Court Opinion

ID: 3149707
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-27 15:03:40.925121+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:55:28.121646
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                    Oct 27 2015, 9:02 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Steven A. Gustafson                                      Mark D. Johnson
The Law Office of Richard R. Fox                         Allen & Johnson, LLC
New Albany, Indiana                                      Salem, Indiana
                                                         Attorney for Anthony Arnold, Rhonda
Douglas C. Leatherbury                                   Arnold, Daniel Arnold, and Lee Ann Arnold
Salem, Indiana
                                                         Mark Clark
                                                         Salem, Indiana
                                                         Attorney for Mid-Southern Savings Bank,
                                                         FSB

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Ronald Miller, d/b/a United                              October 27, 2015
Country Washington County                                Court of Appeals Case No.
Indiana Real Estate, LLC.,                               88A01-1412-MF-551
Appellant-Defendant,                                     Appeal from the Washington
                                                         Circuit Court
        v.                                               The Honorable Larry W. Medlock,
                                                         Judge
Anthony Arnold, Rhonda                                   Trial Court Cause No.
Arnold, Lee Ann Arnold, Daniel                           88C01-1311-MF-740
Arnold, Mid-Southern Savings
Bank, FSB and Washington
County Treasurer,
Appellee-Plaintiff

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015      Page 1 of 14
      Altice, Judge.

                                               Case Summary

[1]   Ronald O. Miller, d/b/a United Country Washington County Indiana Real

      Estate, LLC, (Miller) filed a complaint for breach of conditional land sale

      contract (the Land Contract) and foreclosure against Anthony, Rhonda, Lee

      Ann, and Daniel Arnold (collectively referred to as the Arnolds). The Arnolds

      filed various counterclaims against Miller. Following a two-day bench trial, the

      trial court found in favor of the Arnolds, releasing them from the Land Contract

      and entering judgment in their favor in the amount of $19,630.21. Miller filed a

      motion to correct error and a motion for a new trial “to specifically allow new

      evidence on the issues of payment made on the Land Contract for principal,

      interest, real estate taxes and insurance”. Appellant’s Appendix at 177. The trial

      court denied these motions following a hearing. On appeal, Miller contends

      that the trial court failed to properly apply the terms of the Land Contract and

      erred in denying the motion to correct error.

[2]   We affirm.

                                       Facts & Procedural History

[3]   Miller purchased the property in question on or about January 15, 2002.

      Situated on the property was a mobile home in which various members of the

      Arnold family had lived over the years. Although the details in the record are

      vague, it appears that Michael Arnold (not a party in this case) had a land

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015   Page 2 of 14
      contract with Miller prior to 2004. Michael’s parents, Anthony and Rhonda,

      moved into the mobile home at some point and, on February 23, 2004, entered

      into the Land Contract with Miller, which was apparently a continuation of

      Michael’s contract. The underlying property was also subject to a mortgage in

      favor of Mid-Southern Savings Bank (the Bank). Rhonda obtained insurance

      on the property, and the policy included Miller and the Bank as co-loss payees.

[4]   The mobile home burned in 2011 and was a total loss. Thereafter, insurance

      checks were issued in the amount of $17,000 for loss of the trailer and $8000 for

      its contents. It took Miller several months to find a replacement mobile home

      for the property, but the Arnolds continued to make monthly payments on the

      Land Contract. Miller eventually purchased a replacement from a nearby

      property for $9900. The Bank provided Miller with the remainder of the funds

      for the loss of the trailer, totaling $7100. Miller also appears to have received

      $4000 for loss of personal property (part of the $8000 check) to be used for

      cleanup of the site.1

[5]   With the funds remaining after purchasing the mobile home, Miller testified

      that he paid an additional $100 to the seller, purchased local permits totaling

      $160, paid $2000 to have the replacement mobile home relocated, spent $1000

      for cleanup, and additional funds for materials and setup. The Arnolds

      disputed the amount of the relocation and cleanup expenses and indicated that

      1
       Although we have had difficulty finding support in the record for this factual statement, Miller includes this
      as fact in his appellate brief and does not challenge this specific finding of fact entered by the trial court.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015             Page 3 of 14
      they did most of the cleanup themselves. Miller provided no supporting

      evidence at trial regarding these additional expenditures.

[6]   Anthony and Rhonda moved out of the mobile home around April 2012, and

      their son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Lee Ann, assumed Anthony and

      Rhonda’s obligations under the Land Contract. Although Miller did not give

      written consent for the assignment of the Land Contract, he actively acquiesced

      in the transfer of Anthony and Rhonda’s financial obligations to Daniel and

      Lee Ann. Miller often came to the property and accepted monthly payments

      from Lee Ann.

