FILED JUNE 14, 2016 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division Ill
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE
WILL T. PAYNE, ) ) No. 33537-2-111 Appellant, ) ) v. ) ) JOHN "STACY" and SHARIE KAY ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION RUEGSEGGER, ) ) Respondents. )
FEARING, C.J. - The trial court dismissed on summary judgment plaintiff Will
Payne's suit against John and Sharie Ruegsegger for moneys owed under a real estate
contract on the basis that the agreement was not enforceable. The trial court also refused
to entertain Payne's claims for equitable estoppel, unjust enrichment, and constructive
trust because Payne failed to plead these equitable theories. Will Payne appeals. We
affirm. No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
FACTS
On March 5, 2003, the State of Alaska sold, on contract, Alaska real property to
Lisa and Woodrow Allen. On December 27, 2007, Lisa and Woodrow Allen assigned
their purchasers' interest in the real estate contract to Will Payne, a Spokane jewel dealer.
That same year, a mutual friend introduced Payne to John Ruegsegger. Payne mentored
Ruegsegger in gem trading, and Ruegsegger purchased gemstones from Payne as
investments. The two gentleman began a friendship.
In January 2008, Will Payne approached John Ruegsegger and the latter's wife,
Sharie, about purchasing Alaska real property. Payne declared that he owned land lots in
Alaska and offered to sell a lot to John Ruegsegger for an investment. The two discussed
a sale several times. Payne showed Ruegsegger a hand-drawn map and described the
property as enjoying an ocean view and an access road connecting the lot to the county
road.
On February 5, 2008, Will Payne, as seller, and John and Sharie Ruegsegger, as
buyers, signed a single-page document designed for use as an addendum to a real estate
purchase agreement. The document read:
ADDENDUM to that Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement dated February 5th, 2008 between Will T. Payne hereinafter known as the Seller, and J. Stacy and Sharie Ruegsegger hereinafter known as the Purchaser of the property commonly known as Whale Passage, Alaska and legally described as: Lot 9-B, B Portion oflot 9, Block 13, ALS 2000-26 as shown on Plat No. 2000-20 Petersburg Recording district Alaska situated in the County of Petersburg District, State of Alaska
2 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
SAID AGREEMENT is hereby amended to read as follows: The following purchase is agreed upon between seller and buyer as above in the amount of $60,000.00 with 12,000.00 down (check) and a balance of $48,000.00 to be paid in certified fund at 9% for 15 years to be carried by seller per promissory note attached. The property is sold as is including power at property line as shown in addendum A ALL OTHER terms and conditions of said Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement shall remain the same. THE ABOVE has been read and is agreed to by the undersigned this: 5th day of February 2008 5th day of February 2008 J Stacy Ruegsegger Will T. Payne Feb. 5, 2008 Purchaser Seller Sharie Ruegsegger Purchaser Seller
Clerk's Papers (CP) at 7 (handwritten portions are underlined).
Although the one-page document claims to modify a real estate purchase and sale
agreement, no prior agreement existed. The parties also never executed the promissory
note referenced in the document. The document mentioned an addendum A, but neither
party, during litigation, produced an addendum to the document. Will Payne claims
addendum A was a simple map and legal description of the property.
John and Sharie Ruegsegger paid Will Payne $12,000 as down payment for the
purchase of the Alaska property. Thereafter, the Ruegseggers, nearly each month and
usually in the sum of $500, periodically forwarded partial payments to Payne, and he
sometimes provided handwritten receipts for the payments. The Ruegseggers aver that
they paid $39,286.85 to Payne and that he never provided receipts for many of the
3 No. 33537-2-III Payne v. Ruegsegger
payments. Payne contends the Ruegseggers owe a balance of $38,000.00, a figure
suggesting the Ruegseggers paid a lesser sum.
