Court Opinion

ID: 2816350
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-10 19:20:05.937893+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:39.522088
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

LAUREN KIPP,                                     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                       PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellee

                       v.

MICHAEL ALDEN KIPP,

                            Appellant                No. 1782 MDA 2014

              Appeal from the Order Entered September 25, 2014
                In the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County
                       Civil Division at No(s): 2014-2154

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., JENKINS, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.:                          FILED JULY 10, 2015

        Michael Alden Kipp (Husband) appeals from the order entered

September 25, 2014, granting Lauren Kipp’s (Wife) petition for special relief

and directing Husband to pay Wife $55,000 for her one-half share of the

equity in the marital residence. After review, we affirm.1
____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
  Notably, the parties’ divorce decree was entered by the Cameron County
Court of Common Pleas, but the instant appeal arises from an order issued
by the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. We are also aware that an
appeal was filed by Wife from an order issued on January 16, 2013, by the
Cameron County Court, denying her petition for special relief. Husband filed
a motion to quash with this Court, which in essence was granted because
the Cameron County Court belatedly granted Wife’s motion for
reconsideration and transferred the case to Centre County. See Kipp v.
Kipp, No. 460 WDA 2013, unpublished memorandum (Pa. Super. filed May
16, 2014).
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      Following the transfer of the case to Centre County, Wife filed a

petition for special relief pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 and Pa.R.C.P.

1920.43. After a hearing was held on August 18, 2014, the trial court issued

the order presently on appeal and an accompanying opinion which contained

the following findings of fact:

      1. The parties separated in May, 2011 and were divorced by
      entry of a final Decree in Divorce[] entered on December 9,
      2011, by the Cameron County Court of Common Pleas.

      2. After the parties separated, but before the entry of the
      divorce decree, they negotiated terms of a Draft Property
      Settlement Agreement, including the distribution of their marital
      real property located at 745 Thomas Street, State College,
      Centre County, Pennsylvania.       The Property Settlement
      Agreement was never executed.

      3. The parties also proposed that [Husband] would refinance the
      marital home solely in his name. In order to effectuate this
      refinance, and for the sole purpose of the refinance, the parties
      executed a Separation Agreement on August 24, 2011 in which
      [Wife] waived any rights to the marital property.

      4. On August 31, 2011, after the parties signed the Separation
      Agreement, but before the property was refinanced, [Wife]
      emailed [Husband] and requested that he forward the value at
      which the property had been appraised so that it could be
      included in the Property Settlement Agreement they had
      negotiated.

      5. In that same email, [Wife] indicated her wariness at signing
      any Deed related to the property before they signed the Property
      Settlement Agreement stating she was “entitled to half of the
      amount of the profit when [Husband] sell[s] the house (at its
      current market value).”

      6. [Husband] provided the requested information that day, and
      [Wife] emailed him a completed draft of the Property Settlement
      Agreement shortly thereafter.

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     7. On September 2, 2014, the parties executed the Deed
     transferring the marital property solely into [Husband’s] name.

     8. On September 26, 2011, [Wife] mailed a signed and notarized
     copy of the final Property Settlement Agreement to [Husband]
     for his signature. [Wife] indicated same to [Husband] via email
     later that morning.

     9. [Husband] responded to the email that same day, and
     indicated that he would take care of the paperwork as soon as
     possible.

     10. On October 4, 2011, [Husband] emailed [Wife] indicating
     that he would “like to come up with some type of solution to re-
     pay” her.

     11. There are no other provisions in the Property Settlement
     Agreement which deal with a debt of any kind owed by
     [Husband] to [Wife].

     12. That same day, [Wife] responded that she was in no
     immediate rush for a lump sum of money and was willing to give
     [Husband] time to assess his ability to make the large payments
     on the house. The parties agreed that they would wait until
     spring before discussing the repayment again.

     13. On March 13, 2012, [Wife] emailed [Husband] regarding the
     repayment and wanting to move forward with signing the
     Property Settlement Agreement.

     14. On May 31, 2012, [Wife] emailed [Husband] again wanting
     to discuss her share of the equity in the marital home.
     [Husband] responded that they could talk about it “sometime
     soon.”

     15. On June 4, 2012, it now being toward the end of spring,
     [Wife] again emailed [Husband] about the marital residence and
     wanting to discuss her half of the equity.

     16. On August 14, 2012, [Wife] emailed [Husband] asking him
     to respond to her various communications.         [Husband]
     responded, “Please cease communication with me. Things are
     final.”