[7]   Whereas Anthony and Rhonda had paid the insurance premiums themselves

      prior to the fire, Miller secured insurance and added $50 per month to Daniel

      and Lee Ann’s payments. Miller testified at trial that he did not know the

      actual cost of the insurance. Miller also charged the Arnolds for property taxes

      that remained in his name. Between 2011 and 2013, Miller knowingly provided

      the Arnolds with false written statements regarding the amount of real estate

      taxes and insurance actually owed. In total, he overbilled the family $107.25

      for insurance and $1647.14 for taxes during this period.

[8]   In December 2012 and January 2013, while Lee Ann was hospitalized, Miller

      allowed the water and electricity to the mobile home to be shut off. He also

      placed a hold on the utilities, which resulted in the Arnolds being unable to pay

      to have them restored. As a result, the water pipes in the mobile home burst

      and caused $2500 in water damage.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015   Page 4 of 14
[9]    Miller refused payments tendered by Lee Ann in October 2013 and all

       subsequent payments. He then, on November 22, 2013, filed a complaint

       against the Arnolds for breach of the Land Contract and foreclosure of said

       contract. Miller amended the complaint twice. The subsequent amendments

       included the Bank and the Washington County Treasurer as defendants,

       recognizing their prior liens on the real estate. Thereafter, the Bank filed a

       counterclaim against Miller to foreclose on its mortgage lien.

[10]   Following a two-day bench trial, the trial court issued findings of fact and

       conclusions of law and entered judgment against Miller on October 15, 2014.

       Specifically, the court foreclosed on the Bank’s lien and entered a judgment of

       $13,664.81 in favor of the Bank, $17,130.21 in favor of the Arnolds,2 and

       $2500.00 (for water damage) in favor of Daniel and Lee Ann Arnold. The

       court ordered the property to be sold by the Sheriff of Washington County.

[11]   On November 13, 2014, Miller filed a motion to correct error and a motion for

       a new trial “to specifically allow new evidence on the issues of payment made on

       the Land Contract for principal, interest, real estate taxes and insurance”.

       Appellant’s Appendix at 177 (emphasis supplied). Among the new evidence

       Miller sought to introduce were spreadsheets prepared by a CPA, a copy of the

       Arnolds’ water statement from October 2013 to March 2014, and his own

       2
         This amount included $6890 (the difference between the insurance proceeds and the cost of the replacement
       trailer), $6013 (treble damages for the tax and insurance overcharges, as well as associated attorney fees), and
       $4228 (the equity acquired by the Arnolds during the Land Contract minus uncollected payments from
       October 2013 through October 2014).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015             Page 5 of 14
       affidavit. Following a hearing, the trial court denied, in relevant part, the

       motion to correct error. Miller now appeals, challenging only the judgments

       entered in favor of the Arnolds.3 Additional facts will be provided below as

       needed.

                                             Discussion & Decision

                                              I. The Land Contract

[12]   Miller contends the trial court imposed obligations on him that were not set out

       in the Land Contract. He claims these “bogus obligations” included a duty to

       replace the destroyed mobile home, a duty to pay utility bills, and a duty to

       account for insurance proceeds. Appellant’s Brief at 8.

[13]   On appeal from a bench trial, this court shall not set aside the trial court’s

       findings or judgment unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to

       the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses. First

       Response Servs., Inc. v. Cullers, 7 N.E.3d 1016, 1021 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). Where,

       as here, the trial court has issued findings of fact and conclusions of law, we

       apply a two-tiered standard of review, determining whether the evidence

       supports the findings and the findings support the judgment. Id. We review for

       clear error and will reverse only if the findings are unsupported by any evidence

       or reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence or if the judgment is

       3
         Miller makes no appellate argument with respect to the judgment entered in favor of the Bank for
       foreclosure of its mortgage lien. Accordingly, we do not review that portion of the judgment on appeal.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015          Page 6 of 14
       unsupported by the findings and conclusions. Id. Although we defer

       substantially to the trial court’s findings of fact, we apply a de novo standard to

       its conclusions of law. Id.

[14]   Miller initially argues that the trial court erroneously determined he was

       required to replace the mobile home when it burned down. Miller claims that

       he had the option of either using the insurance proceeds for repairs or applying

       them to the Arnolds’ contract debt.

[15]   With respect to application of insurance proceeds, the Land Contract expressly

       provided:

               Except as otherwise may be agreed in writing, any insurance
               proceeds received as payment for any loss of or damage to the
               Real Estate covered by Required Insurance shall be applied to
               restoration and repair of the loss or damage on [sic] fashion as
               Seller reasonably may require, unless such restoration and repair
               is not economically feasible or there exists an uncured Event of
               Default by Purchaser under this Contract on the date of receipt of
               such proceeds, in either of which events, the proceeds may be
               applied, at Seller’s option, toward prepayment of the Contract
               Balance, with any excess to be paid to Purchaser.

