Court Opinion

ID: 4696904
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-18 14:06:07.455813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:01:51.133491
License: Public Domain

RENDERED: JUNE 11, 2021; 10:00 A.M.
                        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                Commonwealth of Kentucky
                          Court of Appeals

                             NO. 2020-CA-1105-MR

EDWARD MICHAEL SZEWCZYK                                            APPELLANT

                 APPEAL FROM SPENCER CIRCUIT COURT
v.               HONORABLE S. MARIE HELLARD, JUDGE
                        ACTION NO. 19-CI-00169

ANGEL GOFF-SZEWCZYK                                                  APPELLEE

                                 OPINION
                            AFFIRMING IN PART
                                  AND
                            REMANDING IN PART

                                 ** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: COMBS, KRAMER, AND K. THOMPSON, JUDGES.

COMBS, JUDGE: This case involves a challenge to a property settlement

agreement incorporated into a decree of dissolution of marriage. Edward Michael

Szewczyk filed a post-decree motion to set aside a property settlement agreement

executed as part of his divorce from Angel Goff-Szewczyk. He now appeals the

order of the Spencer Family Court denying his motion. Edward argues that the
agreement was “procured from [him] by fraud and deceit and at a time when [he]

was under severe duress as a result of financial difficulties.” He contends that he

was deprived of due process by the court’s failure to conduct an evidentiary

hearing before denying the motion. After our review, we affirm in part and

remand in part.

             Edward and Angel married in October 2013. On September 24, 2019,

Angel filed a petition for dissolution of the marriage in Spencer Family Court. The

petition was accompanied by a property settlement agreement that had been

executed by both parties several days earlier and a waiver of financial disclosure

statements. The parties acknowledged that there had been a full and complete

disclosure between them of financial assets and debts and that each of them had a

full and complete understanding of the other’s financial position. Filed

contemporaneously was Edward’s entry of appearance in which he indicated that

he would decline to plead and that he waived notice of all further pleadings.

Angel’s responses to written interrogatories (providing the court with jurisdictional

proof) were also filed. Finally, proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a

final decree of dissolution were tendered to the court.

             The decree was entered by the court on October 1, 2019. The court

found specifically that the terms of the parties’ property settlement agreement were

not unconscionable, and the agreement was incorporated into the decree.

                                         -2-
             The terms of the parties’ settlement agreement provided that Angel

would retain the marital residences – one in Bullitt County and one in Spencer

County. Edward was to retain Walnut Ridge Farm in Delmar, Delaware, and Red

River Farm in Mandela Springs, Maryland. Angel was to “refinance the properties

in her own individual name thereby removing [Edward’s] name from any

promissory note and/or mortgage associated with the properties.” Edward agreed

to execute quitclaim deeds to the Kentucky real property. Edward was to be

“solely responsible on any debt owed on and any mortgage encumbering the

[farms].” Angel waived any interest in the farms and agreed to execute quitclaim

deeds if necessary. Each party took two vehicles and agreed to be responsible for

any debt, taxes, insurance, and registration for them. Each party waived any

interest in the retirement accounts of the other. The parties specifically

acknowledged that each had had the opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel.

             On March 5, 2020, Angel filed a motion asking the court to order

Edward to vacate the marital residence. She also asked that the court order the

master commissioner to execute quitclaim deeds to the Bullitt and Spencer County

properties because Edward refused to do so. The matter was scheduled for a

hearing to be conducted by the court remotely.

             On July 10, 2020, Edward filed a motion for relief from the court’s

decree of dissolution. He asked the court to declare the parties’ property

                                         -3-
settlement agreement unconscionable pursuant to the provisions of KRS1

403.180(2), alleging that it had been procured through fraud. Attached to the

motion was Edward’s extensive affidavit.

                In his affidavit, Edward swore that he and Angel had agreed to

dissolve their marriage and to transfer the unencumbered Kentucky property to

Angel alone solely in order to shield their real property from creditors. He

represented to the court that “once the dust had settled,” the parties intended to re-

marry. Edward indicated that this scheme had been Angel’s idea and that he had

hired Paul Zimlich, an attorney practicing in Taylorsville, to present the

uncontested dissolution action in family court. He declared that he proceeded with

the dissolution action and entered into the property settlement agreement “based

upon [Angel’s] representations and assurances.”

                According to Edward, after the dissolution, Angel “immediately and

unexpectedly became estranged from [him]” and began to demand that he execute

the quitclaim deeds pursuant to the terms of the parties’ property settlement

agreement. Edward explained that when he signed the property settlement

agreement, he had been “laboring under severe mental stress as a result of [the]

then pending financial crisis and my desire to preserve as much of my assets as

possible.”

