{ "id": 8521380, "name": "FRED DENNIS GILBERT, Plaintiff/Appellant v. PEGGY FREDELL GILBERT, Defendant/Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "Gilbert v. Gilbert", "decision_date": "1993-07-20", "docket_number": "No. 9227DC598", "first_page": "233", "last_page": "239", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "111 N.C. App. 233" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "32 ALR2d 45", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "22 ALR2d 724", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "368 S.E.2d 595", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "600", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "322 N.C. 396", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2515756 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/322/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "420 S.E.2d 833", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "328 N.C. 330", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2539851, 2537874, 2544180, 2540089, 2540222 ], "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/328/0330-03", "/nc/328/0330-02", "/nc/328/0330-04", "/nc/328/0330-01", "/nc/328/0330-05" ] }, { "cite": "398 S.E.2d 340", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "344" }, { "page": "344-45" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "100 N.C. App. 686", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527475 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/100/0686-01" ] }, { "cite": "404 S.E.2d 871", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "discussing Stone" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "328 N.C. 732", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2538019, 2539562, 2545331, 2540404, 2539003 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "discussing Stone" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/328/0732-03", "/nc/328/0732-02", "/nc/328/0732-01", "/nc/328/0732-04", "/nc/328/0732-05" ] }, { "cite": "399 S.E.2d 385", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "388", "parenthetical": "discussing Stone" }, { "page": "388" }, { "page": "388-89", "parenthetical": "Court did not apply doctrine of equitable estoppel because no detrimental reliance" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "101 N.C. App. 298", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527645 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "303", "parenthetical": "discussing Stone" }, { "page": "303" }, { "page": "303-04" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/101/0298-01" ] }, { "cite": "393 S.E.2d 906", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "326 N.C. 805", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 5308390, 5309329, 5308190, 5306711 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/326/0805-01", "/nc/326/0805-03", "/nc/326/0805-02", "/nc/326/0805-04" ] }, { "cite": "386 S.E.2d 602", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "604" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "96 N.C. App. 633", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8524030 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "635" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/96/0633-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 529, "char_count": 13863, "ocr_confidence": 0.717, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.1889272006616032e-07, "percentile": 0.5909024039625477 }, "sha256": "9f93d3f10617c5b760ada5a90669f5d4463ef0cb3035bac4305a66248bbb8bc4", "simhash": "1:0165552a3104bf56", "word_count": 2219 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:07:55.768244+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges EAGLES and McCRODDEN concur." ], "parties": [ "FRED DENNIS GILBERT, Plaintiff/Appellant v. PEGGY FREDELL GILBERT, Defendant/Appellee" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "LEWIS, Judge.\nIn this case we must determine whether a wife who failed to assert her claim for equitable distribution prior to the judgment of absolute divorce may raise the claim at a later point. We conclude that she may, because under the facts of this case her husband is barred by the doctrine of equitable estoppel from challenging her claim.\nOn 14 June 1984 plaintiff husband filed an action for absolute divorce. The complaint stated that although the parties had marital property subject to equitable distribution, equitable distribution would not be necessary because the property would be divided later by agreement of the parties, subject to the agreement of the court. Defendant wife, without counsel, did not file a motion or separate action to assert a claim for equitable distribution, and a judgment of absolute divorce was entered on 2 August 1984. In its judgment the court noted that there was marital property subject to equitable distribution but that it would be divided by the parties, subject to the court\u2019s agreement. Neither party appealed that judgment.