Court Opinion

ID: 9641880
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:42:17.09114+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:40.518053
License: Public Domain

James R. Cooper, Judge, dissenting. I dissent because the trial court’s ruling that the contract is vague and unenforceable is correct. The contract provides for monthly payments of $500.00, beginning November 1, 1980. The contract provides that payments are to cease only upon the remarriage of the appellant. There is no definite total sum appellee is to pay the appellant nor is there any conclusion to the payments if the appellant remains unmarried. The agreement states that the “payments will be the responsibility of the HUSBAND [appellee] during his lifetime and of his estate if the said WIFE [appellant] should survive him.” Thus if the appellant remains unmarried and the appellee dies the appellee’s estate remains liable for the payments. If the appellant then dies after the appellee, the appellee’s estate could conceivably remain liable for payments to the appellant after her death. These payments were to be made as part of the appellant’s interest in marital property; however, the contract does not list the value of the property she is receiving payment for. Without being able to define the time limits on the payments or the value of the property, the trial court had no alternative than to find that the contract was vague and unenforceable. See Ashley, Drew & Northern Ry. Co. v. Baggott, 125 Ark. 1, 187 S.W. 649 (1916); Welch v. Cooper, 11 Ark. App. 263, 670 S.W.2d 454 (1984).