Ray v. American National Bank & Trust Co. of Sapulpa

1997 OK CIV APP 66, 948 P.2d 1235, 68 O.B.A.J. 3683, 1997 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 67, 1997 WL 691417
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 28, 1997
DocketNo. 86794
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1997 OK CIV APP 66 (Ray v. American National Bank & Trust Co. of Sapulpa) 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.

Bluebook
Ray v. American National Bank & Trust Co. of Sapulpa, 1997 OK CIV APP 66, 948 P.2d 1235, 68 O.B.A.J. 3683, 1997 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 67, 1997 WL 691417 (Okla. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

GARRETT, Judge:

Appellant, Donna Ray, sued Appellee, The American National Bank & Trust of Sapulpa, Oklahoma (Bank), as Conservator for Glenn 0. Young, and Glenn 0. Young, for breach of employment contract, conversion of personal property, breach of contract for purchase of a horse, breach of warranty of title to a deed and wrongful eviction. After Young’s death on July 11, 1991, Ray substituted the Bank, who had been appointed Personal Representative for his Estate, as party defendant. The case went to trial in May, 1992, and the trial court sustained demurrers to Ray’s evidence and dismissed her petition in the district court ease which is the subject of this appeal, case number C-85-591 (the civil case). Ray appealed, see appeal number 80,-007. On July 19, 1994, the Supreme Court issued its opinion,1 affirming the trial court in part and reversing in part. The Supreme Court remanded two issues, i.e., breach of employment contract and conversion of personal property, to the trial court for a jury trial.

On March 1,1994, while the appeal in case number 80,007 was pending, an heir of Glenn 0. Young, David Young, filed a motion to strike Ray’s creditor’s claim in the probate ease, case number P 91-78. The probate court sustained the motion to strike.

On October 6, 1995, the two issues remanded to the trial court in the civil case were set for trial, to be held February 19, 1996. On October 27, 1995, Bank filed a motion to dismiss the civil case, alleging the striking of the claims in the probate case barred the claims in the civil case. The motion was granted on December 7, 1995. At that time, the trial court also overruled Ray’s request to amend her petition and her request for trial. Appellee then moved for judgment on its counter claims, which were dismissed. The court awarded Appellee attorney fees and costs. This appeal followed.

First, Ray contends the trial court erred in dismissing her petition based on the probate court’s order striking her creditor’s claim. She contends the order of the probate court is irrelevant to the civil action. Under 12 O.S.1991 § 1051, the cause of action survived the death of the decedent, and the personal representative of his estate was properly substituted under 12 O.S.1991 § 2025. Additionally, she contends 12 O.S.1991 § 1084 allows an estate to be substituted in a contract action.

On January 17, 1997, this Court sua sponte issued show cause orders to the parties with regard to whether Bank’s counter-petition in error should be dismissed for failure to serve Ray; and whether the filings from the probate case, filed in this appeal by David Young, a non-party to the instant appeal, should be stricken. Bank’s response to our January 17, 1997 order contains an affidavit from Bank’s attorney that, despite the absence of Ray’s name on its certificate of mailing, it was in fact mailed to Ray’s attorney. Ray did not file a response to this affidavit, and we conclude the counter-petition in error should be considered and shall proceed.

As to the documents from the probate ease, filed herein by David Young, we conclude they should be stricken. David Young is not a party; correct procedure to amend a record was not followed; and they are irrelevant to the issues to be decided in this appeal. Additionally, Ray’s motion to strike the Entry of Appearance of David Young, a purported real party in interest, is sustained, as he is not a party to the contro[1238]*1238versy in the instant appeal. The correct procedure to intervene was not followed. In addition,' David Young’s motion to dismiss Ray’s appeal is stricken.

As stated above, in case number 80,007, the Supreme Court directed the trial court to hold a jury trial on two issues. The threshold issue in this appeal, therefore, is whether the trial court had the authority, because of the dismissal of Ray’s claims in the probate court, to dismiss the claims the Supreme Court ordered the trial court to hear in the civil case. We hold that it does not.

Probate is statutory. The court’s power, jurisdiction and proceedings are prescribed and limited by statute. 58 O.S.1991 § 1 provides the district court has probate jurisdiction, and the judge thereof power, which must be exercised in the cases and in the manner prescribed by statute. Next, § 1 enumerates the probate jurisdiction and powers of the court. Unless a specific power or jurisdiction is given the probate court, it does not exist. Wilson v. Kane, 852 P.2d 717 (Okl.1993), Lowrance v. Patton, 710 P.2d 108 (Okl.1985), In the Matter of the Adoption of B.K.J., 639 P.2d 611 (Okl.1982), Bratton v. Owens, 794 P.2d 423 (Okl.App.1990) and Duke v. Nelson, 536 P.2d 412 (Okl.App.1975). The Oklahoma Supreme Court emphasized how the district court, on the other hand, is separate and distinct from the probate court in Lowrance v. Patton, 710 P.2d at 112:

While the District Court of Logan County had jurisdiction and venue over the probate ease, it is an entirely different question with regard to the separate and distinct action against appellants. Appellants were third-parties to the probate proceeding, and as this Court has recognized on several occasions, the probate jurisdiction of a Court does not extend to actions between an executor and third persons, except to the extent permitted in 58 O.S. 1981, §§ 292-295. Moreover, even under §§ 292-295, the probate court does not have the authority to adjudicate title to property or to compel its return, and a separate action must be brought.
As a separate and distinct action to recover property for the estate, the venue in the present case must be determined independently of the probate proceeding.... (Footnotes omitted).

Events occurring in Young’s probate case do not dictate the events in this district court case. A probate proceeding is not a suit or action of a civil nature which is cognizable as a ease at law or in equity. It is a special proceeding in rem, and is controlled by the probate code. See Wilson v. Kane, supra, Wolfe v. Graham, 185 Okl. 318, 90 P.2d 1067 (1938), and In the Matter of the Estate of Evelyn R. Daly, Deceased, 870 P.2d 795 (Okl.App.1994).

Moreover, in the prior appeal, the Supreme Court directed the trial court to hold a trial on two issues as to which the Bank’s demurrer to the evidence was sustained. However, the trial court disregarded the directions of the Supreme Court by dismissing the ease. This was error. The trial court has a duty to follow the directions of the Supreme Court on remand. See Stone v. Miracle, 196 Okl. 42, 162 P.2d 534 (1945). See also Grayson v. Stith, 192 Okl. 340, 138 P.2d 530 (1943); Davis v. Baum, 192 Okl. 85, 133 P.2d 889 (1941). Neither the probate court in the probate proceeding, the trial court in the civil case, nor this court in this appeal, may overrule the Supreme Court.

Ray also complains the trial court erroneously denied her application to amend her petition. Unless specifically limited by the proceedings in error or as to issues which become the settled-law-of-the-ease, when a cause is remanded, the parties are entitled to introduce additional evidence, supplement the pleadings, and expand the issues. Brumark Corp. v. Corporation Com’n, 924 P.2d 296 (Okl.App.1996), citing Parker v. Elam, 829 P.2d 677

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1997 OK CIV APP 66, 948 P.2d 1235, 68 O.B.A.J. 3683, 1997 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 67, 1997 WL 691417, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ray-v-american-national-bank-trust-co-of-sapulpa-oklacivapp-1997.