On December 29, 2008, Will Payne recorded a deed showing the State of Alaska
granted him ownership of the Alaska land. On May 11, 2009, Payne executed a statutory
warranty deed transferring title of the Alaska property to the Ruegseggers. John and
Sharie Ruegsegger discontinued paying Will Payne on the real estate contract after
October 2012. Payne spoke with John Ruegsegger numerous times about the
Ruegseggers' failure to pay, and, on April 10, 2014, Payne sent them a formal
notification and request for payment.
PROCEDURE
Will Payne sued John and Sharie Ruegsegger. The complaint, captioned
Complaint for Money Owed, contains sections titled jurisdiction, events, damages, and
prayer for relief. The complaint does not list causes of action, but alleges that the
Ruegseggers owe $38,000 plus prejudgment interest. Payne's prayer for relief requested:
1. That judgment be entered against the Defendants individually and any marital community if applicable in the principal amount of $38,000.00 with prejudgment interest to the date of entry of judgment; 2. That the court award attorney fees and costs as permitted by law or contract; 3. For judgment for such other and further relief as the courts deems [sic] just and proper.
CP at 5.
John and Sharie Ruegsegger answered the complaint and raised affirmative
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defenses, including failure to state a claim, lack of subject matter jurisdiction, improper
venue, waiver, estoppel, unclean hands, material breach, failure to mitigate, statute of
frauds, consumer protection violations, lack of consideration, lack of essential terms,
accord and satisfaction, and fraud. The Ruegseggers also asserted counterclaims for
violations of the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW, constructive fraud, and
unjust enrichment.
John and Sharie Ruegsegger moved for summary judgment. With the motion, the
couple argued that the one-page sale document is unenforceable because it lacks essential
elements of a contract to sell real estate, the terms of the document show no meeting of
the minds, and Will Payne's claim is not ripe because the contract contains no
acceleration clause. The Ruegseggers sought attorney fees under RCW 4.84.185 for
defending against Payne's frivolous claims. They also filed a supplemental
memorandum to support an award of fees, in which memorandum they argued that Payne
knew he could not sell the land because it violated an Alaska statute. On response to the
Ruegseggers' summary judgment motion, Will Payne argued that the agreement was
enforceable. Payne also sought relief on the grounds of equitable estoppel, unjust
enrichment, unclean hands, and a constructive trust. Will Payne cross-moved for
summary judgment.
The trial court granted John and Sharie Ruegsegger' s motion for summary
judgment and denied Will Payne's cross motion for summary judgment. The trial court
5 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
reasoned that the sale document failed to include the essential elements of an enforceable
real estate contract, the parties entered no contract because of a lack of a meeting of the
minds, and the document, having no acceleration clause, did not require the Ruegseggers
to make payments until 2023. Will Payne asked the trial court to reconsider its ruling and
to grant him a remedy under the theories of equitable estoppel, unjust enrichment, and
constructive trust. The trial court denied the request for reconsideration on the basis that
Will Payne asserted no equitable claims in the complaint. The trial court granted the
Ruegseggers' request for voluntary dismissal of their counterclaims without prejudice.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
On appeal, Will Payne asks this court to reverse the summary judgment granted to
John and Sharie Ruegsegger. This court reviews a trial court order granting summary
judgment de novo. Briggs v. Nova Servs., 166 Wn.2d 794,801,213 P.3d 910 (2009).
Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a
judgment as a matter oflaw. CR 56(c). A material fact is one on which the outcome of
the litigation depends in whole or in part. Ranger Ins. Co. v. Pierce County, 164 Wn.2d
545,552, 192 P.3d 886 (2008); Morris v. McNicol, 83 Wn.2d 491,494,519 P.2d 7
(1974). In a summary judgment motion, the burden is on the moving party to
demonstrate that there is no genuine issue as to a material fact and that, as a matter of
6 No. 33537-2-III Payne v. Ruegsegger
law, summary judgment is proper. Hartley v. State, 103 Wn.2d 768, 774, 698 P.2d 77
( 1985). This court construes all facts and reasonable inferences in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. Barber v. Bankers Life & Cas. Co., 81 Wn.2d 140,
142, 500 P.2d 88 (1972); Wilson v. Steinbach, 98 Wn.2d 434,437, 656 P.2d 1030 (1982).