\nIn 1986 the parties reached the agreement contemplated in the earlier divorce proceeding. In substance, the agreement provided that plaintiff would convey the marital residence to defendant if defendant would assume and pay the mortgage payments. Although defendant has complied with the agreement and has made all of the mortgage payments since then, plaintiff has failed to convey title to the property. Consequently, on 10 March 1992 defendant filed a Motion in the Cause requesting the court either to enforce the agreement to convey the residence or to proceed with an equitable distribution of the marital property. On 6 April 1992 the court entered an Equitable Distribution Order, from which plaintiff now appeals, alleging the court had no authority to enter such order. Plaintiff contends that defendant was precluded from requesting equitable distribution, because she did not assert that claim before the judgment of absolute divorce was entered on 2 August 1984.\nWe begin our analysis with the legislative mandate that \u201c[a]n absolute divorce obtained within this State shall destroy the right of a spouse to an equitable distribution of the marital property under G.S. 50-20 unless the right is asserted prior to judgment of absolute divorce . . . .\u201d N.C.G.S. \u00a7 50-ll(e) (Cum. Supp. 1992). It is undisputed that defendant did not file any claim, counterclaim, motion, or separate action for equitable distribution before the judgment of absolute divorce. According to the statute, then, defendant should have been precluded from asserting an equitable distribution claim after the entry of the divorce judgment.\nDefendant argues, however, that the issue of equitable distribution was preserved by the wording in both the complaint and the judgment acknowledging that the property was subject to equitable distribution. We find no support for this contention. The issue of equitable distribution can only be preserved if it was asserted prior to the judgment of absolute divorce. \u00a7 50-ll(e). The cases relied upon by defendant are not instructive.\nIn Stone v. Stone, 96 N.C. App. 633, 386 S.E.2d 602 (1989), disc. rev. denied, 326 N.C. 805, 393 S.E.2d 906 (1990), the trial court stated in its judgment that the issue of equitable distribution was reserved for a later date, and noted that both parties had applied for equitable distribution. See Lutz v. Lutz, 101 N.C. App. 298, 303, 399 S.E.2d 385, 388, disc. rev. denied, 328 N.C. 732, 404 S.E.2d 871 (1991) (discussing Stone). This Court pointed out that neither party appealed from the judgment, and vacated the judgment of another trial judge which had overruled the first judge\u2019s determination to reserve the equitable distribution issue for a later hearing. 96 N.C. App. at 635, 386 S.E.2d at 604. Significantly, both parties in that case had filed for equitable distribution prior to the judgment of absolute divorce, thereby complying with section 50-ll(e). See Lutz, 101 N.C. App. at 303, 399 S.E.2d at 388.\nIn Lutz v. Lutz, the Court stated that \u201cthe bare reservation by a trial court of the issue of equitable distribution only preserves the claim of equitable distribution for the party who has asserted the right prior to judgment of absolute divorce.\u201d Id. Thus, even if the judge here had reserved the issue of equitable distribution through the wording in the judgment, he would only have done so on behalf of plaintiff since defendant did not assert her claim prior to the divorce judgment. Only plaintiff was entitled to later assert a claim for equitable distribution in this case.\nAlthough defendant did not timely raise her claim for equitable distribution, and although the issue was not preserved by the trial court on her behalf, defendant argues plaintiff should be estopped from denying his own contract and from asserting the defense that defendant never properly asserted an equitable distribution claim. According to Harroff v. Harroff, 100 N.C. App. 686, 398 S.E.2d 340 (1990), disc. rev. denied, 328 N.C. 330, 420 S.E.2d 833 (1991),\n[e]quitable estoppel is defined as \u2018the effect of the voluntary conduct of a party whereby he is absolutely precluded, both at law and in equity, from asserting rights which might perhaps have otherwise existed ... as against another person who in good faith relied upon such conduct, and has been led thereby to change his position for the worse, and who on his part acquires some corresponding right . . . (citations omitted).\nId. at 692, 398 S.E.2d at 344. In Harroff the wife had neglected to assert her claim for equitable distribution before entry of the divorce judgment. This Court reversed the trial court\u2019s order of summary judgment against the wife\u2019s later claim for equitable distribution, because the husband\u2019s possible breach of fiduciary duty and misrepresentations may have caused her to forego pleading the claim in the first place. If on remand it was determined that the wife had failed to assert her claim due to misrepresentation, the Court stated that the husband would be equitably estopped from pleading section 50-11(e) as a bar to her claim for equitable distribution. Id. at 693, 398 S.E.2d at 344-45; cf. