On this record,
Husband has not shown that the superior court’s decision to exclude his
legal expert and rely on its own interpretation of the law constituted an
abuse of discretion.

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                             FORD v. ERICKSON
                             Decision of the Court

¶18            Husband further argues the superior court denied him
procedural due process when it excluded his expert on California law.1 We
review de novo an alleged due process violation. Griffin Found. v. Ariz. State
Ret. Sys., 244 Ariz. 508, 517, ¶ 25 (App. 2018).

¶19          “Procedural due process means that a party had the
opportunity to be heard ‘at a meaningful time and in a meaningful
manner.’” Comeau v. Ariz. State Bd. of Dental Exam’rs, 196 Ariz. 102, 106-07,
¶ 20 (App. 1999) (quoting Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333 (1976)).
“The elements of procedural due process are notice and an opportunity to
be heard.” Id. at 107, ¶ 20 (quoting Iphaar v. Indus. Comm’n, 171 Ariz. 423,
426 (App. 1992)).

¶20              Husband received due process. Even assuming Husband has
not waived his argument by failing to file a pretrial statement2 or otherwise
raise any due process issue before trial, see Harris v. Cochise Health Sys., 215
Ariz. 344, 349, ¶ 17 (App. 2007), we find no denial of due process. In the
superior court’s ruling granting his motion to set aside, Husband was
placed on notice that although he could retain a California attorney, the
court would not admit an expert on California law. Nevertheless, Husband
relied on the opinions of a purported California legal expert in his motion
for partial summary judgment. When Wife objected, Husband argued that
he believed the court’s earlier ruling simply meant his legal expert could
still testify as his expert, just not as the court’s expert, and the expert’s report
could still be admitted into evidence. Husband had a full opportunity to be
heard before the court sustained Wife’s objection.3

1       In his brief, Husband does not claim he was denied substantive due
process. He also has not identified a constitutionally protected liberty or
property interest necessary to make a substantive due process claim. Aegis
of Ariz., L.L.C. v. Town of Marana, 206 Ariz. 557, 568, ¶ 44 (App. 2003); accord
Alpha, LLC v. Dartt, 232 Ariz. 303, 308, ¶ 23 (App. 2013).

2      See Ariz. R. Fam. Law P. 76.1(e)(7) (requiring pretrial statements to
include “detailed and concise statements of contested issues of fact and
law”); Leathers v. Leathers, 216 Ariz. 374, 378, ¶ 19 (App. 2007) (“The pretrial
statement controls the subsequent course of the litigation.” (citation
omitted)).

3     While the parties litigated the issue of Husband’s expert, Husband
also moved to compel discovery, in which he again discussed his expert

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                            FORD v. ERICKSON
                            Decision of the Court

¶21            Additionally, at trial, Husband again tried to get portions of
his expert’s report in through his own testimony, but despite his argument,
the court denied his attempt to do so. Husband thus had multiple
opportunities to urge the court’s acceptance of his expert’s report, and he
was not denied procedural due process.

       II.    Sufficiency of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

¶22           Husband also argues that the superior court’s findings of fact
and conclusions of law were insufficient. He contends that when he
compares his expert’s report with the court’s ruling, he finds “noticeable
deficiencies” in the ruling, which he does not believe is sufficiently
supported by “California case history and statutes.” He does not explain
what these alleged deficiencies are, however, or how the result would have
been different had they not occurred.

¶23            We review the superior court’s findings of fact for an abuse of
discretion. Great W. Bank v. LJC Dev., LLC, 238 Ariz. 470, 478, ¶ 22 (App.
2015). We do not substitute our judgment for the superior court’s and will
reverse only if its findings are clearly erroneous. Id. The purpose behind
requiring the superior court, upon request, to make findings of fact, is to
enable this court to examine the basis upon which the superior court relied
in reaching its judgment. Ellingson v. Fuller, 20 Ariz. App. 456, 460 (1973).
Findings of fact satisfy this requirement if they are sufficient to allow an
appellate court “to test the validity of the judgment.” Gilliland v. Rodriguez,
77 Ariz. 163, 167 (1954).

