Daljit Gill v. Baldish Gill

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 14, 2013
• Docket: 32A01-1209-DR-436
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D), this Aug 14 2013, 5:48 am Memorandum Decision shall not be 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.

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:

CHRISTOPHER L. ARRINGTON JAMES L. LOWRY PAUL A. HADLEY Kendall Wood Lowry & Kessinger Danville, Indiana Danville, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

DALJIT GILL, ) ) Appellant, ) ) vs. ) No. 32A01-1209-DR-436 ) BALDISH GILL, ) ) Appellee. )

APPEAL FROM THE HENDRICKS SUPERIOR COURT The Honorable Karen M. Love, Judge Cause No. 32D03-0905-DR-62 Cause No. 32D03-1012-CT-3

August 14, 2013

MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

FRIEDLANDER, Judge Daljit Gill (Wife) filed for and obtained dissolution of her thirteen-year marriage to

Baldish Gill (Husband). Shortly over a year after entry of the dissolution decree, Husband

filed for relief from judgment and then also filed a separate cause of action for fraud, alleging

in both causes that Wife obtained the dissolution without his knowledge and by forging his

name on several documents. In this consolidated appeal, Wife appeals several orders entered

by the trial court, which ultimately resulted in the setting aside of the property distribution

portion of the dissolution decree and an order for the sale of the marital residence.

We affirm.

The facts favorable to the judgment follow. Husband and Wife married in May 1996

in India and began residing together in California in 1997. Husband and Wife both obtained

United States citizenship. They had three children together, born in 1998, 2000, and 2002.

Husband and Wife moved from California to Indiana in 2004 and purchased a home in

Plainfield (the marital residence) for $205,000. They borrowed $55,000 for this purchase

and made a down payment of $150,000. This resulted in a monthly mortgage payment of

about $600. Both spouses worked during the marriage, and starting in 2006, Husband was

gone for extended periods of time as a long-haul truck driver. He spent little time at home.

In July 2008, the marital residence suffered substantial property damage from a fire.

The couple’s insurance company issued three checks to Husband and Wife for the damage.

Without Husband’s knowledge, Wife negotiated the checks by endorsing them with both her

2 name and Husband’s name.1 The funds were used to repair the residence and replace

damaged items. By this time, Wife’s parents also lived in the marital home. When Husband

was home after being on the road, he stayed in a downstairs room and Husband and Wife

rarely communicated.

On April 21, 2009, a warranty deed on the marital residence was executed purportedly

transferring the property from both parties to Wife alone for no consideration (the Warranty

Deed). The Warranty Deed was filed with the Hendricks County Recorder on April 23,

2009. Husband denies executing the Warranty Deed or even being aware of its existence

until 2010.

On May 19, 2009, Wife filed for dissolution of marriage. The record indicates that the

summons was served by certified mail at the marital residence on June 10, but there is no

evidence in the record of Husband’s signature on the certified mailing receipt. Husband

denies signing for the summons.

Thereafter, Wife met with her attorney and obtained a waiver of final hearing and

settlement agreement (the Settlement Agreement), which she ostensibly took home with her

to present to Husband for his signature. The Settlement Agreement provided that Wife

would essentially keep all the marital property, including two vehicles and the marital

residence, and Husband would be left with the personal property in his possession. At the

time, the marital residence had a mortgage of about $55,000. On August 18, 2009, the

1 Wife steadfastly maintained that she had not signed Husband’s name on these checks but then recanted minutes before the trial began, admitting that she had signed the checks to look as if her husband had signed them.

3 executed Settlement Agreement was filed with the court. The court’s approval of the

Settlement Agreement was delayed until certificates of completion of the court-ordered “Our

Children-Our Divorce” class were filed. These certificates were filed on September 28,

2009.2 The trial court then approved the Settlement Agreement and issued its Decree of

Dissolution of Marriage (the Decree) on October 1, 2009.

At some point after the issuance of the Decree, Wife apparently transferred title to the

marital residence to her father, Harpal Singh, in exchange for him paying off the mortgage.

Wife continued to live in the residence with her children and parents, and she evidently

remarried in July 2010. Singh died testate on September 19, 2010. Although the will had yet

to be probated by the time of the final hearing, Wife does not dispute that Singh left the

marital residence to her.

