No. 14372 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA 1978
JOHN H. DOBLE, SR., Plaintiff and Respondent, -vs- CAROLE PATRICIA TALBOTT, et al., Defendants and Appellants. ....................................... No. 14345 HAROLD FULLER et al., Plaintiff, -vs- JOHN H. DOBLE, et ux, et al., Defendants. ........................................ No.14363 JOHN W. DOBLE, et ux, et al., Plaintiffs and Appellants, -vs- BONNERS FERRY LUMBER COMPANY, LIMITED, a corporation, et al., Defendants and Respondents.
Appealed from: District Court of the Nineteenth and Eleventh Judicial Districts Honorable Robert C. Sykes, Presiding Judge Counsel of Record: For Appellants:
H. James Oleson argued, Kalispell, Montana For Respondents: McGarvey, Lence and Heberling, Kalispell, Montana Dale L. McGarvey argued, Kalispell, Montana John M. Schiltz argued, Kalispell, Montana Murray, Donahue and Kaufman, Kalispell, Montana Geroge Best argued, Kalispell, Montana Murphy, Robinson, Heckathorn and Phillips, Kalispell, Montana Lawrence H. Sverdrup, Libby, Montana
Submitted: October 12, 1978 Decided: JAN 1 1gn- Mr. J u s t i c e Gene B. Daly d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e Court.
These t h r e e a c t i o n s were c o n s o l i d a t e d f o r a p p e a l by
o r d e r of t h i s Court on May 31, 1978. Each a r i s e s from t h e
c o n t r o v e r s y between C a r o l e T a l b o t t e t a l . , judgment c r e d i t o r s ,
and John H. Doble, a judgment d e b t o r . O August 1 3 , 1976, n
C a r o l e T a l b o t t and h e r minor c h i l d r e n o b t a i n e d a wrongful
d e a t h judgment i n f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c o u r t a g a i n s t John H.
Doble i n t h e amount of $450,000. This sum was subsequently
reduced t o $225,000.
C U E NO. A S 14345 -- PRIORITY O CREDITORS F
The c o n t r o v e r s y i n t h i s c a u s e c e n t e r s on a determina-
t i o n of c r e d i t o r s ' p r i o r i t i e s made by t h e D i s t r i c t Court of
t h e Eleventh J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t . O A p r i l 27, 1 9 7 7 , t h e n
D i s t r i c t Court o r d e r e d t h e p r i o r i t i e s of two Doble c r e d i t o r s ,
t h e Conrad N a t i o n a l Bank and t h e F i r s t N a t i o n a l Bank of
Eureka a s f i r s t and second r e s p e c t i v e l y . Both banks were
p l a i n t i f f s i n a s u i t a g a i n s t Doble s e e k i n g s a t i s f a c t i o n on
promissory n o t e s which t h e y had i s s u e d t o him d u r i n g 1976.
T h i s o r d e r , however, made no mention of C a r o l e T a l b o t t ' s
judgment a g a i n s t Doble. O May 3, 1977, t h e D i s t r i c t Court n
e n t e r e d an amended o r d e r , adding a paragraph which i n d i c a t e d
t h a t C a r o l e T a l b o t t had a judgment a g a i n s t John H. Doble,
and o r d e r e d t h a t judgment i n f e r i o r t o t h e c l a i m s of t h e
banks. O February 8, 1978, T a l b o t t ' s a t t o r n e y p r e s e n t e d a n
motion t o have t h e May 3 , 1977 d e c r e e e s t a b l i s h i n g p r i -
o r i t i e s among t h e c r e d i t o r s s e t a s i d e on t h e ground t h a t T a l b o t t was given no n o t i c e h e r r i g h t s were t o be determined.
O February 27, 1978, t h e ~ i s t r i c Court o r d e r e d t h e May 3 , n t
1977 o r d e r s e t a s i d e " i n s o f a r a s any e f f e c t on t h e r i g h t s of
Carolyn [ s i c ] P a t r i c i a T a l b o t t a r e concerned." O a p p e a l , T a l b o t t s e e k s t o have t h e o r d e r s of May 3 n
and A p r i l 27 s e t a s i d e s o t h e t h r e e c r e d i t o r s may r e e s t a b -
l i s h t h e i r r e l a t i v e p r i o r i t i e s i n a s i n g l e proceeding.