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      17. As [Husband] was not cooperating, [Wife] was forced to hire
      an attorney to protect her interest in the equity in the marital
      residence.

      18. On September 5, 2012, [Wife’s] attorney sent a letter to
      [Husband] giving him the options of either paying [Wife] her
      share of the marital equity, or a lien would be placed against the
      property in the amount of her share to be paid to [Wife] when
      the home sold. [Wife’s] attorney indicated that failure to comply
      with one of the options would force [Wife] to pursue a remedy in
      court.

Trial Court Opinion (T.C.O.), 9/25/14, at 1-3.

      Based upon these findings, the court entered the order directing

Husband to pay Wife $55,000, which represented half of the equity in the

marital residence.   Husband appealed, raising the following issues for our

review:

      1. Did the signed separation agreement and divorce, on it’s [sic]
      face, ban an action to enforce an oral agreement?

      2. Did the court commit error by finding that there was an oral
      agreement to modify the written document?

      3. Did the court commit error in requiring [] Husband to pay
      $55,000.00 within thirty days which was not part of the alleged
      oral contract?

Husband’s brief at 4 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).

      Husband first argues that upon the entry of the divorce decree

pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c) (“Mutual consent”), the parties lose all

rights not claimed before the divorce was granted.      Specifically, Husband

argues that by the time the divorce decree was entered, “the parties had

taken the steps necessary to remove [Wife] from any liability relating to the

marital residence[,]” and, therefore, “[W]ife had no legal interest in the

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property.”    Husband’s brief at 11.           In support of this contention, Husband

relies on 23 Pa.C.S. § 3503, which provides that when a divorce decree is

granted “all property rights which are dependent upon the marital relation …

are terminated unless the court expressly provides otherwise in its decree.”

Id.2    Husband emphasizes the loss of any right to equitable distribution

under the Divorce Code if no specific reservation of property rights was

included in the divorce decree.          Id. at 11-12 (citing inter alia Smith v.

Smith, 749 A.2d 921 (Pa. Super. 2000), and Bastion v. Bastion, 472 A.2d

226 (Pa. Super. 1984)). Because no such reservation of rights was included,

Husband claims that the separation agreement, divorce decree and the deed

control and that Wife cannot now assert grounds to the contrary, i.e., an oral

agreement.

        Wife counters Husband’s argument, asserting that the Divorce Code

allows her to request special relief via her petition in order to protect her

____________________________________________

2
    Section 3503 of the Divorce Code states:

        Whenever a decree or judgment is granted which nullifies or
        absolutely terminates the bonds of matrimony, all property
        rights which are dependent upon the marital relation, except
        those which are vested rights, are terminated unless the court
        expressly provides otherwise in its decree. All duties, rights and
        claims accruing to either of the parties at any time theretofore in
        pursuance of the marriage shall cease, and the parties shall
        severally be at liberty to marry again as if they had never been
        married.

23 Pa.C.S. § 3503.

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economic interests through the court’s equity powers.         She relies on

Annechino v. Joire, 946 A.2d 121 (Pa. Super. 2008), wherein the wife

claimed that since the husband had not pled any equitable distribution

counts in the divorce complaint before the entry of the divorce decree, the

trial court did not have jurisdiction to enforce the parties’ agreement.   In

Gabourey v. Gabourey, 988 A.2d 672 (Pa. Super. 2009), this Court

discussed the Annechino case, explaining that:

     Annechino concerned the court's subject matter jurisdiction
     over an action to enforce a marital settlement agreement. In
     Annechino, the parties entered into a marital property
     settlement agreement prior to the entry of a divorce decree and
     did not incorporate or merge that agreement into the final
     divorce decree.    The appellant wife argued that since the
     agreement was not incorporated and the pleadings did not
     include a count for equitable distribution, the trial court did not
     have the authority to enforce the agreement. She asserted that
     the appellee husband's only remedy was a separate civil action
     in equity. We rejected the wife's claim and held that the trial
     court had authority to enforce the agreement under the Divorce
     Code.

Gaboury, 988 A.2d at 679. Moreover, the Annechino opinion explains:

           Section 3105(a) of the Divorce Code states that parties to
     an agreement regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the
     court under the Divorce Code, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3101 et seq.,
     whether or not the agreement has been merged or incorporated
     into the decree, may use a remedy or sanction set forth in the
     Divorce Code to enforce the agreement to the same extent as
     though the agreement had been an order of the court, unless
     otherwise agreed. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3105(a).