Although the subject of the lawsuit is a real estate contract for land in the State of
Alaska, this court possesses jurisdiction over the subject matter. "[A ]ctions involving
personal interests in property, as opposed to actions adjudicating legal title to real
property, need not be adjudicated in the state where the real property is located."
One West Bank, FSB v. Erickson, 185 Wn.2d 43, 60,367 P.3d 1063 (2016); see Silver
Surprize, Inc. v. Sunshine Mining Co., 74 Wn.2d 519,525,445 P.2d 334 (1968). When
the action aims at the personal relations of parties in connection with a contract for sale of
property beyond the jurisdiction, courts may afford relief. Smith v. Fletcher, 102 Wash.
218, 220, 173 P. 19 ( 1918). This court has subject matter jurisdiction in this case because
the action determines the legal effect of the addendum agreement and its effects on Will
Payne and the Ruegseggers' respective interests. Will Payne sought a money judgment,
not relief concerning title to land.
One might expect Alaska law to control rights possessed under a contract to sell
Alaska real property. Nevertheless, neither party forwards Alaska law nor seeks
application of the Frontier State's jurisprudence. CR 9(k)(l) reads:
(k) Foreign Law.
7 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
( 1) United States Jurisdictions. A party who intends to raise an issue concerning the law of a state, territory, or other jurisdiction of the United States shall set forth in the party's pleading facts which show that the law of another United States jurisdiction may be applicable, or shall state in the party's pleading or serve other reasonable written notice that the law of another United States jurisdiction may be relied upon.
Even in civil cases when a foreign law is an essential element to the cause of action or
defense, it must be pled and proved like any other fact. State v. Collins, 69 Wash. 268,
273, 124 P. 903 (1912). Therefore, we rely solely on Washington law.
Essential Terms of Real Estate Sale Agreement
The trial court ruled that the contract between Will Payne, as seller, and John and
Sharie Ruegsegger, as purchasers, was unenforceable for two reasons: the written
document omits essential terms for a real estate contract and the parties never reached a
meeting of the minds. The trial court ruled that Payne could not enforce the contract in
the immediate future for a third reason: the contract contained no date for payments. We
agree with the trial court that the contract lacked essential terms, and, therefore, we do
not address either of the two alternative grounds for summary judgment.
A contract for the transfer of real property requires mutual assent as to all material
terms or it is unenforceable. Sea-Van lnvs. Assocs. v. Hamilton, 125 Wn.2d 120, 129,
881 P.2d 1035 (1994). Washington recognizes certain terms material to real property
contracts:
(a) time and manner for transferring title; (b) procedure for declaring forfeiture; (c) allocation of risk with respect to damage or destruction; (d)
8 No. 33537-2-III Payne v. Ruegsegger
insurance provisions; (e) responsibility for: (i) taxes, (ii) repairs, and (iii) water and utilities; (f) restrictions, if any, on: (i) capital improvements, (ii) liens, (iii) removal or replacement of personal property, and (iv) types of use; (g) time and place for monthly payments; and (h) indemnification prov1s1ons.
Kruse v. Hemp, 121 Wn.2d 715, 722, 853 P.2d 1373 (1993) (citing Hubbell v. Ward, 40
Wn.2d 779, 782-83, 246 P.2d 468 (1952)).
A controlling decision is Hubbell v. Ward, 40 Wn.2d 779 (1952). In Hubbell, the
plaintiff sought specific performance of an earnest money agreement for the sale of real
property. The agreement provided:
Total purchase price is Twenty-Nine Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($29.000.00), payable as follows: On evidence of merchantable title purchaser agrees to pay Nine Thousand ($9,000.00) Dollars down and sign a contract for the balance, payable at $200.00 or more per month, including interest at the rate of 5% on deferred balances. Purchase price is to include all furniture in rentals, excluding owner's apartment, also to include necessary tools and equipment, furnace parts and insulation to maintain premises. Owner shall furnish complete inventory of furnishings for buyer's inspection and approval before closing of sale.