T a l b o t t and Doble have agreed t o a remand t o t h e D i s t r i c t
C o u r t , and t h e banks involved do n o t o b j e c t t o a remand.
T h e r e f o r e , Cause No. 14345 i s remanded t o t h e D i s t r i c t Court
s o a l l t h e John H. Doble c r e d i t o r s may l i t i g a t e t h e i r r e l a -
t i v e p r i o r i t i e s i n a s i n g l e proceeding. The p r i o r i t i e s a s
e s t a b l i s h e d on A p r i l 27 and May 3, 1977, a r e hereby s e t
aside.
C U E NO. A S 14372 -- I N J U N C T I O N O SHERIFF'S SALE F
C a r o l e T a l b o t t a p p e a l s from an o r d e r of t h e D i s t r i c t
C o u r t , d a t e d A p r i l 11, 1978, permanently e n j o i n i n g h e r from
proceeding on a w r i t of e x e c u t i o n on h e r judgment a g a i n s t
Doble. O August 2 9 , 1977, T a l b o t t f i l e d h e r f e d e r a l judg- n
ment a g a i n s t Doble i n t h e Nineteenth J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t Court
and o b t a i n e d a w r i t of e x e c u t i o n on t h e judgment. Her
a t t o r n e y prepared n o t i c e of a s h e r i f f ' s s a l e i n t h e Eleventh
J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t of John H. Doble's i n t e r e s t i n t h e con-
t r a c t f o r deed and had t h e d a t e of s a l e s e t f o r October 11,
1977.
O t h a t d a t e , however, Doble's a t t o r n e y f i l e d a com- n
p l a i n t i n D i s t r i c t Court a s k i n g t h a t t h e s h e r i f f ' s s a l e be
e n j o i n e d on v a r i o u s grounds, i n c l u d i n g t h a t t h e d a t e of t h e
c o n t r a c t on t h e s h e r i f f ' s s a l e n o t i c e was wrong, t h a t t h e wrong form of n o t i c e was used ( r e a l p r o p e r t y r a t h e r t h a n
p e r s o n a l t y ) , t h a t t h e judgment c r e d i t o r had f a i l e d t o pay
t h e p r i o r s e c u r i t y i n t e r e s t s b e f o r e l e v y i n g ( s e c t i o n 93-
4338, R.C.M. 1 9 4 7 ) , and t h a t t h e r e was no proper levy. Due
t o t h e s e a l l e g e d d e f e c t s , t h e D i s t r i c t Court e n j o i n e d t h e sale under a temporary restraining order issued the same day and ordered a show cause hearing for October 18 to determine whether the sale should be permanently enjoined. Finally, the District Court ordered that copies of the complaint be served on defendants, Carole Talbott, and the Flathead County sheriff. Doble's attorney hand delivered copies of the complaint and temporary restraining order and show cause order to the sheriff and to Talbott's attorney. After various delays an attorney's conference was scheduled for April 11, 1978. Following the conference the District Court made an order reciting that Talbott's attor- ney was present and that he "[represented] to the Court that Defendants Talbott do not intend to proceed further on the writ in question . . ." The court then ordered that a permanent injunction be granted on the writ of execution, that the sheriff be dismissed from the action - that and Talbott's right to proceed on a new writ was "in no way pre- judiced". On April 24 Talbott's attorney filed a motion for re- consideration of the April 11 order, alleging that the service of process on him was not adequate as service on his client, that the order was void because no hearing was held on the merits, and that he did not say that he did not intend to proceed on the August 29, 1977, writ of execution, but that "in - likelihood" he would not proceed. - all (On
June 8 following Talbott's notice of appeal, ~oble'sattor- neys filed an affidavit that ~albott'slawyer said his client did not intend to proceed on the writ.) Following the District Court's denial of Talbott's motion to reconsider, Talbott applied to this Court on May 19 for a writ of supervisory control which was denied on May
31 (Cause No. 14319) with directions to proceed by appeal. T a l b o t t a r g u e s on a p p e a l t h a t t h e s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s on h e r a t t o r n e y was i n s u f f i c i e n t r e n d e r i n g t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s
~ p r i 11, 1978 o r d e r v o i d f o r l a c k of j u r i s d i c t i o n and t h a t l
t h e i n j u n c t i o n i s v o i d because t h e D i s t r i c t Court f a i l e d t o
hold a h e a r i n g o r t a k e evidence j u s t i f y i n g such an o r d e r .