           Section 3105 does not specify that the agreement would
     have had to have been pled in the divorce complaint; however,
     [the w]ife claims that section 3104(a) limits the jurisdiction and
     enforcement powers under section 3105 to those matters that
     have been raised in the pleadings. Because the legislature has

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      clearly set forth its intent and objectives, and because it has
      granted the courts continuing jurisdiction and broad enforcement
      powers, we do not read the Divorce Code in the restrictive
      manner [the w]ife advocates. Instead, we read section 3105 to
      permit the courts to enforce the parties’ agreement even if not
      incorporated or merged into the decree, and even if not
      specifically raised in the divorce pleadings.

             We decline to read this section in isolation. To do so would
      discourage the resolution of economic claims by agreement and
      send economic claims relating to divorce over to the civil division
      as a breach of contract claim, precisely the situation the
      legislature intended to change by the 1988 amendments.

Annechino, 946 A.2d at 123.       The Annechino decision also relies on 23

Pa.C.S. § 3323(f), stating:

      In all matrimonial causes, the court shall have full equity power
      and jurisdiction and may issue injunctions or other orders which
      are necessary to protect the interests of the parties or to
      effectuate the purposes of this part and may grant such other
      relief or remedy as equity and justice require against either
      party or against a third person over whom the court has
      jurisdiction and who is involved in or concerned with the
      disposition of the cause.

Id. at 124 n.4 (quoting 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(f)).

      Recognizing that Husband’s claim in the instant case essentially

mirrors the wife’s claim in Annechino, it is evident that Husband’s position

here is not tenable.   The trial court’s actions comport with the dictates of

Annechino and the statutory interpretations contained therein.              We,

therefore, conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion or err as a

matter of law by assuming jurisdiction of this matter in order “to protect the

interests of the parties and effectuate economic justice and insure the fair

and just settlement of the parties’ property rights.” Id. See also Foley v.

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Foley, 572 A.2d 6 (Pa. Super. 1985) (stating that the court retains equitable

authority after a divorce decree is entered to intercede upon a petition to

address economic injustice).

      Husband next argues that the trial court erred by finding an oral

amendment to the written separation agreement, deed and divorce decree.

Husband’s brief at 13.    With reliance on Fina v. Fina, 737 A.2d 760 (Pa.

Super. 1999), Husband acknowledges that “[w]hen a party seeks oral

modification of a written separation agreement, the oral contract must be

proven by ‘clear, precise and convincing evidence.’” Husband’s brief at 14

(quoting Fina, 737 A.2d at 764). However, Husband overlooks the following

recitation in the Fina decision, which states that there is

      the well-settled principle that a written contract may be orally
      modified, even when the contract expressly provides that
      modifications must be in writing. … Somerset Community
      Hospital v. Mitchell, 454 Pa. Super. 188, 685 A.2d 141 (Pa.
      Super. 1996).[] As Somerset indicates, “an agreement that
      prohibits non-written modification may be modified by
      subsequent oral agreement if the parties’ conduct clearly shows
      the intent to waive the requirement that the amendments be
      made in writing.” [Somerset,] 685 A.2d at 146, citing Accu-
      Weather v. Prospect Communications, 644 A.2d 1251 (Pa.
      Super. 1994). Finally, an oral modification of a written contract
      must be proved by clear, precise and convincing evidence. Id.,
      citing Pellegrene v. Luther, 403 Pa. 212, 169 A.2d 298 (1961).

Id. at 764.

      As noted by Wife, Husband has misconstrued the trial court’s

determination, which we set forth as follows:

            Testimony at the hearing held on August 18, 2014
      established that the parties entered into the Separation

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     Agreement, which reserved no rights for [Wife] regarding the
     marital residence, for the sole purpose of allowing [Husband] to
     refinance the marital residence in his name. Had the Separation
     Agreement contained any provision providing for a payment to
     [Wife,] the bank would not have approved the refinancing. This
     Court found [Wife’s] testimony, that the Separation Agreement
     was not intended to be the final agreement and that an oral
     agreement existed regarding the equity in the marital residence,
     to be credible.      [Husband] even acknowledged that the
     Separation Agreement was a requirement of the bank's
     refinancing process. [Wife’s] testimony was further supported
     by [Husband’s] own statements in emails indicating that he
     wanted to figure out a way to repay [Wife] when she would ask
     about her share of the equity. Furthermore, had there never
     been an oral agreement as to an outstanding Property
     Settlement Agreement, there would have been no reason for
     [Wife] to request a copy of the appraisal of the marital residence
     via email on August 31, 2012, nor for [Husband] to send her a
     copy. If [Husband] truly believed there was no oral agreement
     in addition to the Separation Agreement for the bank, this Court
     finds it odd that he did not tell [Wife] this at any time during
     their communications until months later, in August of 2012.

