Square Deal Demolition, Inc. v. Doxie

74 Va. Cir. 441, 2008 Va. Cir. LEXIS 65
CourtNorfolk County Circuit Court
DecidedJanuary 10, 2008
DocketCase No. CL07-1203
StatusPublished

This text of 74 Va. Cir. 441 (Square Deal Demolition, Inc. v. Doxie) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Norfolk County Circuit Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Square Deal Demolition, Inc. v. Doxie, 74 Va. Cir. 441, 2008 Va. Cir. LEXIS 65 (Va. Super. Ct. 2008).

Opinion

By Judge John C. Morrison, Jr.

This case came before the Court for trial on the 8th day of November 2007 to determine ownership of 100 shares of stock in Square Deal Demolition, Inc. (hereinafter, “Square Deal”). At the conclusion of trial, the Court asked counsel each party to prepare written memoranda in support of their respective positions. I have reviewed the pleadings and the memoranda submitted by the parties and have considered the arguments presented by counsel for both parties. The following will set forth my ruling.

Background

The parties in this case are as follows. The Plaintiffs are Square Deal, the Estate of Aron Doxie, and three of his children, Teresa Hassell, Kenneth Doxie, and Thomas Doxie. The Defendants are Aron Doxie’s son Josephus Doxie (hereinafter, “Josephus Doxie” or “Defendant”) and Vanessa Joyner.

[442]*442Aron Doxie formed Square Deal in 1981. At that time, Aron Doxie retained 100 shares of stock in the corporation, and Norma Lee Lawrence received ten shares. Defendant, Vanessa Joyner, inherited Norma Lee Lawrence’s ten shares of stock; ownership of these shares are not at issue in this ruling. Both stockholders “were members of the board of directors and Aron Doxie was the President of the Corporation.” (Def.’s Br. 2.) Square Deal purchased property on “Gazel Street” in Norfolk, which was used to operate the company’s demolition business. Aron Doxie also allowed his son, Josephus Doxie, to operate his business, Tidewater Disposal Service, on the property. Eventually Josephus Doxie began living on the property. On December 31, 2003, the State Corporation Commission (hereinafter, “SCC”) terminated Square Deal’s status as a corporation due to its “failure to maintain a registered agent and office.” (Pls.’ Br. 2.)

On February 8, 2005, Josephus Doxie and Aron Doxie went to the offices of Ira Steingold, Esq., the prior registered agent for Square Deal. Id. at 3. At that meeting, Aron Doxie “signed the back of his certifícate for 100 shares of Square Deal Demolition” and transferred the stock to Josephus Doxie. At trial, Steingold testified “it was his impression that the transfer was being made in order to prepare Aron Doxie’s finances in the event of the need for nursing home care or assistance from Medicaid.” Id. at 3. Steingold testified that he prepared a document to recite the amount of consideration for the transfer and suggested that the Doxies “visit the accountant in order to determine the value.” Id. However, Josephus Doxie testified “he had no knowledge of the form or of the instruction, except the need to get the taxes straight.” (Def.’s Resp. Br. 2.)

On June 8, 2005, Aron Doxie executed his will, leaving all his property, business and personal, to his living children. Id. at 2-3. Plaintiffs allege that Aron Doxie “named his business at that time as ‘Square Deal’.” (Pis.’ Br. 4.) The Defendant argues there was no evidence presented at trial that Aron Doxie specifically stated that Square Deal was his business. (Def.’s Resp. Br. 3.) Furthermore, the Defendant claims that, although the Plaintiffs testified that Square Deal was his only business, the existence of other business property was brought out at trial. Id.

On October 13, 2005, Kenneth Doxie filed paperwork with the SCC “reinstating the corporation, and naming himself as ‘Interim’ President and CEO.” (Deft’s Br. 3.)