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s o r d e r e n j o i n i n g t h e s h e r i f f ' s s a l e
e x p r e s s l y p l a c e s no p r e j u d i c e on T a l b o t t ' s r i g h t t o proceed
under a new w r i t . The s t a t u t e of l i m i t a t i o n s f o r a c t i o n s on
judgments i s t e n y e a r s . S e c t i o n 93-2602, R.C.M. 1947.
D o b l e ' s a t t o r n e y sought and o b t a i n e d an i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t
e x e c u t i o n on t h e August 2 9 , 1977 w r i t n o t a s an a t t e m p t t o
s h e l t e r t h e proceeds of t h e c o n t r a c t f o r deed from a l e g i t i m a t e
execution, but r a t h e r t o prevent the undesirable. conse-
quences of a s h e r i f f ' s s a l e which f a i l e d t o t a k e a c c o u n t of
p r i o r secured i n t e r e s t s - - t h a t i s , t h e s e c u r i t y i n t e r e s t s of
t h e Conrad Bank and t h e F i r s t N a t i o n a l Bank of Eureka.
T a l b o t t ' s a t t o r n e y contends t h e i n j u n c t i o n was n o t
e f f e c t i v e a s t o h i s c l i e n t due t o improper s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s .
D o b l e ' s a t t o r n e y hand d e l i v e r e d a copy of t h e complaint and
r e s t r a i n i n g o r d e r and show c a u s e o r d e r t o T a l b o t t ' s a t t o r n e y
o n l y one week a f t e r T a l b o t t ' s a t t o r n e y had prepared n o t i c e
of t h e s h e r i f f ' s s a l e . T a l b o t t a r g u e s t h a t such hand de-
l i v e r y t o t h e a t t o r n e y was n o t adequate s e r v i c e on h i s
c l i e n t a s he was n o t a g e n e r a l a g e n t f o r h e r , c i t i n g and v .
Hand ( 1 9 5 7 ) , 131 Mont. 571, 312 P.2d 990, and Kraus v .
T r e a s u r e B e l t Mining Co. ( 1 9 6 5 ) , 1 4 6 Mont. 432, 408 ~ . 2 d
151. These c a s e s a r e d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e from t h e p r e s e n t
m a t t e r and do n o t r u l e o u t s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s on an a t t o r n e y
a s a means of o b t a i n i n g j u r i s d i c t i o n over a c l i e n t . I n Hand t h e s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s on an a t t o r n e y was h e l d i n a d e q u a t e
because i t was on a s e n i o r member of a law f i r m who knew n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s c a s e , who had n o t a p p e a r e d i n
any manner a s a n a t t o r n e y of r e c o r d i n t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s
a f f a i r , and whose f i r m had n o t " i n any manner a p p e a r e d a s
r e s p o n d e n t ' s a t t o r n e y s of r e c o r d . " 1 3 1 Mont. a t 575, 312
P.2d a t 992. I n Kraus t h e s e r v i c e o f p r o c e s s was on a
former employee of a n o u t - o f - s t a t e mining company who had no
a c c e s s t o t h e c l o s e d mine p r e m i s e s , who w a s r e c e i v i n g unem-
ployment compensation a t t h e time of s e r v i c e , and who t o l d
t h e s e r v i n g s h e r i f f t h a t he no l o n g e r h a d ' any c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h t h e mining company. Under t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s e r v i c e
of p r o c e s s was n o t a d e q u a t e under Rule 4D(2) ( e ) ( i ) as s e r -
v i c e upon a "managing o r g e n e r a l a g e n t " of t h e company. 146
Mont. a t 436, 408 P.2d a t 153.
I n the present case the attorney's relationship t o the
c l i e n t and t o t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r of t h e a c t i o n i s much
closer. D o b l e ' s c i t a t i o n t o United S t a t e s v . B o s u r g i (S.D.
N.Y. 1 9 7 2 ) , 343 F.Supp. 815, i s h e l p f u l i n t h a t b o t h t h e
f a c t s and a p p l i c a b l e l a w a r e c l o s e r , t o t h e m a t t e r a t i s s u e .
