Saacks v. Saacks

708 So. 2d 1077, 1998 La. App. LEXIS 97, 1998 WL 44987
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 27, 1998
DocketNo. 97-CA-570
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 708 So. 2d 1077 (Saacks v. Saacks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Saacks v. Saacks, 708 So. 2d 1077, 1998 La. App. LEXIS 97, 1998 WL 44987 (La. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

CANNELLA, Judge.

In this community property partition case, defendant, Marilyn A Saacks (Mrs. Saacks), appeals from a judgment classifying assets of the parties. We affirm in part, amend in part and affirm as amended.

[1078]*1078Plaintiff, Antoine M. Saacks, Jr. (Mr. Saacks), filed a petition for divorce on September 8,1993. They were divorced on June 13, 1994. Mr. Saacks subsequently filed a petition for partition of the community property and an accounting. Following that petition, he alleged that a partition was improper since Mrs. Saacks was married prior to her marriage with him and had never been divorced. On January 8, 1996 the trial judge entered a judgment declaring that Mrs. Saacks contracted her marriage with Mr. Saacks in good faith and was entitled to the civil effects of a putative marriage. Mr. Saacks appealed that judgment. The judgment was affirmed by this court in Saacks v. Saacks, 96-736 (La.App.5th Cir. 1/28/97) 688 So.2d 673. Trial proceeded on the partition and | .^accounting. The trial judge granted a judgment of partition on January 26, 1996. On February 6, 1996 both parties filed a partial motion for new trial. On March 28, 1996 the trial judge amended the judgment in part.

On appeal, Mrs. Saacks first argues that the trial judge erred in awarding her only 25% of the United Gaming, Inc. settlement funds, rather than 50% due her under the community. Second, she argues that the trial judge erred in refusing to declare two pieces of property to be community property. The properties are located in New Orleans, Louisiana on West Robert E. Lee Boulevard and at 800-808 Baronne Street and 834-36 Julia Street. Third, Mrs. Saacks asserts that the trial judge erred in requiring her to account for all of the community assets in her possession, while not requiring Mr. Saaeks to do so. Fourth, she contends that the trial judge erred in declaring Mr. Saacks’ gun collection to be his separate property.

We note at the outset that Mr. Saaeks has neither answered the appeal nor filed a cross appeal. Nevertheless, Mr. Saacks raises specifications of error in his brief and requests this court to consider these pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 2133(B)1 and Barr v. Smith, 598 So.2d 438, 443 n. 2 (La.App. 2nd Cir.1992) on the basis that no modification of the judgment would result. He argues that if this court finds reversible error, as asserted by Mrs. Saacks, it should offset that error with those errors alleged by him. The errors alleged by Mr. Saacks, should |4these have merit, would result in a modification of the judgment before us, the effect of which would be a different distribution of the property than that which is contained in the judgment. However, he argues that this court should take notice that the parties have now liquidated these assets and, as such the liquidation has resulted in a “balance sheet.” Thus, he asserts that the judgment before this court should be affirmed by allowing the alleged errors raised by him to offset any alleged errors raised by Mrs. Saacks. We disagree with such an analysis and find Matthews v. Consolidated Companies, Inc., 95-1925 (La.12/8/95) 664 So.2d 1191, 1192, rehearing denied, 95-1925 (La.1/26/96) 666 So.2d 662 dispositive. The Matthews court explained:

While a defendant who has not appealed or answered the appeal and who did not seek modification, revision or reversal of that judgment may assert in support of that judgment any argument supported by the record under La. C.C.P. art. 2133, he may not obtain a modification of the judgment [1079]*1079without appealing or answering the appeal [emphasis added.]

In the instant ease, Mr. Saaeks does not merely raise an “argument” supported by the record, but instead argues for a different apportionment of the'assets. La. C.C.P. art. 2133; Matthews v. Consolidated Companies, Inc., 664 So.2d at 1192. Should this court find merit in the alleged errors raised by him, the effect would be a modification of the partition judgment. This court has no jurisdiction to receive new evidence in the form of the alleged liquidation of the assets and “balance sheet.” Phillips v. Space Master Intern., Inc., 96-877 (La.App. 5th Cir. 5/14/97) 696 So.2d 64, 68. Furthermore, whether the property has been liquidated is a fact that is not in the record. We cannot consider matters not in the record before us.

SETTLEMENT PROCEEDS

Mrs. Saaeks contends that the trial judge erred by awarding her 25% of settlement funds "which Mr. Saaeks received from United Gaming, Inc., instead of the 50% share to which she is entitled. She argues that the settlement was to |5compensate Mr. Saaeks for work which he did preparing the way for United Gaming, Inc. to enter the gaming market in Louisiana and to assist in the legislative passage of gaming laws in Louisiana. The settlement amount was for $325,000.

In making his determination, the trial judge stated:

IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that fifty (50%) per cent of the proceeds from the United Gaming, Inc. settlement signed on August 20, 1993 is a community asset. This ruling is based on testimony and evidence indicating that Antoine Saaeks first began a relationship with United Gaming, Inc. in the 1990’s, a relationship in which Marilyn Saaeks participated. It was also determined that a portion of the settlement included consideration for introduction and contacts provided by Antoine Saaeks during the existence of the community.

Defendant argues that the entire settlement is community property which should have been partitioned equally. She testified that the $325,000 was a settlement resulting from Mr. Saack’s lobbying efforts during the existence of the community. She testified that Mr. Saaeks admitted in a press release to having worked “thousands of hours for United Gaming” for three years during the marriage.

Mr. Saaeks testified that he received $325,-000 from United Gaming, Inc., but denied that the settlement included past wages. He contends that the settlement was for a breach of a contract for security services, which were to be provided by him to United Gaming, Inc. over a 15 year period. He was unable to produce a copy of this agreement, which he claimed he did not sign when it was reduced to writing, because United Gaming, Inc. changed the terms.

The transcript of the Civil Service Commission proceeding involving Mr. Saaeks’ efforts to be reinstated as a police officer,2 dated February 10,1995, was introduced into evidence. Carol Carter (Carter) testified via telephone from RLas Vegas, Nevada. She was a consultant for United Gaming, Inc. from 1989 to 1991. In 1991 she became the vice-president of administration for the company. In August or September of 1991, she became the President and Chief Operating Officer of United Gaming, Inc. In July of 1993, she left the company as President but continued doing consulting work for them. Mr.-Saaeks was introduced to the company when she was vice-president and was present at meetings concerning the potential gaming opportunities in Louisiana. When she was president, Carter met with Mr. Saaeks to discuss gaming opportunities in Louisiana.

In the early part of 1992, an application for licensing was filed with the Louisiana State Police indicating the partners in the Louisiana gaming venture. The papers were filed by Louisiana Ventures, Inc., a subsidiary of United Gaming, Inc. Carter testified that Mr.

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708 So. 2d 1077, 1998 La. App. LEXIS 97, 1998 WL 44987, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/saacks-v-saacks-lactapp-1998.