On January 3, 2006, Aron Doxie was declared incompetent, and, on April 28, 2006, Aron Doxie died. Id. Teresa Hassell, the executor of his estate, “paid bills for the clean up of the yard [and]... listed the Square Deal property for sale.” (Pls.’ Br. 4.) According to her testimony at trial, her brothers had [443]*443“full knowledge of these actions” and “Josephus made no complaint until the realtor appeared to place the sign on the property, at which time he began chaining the gate to the yard and would not admit his siblings or the realtors.” Id.

Thereafter, this suit was filed to determine ownership of Aron Doxie’s 100 shares in Square Deal. Plaintiffs assert that the transfer of stock from Aron Doxie to Josephus Doxie was not a valid transfer or gift; therefore, “the stock and company it represented remained the property and became an asset of the Estate of Aron Doxie.” Id. at 9-10. Defendants claim that the transfer was valid and the stock belongs to Josephus Doxie.

The Court’s opinion will address the following issues: (i) whether Aron Doxie’s transfer of stock on February 8, 2005, was valid; and, if so, (ii) whether the stock transfer was valid despite the terminated status of the corporation.

Analysis

1. Whether Aron Doxie’s Transfer of Stock on February 8, 2005, to Josephus Doxie Was Valid

The elements of an inter vivos gift are: “(1) The gift must be of personal property; (2) possession of the property must be delivered at the time of the gift to the donee or some other for him and the gift must be accepted by the donee; and (3) the title of the property must vest in the donee at the time of the gift.” Young v. Young, 240 Va. 57, 63, 393 S.E.2d 398, 401 (1990). Furthermore, “the gift is effective only if the donor has donative intent at the time of the gift and if there is ‘such actual or constructive delivery as divests the owner of all dominion and control over the property and invests it in the donee’.” Id. (quoting Taylor, Adm’x v. Smith, 199 Va. 871, 874, 102 S.E.2d 160, 162-63 (1958)).

The burden is upon the donee to establish the gift. Grace v. Virginia Trust Co., Adm’r, 150 Va. 56, 66, 142 S.E. 378, 381 (1928). In Grace, the Supreme Court held, “[rnjere motive ... will not establish a gift.... Whether or not a gift has been made is dependent upon facts and circumstances of a particular- case.” Id. Additionally, “if the donor is dead at the time the gift is asserted, the fact of the gift cannot be established by uncorroborated testimony of the donee.” Id. (citation omitted).

The Plaintiffs argue that Aron Doxie did not make a completed gift of his ownership of Square Deal, and, therefore, the Norfolk property remained his and passed to his Estate. Specifically, the Plaintiffs claim that the elements [444]*444of a gift are not met. The Defendants did not prove a “clear and unmistakable intention on the part of the donor to make a gift of the property.” (Pl.’s Br. 8.) There is no proof of delivery and acceptance because “the stock certifícate was not produced” and “no overt actions were taken to control the stock, business, or real property until following the death of Aron Doxie.” Id. at 8. There was no proof that Aron Doxie gave up control of the gift at the time it was made because he “stated his business as ‘Square Deal’ at the time of the making of his will and did not relinquish control of anything until his mental and physical health deteriorated ... in January 2006.” Id.

In support of their argument, the Plaintiffs cite various cases, including Grace and Swan v. Swan’s Ex’r. In Grace, the plaintiff claimed that the decedent had given her the key to a bank safe deposit box containing liberty bonds and stated “the liberty bonds in the box are yours.” 150 Va. at 62-63, 142 S.E. at 379-80.

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Related

Farmers & Merchants National Bank v. Commonwealth
192 S.E.2d 744 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1972)
Taylor v. Smith
102 S.E.2d 160 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1958)
Young v. Young
393 S.E.2d 398 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1990)
Thrasher v. Thrasher
172 S.E.2d 771 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1970)
In Re Wine Farms, Inc.
94 B.R. 410 (W.D. Virginia, 1988)
Swan v. Swan's
117 S.E. 858 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1923)
Grace v. Virginia Trust Co.
142 S.E. 378 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1928)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
74 Va. Cir. 441, 2008 Va. Cir. LEXIS 65, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/square-deal-demolition-inc-v-doxie-vaccnorfolk-2008.