Shortly before Singh’s death, when Husband came home in August 2010, Wife and

her parents confronted Husband with the Decree and told him to leave the house. They

indicated that the house was no longer his and that if he came back they would call the

police. Husband loaded his personal belongings in his truck and returned to California.

Shortly thereafter, Husband and his brother researched the property records and discovered

the Warranty Deed.

On October 20, 2010, Husband filed a motion for relief from judgment under the

dissolution cause number (the Dissolution Case), alleging, inter alia, that he had not been

served with process, had not learned of the Dissolution Case until recently, and had not

2 Husband denies attending this class on September 14, 2009, as indicated by the certificate.

4 executed the Settlement Agreement. In sum, he alleged that the Decree had been obtained by

fraud. Wife filed a motion to dismiss on December 1, 2010, claiming that Husband’s motion

was not timely under Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(3) because it was filed more than one year

after the Decree was entered. Husband responded on December 3, arguing that the trial court

had the right, independent of the limitations set out in Rule 60(B), to entertain an action for

fraud upon the court. The trial court denied Wife’s motion to dismiss on December 7, 2010.

On December 10, 2010, Husband filed a complaint for fraud under a separate cause

number (the Civil Case), requesting monetary damages for Wife’s alleged fraud with regard

to Husband’s forged signature on the Settlement Agreement, the Warranty Deed, and other

documents. Wife filed a motion to have the Civil Case and the Dissolution Case

consolidated for hearings because the cases “alleg[e] the same fraudulent acts…and offer the

same evidence”. Appendix at 81. Husband did not object, and the trial court granted the

motion to consolidate.

On September 4, 2012, the trial court held a consolidated hearing.3 The parties

presented vastly opposing testimony. Essentially, Wife testified that Husband signed all of

the challenged documents and was fully aware of the Dissolution Case. Husband testified to

the contrary. Both parties called their own handwriting experts.

In its joint order of September 11, 2012, the trial court found that Wife’s expert was

not credible and that Husband did not sign the Settlement Agreement (including a waiver of

3 Prior to this hearing, the parties entered into an agreed entry regarding child support, which is not at issue in this appeal.

5 final earing) or the Warranty Deed. The trial court concluded: “Wife obtained a divorce

from Husband by fraud on him and fraud on the Court.” Id. at 15. Indicating that it was

doing so under the Civil Case, the trial court then set aside the fraudulent Settlement

Agreement and relieved Husband of the resulting property settlement portion of the Decree.

The court set the matter for further hearing regarding the division of property and any further

damages and/or fees.

Following a hearing on November 14, 2012, the trial court ordered the sale of the

marital residence with the proceeds to be distributed as follows:

a) First, the sum of $55,000.00 shall be paid to the estate of Harpal Singh to reimburse the estate for mortgage payment made on said property; b) Second, the sum of $19,016.95 to be paid to [Husband] as reimbursement for his attorney fees…; c) Third, the sum of $10,300.00 to be paid to [Husband] as reimbursement for the expert witness fee that he paid…; d) That the net proceeds remaining after the payment of the aforementioned items shall be divided between the parties fifty/fifty (50/50).

Id. at 18.4 With Wife’s express consent, the court appointed a real estate commissioner to

sell the marital residence. Wife now appeals.

1.

Before reaching the procedural issues raised in this case, we address quickly Wife’s

slender argument that Husband failed to establish that she committed extrinsic fraud5 upon

4 The court also distributed other property between the parties and ordered that the clerk withhold $25,000 of Husband’s proceeds from the sale of the home pending the determination of his support arrearage. 5 “Fraud has been defined as extrinsic if the fraudulent matter prevents a trial of the issue in the case or improperly procures the court’s jurisdiction.” In re Marriage of M.E., 622 N.E.2d 578, 582 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993).

