Joann Marie Riblett v. Gail Francis Riblett

• Court: Court of Chancery of Delaware
• Decided: March 15, 2018
• Docket: CA 12786-MZ
• Status: Published

Opinion

COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE MORGAN T. ZURN MASTER IN CHANCERY LEONARD L. WILLIAMS JUSTICE CENTER 500 NORTH KING STREET, SUITE 11400 WILMINGTON, DE 19801-3734

Final Report: March 15, 2018 Draft Report: December 14, 2017 Date Submitted: November 28, 2017

Bayard J. Snyder, Esquire Snyder & Associates, P.A. 3801 Kennett Pike, Suite 201, Bldg. C Wilmington, DE 19807

Ms. Gail Frances Riblett 2629 Bardell Drive Wilmington, DE 19808 gailzz@comcast.net

Re: Riblett v. Riblett C.A. No. 12786-MZ

Dear Mr. Snyder and Ms. Riblett:

In this action, a mother seeks rescission of a deed and title transfers

purporting to transfer one-half of her interest in real property, two vehicles, and

two trailers to her daughter. The parties agreed to mediate their dispute. The

daughter moved to dismiss based on an executed settlement agreement, and in

response her mother sought enforcement of a later, superseding settlement

agreement that was unsigned. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 2

In this final report, I recommend the Court deny the mother’s request to

force the daughter to sign the later, unsigned settlement agreement based on

express language in the mediation agreement requiring any final agreement to be

signed, and deny the mother’s request to fix alleged clerical errors in the executed

agreement under Court of Chancery Rule 60(a). I also recommend the Court grant

the daughter’s motion to dismiss.

I. Background1

Petitioner JoAnn Marie Riblett (“JoAnn”) and her husband Harry C. Riblett

(“Harry”) owned real property known as 416 Riblett Lane, Wilmington Delaware

19808 (“the Property”) as tenants by the entirety. On April 7, 1993, JoAnn

executed a will that left all her real and personal property equally to her three

children: Respondent Gail Riblett (“Gail”), and JoAnn’s two sons. Harry died on

December 23, 2012, making JoAnn the sole owner of the Property, as well as a

1929 Ford Model A, a 2004 Dodge Caravan, and two trailers. On April 25, 2013,

JoAnn executed a deed conveying the Property to herself and Gail as joint tenants

with right of survivorship (“the Deed”). JoAnn also transferred one-half

ownership interest in the vehicles and trailers to Gail (“the Title Transfers”).

1 In this family dispute, I use first names in pursuit of clarity; I intend no familiarity or disrespect. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 3

On September 29, 2016, JoAnn filed a verified petition seeking rescission of

the Deed and Title Transfers on the basis of equitable fraud. JoAnn alleges that

Gail, a law school graduate, misrepresented to JoAnn that two names were

required on the titles to the Property, vehicles, and trailers for JoAnn’s ownership

to remain valid after Harry’s death. JoAnn alleges she wants her property to be

distributed as set forth in her will: one-third to Gail, and one-third to each of

JoAnn’s sons. Gail answered the petition on October 14, 2016, alleging she

assisted JoAnn in executing the Deed and Title Transfers at JoAnn’s request so that

Gail, who was named executrix in JoAnn’s will, would have sufficient

administrative powers to carry out JoAnn’s wishes. Gail also alleged extensive

familial strife surrounding these and other issues. JoAnn is represented by counsel;

Gail is proceeding pro se.

Gail and JoAnn voluntarily mediated their dispute on June 12, 2017, subject

to a mediation agreement providing, “If a settlement is reached, the agreement

shall be reduced to writing and when signed, shall be binding upon all parties to

the agreement and become part of the court record.”2 They signed a settlement

agreement dated that same day (“the First Agreement”). It states, in relevant part:

2 Reply ¶ 8. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 4

Gail Riblett shall execute a Quitclaim Deed and Transfer Tax Affidavits conveying any interest she may have in 416 Riblett Lane (the “Property”) back to JoAnn Riblett.

JoAnn Riblett agrees that the Property shall be divided 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 to each of her three (3) children and any references Joann’s Trust (sic) or will to the contrary are void.3

On June 13, 2017, the mediator emailed the parties identifying a possible

ambiguity in the second quoted paragraph’s use of the word “Property,” defined as

