John Zapata d/b/a Zapata Collection Services, An Individual and as Assignee v. Ball State University, Facilities Management and Planning

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 18, 2014
• Docket: 18A04-1310-CC-534
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before Jul 18 2014, 8:56 am any court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case. APPELLANT PRO SE: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

JOHN ZAPATA ROBERT S. DANIELS Lincoln, Nebraska STEVEN D. MURPHY DeFur Voran, LLP Fishers, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

JOHN ZAPATA d/b/a ) ZAPATA COLLECTION SERVICES, ) An Individual and as Assignee, ) ) Appellant-Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) No. 18A04-1310-CC-534 ) BALL STATE UNIVERSITY, ) Facilities Management and Planning, ) ) Appellee-Defendant. )

APPEAL FROM THE DELAWARE CIRCUIT COURT The Honorable Kimberly S. Dowling, Judge Cause No. 18C02-1203-CC-53

July 18, 2014

MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

ROBB, Judge Case Summary and Issue

John Zapata d/b/a Zapata Collection Service (collectively, “Zapata”), pro se, filed a

complaint against Ball State University (“Ball State”) for damages arising from breach of a

contract between Ball State and MWE Service, Inc. (“MWE”). Zapata alleged therein that he

was the assignee of MWE’s claim. The trial court granted Ball State’s motion to dismiss,

finding that the assignment to Zapata was a sham and that MWE was required by Indiana law

to be represented by counsel. Zapata now appeals, contending the trial court erred in ruling

on Ball State’s motion to dismiss. Concluding the trial court’s findings regarding the

assignment were not clearly erroneous and the trial court properly dismissed the complaint,

we affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

In 2008, Ball State and MWE entered into a contract for MWE to perform certain

demolition services for a Ball State renovation project. At the conclusion of the project, the

parties had a dispute over payment. On March 27, 2012, Zapata filed a complaint for breach

of contract against Ball State, styled “John Zapata, dba, Zapata Collection Service an

Individual and as Assignee vs. Ball State University,” seeking to enforce MWE’s rights to

payment under the contract and alleging that MWE had “assigned it [sic] rights of collection

to Zapata Collection Service . . . .” Appellant’s Appendix at 181.

Following discovery, Ball State filed a motion to dismiss Zapata’s complaint, alleging

that Zapata could not pursue this claim pro se under Indiana Law, either because the

assignment was a sham for MWE to avoid hiring legal counsel, or because “Zapata

Collection Service” is not properly licensed as a collection agency and cannot proceed pro se.

2 Zapata filed a response in opposition to Ball State’s motion, and the trial court held a hearing

at which both sides presented argument. Following the hearing, the trial court issued an

order declining to find Zapata is a collection company, but finding as follows:

10. A corporation (except for certain exempt corporations and small claims actions under $1,500.00) must appear by an attorney in all cases. I.C. 32-8-1- 1(c). 11. The question here, is whether [MWE] assigned their claim to Zapata as a sham in an effort to avoid having to hire counsel in this matter. 12. Zapata filed his assignment in this cause, however it only states that there was good and valuable consideration, but does not state the specifics of the consideration. 13. Zapata has, with the filing of his response to this motion, filed an affidavit signed by Kathleen Cederburg, stating that the consideration provided to [sic] Zapata was the sum of $5,000.00. 14. Cederburg is Zapata’s daughter. 15. On MWE’s website, Zapata is listed as a contact for the corporation. Zapata and his “collection service” share an address, website, phone number and email address with [MWE]. 16. The Court hereby finds that the assignment was a sham intended to avoid [MWE] to have to hire counsel. 17. The Court hereby gives [Zapata] sixty (60) days to hire counsel to represent him in this matter. Should [Zapata] fail to hire counsel within that time period, this matter will be dismissed.

Id. at 29-30. Zapata informed the court via letter that he did not intend to hire counsel and

requested the court enter a final order. Accordingly, on October 15, 2013, the trial court

entered an order granting Ball State’s motion to dismiss. Zapata now appeals. Additional

facts will be provided as necessary.