Hubbell v. Ward, 40 Wn.2d at 780 (internal quotation marks omitted). After a bench
trial, the trial court ordered the defendant "to enter into a real estate contract according to
the terms of said earnest money receipt and agreement." Hubbell v. Ward, 40 Wn.2d at
780-81 (internal quotation marks omitted). The state Supreme Court reversed. The high
court ruled that the original agreement lacked certainty because the agreement anticipated
the preparation and execution of a future real estate purchase contract on which the minds
9 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
of the parties had not approved. Neither the agreement nor the trial court's decree
provided the provisions that a real estate contract should contain. Therefore, the court
refused specific enforcement of the contract. The court identified the thirteen subjects,
listed above, to include in a real estate contract.
The agreement between Will Payne and John and Sharie Ruegsegger lacks many
material terms. The singular page document omits the method of payment of principal or
interest, payment of taxes, property insurance, liens on the property, payment for water or
utilities, possession, escrow deposit, or even conveyance by deed.
Will Payne distinguishes Hubbell v. Ward because Rudd Hubbell sought specific
performance, not money damages. In support of this argument, Payne advances Hedges
v. Hurd, 47 Wn.2d 683, 289 P.2d 706 (1955). In Hedges, Mildred Hurd agreed to sell
real property to the Hedges, and the parties signed an agreement. Hurd later received a
better offer from a third party, but the Hedges refused to release Hurd from the
agreement. The Hedges sued for money damages and the trial court found there was a
valid contract and awarded $1,000 in damages. Our Supreme Court found the case
distinguishable from Hubbell and affirmed. The court reasoned:
As indicated above, the earnest-money receipt herein involved contained an adequate description of the property. It specified the total purchase price, the method of payment of principal and interest; provision was made for prorating taxes, insurance, and liens; for payment of water and other utilities, for possession, and for the deposit in escrow of the balance of the down payment by the purchasers, and a warranty deed by the seller. In view of what was said as to the earnest-money receipt in the
10 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
Hubbell case, supra, we are convinced that the aforementioned things constitute and embrace all of the essential elements of a simple, binding contract for the sale of land, and that the earnest-money receipt or contract in the instant case was breached by the appellant in the instant case.
Hedges v. Hurd, 47 Wn.2d at 687.
Hedges does not support Will Payne's position. The real estate agreement in
Hedges was only enforceable because it included the essential elements of a binding
contract for the sale of land. Again, Will Payne's agreement to sell the Alaska property
lacks those necessary terms.
Will Payne argues that, even if the real estate agreement lacks essential terms for
enforceability, the parties intended to supplement the missing terms later. This intent,
according to Payne, renders the document enforceable.
The law recognizes three similar yet distinct varieties of agreements in which
parties intend to finalize terms later: agreements to agree, contracts to negotiate, and
agreements with open terms. Keystone Land & Dev. Co. v. Xerox Corp., 152 Wn.2d 171,
175-76, 94 P.3d 945 (2004). An agreement to agree is an agreement to do something that
requires a further meeting of the minds of the parties and without which it would not be
complete, and such agreements are unenforceable in Washington. Keystone v. Xerox, 152
Wn.2d at 175; Sandeman v. Sayres, 50 Wn.2d 539, 541-42, 314 P.2d 428 (1957). Thus,
categorizing the Alaska contract as an agreement to agree helps Payne none. In a
contract to negotiate, the parties exchange promises to conform to a specific course of
11 No. 33537-2-III Payne v. Ruegsegger
conduct during negotiations, such as negotiating in good faith, exclusively with each
other, or for a specific period of time. Keystone v. Xerox, 152 Wn.2d at 176. Under an
agreement with open terms, the parties intend to be bound by the key points agreed on
with the remaining terms supplied by a court or another authoritative source, such as the
Uniform Commercial Code. Keystone v. Xerox, 152 Wn.2d at 176.