I n B o s u r g i t h e d e f e n d a n t s o u g h t t o v a c a t e s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s
upon it under Rule 1 2 ( b ) , Fed.R.Civ.P., alleging t h a t its
a t t o r n e y was n o t a n " a g e n t a u t h o r i z e d by a p p o i n t m e n t . . . t o r e c e i v e s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s . " 343 F.Supp. a t 816. The
d e f e n d a n t (SAICI), a c l a i m a n t of a fund which B o s u r g i had
recovered i n a s e p a r a t e a c t i o n , f i l e d an a c t i o n i n s t a t e
c o u r t i n N e w York c l a i m i n g t h a t i t was r i g h t f u l l y e n t i t l e d
t o t h e p r o c e e d s of B o s u r g i ' s fund. Meanwhile t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s had f i l e d a n a c t i o n i n f e d e r a l c o u r t s e e k i n g t o
f o r e c l o s e on t a x l i e n s which i t h e l d on t h e fund.
Thus, t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s named SAICI as a n a d d i t i o n a l
d e f e n d a n t i n i t s f o r e c l o s u r e a c t i o n and s e r v e d p r o c e s s on
t h e s e n i o r p a r t n e r of t h e law f i r m which r e p r e s e n t e d SAICI i n its s t a t e court action. In declaring t h i s action valid
s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s , t h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c o u r t f i r s t n o t e d
t h e l i m i t a t i o n s on s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s on a n a t t o r n e y :
"An a t t o r n e y , s o l e l y by r e a s o n of h i s c a p a c i t y as a n a t t o r n e y , d o e s n o t t h e r e b y become h i s c l i e n t ' s a g e n t a u t h o r i z e d by ' a p p o i n t m e n t... t o r e c e i v e s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s . ' Nor i s t h e f a c t t h a t an attorney represents h i s c l i e n t i n a completely u n r e l a t e d l i t i g a t i o n s u f f i c i e n t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e r e q u i s i t e a u t h o r i t y . What i s necessary i s t h a t it appear t h a t t h e a t t o r n e y w a s authorized, e i t h e r expressly o r impliedly, t o r e c e i v e s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s f o r h i s c l i e n t . And i f such agency i s t o be i m p l i e d , it must be i m p l i e d from a l l t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s accom- panying t h e a t t o r n e y ' s a p p o i n t m e n t which i n d i - c a t e t h e e x t e n t of a u t h o r i t y t h e c l i e n t intended t o confer." 3 4 3 F.Supp. a t 817-18.
Y e t i n t h a t c a s e , a s i n t h e p r e s e n t o n e , t h e matter a t
i s s u e w a s n o t " c o m p l e t e l y u n r e l a t e d " t o t h e matter i n which
t h e a t t o r n e y s w e r e a l r e a d y a c t i v e l y r e p r e s e n t i n g SAICI. As
t h e c o u r t i n Bosurgi reasoned:
" I t i s beyond q u e s t i o n t h a t SAICI's a t t o r n e y s were r e t a i n e d t o a s s e r t i t s a l l e g e d r i g h t t o , and t o o b t a i n p o s s e s s i o n o f , t h e $215,000. This r e t a i n e r necessarily required t h e a t t o r - neys t o r e s i s t t h e c l a i m s t o t h e fund a s s e r t e d by o t h e r p a r t i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Government. R e c e i p t of p r o c e s s by t h e a t t o r - ney i n t h i s s u i t , which i n v o l v e s r e l a t i v e r i g h t s t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t fund, w a s a necessary i n c i d e n t of t h e a t t o r n e y ' s e f f o r t t o e s t a b l i s h SAICI's c l a i m t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t fund by op- p o s i n g t h e c l a i m s o f t h e government, as w e l l as t h o s e of t h e o t h e r c l a i m a i n t s . L i t i g a t i o n w i t h t h e United S t a t e s must have been i n t e n d e d as w i t h i n t h e s c o p e of t h e a t t o r n e y ' s a u t h o r i t y , s i n c e t o o b t a i n t h e fund f o r SAICI, i t s a t t o r - neys would i n e v i t a b l y have t o f a c e and overcome t h e c l a i m of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . " 3 4 3 F.Supp. a t 818.
