Court Opinion

ID: 4440920
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-24 15:04:11.068925+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:18.030213
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                       FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any                              Sep 24 2019, 10:17 am

court except for the purpose of establishing                                CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral                                 Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                             and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.

APPELLANT PRO SE                                         ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Charles W. Florance                                      Charlie W. Gordon
South Bend, Indiana                                      Lloyd & McDaniel, PLC
                                                         Louisville, Kentucky

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Charles W. Florance,                                     September 24, 2019
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                         19A-CC-854
        v.                                               Appeal from the St. Joseph
                                                         Superior Court
American Express                                         The Honorable Margot F. Reagan,
Centurion Bank,                                          Judge
Appellee-Plaintiff                                       Trial Court Cause No.
                                                         71D04-1802-CC-326

Baker, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CC-854 | September 24, 2019               Page 1 of 5
[1]   In February 2018, American Express Centurion Bank (American Express) filed

      a complaint against Charles Florance, seeking payment of $22,837.45.1

      Florance and counsel for American Express reached an agreement to settle the

      case, and their agreement was memorialized on the record during a January 9,

      2019, hearing:

               Bank:             . . . Mr. Florance has agreed to pay in full settlement
                                 a total of $13,500. Terms being $750 a month times
                                 18 months, starting sometime this month. . . .

                                                          ***

               Bank:             Upon a default situation and an affidavit from my
                                 office, we would then pursue the remaining balance
                                 in full that was pled in the original complaint,
                                 minus any payments made.

                                 The total amount in the complaint, which is still due
                                 through today is $22,837.45. But again, we’re
                                 willing to settle for the $13,500 as settlement in full.

                                                          ***

               Florance:         And I think if that’s contingient [sic] on a dismissal
                                 with prejudice once the 18 months are complete and
                                 the payments are all made?

      1
        The complaint is not included in the record on appeal, but we infer that it related to debt owed by Florance
      to American Express on a credit account.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CC-854 | September 24, 2019                  Page 2 of 5
               Bank:              Certainly.

               Florance:          I’m 100 percent in agreement.

      Tr. Vol. II p. 2-3.

[2]   On January 28, 2019, American Express sent an Agreed Judgment to Florance.

      The Agreed Judgment provided as follows:

               1.       Plaintiff shall have Judgment against the Defendant for the
                        sum of $22,837.45 . . . .

               2.       It is further agreed that [if] Defendant pays $13,500.00 to
                        Plaintiff at the rate of $750.00 each month . . . until the
                        $13,500.00 is paid in full, Plaintiff shall not issue execution
                        on this Judgment. . . .

               3.       It is further agreed that if the Defendant defaults from the
                        payment schedule set forth in paragraph 2, Plaintiff shall
                        be free to issue execution on this Judgment forthwith.

      Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 3. Florance did not sign the Agreed Judgment, but

      the trial court signed and entered it on March 14, 2019. Florance now appeals.2

[3]   Florance argues that the language of the Agreed Judgment is inconsistent with

      the agreement articulated at the January 2019 hearing. We disagree. The

      2
       American Express notes that agreed judgments are not appealable. See Gallops v. Shambaugh Kast Beck &
      Williams, LLP, 56 N.E.3d 59, 62-64 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (explaining that an agreed judgment is a consent
      decree rather than a judicial determination and that its entry is a ministerial act by the trial court and not
      appealable). We agree, but choose to address Florance’s arguments briefly in an attempt to offer clarity.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CC-854 | September 24, 2019                     Page 3 of 5
      Agreed Judgment does, indeed, include the full amount owed by Florance to

      American Express, preserving the bank’s right to execute that judgment in the

      event of a default. It also, however, indicates that if Florance makes monthly

      payments of $750 until he reaches the total amount of $13,500, then American

      Express will not execute the full amount of the judgment.

[4]   Florance appears to believe, mistakenly, that American Express agreed to

      dismiss its complaint with prejudice immediately. While that phraseology was

      used at the hearing (by Florance), it is apparent that the parties intended to

      enter a judgment, which would act as security for the settlement agreement;

      then, if and when the sum of Florance’s monthly payments totals $13,500,

      American Express will vacate the judgment.

[5]   In other words, if Florance makes the agreed monthly payments of $750 for 18

      months, reaching the amount of $13,500, then American Express will vacate

      the judgment and forego pursuit of Florance for the remaining balance.

      Therefore, the end result is precisely in line with the parties’ agreement.

[6]   We note that the language of the Agreed Judgment does not conform to the

      agreement reached by the parties during the hearing. Specifically, American

      Express agreed that the judgment would be dismissed with prejudice—or, more

      accurately, vacated—if and when Florance’s payments total $13,500. Tr. Vol.

      II p. 2-3. Therefore, we remand with instructions to enter an order requiring

      American Express to file a motion to vacate the Agreed Judgment if and when

      Florance’s timely monthly payments total $13,500. The order should require

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CC-854 | September 24, 2019   Page 4 of 5
      that the motion to vacate be filed within fourteen days of the day on which

      Florance’s payments total $13,500.

[7]   The judgment of the trial court is affirmed and remanded with instructions.

      Kirsch, J., and Crone, J., concur.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-CC-854 | September 24, 2019   Page 5 of 5