No evidence supports a conclusion that the Alaska land agreement is a contract to
negotiate or an agreement with open terms. None of the document terms reference
subsequent negotiations. The document cannot be an agreement with open terms because
the parties never agreed on key points and no independent or authoritative sources aided
by supplementing an agreement to sell real property.
Equitable Reinedies
Will Payne contends that, even if he cannot legally enforce the real estate contract,
the trial court should have granted him recovery based on equitable estoppel, unjust
enrichment, constructive trust, or by using inherent judicial power to craft a remedy.
John and Sharie Ruegsegger argue that Payne's claims for equitable remedies were
properly dismissed because he did not plead them in his complaint, and he provided no
meaningful argument supporting his request for equitable remedies. We agree with the
Ruegseggers.
A complaint must contain a "short and plain statement of the claim showing that
the pleader is entitled to relief." CR 8(a)(l). We construe pleadings liberally. State v.
12 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
Adams, 107 Wn.2d 611, 620, 732 P .2d 149 (1987). If a complaint states facts entitling
the plaintiff to some relief, it is immaterial by what name the action is called. State v.
Adams, 107 Wn.2d at 620. Initial pleadings that may be unclear may be clarified during
the course of summary judgment proceedings. State v. Adams, 107 Wn.2d at 620.
Nevertheless, a complaint should adequately alert the defendant of the claim's general
nature. Estate ofDormaier v. Columbia Basin Anesthesia, 177 Wn. App. 828, 853-54,
313 PJd 431 (2013). A complaint must give the opposing party "fair notice" of the
nature of the plaintiffs claim. Champagne v. Thurston County, 163 Wn.2d 69, 84, 178
PJd 936 (2008); see Berge v. Gorton, 88 Wn.2d 756, 762, 567 P.2d 187 (1977). The
plaintiff must identify the legal theories on which the plaintiff seeks relief. Estate of
Dormaier, 177 Wn. App. at 854. Insufficient pleadings are prejudicial to the opposing
party. Camp Fin., LLC v. Brazington, 133 Wn. App. 156, 162, 135 P.3d 946 (2006).
Will Payne's "Complaint for Monies Owed" claimed the Ruegseggers owed a
balance of $38,000, plus prejudgment interest. CP at 3, 5. The complaint contained
sections titled jurisdiction, events, and damages, and concludes with a prayer for relief.
Nevertheless, the complaint omitted a list of legal theories on which Payne sought relief.
Although the complaint referenced the sale document, the pleading never mentioned any
equitable claims. Payne's prayer for relief requested:
1. That judgment be entered against the Defendants individually and any marital community if applicable in the principal amount of$38,000.00 with prejudgment interest to the date of entry of judgment;
I No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
2. That the court award attorney fees and costs as permitted by law or contract; 3. For judgment for such other and further relief as the courts deems [sic] just and proper.
CP at 5. The complaint drops no hint at equitable remedies and omits any mention of
estoppel, restitution, or constructive trust. Payne first mentioned equitable remedies in
his cross motion for summary judgment where he argued equitable estoppel, unjust
enrichment, and imposition of a constructive trust.
Will Payne's complaint's prayer for relief requests ''judgment for such other and
further relief as the courts deems [sic] just and proper." CP at 5. Nevertheless, this
generic recitation fails to provide John and Sharie Ruegsegger with any notice of the
nature of the "further relief." CP at 5. Even though a plaintiff may clarify initial
pleadings during the course of summary judgment proceedings, Payne went beyond
clarification and attempted to insert new claims and remedies in his cross motion for
summary judgment. Payne could have asked but never attempted to amend his complaint
to add the equitable claims.