I n t h e present case, T a l b o t t ' s attorney necessarily would b e r e q u i r e d " t o r e s i s t t h e c l a i m s t o t h e fund a s s e r t e d by o t h e r p a r t i e s . " L o g i c a l l y h i s d u t y a l s o e x t e n d s t o pro- t e c t i n g h i s c l i e n t ' s c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e judgment d e b t o r ' s
a t t e m p t t o b l o c k t h e e x e c u t i o n sale. A s t h e person e n t r u s t e d
t o safeguard h i s c l i e n t ' s i n t e r e s t s through t h e treacherous journey from judgment to satisfaction, Talbott's attorney was "not only adequate, but probably optimal" as the person to receive service of process. 343 F.Supp. at 818. In a circumstance similar to that in Bosurgi and the instant case, another federal court echoed this conclusion: "There is no fear ... that service of the summons and complaint upon [the attorney] would not be brought home to each principal. This is at times a matter of concern in these problems of service of process through claimed authorized agent. That service of process upon their lawyer would bring notice of the lawsuit to [the principals] seems beyond argument and is evident here from the motion itself in their behalf to quash the service. Also, a lawyer endowed with all the authority given as here to act and appear is about the best candidate one could choose to insure notice of a pending lawsuit." United States v. Davis (N.D. N.Y. 1965), 38 F.R.D. 424, 425-26. (Bracketed material added.) Thus, due to the attorney's representation of Talbott in a closely related action, which necessarily implied a duty to protect his client's interests against this type of action, service of process on her attorney was valid as service on Talbott within the meaning of Rule 4D(2) (a),
As to Talbott's second contention that the District Court granted the permanent injunction without considering evidence at a hearing, it appears that the words of Talbott's attorney precluded the need for such a hearing. The order granting the permanent injunction states that he told the judge his client did not intend to proceed on the writ of August 29. While Talbott's attorney later declared that what he said was "in all likelihood" the defendant did not intend to proceed on the writ, it is clear that the judge and the other attorneys present at the April 11, 1978 con- ference understood Talbott's attorney to say his client did not intend to proceed on the writ. Under these circumstances, t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s v e r s i o n of t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s of a n
a t t o r n e y must be c o n s i d e r e d t h e b e s t g u i d e o f what he s a i d .
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t had j u r i s d i c t i o n t o e n t e r i t s A p r i l
11, 1978 o r d e r e n j o i n i n g t h e s h e r i f f ' s s a l e . Carole T a l b o t t
may proceed under a new w r i t a s p r o v i d e d i n t h a t o r d e r .
CAUSE NO. 14363 -- ORDER NUNC PRO T N U C
I n t h i s t h i r d cause appellant Talbott seeks t o set
a s i d e a n o r d e r of t h e E l e v e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t C o u r t
amending a 1967 judgment nunc p r o t u n c . A s d e s c r i b e d above,
C a r o l e T a l b o t t ' s f e d e r a l judgment o f August 1 3 , 1976, i s
a g a i n s t John H. Doble, who i s p r e s e n t l y t h e r e c i p i e n t of
payments under a c o n t r a c t f o r deed d a t e d May 1, 1975, a s a
t e n a n t i n common w i t h Helen I. Doble, h i s w i f e . John W.
Doble, D o b l e ' s s o n , i s a l s o t h e r e c i p i e n t of payments under
a s e p a r a t e c o n t r a c t f o r deed d a t e d May 1, 1975.
