Court Opinion

ID: 4126174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-15 16:14:11.445541+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:48.621097
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 95

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION III
                                      No.CV-16-400

IMODEL J. FRANKLIN and                            Opinion Delivered   February 15, 2017
NATHAN B. FRANKLIN
                  APPELLANTS                      APPEAL FROM THE SCOTT
                                                  COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V.                                                [NO. 64CV-13-19]

WALDRON NURSING CENTER,                           HONORABLE TERRY SULLIVAN,
INC.; ESTATE OF THURMAN J.                        JUDGE
FRANKLIN BY AND THROUGH THE
SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR,                            REBRIEFING ORDERED
DONALD GOODNER; RICHARD D.
FRANKLIN; ARGIE N. NICHOLS; and
SOUTH PARKS PROPERTIES, LLC
                   APPELLEES

                            WAYMOND M. BROWN, Judge

       Imodel Franklin and her son Nathan Franklin separately appeal the Scott County

Circuit Court’s order finding that Imodel had failed to present sufficient evidence to support

the imposition of a constructive trust on certain real property she had conveyed from a

family trust to South Parks Properties, LLC. 1 Imodel argues that the circuit court erred by

not imposing a constructive trust because it was not her intention to transfer the real

property to the limited liability company. In addition to the issues raised by Imodel, Nathan

       1
        In her complaint and subsequent pleadings below, Imodel Franklin named Nathan
Franklin as a defendant. Based on the style of the pleadings, when the record was lodged
our clerk’s office entered Nathan as an appellee. Nathan filed an appellee’s brief. Based on
the substance of Nathan’s brief, we hereby realign the parties and deem him to be an
appellant. He adopts Imodel’s points on appeal and argues two additional points.
                                   Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 95

further argues that the court erred in entering a personal judgment against him for the cost

of the nursing-home services, contending that the judgment should be in a representative

capacity only. 2 He also argues that the court erred in not assessing costs against a party who

presented false evidence. However, we do not address the issues raised due to deficiencies

in appellants’ abstracts, addendums, and briefs.

       Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-2(a)(8) requires that an appellant’s brief include an

addendum consisting of all documents essential to this court’s resolution of the issues on

appeal, including exhibits. Imodel Franklin is the only appellant to include an addendum

with her brief. Among the documents not included in the addendum are the court’s letter

opinions deciding the case, the deed conveying the property from the trust to the limited

liability company, and the power of attorney Imodel was granted by her late husband,

Thurman Franklin. Letter opinions are specifically required to be included in the

addendum. 3 The deed is necessary because questions are raised concerning its validity due

to alleged improper notarization.

       Included in the addendum is a transcript attached to Nathan’s posttrial brief of the

trial testimony of two representatives of the nursing home. This testimony is also abstracted.

This was improper because the testimony should be abstracted only and the transcripts

should not be included in the addendum. 4

       2
           Waldron Nursing Center, Inc., has not filed a brief in this matter.
       3
           Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-2(a)(8).
       4
           See Lackey v. Mays, 100 Ark. App. 386, 269 S.W.3d 397 (2007).

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                                  Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 95

       Nathan Franklin’s brief on appeal has no addendum with supporting documentation

for his points regarding the personal judgment against him or that costs should have been

assessed against appellee Argie Nichols. 5 As an appellant, it was his duty to include all

documentation necessary to our understanding of the case and our decision of the issues that

have been presented to us. 6

       We order Imodel Franklin and Nathan Franklin to submit substituted briefs, abstracts,

and addenda correcting the above-referenced deficiencies within fifteen days. We encourage

counsel to review Rule 4-2 of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of

Appeals to ensure that the substituted briefs, abstracts, and addenda comply with the rules

and that no additional deficiencies are present. After service of the substituted briefs,

abstracts, and addenda, appellees shall have an opportunity to revise or supplement their

brief in the time prescribed by the clerk or to rely on the brief that they previously filed in

this appeal.

       Rebriefing ordered.

       HARRISON and HIXSON, JJ., agree.

      Walters, Gaston, Allison & Parker, Attorneys at Law, by: Troy Gaston, for appellant
Imodel J. Franklin.

       Joel W. Price, for appellant Nathan B. Franklin.

      The Jesse Law Firm, P.L.C., by: Mark Alan Jesse, for appellees Richard D. Franklin,
Argie N. Nichols, and South Parks Properties, LLC.

       5
        Nathan Franklin also did not include a separate addendum. He did, however,
indicate that he adopted Imodel Franklin’s abstract.
       6
           Doughty v. Douglas, 2016 Ark. App. 461, 503 S.W.3d 848.
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