Case law and treatises support our ruling that Will Payne could not assert
equitable theories of relief in a summary judgment motion. The rule requiring estoppel to
be pled applies not only when the estoppel is set up as a defense by the defendant but also
when the plaintiff asserts estoppel as part of his or her cause of action or to preclude a
defense. 28 AM. JUR. 2D Estoppel and Waiver§ 150 (2016). Estoppel generally is
14 No. 33537-2-III Payne v. Ruegsegger
unavailable to a party who fails to plead it. 28 AM. JUR. 2D Estoppel and Waiver § 151
(2016). In an ancient decision, the Washington Supreme Court refused a plaintiff
recovery under estoppel when he never pled estoppel. Jacobs v. First Nat'/ Bank of
Puyallup, 15 Wash. 358, 46 P. 396 (1896).
To recover for unjust enrichment or restitution the plaintiff must plead unjust
retaining of benefits and why an equitable remedy is necessary. Hughes v. Chattem, Inc.,
818 F. Supp. 2d 1112, 1124-25 (S.D. Ind. 2011). Stated differently, the plaintiff must
allege that she performed or otherwise conferred a benefit on the defendants under a
contractual or quasi-contractual relationship with the expectation of renumeration. Prima
v. Darden Restaurants, Inc., 78 F. Supp. 2d 337, 355 (D.N.J. 2000). A plaintiff must
allege in a complaint or petition all of the material facts that constitute the gist of a cause
of action for restitution. 66 AM. JUR. 2D Restitution and Implied Contracts § 159 (2016).
Merely labeling a claim for money damages is insufficient. 66 AM. JUR. 2D Restitution
and Implied Contracts § 159 (2016).
A party claiming entitlement to a constructive trust must allege in the complaint
the following: (1) a confidential or fiduciary relationship, (2) a promise, express or
implied, (3) a transfer made in reliance on that promise, and (4) unjust enrichment. In re
Koreag, Controle et Revision, S.A. v. Refco FIX Assoc., Inc., 961 F.2d 341, 352 (2d Cir.
1992); In re Ticketplanet.com, 313 B.R. 46, 68 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2004); Abele v. Sawyer,
747 So. 2d 415,416 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999). A constructive trust will not be imposed
15 No. 33537-2-III Payne v. Ruegsegger
unless the complaint makes specific allegations of wrongdoing, such as fraud, breach of
fiduciary duty, duress, coercion, or mistake and the complaint identifies specific,
identifiable property to which the defendant has title. 76 AM. JUR. 2D Trusts § 624
(2016). A general claim for money damages will not give rise to a constructive trust. 76
AM. JUR. 2D Trusts § 624 (2016).
In Kirby v. City of Tacoma, 124 Wn. App. 454, 98 P.3d 827 (2004), Joseph Kirby
sued the city of Tacoma for harassment and discrimination during his employment with
the Tacoma Police Department. He amended his complaint by adding intentional
infliction of emotional distress as a cause of action. He also filed a municipal notice of
claim indicating his intent to assert "constitutional tort claims." Kirby v. City of Tacoma,
124 Wn. App. at 462. Tacoma moved for partial summary judgment and Kirby raised a
First Amendment claim in his memorandum in opposition to the motion for summary
judgment. The trial court granted Tacoma's motion for partial summary judgment on
Kirby's claims and dismissed Kirby's First Amendment claim on the basis that Kirby
failed to properly plead a First Amendment claim.
On appeal, this court, in Kirby v. City of Tacoma, affirmed summary judgment for
Tacoma. The court held that Kirby's pre-suit tort claim failed to provide the city
adequate notice of the nature of the claims again~t which it would have to defend. This
court reasoned that a claim for "constitutional tort claims" without reference to "free
speech" or "First Amendment" is insufficient because the "variation among potential
16 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
constitutional tort claims is significant." Kirby v. City of Tacoma, 124 Wn. App. at 470.
This variation presented myriad ways of proceeding with a defense and conducting
discovery, resulting in actual prejudice to the city. Kirby v. City of Tacoma, 124 Wn.