            [Husband’s] testimony that no oral agreement existed is
     plainly contrary to his assertions in email communications with
     [Wife] regarding the repayment and that he would “get the
     paperwork taken care of ASAP.” Taking into account all of the
     circumstances surrounding the two agreements, this Court finds
     that an oral agreement between the parties existed as to the
     unsigned Property Settlement Agreement. [Wife] signed the
     Separation Agreement with the understanding that the parties
     were memorializing their oral agreement in writing shortly
     thereafter. Indeed, [Wife] did not even want to sign the Deed
     removing her name from the property until their oral agreement
     had been memorialized and signed by both parties. This fact
     was made known to [Husband] before the Deed was signed and
     at no time did he object to any provisions regarding equity of the
     marital residence mentioned by [Wife]. This Court believes that
     it was the intent of the parties to use the Separation Agreement
     only for refinancing purposes and to later memorialize their oral
     agreement regarding the marital residence in the Property
     Settlement Agreement. It would be [i]nequitable to now prevent
     [Wife] from receiving her share of the equity in the marital
     residence, as was the intent of the parties, simply because

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      [Husband] was dragging his feet in signing the Property
      Settlement Agreement.

T.C.O. at 5-6.

      Based upon the above findings, the court granted Wife’s petition,

concluding that Husband had expressly agreed to the oral modification. We

conclude that the court did not err by doing so.             Wife presented clear,

precise   and    convincing   evidence    that      established   the     modification.

Moreover, “[s]ince matters of credibility are for the trial court, we are bound

by the court’s finding[s] of fact….”      Fina, 737 A.2d at 765.            Husband’s

second argument is without merit.

      Lastly, Husband argues, if this Court concludes that the written

agreement can be modified by an oral agreement, then the immediate

payment to Wife of the $55,000 is not supported by the record. Specifically,

Husband contends that the evidence of the terms of the oral agreement are

not clear and convincing.        Rather, Husband contends that the court’s

conclusion is based on the fact that the parties had been discussing the

payment since August of 2011 and that Wife stated that she needed money,

not that the payment was immediately due.

      In response, Wife relies on 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(f), quoted above, which

directs that a court “may grant such other relief or remedy as equity and

justice   require   against   either   party    …   over   whom     the     court   has

jurisdiction….” Also, as Wife points out, the trial court found that Husband

had numerous opportunities to pay Wife during a period in excess of three

years, that Husband misled Wife about his intent to pay her, and that he

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“secured an additional lien on the marital residence in the amount of

$28,000.00 from which Wife received no funds.” Wife’s brief at 29.

      In response to this issue raised by Husband, the trial court issued a

second opinion on December 8, 2014, explaining its reasoning for directing

the payment within thirty days of the September 25, 2014 order. The court

stated:

      For the sake of clarity, the [c]ourt will briefly address
      [Husband’s] … matter complained of on appeal, that this Court
      erred when it ordered [Husband] to pay $55,000.00
      immediately, which was not required by the parties unsigned
      agreement. The [c]ourt's rationale in giving [Husband] thirty
      days from the September 25, 2014 Order to make the payment
      was based on the fact that the parties had been discussing the
      payment since August of 2011. [Wife] has given [Husband]
      plenty of time and multiple opportunities to make a payment
      over the years. Furthermore, [Wife] made it clear to [Husband]
      that she was in need of this money over two years ago. A
      payment of this amount should not be a shock to Appellant after
      having discussed it so many times with [Wife], and as it
      progressed through litigation to trial.

Trial Court’s Opinion, 12/8/14, at 1-2.

      Husband has overlooked the equity powers possessed by the court as

described in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(f) and the legislative intent in promulgating

the amendments to the Divorce Code, “which include effectuating economic

justice between the parties and insuring a fair and just settlement of the

parties’ property rights.” Annechino, 946 A.2d at 123 (citing 23 Pa.C.S. §

3102). Having acted within the confines of the Divorce Code, we conclude

that the trial court’s resolution of this issue is not an abuse of discretion.

Husband’s final issue is without merit.

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     Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 7/10/2015

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