I n 1966, John H. Doble, Helen I. Doble, John W. Doble
and J o y c e Doble b r o u g h t a q u i e t t i t l e a c t i o n i n t h e E l e v e n t h
J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t i n L i n c o l n County. In t h e pleadings f o r
t h a t a c t i o n t h e Dobles d i d n o t i n d i c a t e s e p a r a t e ownership
of t h e v a r i o u s t r a c t s t o which t h e y wished t o q u i e t t i t l e s ,
b u t t h e y d i d p r e s e n t s e p a r a t e e v i d e n c e of ownership. John
W. Doble b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e c o u r t e x h i b i t s o n e t h r o u g h t h r e e
which w e r e w a r r a n t y d e e d s g r a n t i n g v a r i o u s t r a c t s t o him and
h i s w i f e as j o i n t t e n a n t s . These t r a c t s , a l l l o c a t e d i n
Township 37 N o r t h , Range 28 West M.P.M. were: Exhibit 1 S e c t i o n 26 E/2 NE/4
Exhibit 2 Section 11 W/2 N E / 4 , E / 2 NE/4 m/4, E/2 SE/4 NW/4, SW/4 SE/4 NW/4, S/2 NW/4 SE/4 JW/4
Exhibit 3 Section 10 S/2 SE/4 Section 11 S E / ~SW/4, W/2 S W / ~ Section 13 Lots 2, 3 ( ~ / 2 E / ~ ) N Section 14 m/4 John H. Doble produced w a r r a n t y d e e d s g r a n t i n g t h e
f o l l o w i n g t r a c t s t o him and h i s w i f e a s j o i n t t e n a n t s a s
e x h i b i t s f o u r t h r o u g h seven:
Exhibit 4 Section 3 L o t s 2 and 7
Exhibit 5 Section 15 NE/4 SE/4
Exhibit 6 Section 1 4 1W/4 SW/4
Exhibit 7 Section 11 W/2 NE/4 W/4, N/2 NW/4 SE/4 W/4
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t g r a n t e d judgment f o r t h e Dobles i n t h e i r
q u i e t t i t l e a c t i o n on J a n u a r y 6, 1967, b u t f a i l e d t o i n d i -
c a t e s e p a r a t e ownership of t r a c t s on t h e d e c r e e . The o n l y
mention of t h e p a r t i e s by name i s i n t h e c a p t i o n of t h e
judgment and d e c r e e , which s i m p l y l i s t s a l l f o u r Dobles as
plaintiffs.
On March 28, 1978, a f t e r f i l i n g a t r a n s c r i p t of t h e
f e d e r a l judgment w i t h t h e N i n e t e e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t
C o u r t , C a r o l e T a l b o t t o b t a i n e d a f e d e r a l w r i t of e x e c u t i o n .
The U n i t e d S t a t e s M a r s h a l l l e v i e d on t h e p r o p e r t y l i s t e d i n
t h e 1967 q u i e t t i t l e d e c r e e on A p r i l 5 , 1978, and s e t t h e
d a t e f o r s a l e of t h e p r o p e r t y on May 1 8 .
O n May 2 D o b l e ' s a t t o r n e y f i l e d a motion t o amend t h e
1967 judgment nunc p r o t u n c t o r e f l e c t t h e s e p a r a t e owner-
ship. The N i n e t e e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t C o u r t g r a n t e d t h a t
motion t h e same day.
T a l b o t t c o n s i d e r s h e r s e l f aggrieved because she i n t e r -
p r e t s t h e o r d e r nunc p r o t u n c t o have been a d e v i c e t o
p r o t e c t D o b l e ' s p r o p e r t y from h e r r i g h t f u l c l a i m . This
h i n g e s upon h e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e 1967 judgment which
q u i e t s t i t l e t o t h e v a r i o u s Doble t r a c t s i n L i n c o l n County.
H e r c l a i m i s t h a t t h e a c t i o n s e r v e d t o t r a n s f e r one-half of
John W. and J o y c e D o b l e ' s i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r s e p a r a t e l a n d s
t o John H. and Helen Doble "by o p e r a t i o n of law", and s i m i l a r l y t o t r a n s f e r one-half of John H. and Helen Doble's
i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r s e p a r a t e l a n d s t o John W. and Joyce Doble by o p e r a t i o n of law. Under t h i s t h e o r y it would appear t h a t
John H. and Helen have r e t a i n e d t h e i r h a l f i n t e r e s t i n t h e
l a n d which John W. and Joyce p u r p o r t t o have s o l d t o o t h e r s
under t h e May 1, 1975, c o n t r a c t f o r deed.
S e v e r a l f a c t o r s , however, make c l e a r t h a t John H. and
Helen Doble have never a c q u i r e d any i n t e r e s t i n John W. and
Joyce Doble's l a n d . F i r s t , t h e q u i e t t i t l e a c t i o n which t h e
Dobles f i l e d i n 1966 made no mention of a t r a n s f e r of i n t e r e s t s
among t h e Dobles. I t s purpose was c l e a r l y t o g i v e t h e
Dobles uncontested t i t l e t o t h e i r v a r i o u s t r a c t s , e s p e c i a l l y
a s a g a i n s t t h e Bonners F e r r y Lumber Co. L t d . , t h e C.E.
Conrad E s t a t e , I n c . , t h e Conrad C o r p o r a t i o n , and s e v e r a l
other individuals.