App. at 470.
The dissent writes that the record establishes that the trial court decided the
equitable theories. Nevertheless, the record confirms that the trial court did not address
the merits of the theories. In the order denying reconsideration, the trial court expressly
ruled that "plaintiff did not make any equitable claims in the complaint." CP at 228.
We hold that Will Payne failed to provide John and Sharie Ruegsegger with
adequate notice of any equitable claims or remedies. Payne first mentioned claims for
equitable relief in his cross motion for summary judgment. In Kirby, the plaintiff
amended his complaint and referenced constitutional tort claims. Will Payne never
sought to amend his complaint. The trial court properly dismissed Payne's equitable
claims because he failed to plead them under CR 8(a).
Motion for Reconsideration
Will Payne contends the trial court should have granted his motion for
reconsideration because of irregularities in the proceedings, surprise, error of law
occurring at the trial, and that substantial justice had not been done. We decline to
address this assignment of error because Payne has not complied with RAP 10.3.
17 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
RAP 10 .3 (a)( 6) provides that an appellate brief should contain "argument in
support of the issues presented for review, together with citations to legal authority and
references to relevant parts of the record." Assignments of error not argued or further
referred to in a brief or orally are treated as abandoned by an appellant. Talps v. Arreola,
83 Wn.2d 655, 657, 521 P.2d 206 (1974).
CR 59(a) lists nine grounds for a trial court to reconsider its decision. Before the
trial court, Will Payne sought reconsideration on four grounds:
(1) Irregularity in the proceedings of the court, jury or adverse party, or any order of the court, or abuse of discretion, by which such party was prevented from having a fair trial;
(3) Accident or surprise which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against;
(8) Error in law occurring at the trial and objected to at the time by the party making the application; or (9) That substantial justice has not been done.
CR 59(a); see also CP at 211-12. On appeal, Payne omits any reasoned argument to
support reconsideration under any of the CR 59(a) factors. Instead of identifying any
irregularity in the proceedings or source of accident or surprise, Payne reiterates his belief
that the trial court should have considered equitable remedies or, at the minimum, granted
the right to recovery of possession and title to said real estate.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court's dismissal of Will Payne's suit on summary judgment.
18 No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
Fearing, c.1: l I CONCUR:
19 33537-2-III
LAWRENCE-BERREY, J. (dissenting)-The majority affirms the summary
judgment dismissal, in part, by refusing to consider the equitable theories argued to and
decided by the trial court. Because formal pleading requirements may be waived by the
parties and the trial court, I dissent.
In response to John "Stacy" and Sharie Kay Ruegseggers' summary judgment
motion and assertion that the real estate agreement was unenforceable, Will Payne raised
equitable defenses, including unjust enrichment. The record reflects genuine issues of
material fact as to whether the Ruegseggers would be unjustly enriched: Mr. Payne
deeded the property to the Ruegseggers, and the Ruegseggers later refused to pay the
agreed value.
The record establishes that this and other equitable theories were argued by the
parties and decided by the trial court. In their response to Mr. Payne's motion for
reconsideration, the Ruegseggers note:
But the fact is the Court reviewed all of the documents submitted by the parties, including [Mr. Payne's] Memorandum in Opposition. The Court also heard arguments from both counsel on the equitable issues raised by [Mr. Payne]. After considering all the pleadings and the arguments, the Court made an oral ruling that [Mr. Payne's] equitable arguments were denied.
Clerk's Papers at 217. No. 33537-2-111 Payne v. Ruegsegger
When reviewing a trial court's summary judgment order, we review even
unpleaded issues argued to and decided by the trial court. Landstar lnway, Inc. v.
Samrow, 181 Wn. App. 109, 121-22, 325 P.3d 327 (2014). Because the majority
focuses its review of the summary judgment order on the pleadings rather than on
the issues argued to and decided by the trial court, I dissent.
Lawrence-Berrey, J. j