416 Riblett Lane, and suggesting replacing that second usage of “the Property”

with “her Estate.”4

Gail responded, via email, that she agreed to this change.5 The mediator

drafted and circulated another agreement incorporating this change (“the Second

Agreement”), but Gail did not sign it.6 Gail contends that although she initially

agreed to the change, she subsequently concluded it had substantive meaning so

she refused to sign the Second Agreement incorporating it.7

3 Mot. Ex.; Resp. Ex. A. 4 Resp. Ex. B; D.I. 17; Reply ¶ 5. The mediator asserts the parties agreed that JoAnn “was to have sole ownership of her primary residence (416 Riblett Lane)” and “that JoAnn’s Estate (not just the primary residence) would be divided equally between the three siblings.” D.I. 17. 5 Resp. Ex. B; D.I. 17; see Reply ¶¶ 5-7. 6 Resp. Exs. B, C; D.I. 17; Reply ¶¶ 7-10. 7 Reply at 1; Ans. to Exceptions at 1. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 5

On September 19, 2017, Gail filed a motion to dismiss alleging she and

JoAnn had reached a settlement agreement memorialized in the First Agreement,

that Gail had performed her obligations thereunder, and that JoAnn should dismiss

her claims. The parties briefed Gail’s motion and the mediator provided a

submission as well. JoAnn’s response asked the Court to “order [Gail] to sign the

Amended Settlement Agreement.”8 I issued a draft report on December 14, 2017.

JoAnn took exception and the parties briefed those exceptions. This is my final

report.

II. Analysis

While the issues pending before me were presented in connection with

Gail’s pro se motion, titled “Motion to Dismiss,” each party requests enforcement

of a settlement agreement and has supplied documentary evidence in support, so I

apply the legal standard for a motion to enforce a settlement agreement.

Delaware courts encourage negotiated resolutions to contested cases, and for

that reason, among many others, settlement agreements are enforceable as a

contract.9 The party seeking to enforce an agreement bears the burden of proving

8 Pet’r Resp. to Mot. to Dismiss at 3; accord, Pet’r Br. on Exceptions at 5 (noting the “question[] involved” is whether the Court should “order Respondent to sign the Second Agreement”). 9 Schwartz v. Chase, 2010 WL 2601608, at *4 (Del. Ch. Jun. 29, 2010); Asten, Inc. v. Wangner Sys. Corp., 1999 WL 803965, at *1 (Del. Ch. Sept. 23, 1999). C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 6

the existence of a contract by a preponderance of the evidence.10 In determining

whether JoAnn or Gail has met her burden, I must inquire:

whether a reasonable negotiator in the position of one asserting the existence of a contract would have concluded, in that setting, that the agreement reached constituted agreement on all of the terms that the parties themselves regarded as essential and thus that that agreement concluded the negotiations.11

Where a settlement agreement has been reached, the fact, alone, that it was the understanding that the contract should be formally drawn up and executed, does not leave the transaction incomplete and without binding force, in the absence of a positive agreement that it should not be binding until so reduced to writing and formally executed. Therefore, the question is whether the parties positively agreed that there will be no binding contract until the document is executed.12

“Where it is dearly [sic] understood that the terms of a proposed contract, though

tentatively agreed on, shall be reduced to writing and signed before it shall be

considered as complete and binding on the parties, there is no final contract until

that is done.”13

Gail and JoAnn’s mediation agreement contains a stated condition that no

settlement agreement would be binding until reduced to writing and formally

10 Schwartz, 2010 WL 2601608 at *4. 11 Id. 12 Whittington v. Dragon Group LLC, 2013 WL 1821615, at *3 (Del. Ch. May 1, 2013) (internal citations and quotations omitted). 13 Universal Prods. Co. v. Emerson, 179 A. 387, 394 (Del. 1935) (citing Williston on Contracts, § 28). C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 7

executed. The parties essentially agreed a party could change her mind in

mediation until she signed her name. In addition to the specific mediation

agreement here, the Delaware Supreme Court has cautioned generally that

“[c]ourts should not enforce a mediation agreement absent a written document

signed by the parties and a mediator.”14 In evaluating the parties’ discussions

about settlement terms after the First Agreement was signed, which were guided by

the mediator, I find they are in the context of mediation and governed by the

mediation agreement. The Second Agreement was never signed, so it is not

binding.15 Gail’s emailed response accepting the proposed edits does not satisfy

the mediation agreement’s positive requirement that any settlement be reduced to a

signed writing to take effect.16 Accordingly, I recommend the Court deny JoAnn’s

request to compel Gail to sign the Second Agreement. The First Agreement

remains in effect.17

14 Capano v. State ex rel. Brady, 2003 WL 22227556, at *1 (Del. Sept. 25, 2003). 15 See id.; Whittington, 2013 WL 1821615 at *3. 16 Resp. Ex. B. 17 This report does not construe or interpret the First Agreement’s use of the word “Property,” evaluate whether that usage introduces any ambiguity, or preclude potential future litigation regarding the interpretation of the First Agreement. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 8

On exception, JoAnn asserts the relief she seeks is not to enforce an entirely

new settlement agreement, but rather, to fix a clerical error in the signed agreement

under Court of Chancery Rule 60(a).18 That Rule provides:

Clerical mistakes. Clerical mistakes in judgments, order or other parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or omission may be corrected by the Court at any time of its own initiative or on the motion of any party and after such notice, if any, as the Court orders.

