Succession of Leone Ittmann Flake

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: November 30, 2022
• Docket: 22-CA-91
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

SUCCESSION OF LEONE ITTMANN FLAKE NO. 22-CA-91

FIFTH CIRCUIT

COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 805-656, DIVISION "I" HONORABLE NANCY A. MILLER, JUDGE PRESIDING

November 30, 2022

HANS J. LILJEBERG JUDGE

Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy, Stephen J. Windhorst, and Hans J. Liljeberg

MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL GRANTED; REMANDED HJL SMC SJW PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT, CURATOR AND HEIR A. MARK FLAKE, SR. Alan Mark Flake, Sr.

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, DIANA FLAKE BAKER Justin E. Molaison Harold E. Molaison

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, WENDY FLAKE DEBRAM Jack A. Tittle, Jr. LILJEBERG, J.

The executor of this succession, who is also a legatee and heir, seeks review

of the trial court’s August 16, 2021 judgment, upholding the validity of a legacy,

denying his Supplemental and Amending Petition, and granting a Petition for

Possession. Another legatee and heir has filed a Motion to Dismiss the Appeal.

Finding that the judgment is not a final, appealable judgment, we grant the Motion

to Dismiss Appeal and remand for further proceedings.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Leone Ittmann Flake (“Ms. Flake”) was born on January 12, 1938, and

passed away on March 16, 2020. On April 8, 2020, the decedent’s son, Alan Mark

Flake (“Alan”), filed a Petition to Appoint Independent Administrator, seeking to

probate Ms. Flake’s notarial will, executed on September 7, 2019, leaving all of

her property to her three children, Diana Flake Baker (“Diana”), Alan, and Wendy

Flake DeBram (“Wendy”).1 The testament provides that full ownership of the

property at 433 Greenmount shall be given to Wendy, full ownership of the

property at 3713 Wanda Lynn Drive shall be given to Alan, and the percentage of

ownership of 3701 Wanda Lynn Drive, valued in the amount of the combined

appraised values of 433 Greenmount Drive and 3713 Wanda Lynn Drive, shall be

given to Diana.

Believing that her interest in 3701 Wanda Lynn exceeded the value of the

property at 433 Greenmount and 3713 Wanda Lynn, Ms. Flake indicated in her

testament that Diana would receive one-third of the remaining value of Ms. Flake’s

interest in 3701 Wanda Lynn Drive, Wendy would receive the percentage of

ownership of 3701 Wanda Lynn representing one-third of the value exceeding the

appraised value of 433 Greenmount, and Alan would receive the percentage of

1 Although the testament indicates that Ms. Flake bequeathed her entire estate to her three children, it also provides that the first $20,000 of Diana’s share of the remaining funds after bills are paid shall be given to Diana’s son, James Michael Baker.

22-CA-91 1 ownership of 3701 Wanda Lynn representing one-third of the value exceeding the

appraised value of 3713 Wanda Lynn. The testament further provides for the

distribution of other assets, including immovable and movable property.

The trial court signed an Order on August 5, 2020, providing that the

September 7, 2019 testament be probated and appointing Alan as the testamentary

executor of Ms. Flake’s estate. Alan filed a Supplemental and Amended

Descriptive List of Assets and a First Tableau of Distribution on November 12,

2020. On November 20, 2020, Alan and Wendy filed a Petition for Partial

Possession, seeking to have the legatees placed into possession of the estate’s

immovable property only.

On December 14, 2020, Diana filed an Opposition to Petition for Partial

Possession and a Petition to Annul Probated Notarial Testament, alleging that the

September 7, 2019 testament was the product of undue influence on Ms. Flake by

Alan and challenging the testamentary capacity of Ms. Flake at the time she

executed it. She also asserted that a prior testament executed by Ms. Flake on

March 3, 2019, should be granted the full effect of probate, and she noted that this

testament provided for “an even one-third split” of all of Ms. Flake’s immovable

property. The trial court signed a written judgment dismissing Diana’s Petition to

Annul Probated Testament, with prejudice, on April 1, 2021.

On April 5, 2021, Diana filed a Petition for Possession, requesting that the

legatees and heirs be placed into possession of all of the assets of the estate in

accordance with Ms. Flake’s September 7, 2019 testament. Thereafter, on April

22, 2021, Mr. Flake filed a Second Tableau of Distribution, and Diana filed an

opposition thereto on April 30, 2021. On June 15, 2021, the trial court signed an

Order requiring Alan to file a Final Tableau of Distribution by July 6, 2021.

On July 6, 2021, Alan filed a Third and Final Tableau of Distribution, and

on July 7, 2021, Alan filed a Supplemental and Amending Petition for Possession.

22-CA-91 2 In his Supplemental and Amending Petition, Alan stated that Ms. Flake mistakenly

believed that the values of her properties at 433 Greenmount and 3713 Wanda

Lynn were lower than her interest in 3701 Wanda Lynn, and she expressed her

desire to provide an equal value of distributions by adjusting the ownership of

3701 Wanda Lynn. Alan asserted that the appraisal of 433 Greenmount was

actually substantially higher than the appraisals of 3713 Wanda Lynn and Ms.

