TIP Properties, L.L.C. v. Harrison

2008 OK CIV APP 100, 197 P.3d 520, 2008 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 76, 2008 WL 5122302
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedOctober 31, 2008
Docket105,015. Released for Publication by Order of the Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, Division No. 2
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2008 OK CIV APP 100 (TIP Properties, L.L.C. v. Harrison) 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
TIP Properties, L.L.C. v. Harrison, 2008 OK CIV APP 100, 197 P.3d 520, 2008 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 76, 2008 WL 5122302 (Okla. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

KEITH RAPP, Chief Judge:

1 The trial court defendants, Brent Harrison and Larryn Harrison, appeal an order granting the plaintiff, TIP Properties, L.L.C. (TIP), summary judgment in this tax deed quiet title action. None of the remaining defendants have participated in the appeal. This appeal proceeds under the accelerated appeal provisions of Okla. Sup.Ct. R. 1.86, 12 O.S. Supp.2007, ch. 15, app. 1.

BACKGROUND

12 The Harrisons are record owners as joint tenants with right of survivorship of two tracts of land in New Coweta, Wagoner County, Oklahoma. Their record title is evidenced by a recorded quitclaim deed, which contains a mailing address in Coweta, Oklahoma. The tracts were duly assessed for ad valorem taxes for the years 2008 and following. The Harrisons did not pay the taxes.

13 On October 4, 2004, the County Treasurer sold the tracts for delinquent taxes and, on October 12, 2004, TIP obtained County Treasurer's Certificates of Tax Sale for each tract and thereafter paid the ad valorem taxes through 2006. On October 5, 2006, TIP applied for tax deeds for the two tracts and other properties not involved in this matter. The County Treasurer issued the deeds, which TIP recorded.

¶4 TIP then filed this action to quiet title and moved for summary judgment. The Harrisons' answer asserted a counterclaim to quiet title in themselves. They alleged that they were not given proper notice of the Application for Tax Deeds for the two tracts. They also moved for summary judgment.

15 TIP's summary judgment materials consisted of the tax certificates, tax deeds, and Harrisons' lack of response to discovery. 1 The Harrisons' response and motion contained Brent Harrison's affidavit, their quitclaim deeds, and what was represented to be the Wagoner County Clerk's file. The latter consisted of the tax sale certificates, the notice of application for tax deed as published (covering the subject tracts and others), a money receipt from the Sheriff represented to be the fee for service of tax notices, an invoice for a tax lien report, certified mail receipts, 2 a Wagoner County Clerk's receipt for recording fees, tax deeds for the tracts, and three tax sale redemption receipts.

T6 The tax sale redemption receipts involve tracts other than those in this case. However, each was issued on July 12, 2006, to Steven B. Harrison on behalf of Steven B. *522 (or Steven Brent) Harrison and Larryn Sue Harrison. TIP was the tax certificate holder for two of the redemption receipts. Each redemption certificate listed the Harrisons' current mailing address.

T7 In his affidavit, Brent Harrison stated that neither he nor his wife, Larryn Harrison, were served with notice of the application for tax deed either by mail, by sheriff, or process server. The appellate record does not contain a sheriffs or process server's return of service nor any of the U.S. Postal Service "green card" receipts for certified mail. The affidavit states that Larryn Harrison is not listed in the Notice of Application for Tax Deed. The copies of that Notice contained in the appellate record do not list Larryn Harrison. The affidavit ends with the statement that the 272nd E. Ave, Coweta, Oklahoma address was the Harrisons' former residence and a current mailing address was provided. 3 The affidavit references redemption receipts for other properties redeemed by the Harrisons which contained their current address and had been a part of the County Treasurer's records since July 12, 2006.

18 The trial court sustained TIP's motion for summary judgment. Harrisons appeal.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

T9 The appellate standard of review in summary judgment is de novo. Kirkpatrick v. Chrysler Corp., 1996 OK 136, ¶ 2, 920 P.2d 122, 124. The evidentiary materials will be examined to determine what facts are material and whether there is a substantial controversy as to one material fact. Sperling v. Marler, 1998 OK 81, 963 P.2d 577; Malson v. Palmer Broadcasting Group, 1997 OK 42, 936 P.2d 940. All inferences and conclusions to be drawn from the materials must be viewed in a light most favorable to the non-moving party. Carmichael v. Beller, 1996 OK 48, 914 P.2d 1051. Even though the facts may not be controverted, if reasonable persons may draw different conclusions from these facts summary judgment must be denied. Bird v. Coleman, 1997 OK 44, 939 P.2d 1128. Summary judgment is proper only if the record reveals uncontroverted material facts failing to support any legitimate inference in favor of the nonmoving party. N.C. Corff Partnership, Ltd. v. OXY USA, Inc., 1996 OK CIV APP 92, 929 P.2d 288. When genuine issues of material fact exist summary judgment should be denied and the question becomes one for determination by the trier of fact. Brown v. Oklahoma State Bank & Trust Co. of Vinita, 1993 OK 117, 860 P.2d 280; Flowers v. Stanley, 1957 OK 237, 316 P.2d 840. Because the trial court has the limited role of determining whether there are any such issues of fact, it may not determine fact issues on a motion for summary judgment nor may it weigh the evidence. Stuckey v. Young Exploration Co., 1978 OK 128, ¶ 15, 586 P.2d 726, 730.

1 10 One who defends against a claim and who does not bear the burden of proof is not required to negate the plaintiff's claims or theories in order to prevail on a motion for summary judgment.

T11 The summary judgment motion must stand on its own materials If the movant has not addressed all material facts, or if one or more such facts is not supported by admissible evidence, judgment for the movant is not proper. Spirgis v. Circle K Stores, Inc., 1987 OK CIV APP 45, 743 P.2d 682.

ANALYSIS AND REVIEW

T12 The procedure for collection of delinquent ad valorem taxes is set out in Article 31 of the Oklahoma Tax Code. In this case, the issues arise during the last phase of the process when a tax deed issues at the request of the tax certificate holder. This part is governed by 68 O.S. Supp.2007, § 3118.

13 Here, TIP relies upon publication notice to the Harrisons. However, prior to resorting to publication, the seeker of a tax deed must notify the owner of the land of the right of redemption within sixty days. This notice must be served by sheriff, process server, or by restricted certified mail. TIP's *523 summary judgment materials do not show such service. The Harrisons response shows that restricted certified mail was not utilized and that no return of service (or nonservice) is of record from a sheriff or a process server.

T14 Section 3118(B) provides that the seeker of the tax deed must provide an affidavit before utilizing publication. The affidavit must express that the residence of the owner is not known and service cannot be obtained with diligence. TIP's summary judgment materials do not contain the affidavit. The Harrisons response purports to incorporate the entire file and the affidavit is not a part of the response. Last, it is undisputed that Larryn Harrison is not listed in the notice. She is a record owner of the property.

' 15 Compliance with Section 3118 is mandatory. Jones v. Buford, 1961 OK 20, ¶ 9, 359 P.2d 232, 234; Holt v.

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2008 OK CIV APP 100, 197 P.3d 520, 2008 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 76, 2008 WL 5122302, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tip-properties-llc-v-harrison-oklacivapp-2008.