       Appellant’s Appendix at 30. The clear import of this provision is that any

       insurance proceeds are to be used for restoration and repair or credited toward

       the contract balance, with any excess paid to the Arnolds. Here, the evidence

       favorable to the judgment establishes that Miller used a portion of the insurance

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015   Page 7 of 14
       proceeds to replace the mobile home. The trial court did not err in determining

       that the remaining proceeds should have been credited to the Arnolds.4

[16]   In a related argument, Miller contends that the trial court erred when it found

       that the Arnolds were entitled to an accounting of the insurance proceeds.

       Specifically, Miller challenges findings 11 and 13:

                11. That Ronald O. Miller never gave the Defendants, Anthony
                and/or Rhonda Arnold an accounting of the $7,100.00 nor did
                he give them credit for the funds.

                                                             ***

                13. Ronald O. Miller also was provided an insurance check in
                the amount of $4,000.00 for the contents of the trailer to be used
                for clean up. Ronald O. Miller never provided accounting for
                those proceeds.

       Appellant’s Appendix at 14.

[17]   Miller asserts that a duty to provide an accounting is fiduciary in nature and can

       only be imposed on a person whom the law treats as a trustee. In support,

       Miller cites a trust statute and case, as well as cases involving claims of breach

       of fiduciary duty and constructive fraud. We find these authorities wholly

       4
        In passing, Miller asserts that the destruction of the mobile home by the fire was an event of default.
       Although the Land Contract provides that “[t]he actual or threatened alteration, demolition, or removal of
       any improvements” is an event of default, a fair reading of this provision is that it applies to intentional acts
       of the parties. Appellant’s Appendix at 35. Moreover, the record establishes that Miller did not treat the fire as
       an event of default in 2011, and he continued the contract for a number of years. His argument, therefore, is
       disingenuous.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015                Page 8 of 14
       inapposite. Moreover, Miller’s focus on the trial court’s use of the term

       “accounting” is clearly misguided. The trial court, here, did not intend to find

       that a fiduciary obligation existed. Rather, a reasonable reading of the order

       indicates that the trial court simply found Miller had failed to establish that all

       of the insurance proceeds were used to replace the mobile home. Indeed,

       Miller’s evidence in this regard was weak and contradicted by the Arnolds.

       Read in context, these findings are not clearly erroneous.

[18]   Next, Miller makes a brief argument that the trial court erred when it imposed a

       duty on him to pay the utility bills, which remained in his name. He claims,

       “[n]othing in the contract obliged Miller to pay the Arnolds’ utility bills when

       they were shut off due to the Arnolds’ non-payment.” Appellant’s Brief at 12.

       We, however, do not read the order as requiring Miller to pay the utility bills.

       The evidence established that Miller not only directed the utility companies to

       shut off the utilities, despite the Arnolds’ payment agreement with the

       companies, but he also put a hold on the accounts so that the Arnolds could not

       make payments to the utility companies and have the utilities turned back on.

       It was the latter directive that caused the damages in question. Miller has failed

       to establish error in this regard.

[19]   With similar brevity, Miller also contends that the trial court erred by failing to

       find the Arnolds in default and failing to accelerate the contract balance. In this

       regard, Miller asserts that the Arnolds were not paying the taxes and insurance

       as required and were behind on their utility bills. We find this to be a request

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015   Page 9 of 14
       for us to reweigh the evidence, which we will not do on appeal. See Oil Supple

       Co., Inc. v. Hires Parts Serv., Inc., 726 N.E.2d 246, 248 (Ind. 2000).

                                                   II. Treble Damages

[20]   The Land Contract contained provisions requiring the Arnolds to maintain

       property insurance and pay real estate taxes. In the event they did not do so,

       the contract provided that Miller “may pay such taxes or assessments or obtain

       and maintain such insurance and add costs thereof to the Contract Balance.”

       Appellant’s Appendix at 30. Miller exercised this option with respect to taxes

       throughout the contract and with respect to insurance after the fire. He charged

       the Arnolds $50 per month for insurance, which was more than the actual cost.

       For the years 2011 through 2013, Miller substantially overbilled the Arnolds for

       property taxes, collecting more than double the total amount due.

[21]   After detailing the facts related to the overcharges, the trial court entered the

       following finding: “[Miller] knowingly and willingly made false or misleading

       written statements with the intent to obtain money in excess of the taxes and

       insurance actually billed.”5 Id. at 16. As a result, the court concluded that the

       Arnolds were entitled to treble damages, as well as attorney fees, pursuant to

       Ind. Code § 34-24-3-1. The court awarded the Arnolds $6,013.17, “consisting

       5
           On appeal, Miller does not dispute this specific finding.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015   Page 10 of 14
       of $5,263.17, representing three times the overcharge for taxes and insurance,

       and reasonable costs and attorney fees of $750.00”. Id. at 19.