Flake’s interest in 3701 Wanda Lynn, so each of the parties should be awarded a

percentage of ownership of the Greenmount property in order to effectuate an

equal value of distributions.2

On July 19, 2021, Wendy filed an “Opposition to Supplemental and

Amended Petition, a Motion to Traverse Supplemental and Amended Descriptive

List of Assets, and Motion for Declaratory Judgment.” In her pleading, she sought

a declaration that the special bequest to her of full ownership of 633 [sic]

Greenmount Drive is valid. She stated that she obtained an appraisal of the

Greenmount property that was approximately $100,000 less than the appraisal

obtained by Alan and, regardless, the clear language of the testament bequeathing

full ownership of the Greenmount property to her should be recognized and

upheld.

On July 21, 2021, Diana filed an “Opposition to Petition Filing Third and

Final Tableau of Distribution, Opposition to Supplemental and Amending Petition

for Possession and Supplemental Opposition to Petition Filing Second Tableau of

Distribution.” In her pleading, Diana asserted that Alan failed to file a Final

Tableau of Distribution, noting that he indicated in his Third and Final Tableau of

Distribution that the final accounting would need to be supplemented with

additional administrative expenses incurred after its filing. She also argued that

2 Alan indicated that the appraised value of the Greenmount Drive property was $265,000, 3713 Wanda Lynn was $190,000, and Ms. Flake’s one-half interest in 3701 Wanda Lynn was $185,000.

22-CA-91 3 Alan is not entitled to a 2.5% executor’s fee because he has continued to act in his

own interest and against the interest of the other legatees.

On August 13, 2021, the following came for hearing before the trial court:

the Petition for Partial Possession filed by Alan and Wendy; the Petition for

Possession filed by Diana; the objections to the Second and Third Tableaus of

Distribution filed by Alan; the Supplemental and Amending Petition for Possession

filed by Alan; and the Rule to Traverse Supplemental Detailed Descriptive List and

Motion for Declaratory Judgment filed by Wendy. After hearing testimony from

Alan and arguments from counsel for each party, the trial court took a brief recess

and then returned with its ruling. The trial court ordered the second and third

tableaus of distribution homologated and overruled the objections thereto. The

trial court further ordered that any attorney fees and costs associated with the

distribution and expenses of the succession that were not included in the three

tableaus of distribution were to be borne by Alan, not the estate. The trial court

ruled that Alan’s Supplemental and Amending Petition for Possession was denied,

and that Wendy’s opposition to this pleading and Motion for Declaratory Judgment

were granted, upholding the validity of the legacy as to the Greenmount property.

The trial court further provided that it was “ordering” the Petition for Possession

filed by Wendy and “placing the heirs into possession of the properties as listed in

the supplemental and amending descriptive list filed on November 12, 2020.” The

court further noted that it was a “partial possession” since there were other small

items.

Thereafter, on August 16, 2021, the trial court signed a written judgment,

ordering Alan’s Second and Third and Final Tableaus of Distribution to be

homologated and the objections thereto overruled, with any attorney fees and costs

associated with distributions and expenses not included in the homologated

tableaus to be borne by Alan; denying Alan’s Supplemental and Amending Petition

22-CA-91 4 for Possession and ordering any costs and fees associated with its filing to be borne

by Alan; granting Wendy’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment and upholding the

validity of the legacy of the Greenmount Drive property as written; and granting

the Petition for Possession filed by Diana, placing the heirs into possession of the

property as listed in the Supplemental and Amended Descriptive List filed on

November 12, 2020. On October 12, 2021, Alan filed a Motion for Devolutive

Appeal, which was granted on October 14, 2021.

LAW AND DISCUSSION

On April 28, 2022, Diana filed a Motion to Dismiss Appeal in this Court,

arguing that the appeal is untimely pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 3308, which

provides that only a suspensive appeal shall be allowed from a judgment

homologating a tableau of distribution. Diana further argues that the remaining

portions of the judgment are interlocutory, so there is no final and appealable

judgment in this matter and thus, no appellate jurisdiction.

Alan filed a memorandum in opposition to the Motion to Dismiss Appeal,

asserting that the portions of the judgment homologating the tableaus of

distribution were not adverse to him and thus, they were not the intended subject of

the appeal. He further argues that La. C.C.P. art. 1871 provides that a declaratory

judgment shall have the force and effect of a final judgment.

A valid judgment must be precise, definite, and certain. Input/Output

Marine Systems, Inc. v. Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc., 10-477 (La. App. 5

Cir. 10/29/10), 52 So.3d 909, 915; Dieudonne Enterprises, Inc. v. Slade, 18-375

(La. App. 5 Cir. 12/27/18), 263 So.3d 1214, 1217. This Court cannot determine

the merits of an appeal unless our jurisdiction is properly invoked by a valid, final

judgment. Jackson v. Usey, 20-402 (La. App. 5 Cir. 2/10/21), 315 So.3d 377, 378;

Input/Output Marine Systems, Inc., 52 So.3d at 915.