1
    Kentucky Revised Statutes.

                                           -4-
            He stated that Angel had been fully aware of his financial

circumstances and that she had taken advantage of him; that her “actions in

procuring the [Kentucky real estate] and virtually all the property in the marital

estate debt free and leaving [him] to deal with the economic crisis on the farms was

both fraudulent and deceitful.” He concluded that Angel had misled him into

believing that she would re-marry him and that her actions were unconscionable.

             Angel objected vigorously. In an affidavit attached to her response to

Edward’s motion, Angel explained that the scheme had been Edward’s idea alone.

She indicated that she had never spoken with or met Zimlich and had not paid him

for his services. She insisted that she had never agreed to re-marry Edward.

             In an order entered August 12, 2020, the Spencer Family Court denied

Edward’s request for relief. Based upon the parties’ sworn statements, the court

found that in their effort to defeat the interests of creditors, Edward and Angel had

conspired to perpetrate a fraud upon the court. Consequently, it concluded that

Edward “should not now be heard to complain that the agreement he reached and

entered into voluntarily with [Angel] is unconscionable.” The court was convinced

that the parties had participated in a scheme to defraud their creditors and to

deceive the court. However, it found no evidence of fraud, undue influence,

deception, concealment, or overreaching between the parties themselves that

would render the settlement agreement unenforceable. In fact, the only miscue in

                                         -5-
their plan was Angel’s apparent refusal to re-marry Edward. This timely appeal

followed.

              On appeal, Edward advances a single argument. He argues that the

family court denied him due process, including access to the courts, and that it

“short-shifted” justice in the matter. Nonetheless, while decrying the court’s

failure to dispense justice, Edward admits to having perpetrated a fraud upon that

very court.

              Edward argues that the court erred by failing to conduct an

evidentiary hearing and that, therefore, its order is clearly erroneous. Specifically,

he contends that there is: no evidence upon which the court could find that the

property settlement agreement was not procured through a fraud practiced upon

him; no evidence upon which the court could find that the dissolution action was

an attempt to defeat creditors’ claims; and, finally, no evidence upon which the

court could find that the “unclean hands” doctrine would apply to undermine his

request for relief from the decree. While conceding that he may not have a strong

factual basis for his motion, Edward nevertheless claims that he is entitled to an

evidentiary hearing. We disagree.

              The provisions of KRS 403.180(2) anticipate that the terms of a

separation agreement will bind the court “unless it finds, after considering the

economic circumstances of the parties and any other relevant evidence produced

                                          -6-
by the parties . . . that the separation agreement is unconscionable.” The

provisions of a court’s decree related to the disposition of property “may not be

revoked or modified, unless the court finds the existence of conditions that justify

the reopening of a judgment under the laws of this state.” KRS 403.250(1). A trial

court’s jurisdiction to modify a judgment expires ten days from the date that the

final order was entered by the court. See CR2 59.05. In order for a court to modify

a judgment dividing marital property after ten days, a party must allege grounds to

reopen the judgment or order pursuant to the provisions of CR 60.02. Fry v.

Kersey, 833 S.W.2d 392 (Ky. App. 1992); Copas v. Copas, 359 S.W.3d 471 (Ky.

App. 2012).

                Edward filed his motion for relief pursuant to the provisions of CR

60.02(d) and (f). In relevant part, that rule provides that a court may, “upon such

terms as are just,” relieve a party from its final judgment based upon “fraud

affecting the proceedings” or upon any other reason “of an extraordinary nature

justifying relief.” CR 60.02(d) and (f). Because the law favors the finality of

judgments, invoking the rule “requires a very substantial showing to merit relief

under its provisions.” Ringo v. Commonwealth, 455 S.W.2d 49, 50 (Ky. 1970). A

decision of a family court to deny relief must be affirmed on appeal unless a

reviewing court concludes that there was a flagrant miscarriage of justice. See

2
    Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure.

                                           -7-
Gross v. Commonwealth, 648 S.W.2d 853 (Ky. 1983). Because of the

extraordinary nature of the relief sought, a movant must allege facts which, if true,

justify vacating the judgment before he would be entitled to an evidentiary hearing.

Id.

             The type of “fraud affecting the proceedings” necessary to justify

reopening under CR 60.02(d) relates to extrinsic fraud. W. Bertelsman and K.

Phillipps, Kentucky Practice CR 60.02, cmt. 6, at 426 (4th ed. 1984). Extrinsic

fraud covers “fraudulent conduct outside of the trial which is practiced upon the

court, or upon the defeated party, in such a manner that he is prevented from

appearing or presenting fully and fairly his side of the case.” Id. “[P]erjury by a

witness is not the type of fraud to outweigh the preference for finality.” Id. at 425.

             Edward failed to allege facts sufficient to establish a fraud affecting

the proceedings that might entitle him to relief. The facts that Edward alleges

indicate that he and Angel meant to conceal from and misrepresent information to

the court and to their creditors. Edward’s evidence is insufficient to show that

Angel participated in fraudulent conduct that prevented him from fully and fairly

presenting his side of the case to the court. The fact that the parties intended to

conspire together to procure a divorce decree -- including a division of property by

fraud -- is insufficient to entitle Edward to the extraordinary relief he sought.