JoAnn relies on In re Appeal of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., in

which the Delaware Supreme Court reviewed a party’s request to modify a Court

of Chancery “Order and Judgment” based on the parties’ “Stipulation of Settlement

and Compromise” where that Order contained ambiguous language as a result of a

lawyer error in draftsmanship.19 The Order failed to specify which among two

class actions and one derivative action was included in its scope.20 The Delaware

Supreme Court concluded that amending the Order to resolve its ambiguity “is

precisely the relief intended to be afforded by Rule 60(a).”21

18 JoAnn also argued on exception that my draft report improperly relied on Carter Farm, LLC v. New Castle County, 2014 WL 3555958 (Del. Ch. July 17, 2014), as the reopened settlement negotiations in that case were more substantive and intentional than the parties’ discussions following the First Agreement in this case. This final report omits that analysis but reaches the same conclusion. 19 1987 WL 4633, at *1-3 (Del. Oct. 26, 1987). 20 Id. at *2-3. 21 Id. at *3. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 9

There is no ambiguous Court order in this case to modify. The issue JoAnn

seeks to rectify is in a settlement agreement, which is a contract between JoAnn

and Gail. Rule 60 is not available to JoAnn. Instead, to set aside or modify the

settlement, JoAnn would have to satisfy the requirements for setting aside or

modifying a contract.22

To obtain reformation of a contract, a plaintiff must show that:

an agreement has been made, or a transaction has been entered into or determined upon, as intended by all parties interested, but in reducing such agreement or transaction to writing, either through the mistake common to both parties, or through the mistake of the plaintiff accompanied by the fraudulent knowledge and procurement of the defendant, the written instrument fails to express the real agreement or transaction.23

Allegations of fraud or mistake must be pled with particularity.24 A party seeking

reformation must establish the need for the remedy by clear and convincing

evidence.25

It may be that JoAnn can plead with particularity, and prove by clear and

convincing evidence, that the First Agreement should be reformed due to mistake.

But JoAnn “has not only failed to meet the pleading requirements for reformation,

22 See Gammage v. Ellis, 1986 WL 11532, at *2 (Del. Ch. Oct. 16, 1986). 23 Lions Gate Ent. Corp. v. Image Ent. Inc., 2006 WL 1668051, at *8 (Del. Ch. June 5, 2006) ((citing Waggoner v. Laster, 581 A.2d 1127, 1135 (Del. 1990)). 24 Ch. Ct. R. 9(b). 25 Lions Gate, 2006 WL 1668051 at *8. C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 10

[she] has actively and expressly eschewed that cause of action here.”26 JoAnn

asked this Court to order Gail to sign the Second Agreement based on the parties’

emails about the Second Agreement, and did so in an answering brief and on

exception. This is different than affirmatively requesting and pleading reformation

of the First Agreement to express the parties’ allegedly different intent. JoAnn

also asked this Court to modify the First Agreement under Rule 60(a), but the First

Agreement is a contract between JoAnn and Gail and not a Court order or

judgment. JoAnn has not asked this Court to reform the First Agreement under the

law of contract.

I interpret Gail’s short pro se motion as seeking dismissal of this action

because she performed under the First Agreement. The First Agreement states that

this action “will be dismissed” in exchange for, inter alia, Gail retitling the

Property, one vehicle, and one trailer in JoAnn’s name.27 JoAnn’s response to

Gail’s motion does not dispute that Gail performed under the First Agreement. It

is JoAnn’s burden to request and justify an order compelling specific performance

if Gail breached the First Agreement, and JoAnn has not done so.28 The binding

26 See Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Sequa Corp., 2012 WL 1931322, at n.24 (Del. Ch. May 29, 2012) (quoting James River-Pennington Inc. v. CRSS Capital, Inc., 1995 WL 106554, at *7 (Del. Ch. Mar. 6, 1995)). 27 Mot. Ex. 28 See Carter Farm, LLC v. New Castle County, 2014 WL 3555958, at *8 (Del. Ch. July 17, 2014). C.A. No. 12786-MZ March 15, 2018 Page 11

First Agreement warrants dismissal of this action. I recommend the Court grant

Gail’s motion to dismiss.

III. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, I recommend the Court grant the respondent’s

motion to dismiss, and deny the petitioner’s requests (i) to compel the respondent

to sign a second settlement agreement, and (ii) to modify a signed settlement

agreement under Court of Chancery Rule 60(a). This is a final report under Court

of Chancery Rule 144.

Respectfully,

/s/ Morgan T. Zurn

Master in Chancery