6 him or fraud upon the trial court.6 In this regard, she claims that Husband failed to present

any evidence that Wife was the one who in fact forged his name on the challenged

documents, as opposed to some other person.7

Wife’s argument is disconcerting. The evidence favorable to the judgment reveals

that Husband’s signature was forged a number of times on key documents relating to the

Dissolution Case. These forgeries resulted in Wife obtaining, without Husband’s knowledge,

title to the marital residence and dissolution of marriage to Husband. It matters little who

penned the forgeries, as the only reasonable inference is that Wife was actively involved in

the fraud being perpetrated on Husband and the trial court. Moreover, Husband’s

handwriting expert, rebutting Wife’s expert, testified that there were “indications” leading to

“reasonable suspicion” that Wife might have written the questioned signatures. September 4,

2012 Transcript at 91. The instant case is a prime example of fraud on the court.

2.

We now turn to Wife’s argument that the court should have dismissed the motion for

relief from judgment because it was filed more than a year after the Decree was issued.

There are three ways to attack a judgment on the grounds of fraud on the court pursuant to

6 The doctrine of fraud on the court is narrowly applied and limited to egregious circumstances where an unconscionable plan or scheme is used by a party to improperly influence the court’s decision and where such acts prevent the losing party from fully and fairly presenting his case. See Rocca v. Rocca, 760 N.E.2d 677 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied. 7 Wife also asserts that the trial court “erred when it did not make required finding of facts to establish whether Husband proved the required elements to maintain an independent action based upon fraud.” Appellant’s Brief at 13. Our review of the record indicates that neither party requested special findings pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A). Therefore, the trial court was not required to enter findings and to the extent it did “the specific findings control only as to the issues they cover.” Humphries v. Ables, 789 N.E.2d 1025, 1030 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).

7 T.R. 60(B):

The first method is by way of a motion filed under Trial Rule 60(B)(3). Such a motion may be based upon any kind of fraud—albeit intrinsic, extrinsic, or fraud on the court—so long as it is chargeable to an adverse party and has an adverse effect on the moving party. However, the motion is generally limited to the court in which the judgment was rendered and shall be made not more than one year after the judgment was entered. The Stonger court observed that, if the time limit for the 60(B)(3) motion has not expired, this procedural tool is the preferable way to challenge a judgment on grounds of fraud on the court. The second method is an independent action for fraud on the court pursuant to the savings clause of Trial Rule 60(B), which provides that this rule does not limit the power of a court to entertain an independent action to relieve a party from a judgment, order or proceeding or for fraud upon the court. Independent actions are usually reserved for situations that do not meet the requirements for a motion made under Rule 60(B)(3). For example, the fraud might not be chargeable to an adverse party, the movant might be seeking relief from a court other than the rendering court, or, more often, the one-year time limitation for Trial Rule 60(B)(3) motions has expired. An independent action is subject to the doctrine of laches and its remedy is extremely limited. The third method, which also arises out of the savings clause of Trial Rule 60(B), invokes the inherent power of a court to set aside its judgment if procured by fraud on the court. Relief in these circumstances is not dependent upon the filing of a motion by a party to the original judgment. Rather, the court may assert this power sua sponte. In addition, there is no time limitation for these proceedings.

Shepherd v. Truex, 823 N.E.2d 320, 325 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (some citations omitted).

Although Husband was foreclosed from asserting fraud based upon the first method,

the two other methods remained available to him. Further, it is evident, and Wife does not

dispute, that Husband’s motion for relief from judgment alleged facts sufficient to support a

claim of fraud on the court.

In a rather undeveloped argument, Wife asserts that Husband could not rely on the

savings clause of T.R. 60(B) because he had other remedies available to him to set aside the

8 property division in the Decree, specifically Ind. Code Ann. § 31-15-7-9.1 (West, Westlaw

current with all 2013 legislation). I.C. § 31-15-7-9.1 expressly limits the revocation or

modification of property disposition orders to cases of fraud and further places a six-year

limitation on such claims of fraud.8

Husband’s fraud allegations asserted in the Dissolution Case via the motion for relief

from judgment do not violate the limitations set out in the statute. Contrary to Wife’s

apparent assertion, Husband’s motion for relief from judgment does not constitute a

collateral attack.9 Husband’s motion, further, does not indicate whether the fraud claim is

being asserted under T.R. 60(B), I.C. § 31-15-7-9.1, or both. Regardless, we fail to see why

the two would be mutually exclusive when asserted under the original cause number.

Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court properly denied Wife’s motion to dismiss

Husband’s motion for relief from judgment.

3.