Discussion and Decision

Ball State’s motion to dismiss is based on its allegation that either MWE, a

corporation, or Zapata Collection Service, a collection agency, is the real party in interest in

this litigation and has failed to appear by an attorney as required by Indiana law. Though

3 noting certain indicia otherwise, the trial court specifically declined to find Zapata Collection

Service is a collection agency subject to specific rules for collection agencies. See Ind. Code

§§ 25-11-1 et seq.; Ind. Code § 34-9-1-1(c). The court did, however, find the purported

assignment of the claim from MWE to Zapata was intended to subvert Indiana law requiring

a corporation to be represented by counsel. Accordingly, we also focus our attention on the

assignment.

It is clear that except under circumstances not applicable here, a corporation must be

represented by an attorney. Ind. Code § 34-9-1-1; Ind. Small Claims Rule 8(C). However,

“we view dismissals with disfavor, and dismissals are considered extreme remedies that

should be granted only under limited circumstances.” Turner v. Franklin Cnty. Four

Wheelers Inc., 889 N.E.2d 903, 905 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). Therefore, when a corporation

prosecutes or defends its case pro se and the opposing side contests the representation, the

corporation should be given an opportunity to retain counsel before dismissal is appropriate.

Christian Bus. Phone Book, Inc. v. Indianapolis Jewish Cmty. Relations Council, 576 N.E.2d

1276, 1277 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991); see also State ex rel. Western Parks, Inc. v. Bartholomew

Cnty. Court, 270 Ind. 41, 45, 383 N.E.2d 290, 293 (1978) (holding the trial court exceeded its

jurisdiction by allowing a corporation to appear without counsel). Here, the trial court found

that MWE, a corporation, was the real party in interest notwithstanding an alleged

assignment to an individual. The trial court then offered MWE an opportunity to retain

counsel and advised MWE the failure to retain counsel would result in dismissal. MWE

specifically declined to retain counsel, and only then did the trial court dismiss the action.

Accordingly, the question is whether the trial court erred in finding the assignment from

4 MWE to Zapata was a sham transaction. We will not set aside the trial court’s findings

unless they are clearly erroneous. Ind. Trial Rule 52(A). Findings of fact are clearly

erroneous when the record shows no factual support for them, either directly or by inference.

Johnson v. Wysocki, 990 N.E.2d 456, 460 (Ind. 2013).

In two previous cases, this court has considered whether a corporation’s assignment of

a claim to an individual who then prosecuted the claim in small claims court was a bona fide

assignment or a ruse to avoid the requirement of representation by counsel.1 See Watson v.

Auto Advisors, Inc., 822 N.E.2d 1017 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied, and Yogi Bear

Membership Corp. v. Stalnaker, 571 N.E.2d 331 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991). In Yogi Bear, the

corporate operator of a campground at which members purchase campsites and pay a

monthly maintenance fee sued a former member for unpaid fees on two campsites totaling

over $900.00. The corporation filed the complaint in its own name and was represented in

the proceedings by an employee who was a corporate vice-president and manager of the

campground. Two days after the complaint was filed, the corporation assigned the

delinquent account to the employee. The court noted the record did not indicate the

employee was a lawyer but did indicate that the real party in interest remained the

corporation despite the purported assignment—throughout the proceedings, the corporation

rather than the employee was referred to as the plaintiff by the court and all parties. There

was nothing in the record to indicate the assignment of the delinquent account was a bona

fide transfer from the corporation to the employee. Because the claim exceeded the then-

1 The significance of these cases being in small claims court is that, as noted above, in certain limited circumstances a corporation may appear without counsel in a small claims case. See Ind. Small Claims Rule 8(C)(3). If those circumstances are not applicable, the rule regarding representation by counsel is the same as

5 threshold amount of $750.00, the corporation was required to appear by counsel pursuant to

the terms of Small Claims Rule 8(C). 571 N.E.2d at 334.