Second, t h e evidence produced a t t h e h e a r i n g on t h e
q u i e t t i t l e p e t i t i o n c l e a r l y showed John W. and Joyce Doble
a s t h e g r a n t e e s of c e r t a i n t r a c t s and showed John H. and
Helen Doble a s t h e g r a n t e e s of c e r t a i n o t h e r t r a c t s . In the
absence of any p l e a d i n g o r evidence t h a t e i t h e r of t h e Doble
f a m i l i e s claimed ownership i n t h e l a n d s s t a n d i n g i n t h e name
of t h e o t h e r , t h e D i s t r i c t Court could n o t t r a n s f e r t i t l e
from t h e one c o - p l a i n t i f f t o the other co-plaintiff. The
nunc p r o t u n c o r d e r d i d no more t h a n c l a r i f y t h e evidence
and t h e law governing t h e c a s e .
T h i r d , t h e Dobles have t r e a t e d t h e i r ownership a s
separate since the quiet t i t l e action. The c o n t r a c t s f o r
deed which t h e Doble f a m i l i e s e n t e r e d i n t o i n May, 1975, a r e
completely s e p a r a t e and on t h e i r f a c e convey s e p a r a t e t r a c t s
of l a n d . One d e s c r i b e s John H. and Helen Doble a s t e n a n t s
i n common. C l e a r l y t h e s e people i n 1975 c o n s i d e r e d them- s e l v e s t o be s e p a r a t e owners of s e p a r a t e l a n d s , and d e a l t
s e p a r a t e l y with t h e purchasers of t h e i r land.
I n 1978 when C a r o l e T a l b o t t g a v e n o t i c e of h e r i n t e n t
all t o e x e c u t e h e r judgment by s e l l i n g - t h e l a n d l i s t e d i n
t h e 1967 d e c r e e , t h e Dobles u n d e r s t a n d a b l y became concerned
and moved t o amend t h e d e c r e e t o c l e a r l y r e f l e c t t h e i r t r u e
interest. The o n l y e f f e c t o f t h e May 2 , 1978 o r d e r c o r -
r e c t i n g t h e judgment was t o r e f l e c t t h e o r i g i n a l i n t e n t of
the parties. Amendments a r e p e r m i s s i b l e under Rule 60 ( b ) ( 6 ) ,
M.R.Civ.P., where t h e y w i l l make t h e meaning of a judgment
o r d e c r e e more c l e a r and w i l l n o t a c t i n e q u i t a b l y o r t o t h e
p r e j u d i c e of a p a r t y . Smith v . J a c k s o n Tool & Die, I n c .
(5th C i r . 1 9 7 0 ) , 426 F.2d 5 , 8. Here, t h e Dobles had l i t t l e
r e a s o n t o s u s p e c t t h a t a s u b s e q u e n t c r e d i t o r would, more
than a decade l a t e r , i n t e r p r e t t h e q u i e t t i t l e decree t o
mean t h e f o u r Dobles w e r e t e n a n t s i n common of a l l l a n d
involved i n t h e decree. A d i f f e r e n t q u e s t i o n might be pre-
s e n t e d i f T a l b o t t ' s t h e o r y o f t h e e f f e c t of t h e 1967 d e c r e e
was more p l a u s i b l e , and t h e o r d e r nunc p r o t u n c w a s i n f a c t
a change i n t h e o r i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n of t h e q u i e t t i t l e de-
cree. But under t h e t o t a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h i s c a s e , t h e
order does n o t appear t o p r e j u d i c e T a l b o t t . I t merely
c l a r i f i e s what had always been i n t e n d e d . With t h i s d e t e r -
m i n a t i o n , it i s u n n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s i d e r D o b l e ' s c l a i m t h a t
Talbott lacks standing.
The o r d e r nunc p r o t u n c of May 2, 1978, i s a f f i r m e d .
The o r d e r d o e s n o t a c t i n e q u i t a b l y b u t r a t h e r c l a r i f i e s what
w a s o r i g i n a l l y i n t e n d e d by t h e 1967 q u i e t t i t l e a c t i o n .
Justice d k W e Concur:
J u d g e , s i t t i n g i n p l a c e of M r . Chief J u s t i c e Haswell
~ i s t r i & u d ~ es ; t k i n g i n p l a c e ~ i of M r . J u s t i c e Sheehy