[22]   On appeal, Miller argues that I.C. § 34-24-3-1 “was never intended to

       criminalize contractual disputes.” Appellant’s Brief at 16. He then provides case

       law addressing actions for conversion, which establishes that money may be the

       subject of an action for conversion only if it is capable of being identified as a

       special chattel (i.e., a determinate sum with which the defendant was entrusted

       to apply to a certain purpose). See Bowden v. Agnew, 2 N.E.3d 743, 750-51 (Ind.

       Ct. App. 2014).

[23]   Miller’s argument misses the mark because the trial court did not award treble

       damages based on a finding of conversion.6 Rather, though not specifically

       labeled as such, the court determined that Miller committed deception by

       “knowingly and willingly ma[king] false or misleading written statements with

       the intent to obtain money in excess of the taxes and insurance actually billed.”

       Appellant’s Appendix at 16. This finding tracks the language of Ind. Code § 35-

       43-5-3(a)(2), which defines deception as, among other things, “knowingly or

       intentionally making a false or misleading written statement with intent to

       obtain property”. Deception, in turn, is one of the property offenses for which

       an individual who suffers pecuniary loss may bring a civil action for treble

       damages and fees under I.C. § 34-24-3-1. Miller does not address the trial

       6
        Conversion is statutorily defined as “knowingly or intentionally exert[ing] unauthorized control over
       property of another person”. Ind. Code § 35-43-4-3(a).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015          Page 11 of 14
       court’s finding of deception. Accordingly, he has failed to establish error in

       regard to the treble damages award.7

                                          III. Motion to Correct Error

[24]   Finally, Miller contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied

       his motion to correct error “to which various affidavits and accountings were

       attached.” Appellant’s Brief at 20. With this new evidence, Miller sought to

       account for the insurance proceeds and establish that the charges for taxes and

       insurance were not excessive. He acknowledges that the evidence submitted

       with his motion was not newly discovered but argues that “given the unfair

       surprise occasioned by the trial court’s rewriting of the contract,” the

       evidentiary submissions should be permitted and a new trial ordered. Id. at 22.

[25]   We review the denial of a request for a new trial presented by a Trial Rule 59

       motion to correct error for an abuse of discretion. Speedway SuperAmerica, LLC

       v. Holmes, 885 N.E.2d 1265, 1270 (Ind. 2008). T.R. 59(A)(1) permits a party to

       file such a motion to address “[n]ewly discovered material evidence … which,

       with reasonable diligence, could not have been discovered and produced at

       trial”. Observing Indiana courts’ concern for finality of judicial resolutions, our

       Supreme Court has made clear:

       7
        Miller expresses surprise that the trial court treated the overcharges as a criminal matter and awarded treble
       damages. We observe, however, that the Arnolds plainly filed a counterclaim in this respect.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015            Page 12 of 14
                new evidence requires a new trial only when the party seeking
                relief demonstrates:

                          “(1) the evidence has been discovered since the trial; (2) it
                          is material and relevant; (3) it is not cumulative; (4) it is
                          not merely impeaching; (5) it is not privileged or
                          incompetent; (6) due diligence was used to discover it in
                          time for trial; (7) the evidence is worthy of credit; (8) it can
                          be produced upon a retrial of the case; and (9) it will
                          probably produce a different result at retrial.”

       Speedway SuperAmerica, LLC, 885 N.E.2d at 1271 (quoting Carter v. State, 738
N.E.2d 665, 671 (Ind. 2000)).

[26]   Miller acknowledges that his motion was not based on evidence discovered

       after the trial. Rather, the evidence submitted with the motion was clearly

       available at the time of trial. Miller’s attempt to attack the trial court’s

       judgment by providing additional evidence that he neglected to present at trial

       was improper. The trial court properly struck this evidence and denied the

       motion to correct error.8

[27]   Judgment affirmed.

       8
         In his reply brief, Miller raises another argument regarding the denial of his motion to correct error. He
       claims, “[a]ccepting the findings of the court below at face value, Miller ought to be entitled to a deficiency
       judgment of $30,549.72”. Appellant’s Reply Brief at 13. He asserts that the trial court’s judgment failed to
       dispose of this matter and left Miller’s right to claim offset unclear. Although not persuaded by this
       argument, we find the issue waived because it was asserted for the first time in Miller’s reply brief. See
       Monroe Guar. Ins. Co. v. Magwerks Corp., 829 N.E.2d 968, 977 (Ind. 2005) (“grounds for error may only be
       framed in an appellant’s initial brief and if addressed for the first time in the reply brief, they are waived”).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015               Page 13 of 14
[28]   Riley, J., and Brown, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 88A01-1412-MF-551 | October 27, 2015   Page 14 of 14