                                          -8-
Consequently, we conclude that the family court did not err by refusing to grant an

evidentiary hearing to consider his request.

             CR 60.02(f) authorizes a court to set aside a judgment for “reason[s]

of an extraordinary nature justifying relief.” Subsection (f) of the rule functions as

a residual clause. It is not available unless “none of that rule’s [other] specific

provisions applies.” Alliant Hospitals, Inc. v. Benham, 105 S.W.3d 473, 478 (Ky.

App. 2003) (citing Commonwealth v. Spaulding, 991 S.W.2d 651, 655 (Ky.1999)).

(“CR 60.02(f) is a catch-all provision that encompasses those grounds, which

would justify relief pursuant to writ of coram nobis, that are not otherwise set forth

in the rule”). Furthermore, it can apply only where a moving party can show that

he did not have a fair opportunity to present his case at a trial on the merits.

Snodgrass v. Snodgrass, 297 S.W.3d 878 (Ky. App. 2009). Relief is available

under its provisions only where a movant has made a clear showing of

extraordinary and compelling equities. Webb v. Compton, 98 S.W.3d 513 (Ky.

App. 2002) (citing Dull v. George, 982 S.W.2d 227, 229 (Ky. App. 1998)); Copas

v. Copas, 359 S.W.3d 471 (Ky. App. 2012). Under the circumstances of this case,

Edward clearly cannot invoke any principles of equity. Consequently, the family

court did not err by refusing to conduct an evidentiary hearing.

             However, although we affirm the rulings of the trial court up to this

point, we nonetheless remand this matter for the court to conduct a hearing to

                                          -9-
consider the impact of the joint fraudulent conduct of the parties with regard to the

terms of their settlement agreement. The court on remand should address whether

the award of the properties at issue should be voided and set aside, and what

should be done with the properties based on the level and proportion of the fraud of

both parties.

            Both parties submitted affidavits admitting that they used the court to

defraud creditors. Indeed, the family court found that based upon the sworn

affidavits, “[Edward] engaged in fraud upon the Court, and with the assistance of

[Angel], was able to defeat creditors from accessing certain assets that the parties

either alone, or in combination, had amassed.” Edward clearly has unclean hands --

as does Angel.

                Recently, this Court addressed a highly similar situation in an

unpublished case. Harris v. Harris, 2017-CA-0032-MR, 2019 WL 2563402 (Ky.

App. Jun. 21, 2019). In Harris, a husband and wife transferred real property by

deed to the wife’s daughter in anticipation their filing for bankruptcy. The parties

did not disclose the real property or its transfer during the bankruptcy. They had

agreed that after the bankruptcy became final, the daughter would transfer the

property back into the husband’s and wife’s name. However, the parties divorced.

When they contested right to their property during the divorce, the nature of the

fraudulent transfer came to light. The trial court ruled in the husband’s favor --

                                           -10-
despite his repeated admission that he had knowingly and intentionally

transferred the real property to avoid its inclusion of his bankruptcy estate, thus

effectively defrauding his creditors.

             The majority in Harris relied on Justice v. Justice, 219 S.W.2d 964,

966 (Ky. 1949), Kentucky’s highest Court at the time addressed a similar

fraudulent transaction involving real property and declared the following:

             To permit the courts to thus be made tools for the
             perpetration of such frauds would bring into disrepute the
             whole administration of justice. They are not constructed
             for the purpose of aiding unconscionable persons to
             consummate the frauds which they may concoct; on the
             contrary it is the rule that courts will not permit
             themselves to be made the instruments by which such
             fraudulent schemes are carried out.

Id. at *6.

             The Harris Court held that it “will not be a part of nor approve what

effectively was a fraudulent scheme to defraud creditors.” Id. The Court

remanded the case to the trial court; ordered it to set aside the deed as a fraudulent

transfer; and ordered it to afford no other relief to either party based on the

complaint or counterclaim asserted in the action.

             In the case before us, this Court should not approve a plan designed to

defraud creditors. Although Edward properly did not prevail in the trial court, a

full affirmance of its order would allow Angel to be rewarded despite her

participation in the fraud, amounting to as much as $1,500,000.00 according to the

                                          -11-
family court’s opinion. This conduct may have both civil and criminal

ramifications, including but not limited to KRS 517.060.

             Therefore, we AFFIRM the majority of the rulings of the trial court

but REMAND this case for additional proceedings as to the proper disposition of

the property subject to the fraudulent conduct of both parties and for whatever

modification of the settlement may be warranted by its findings in conjunction

with that fraud.

             ALL CONCUR.

 BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT:                    BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

 Mark D. Dean                             Timothy Denison
 Shelbyville, Kentucky                    Louisville, Kentucky

                                        -12-