IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MITCHELL

2021 OK CIV APP 17, 491 P.3d 759
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedApril 2, 2021
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2021 OK CIV APP 17 (IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MITCHELL) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MITCHELL, 2021 OK CIV APP 17, 491 P.3d 759 (Okla. Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MITCHELL
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IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MITCHELL
2021 OK CIV APP 17
491 P.3d 759
Case Number: 117462
Decided: 04/02/2021
Mandate Issued: 04/28/2021
DIVISION II
THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, DIVISION II


Cite as: 2021 OK CIV APP 17, 491 P.3d 759

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:

JOYCE A. MITCHELL, Petitioner/Appellant,
v.
RICHARD G. MITCHELL, Respondent/Appellee.

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF
DELAWARE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA

HONORABLE BARRY V. DENNEY, TRIAL JUDGE

AFFIRMED

George Wm. "Billy" Wiland, III, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Petitioner/Appellant

Bobby C. Ramsey, DAVIS & THOMPSON, PLLC, Jay, , for Respondent/Appellee

JANE P. WISEMAN, PRESIDING JUDGE:

¶1 Joyce A. Mitchell (Petitioner) seeks review of trial court orders finding her guilty of indirect contempt, sealing the court record, and awarding attorney fees and interest to Richard G. Mitchell (Respondent). The salient issues on appeal are whether the trial court erred in excluding evidence, in sealing the record, or in finding Petitioner guilty of contempt.1 After review of the record and applicable law, we find no trial court error and affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND`

¶2 A decree of divorce and dissolution of marriage filed April 27, 2012, memorializes the parties' agreement on the division of marital property. Key to our review is this provision:

a. The Parties' Business Interests in Four Seasons of Fun, LLC. Petitioner is awarded Four Seasons of Fun, LLC, a mobile home park (hereinafter referred to as the "Park"), including all assets belonging thereto.
i. The Petitioner currently has the South 7 acres of the park on the market for $700,000.00. Any lower offer must be agreed to by both parties in writing. Upon the sale of the property, after payment of the indebtedness of said property, including capital gains, costs and fees, the profit shall be divided 50% - 50% and/or a maximum of $150,000.00 for the Respondent, and the Petitioner shall receive the remaining funds. Respondent shall be paid at closing.
In the event that the property does not sell within the next eight (8) years and the current mortgage is paid in full, the Petitioner shall pay the Respondent the sum of $150,000.00 payable in monthly payments of $3,000.00 per month for fifty (50) months with no interest thereon. Payments will begin August 15, 2020.

¶3 Other property, real and personal, was also divided as agreed by the parties. Respondent appears to have been unrepresented by counsel as the Decree is approved only by Petitioner's attorney, John M. Weedn.

¶4 On November 23, 2016, Respondent filed an application for a temporary restraining order stating that he had discovered that a closing had occurred on the sale of Four Seasons of Fun, LLC, the mobile home park in Grove, Oklahoma, on October 18, 2016, and that the sale violated the terms of the Decree because the sales price was $500,000 and Petitioner failed to notify Respondent about the contract for sale or the closing. Respondent asked the Court to direct Petitioner to deposit $150,000 into his attorney's firm's trust account and to require Petitioner to reimburse him for the fees associated with his request. The trial court granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting Petitioner from disposing of the funds from the sale of the Park and ordering her to immediately deposit $150,000 to the trust account of Respondent's attorney's firm.

¶5 In an order filed on January 10, 2017, the trial court concluded after the November 30, 2016, TRO hearing that "the Petitioner was deceitful as it pertained to communications with the Respondent regarding the sale of Four Seasons Park." The court again ordered Petitioner to place $150,000 in the trust account.

¶6 That same day, an order was filed stating: "Now on 10 day of Jan, 2017, the Court Orders that the enclosed file, dated the 10 day of Jan, 2017, is sealed pending further Order of the Court. The Court further Orders that the District Attorney for the State of Oklahoma and counsel for the Defendant shall be allowed access." The court minute entry from that day states, "File to be sealed. Gag order issued re: any info on sale of Four Seasons MH Park."

¶7 On February 27, 2017, Respondent filed an application requesting the release of the funds or enforcement of the terms of the Decree. Petitioner objected, claiming a dispute over the amount of the sale proceeds to which Respondent was entitled.

¶8 On May 10, 2017, Respondent filed an application for contempt citation asserting Petitioner failed to comply with the terms of the Decree, and the court set a hearing for May 19, 2017. Petitioner entered a plea of not guilty on that date. On June 23, 2017, Respondent filed an amended application for contempt substantially similar to the original application.

¶9 According to a minute entry on August 18, 2017, the trial court granted the motion filed by Respondent's attorney to disqualify Petitioner's attorney, Winston Connor. Subsequent filings show Petitioner engaged a different attorney.

¶10 On August 24, 2018, Respondent filed an application for attorney fees and costs.

¶11 In an order filed on September 17, 2018, the trial court found Petitioner guilty of indirect contempt because (1) she sold the Park for $500,000 without Respondent's approval or knowledge, and (2) she closed on the sale of the Park on October 18, 2016, but failed to notify Respondent about the closing until November 17, 2016. The court awarded Respondent $150,000 plus interest.

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Related

WILLIAMS v. WILLIAMS
2024 OK CIV APP 8 (Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, 2023)

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Bluebook (online)
2021 OK CIV APP 17, 491 P.3d 759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-marriage-of-mitchell-oklacivapp-2021.