Wife next argues that the trial court erred by ordering modification of the property

disposition under the Civil Case rather than the Dissolution Case. Under the circumstances

8 The statute provides: (a) The orders concerning property disposition entered under this chapter (or IC 31-1-11.5-9 before its repeal) may not be revoked or modified, except in case of fraud. (b) If fraud is alleged, the fraud must be asserted not later than six (6) years after the order is entered. Id. 9 Wife directs us to Dodd v. Estate of Yanan, 625 N.E.2d 456 (Ind. 1993), where the wife filed a fraud claim in probate court to attack the dissolution decree on the basis of fraud committed by (now deceased) husband. Our Supreme Court held that the wife had to apply for modification of the divorce decree in the dissolution action under I.C. § 31-1-11.5-17 rather than collaterally attack the decree in probate court. Dodd is inapposite for at least two reasons. First, it involved a collateral attack of a judgment in a sister court. Second, the fraud allegations did not involve fraud on the court.

9 presented here, we find that this is a distinction without a difference.

Indiana Trial Rule 42 allows trial courts to consolidate separate actions when the cases

involve a common question of law or fact. Generally, consolidation “does not merge the

suits into a single cause or change the rights of duties of the parties.” Clarkson v. Neff, 878

N.E.2d 240, 245-46 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting Gray v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 624

N.E.2d 49, 55 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993), trans. denied), trans. denied. This is because

“consolidation under Rule 42 usually occurs in cases where the issues between the cases are

very similar but different parties are involved, or where at least one of several issues in two

cases are similar.” Id. at 246. “[W]here consolidated cases present varied issues or affect

different parties, it makes sense that the consolidated cases retain distinct identities.” Id. The

cases need not retain distinct identities, however, where the parties and issues are identical.

See Clarkson v. Neff, 878 N.E.2d 240.

As set forth above, the two actions at issue here were consolidated by Wife’s motion

because, in her own words, the cases “alleg[e] the same fraudulent acts…and offer the same

evidence”. Appendix at 81. Aside from their cause numbers, there is no material difference

between the actions, and the trial court’s joint resolution of the fraud allegations was

appropriate. The property disposition portion of the Decree was properly set aside in the

September 11, 2012 order based upon Wife’s fraud on the court. It is of no moment that the

trial court referenced the Civil Case rather than the Dissolution Case because by that time the

cases were effectively one and the same.

10 4.

Finally, Wife argues that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to order the marital

residence sold because the property had been transferred to her father and his estate had not

been made a party to the underlying proceedings. She claims the estate was never put on

notice that its property rights could be affected. In sum, Wife argues that the trial court

“lacked [p]ersonal [j]urisdiction” over her father’s estate. Appellant’s Brief at 25. It is

undisputed, however, that the estate was not made a party to the instant action and the court

had personal jurisdiction over the named parties, Wife and Husband.

We initially observe that the record is devoid of any deed purporting to transfer the

property in question to Singh. The parties seem to agree, nonetheless, that the property was

transferred to him at some point. The parties also agree that the will, which gave the property

back to Wife, had not been probated. Indeed, Wife’s attorney indicated that the estate was

intentionally being held up by Wife until the instant case was complete and it was known

what “the judge was going to do with the property.” November 14, 2012 Transcript at 65.

Wife fails to explain how she is in a position to challenge the judgment for lack of

jurisdiction over the unopened estate, which she (like Husband) never attempted to join in the

action. Moreover, to the extent her claim of error has any merit, we conclude that Wife

waived and/or invited it below. To be sure, Wife listed the residence as property of the

marital estate subject to division.10 Moreover, she did not object when the trial court

10 Wife listed the residence in her proposed division of property and claimed that it should be set off to her. Further, at the final hearing, Wife’s attorney stated: “the assets of the parties consist of the marital home, the

11 indicated at the conclusion of the final hearing that it was going to order the marital residence

sold, and she expressly indicated, by counsel, that she had no objection to the court

appointing a commissioner to sell the real estate. Under the circumstances, she cannot now

be heard to complain.

Judgment affirmed.

BAKER, J., and VAIDIK, J., concur.

furnishings, their vehicles, and [] all personal property has actually already been divided.” November 14, 2012 Transcript at 10.