22-CA-91 5 A judgment that determines the merits in whole or in part is a final

judgment. La. C.C.P. art. 1841. An interlocutory judgment does not determine the

merits, but only preliminary matters in the course of an action. La. C.C.P. art.

1841. La. C.C.P. art. 1915(B) provides that when a court renders a partial

judgment as to one or more but less than all of the claims, demands, issues, or

theories against a party, the judgment shall not constitute a final judgment unless it

is designated as a final judgment by the court after an express determination that

there is no just reason for delay.

The August 16, 2021 judgment is unclear as to whether it pertains to all of

the succession property or just the immovable property. The written judgment

indicates that Diana’s Petition for Possession is granted “placing the heirs into

possession of the property as listed in the Supplemental and Amended Descriptive

List filed on November 12, 2020.” It does not specify what property is included.

Further, at the hearing on August 13, 2021, the trial court stated:

And the Court is ordering the petitions for possession filed by Wendy and placing the heirs into possession of the properties as listed in the supplemental and amending descriptive list filed on November 12, 2020. That should conclude the succession. And I guess that would be a partial possession because there are other small items.

(Emphasis added.)

When counsel for Diana asked “for clarification purposes” if the trial court

was “talking about the original petition for possession filed with both--,” the trial

court responded:

The supplemental and amended descriptive list---filed on November 12th. Full ownership of 433 Greenmount to Wendy, full ownership of Wanda Lynn, 3717, I’m sorry, 3713 to Mr. Flake and percentage of ownership of 3701 to Diana.

The only Petition for Possession filed by Wendy was the Petition for Partial

Possession filed by Alan and Wendy on November 20, 2020, seeking to have the

22-CA-91 6 legatees placed into possession of the estate’s immovable property only. The trial

court’s statements at the hearing indicate that its ruling was limited to the

immovable property, as set forth in Alan and Wendy’s Petition for Partial

Possession.

We acknowledge that a trial judge may render a written judgment that

differs in substance from her oral statements and that the written judgment is the

only ruling from which an appeal may be taken. See Richard v. Bourgeois, 19-494

(La. App. 5 Cir. 3/18/20), 293 So.3d 790, 793. However, in this case, the written

judgment is unclear as to whether it applies to all of the decedent’s property or just

the immovable property, as it does not specifically set forth the property at issue.

In Succession of O’Krepki, 17-130 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/25/17), 229 So.3d

647, this Court dismissed the appeal of a Partial Judgment of Possession placing a

legatee in possession of four legacies, where there remained outstanding contested

issues in the case. This Court noted that the judgment was a partial judgment as to

less than all of the issues and that it was not certified as final under La. C.C.P. art.

1915. Therefore, this Court found that it lacked appellate jurisdiction to address

the merits of the appeal. Id. at 649.

Considering that the August 16, 2021 judgment does not reflect that it

pertains to all of the decedent’s property, and the judgment was not designated as a

partial, final, and appealable judgment under La. C.C.P. art. 1915(B), we find that

it is not a final judgment and this Court lacks appellate jurisdiction to address the

merits of the appeal.

Although Alan claims that the trial court’s ruling upholding the validity of

the Greenmount Drive bequest to Wendy is a declaratory judgment that is final and

appealable under La. C.C.P. art. 1871, we disagree. This Court has previously

found that a declaratory judgment rendered by the trial court during the course of

an ongoing suit was not immediately appealable, where the trial court failed to

22-CA-91 7 designate that partial judgment as final, as required by La. C.C.P. art. 1915(B).

Ehlenberger v. Guardian Medical Group, L.L.C., 19-446 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/29/20),

298 So.3d 375, 379; Hodgins v. Hodgins, 98-1009 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1/26/99), 726

So.2d 466, 468.

Finding that this Court lacks jurisdiction to address the merits of this appeal,

we grant the Motion to Dismiss Appeal and remand to the trial court for further

proceedings.

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, we dismiss this appeal, without prejudice, and

remand for further proceedings.

MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL GRANTED; REMANDED

22-CA-91 8 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER INTERIM CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

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NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY NOVEMBER 30, 2022 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

22-CA-91 E-NOTIFIED 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK) HONORABLE NANCY A. MILLER (DISTRICT JUDGE) ALAN MARK FLAKE, SR. (APPELLANT) STEPHEN C. JUAN (APPELLANT) HAROLD E. MOLAISON (APPELLEE) JUSTIN E. MOLAISON (APPELLEE) JACK A. TITTLE, JR. (APPELLEE)

MAILED DARRYL T. LANDWEHR (APPELLANT) ATTORNEY AT LAW 650 POYDRAS STREET SUITE 2519 NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130