Eskew v. Cornett

744 N.E.2d 954, 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 310, 2001 WL 180495
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 26, 2001
Docket49A02-0006-CV-411
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 744 N.E.2d 954 (Eskew v. Cornett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Eskew v. Cornett, 744 N.E.2d 954, 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 310, 2001 WL 180495 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinions

OPINION

KIRSCH, Judge

Kenneth W. Eskew, individually and as Trustee of the Kenneth W. Eskew Trust, Thomas J. McAllister, Trustee of the Theodore F. Schlaegel, Jr. Trust, and Eugene P. Cornett, individually and as Trustee of the Eugene P. Cornett Trust (collectively "Eskew") appeal the trial court's grant of judgment on the pleadings on their claim against Adaline M. Cornett ("Cornett"), contending that the allegations of his complaint are sufficient to establish a valid claim for relief.

We affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In the 1970s, several individuals entered into joint ventures to purchase and develop real estate. Eugene Cornett, Adaline Cor-nett, Kenneth Eskew, and Betty L. Eskew entered into a joint venture to purchase a parcel of property. The joint venture outlined the division of potential proceeds. The Cornetts also entered a joint venture agreement with Theodore F. Schlaegel to develop the property and divide the proceeds.

In 1994, R.N. Thompson & Associates, Inc. (CRNTA") contracted to purchase the property from all of the interest holders. The purchase agreement provided that "Purchaser, at Purchaser's option, may acquire Adaline M. Cornett's interest in the real estate by separate documents without such acquisition being a violation of the memorandum (memo) of joint venture agreement." Record at 17.

RNTA entered into a separate agreement with Cornett to acquire her interest for a considerable sum beyond what she would have received under the first purchase agreement. The agreement stated that "additional consideration is appropriate for Adaline to relinquish her interest in these parcels including transfer of Ada-line's attendant right to insist on a unanimous vote [to transfer the property.]" Record at 101.

After Eskew learned of the RNTA Cor-nett agreement, he brought suit against Cornett for breach of the purchase agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, and conversion. The trial court granted Cornett's motion for judgment on the pleadings. Eskew now appeals.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

Eskew contends that the trial court erred in granting Cornett's motion for judgment on the pleadings. A motion for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Ind. Trial Rule 12(C) attacks the legal sufficiency of the pleadings. Rivera ex rel. Rivera v. City of Nappanee, 704 N.E.2d 131, 132 (Ind.Ct.App.1998), trans. denied (1999). A judgment on the pleadings is proper only when there are no genuine issues of material fact and when the facts shown by the pleadings clearly establish that the non-moving party cannot in any way succeed under the facts and allegations therein. Bledsoe v. Fleming, 712 N.E.2d 1067, 1069-70 (Ind.Ct.App.1999).

In reviewing a trial court's decision on a motion for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to T.R. 12(C), this court conducts a de novo review. Transcontinental Ins. Co. v. J.L. Manta, Inc., 714 N.E.2d 1277, 1280 (Ind.Ct.App.1999); Rivera, 704 N.E.2d at 132. We look only to the pleadings in making this assessment. Schuman v. Kobets, 716 N.E.2d 355, 356 (Ind.1999).

We will accept as true the well-pleaded material facts alleged, and we will not affirm if there are any genuine issues of material fact. Id.; Transcontinental Ins., 714 N.E.2d at 1280. The moving party is deemed to have admitted well-pleaded facts in favor of the nonmovant, and this court will draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-movant. Transcontinental Ins., 714 N.E.2d at 1280; [957]*957Rivera, 704 N.E.2d at 132. We will affirm the trial court's grant of a TR. 12(C) motion for judgment when it is clear from the face of the pleadings that one of the parties cannot in any way succeed under the operative facts and allegations made therein. Transcontinental Ins., 714 N.E.2d at 1280.

At issue here is the construction of a contract. Since the trial rules require the pleader to attach to its complaint the written document upon which its action is premised, see TR. 9.2(A), we may look to both the complaint and the attached contract for purposes of determining the appropriateness of the court's ruling on the motion for judgment on the pleadings. Gregory & Appel, Inc. v. Duck, 459 N.E.2d 46, 50-51 (Ind.Ct.App.1984). However, where allegations of a pleading are inconsistent with terms of a written contract attached as an exhibit, the terms of the contract, fairly construed, must prevail over an averment differing therefrom. Id. Furthermore, a moving party, for the purpose of the motion, concedes only the accuracy of the factual allegations in his adversary's pleadings; he does not admit assertions which constitute conclusions of law. Id.

Eskew claims that Cornett breached the contract. The construction of a written contract is a question of law. Wildman v. National Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 703 N.E.2d 683, 685 (Ind.Ct.App.1998), trans. denied (1999). When interpreting a contract, our paramount goal is to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the parties. Crawford County Community Sch. Corp. v. Enlow, 734 N.E.2d 685, 690 (Ind.Ct.App.2000). This requires that the contract be read as a whole, and the language construed so as not to render any words, phrases, or terms ineffective or meaningless. Id. The unambiguous language of a contract is conclusive upon the parties to the contract and upon the courts. Peoples Bank & Trust Co. v. Price, 714 N.E.2d 712, 716 (Ind.Ct.App.1999), trans. denied. When the language of a contract is clear and unambiguous, the intent of the parties is determined from the four corners of the instrument. Id. In such a situation, the terms are conclusive and we will not construe the contract or look at extrinsic evidence, but will merely apply the contractual provisions. Crawford County Community Sch., 734 N.E.2d at 690.

Here, the written purchase agreement specifically allows Cornett to sell her interest in the real estate by separate agreement without limitation as to the amount that she could demand for the sale of her interest. Cornett acted according to the express provision of the contract allowing her to negotiate and sell her interest separately without violating her joint venture agreement. Eskew received the portion due him under the purchase agreement. The pleadings disclose no cause of action under these facts.

Nonetheless, Eskew maintains that the purchase agreement set the price for the sale and the portion of each joint venturer's share of the price. It is true that the purchase agreement sets out the timing and amount of payment to each party. However, it also gives Cornett the right to sell her interest separately. When a contract contains general and specific provisions relating to the same subject, the specific provision controls. Askren Hub States Pest Control Servs., Inc. v. Zurich Ins. Co.,

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Bluebook (online)
744 N.E.2d 954, 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 310, 2001 WL 180495, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/eskew-v-cornett-indctapp-2001.