¶24            Even assuming Husband has not waived his argument by
failing to reference case law or statutes supporting an argument that the
superior court misapplied California law, see ARCAP 13(a)(7)(A); Lunney v.
State, 244 Ariz. 170, 182, ¶ 45 (App. 2017); Ritchie v. Krasner, 221 Ariz. 288,
305, ¶ 62 (App. 2009), we find no reversible error.

¶25          First, a court need not set forth findings or conclusions in
ruling on a motion to exclude expert testimony under Rule 82(a)(2).

¶26          Second, after the evidentiary hearing, the superior court
issued a seven-page order thoroughly analyzing the evidence supporting
Husband’s claims and interpreting California statutory and case law. That

and the expert’s need to review documents and possibly provide an
amended report. After allowing Husband this additional opportunity to be
heard, and considering Husband’s reply to Wife’s response, the court
denied his motion.

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                            FORD v. ERICKSON
                            Decision of the Court

order was sufficient for this court to evaluate the basis for the court’s ruling.
See Ellingson, 20 Ariz. App. at 460. The court addressed Husband’s
arguments that the post-nuptial agreement provisions regarding spousal
maintenance and property were unfair and unconscionable, that he signed
the agreement under duress or undue influence, and that the parties never
followed the agreement, resulting in waiver.

¶27           In its review, the court considered Husband’s arguments in
the context of California contract law, the California Family Code, and
California case law, including In re Marriage of Pendleton & Fireman, 5 P.3d
839 (Cal. 2000), In re Marriage of Burkle, 43 Cal. Rptr. 3d 181 (Cal. Ct. App.
2006), and In re Marriage of Friedman, 122 Cal. Rptr. 2d 412 (Cal. Ct. App.
2002). The court found that a spousal support waiver in a marital
agreement was not per se unenforceable when executed by intelligent, well-
educated persons, each of whom appeared to be self-sufficient in property
and earning ability and had the advice of counsel regarding their rights and
obligations as marital partners at the time they executed the agreement.
The court also found that negotiations had occurred, at least some concerns
of Husband’s counsel to the proposed agreement had been addressed,
Husband had agreed to waive spousal support, and, under the agreement,
Husband could choose to apply his income to his retirement accounts. The
court concluded Wife had not gained an unfair advantage and Husband
“received exactly what he bargained for.”

¶28           The court further found that any presumption of duress or
undue influence “was dispelled by the evidence,” including the months-
long negotiation, presence of a notary, and cooling-off period. As to
Husband’s argument that he only signed because Wife threatened to annul
the marriage if he did not immediately sign, the superior court did “not find
Husband credible,” noted evidence to the contrary, and found no other
evidence to show Wife had made this threat. And as for Husband’s
argument that the parties never abided by the agreement, the court found
that the agreement had anticipated this circumstance by providing that the
waiver of any breach of the agreement “shall not” be considered a waiver
of any subsequent breach of any term, covenant, or condition. Moreover,
the court noted that Husband had identified no conduct by Wife that
waived the spousal support or property provisions. The court’s findings
and legal conclusions are supported by both the record and California law.

¶29           The superior court made sufficient findings of fact and
conclusions of law in its analysis of the post-nuptial agreement under
California law, and we find no abuse of the court’s discretion.

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                          FORD v. ERICKSON
                          Decision of the Court

      III.   Attorneys’ Fees and Costs on Appeal

¶30           Wife requests her attorneys’ fees and costs on appeal under
A.R.S. § 25-324, citing “the unreasonableness of Husband’s positions taken
in this appeal.” In our discretion, we deny her request for attorneys’ fees
but award her taxable costs upon compliance with Rule 21, ARCAP.

                             CONCLUSION

¶31          The superior court’s order is affirmed.

                           AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                           FILED: CC

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