Likewise, in Watson, a corporation that sells used cars filed a corporate resolution

stating that any purchase contract that was in default would be assigned to the owner of and

registered agent for the corporation (“owner”). The owner sued Watson in small claims court

for breach of a purchase contract and was awarded a judgment for nearly $5,000.00. Watson

then filed a complaint against the corporation and the owner alleging the judgment was void

because her debt was improperly assigned to avoid the requirement of representation by

counsel and because the owner was acting as a collection agency or debt collector, either of

which also prohibit self-representation. The trial court dismissed Watson’s complaint as an

impermissible collateral attack on the judgment. This court noted that as in Yogi Bear, there

was nothing in the record to indicate a bona fide assignment of Watson’s contract: the record

did not include an actual assignment of this contract, only the corporate resolution regarding

all contracts in default; there was no mention of consideration given for the assignment; and

there was no legitimate business reason given for the assignment. 822 N.E.2d at 1025.

Accordingly, the court held that it appeared the corporation assigned its claim to avoid the

requirements of Small Claims Rule 8(C) and the assignment was invalid. Id.2

The complaint in this case alleged that MWE had assigned its rights of collection to

in any other court. 2 Nonetheless, because Watson was making a collateral attack on the small claims court’s judgment as opposed to initiating a direct appeal therefrom, and because, if timely raised, the invalid assignment resulting in a non-attorney representing a corporation could have been cured, the court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of Watson’s complaint as the judgment was merely voidable, not void. Id. at 1027.

6 Zapata Collection Service.3 “As a general rule, a valid and unqualified assignment operates

to transfer to the assignee all the right, title, or interest of the assignor in or to the property or

property rights that are comprehended within the terms of the assignment.” Rasp v. Hidden

Valley Lake, Inc., 519 N.E.2d 153, 158 (Ind. Ct. App. 1988). A right to damages for breach

of contract is assignable. Id. When Ball State requested discovery regarding the alleged

assignment, Zapata produced an assignment dated March 22, 2012, and signed on behalf of

MWE by Katie Cederburg stating MWE “does hereby assign, acquit to John Zapata all of its

rights, claims, actions and causes of action” against Ball State “for good and valuable

consideration in the form of payment from John Zapata to the undersigned, the receipt and

sufficiency of which is acknowledged . . . .” Appellant’s Appendix at 127. In support of

Zapata’s response in opposition to Ball State’s motion to dismiss, Cederburg provided an

affidavit stating that MWE received over $5,000.00 in consideration of the assignment of a

claim valued at over $22,000.00. Id. at 92.

Although this evidence alone might otherwise establish a valid assignment, we must

also look at evidence regarding the relationship between Zapata and MWE. MWE and

Zapata share an address, telephone number, and fax number; Zapata was listed on the

“contact us” page of MWE’s website; Zapata signed the Bid Bond for the project as

“President” on behalf of MWE; Zapata submitted change orders on behalf of MWE during

the project; Zapata wrote or was copied on letters sent on behalf of MWE and received letters

3 Because we agree with the trial court with respect to the assignment, we do not reach the issue of whether the trial court correctly determined Zapata was not acting as a collection agency. Whether Zapata was acting on behalf of “Zapata Collection Service” or on behalf of MWE, both of which he claims in his complaint, he was improperly seeking money on behalf of another. We also note, however, that the actual

7 addressed to him as “Project Manager” during the project; and Zapata signed the “Certificate

of Substantial Completion” on behalf of MWE. See Appellee’s Appendix at 123-33;

Appellant’s App. at 158-64. Moreover, the complaint itself concludes, “MWE prays that this

Court will enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff [previously defined as ‘MWE and John Zapata

dba Zapata Collection Services collectively and jointly’] against Defendant in the amount of

$22,814.68 . . . .” Appellant’s App. at 14-15 (emphasis added). In short, the record supports

the trial court’s finding that Zapata and MWE are inextricably linked and that Zapata is

representing MWE’s corporate interests in this case and not his own individual interests. As

there was no bona fide assignment, MWE was required to appear in court by counsel and was

given a fair opportunity to do so. Having failed to avail itself of that opportunity, the

complaint was properly dismissed by the trial court.

Conclusion

The trial court’s finding that MWE was the real party in interest and, as a corporation,

was required to be represented by counsel in this lawsuit was not clearly erroneous.

Accordingly, the trial court did not err in dismissing the complaint when MWE failed to cure

the defect by hiring counsel. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

RILEY, J., and BRADFORD, J., concur.

“assignment” was from MWE to Zapata individually, not to Zapata Collection Service.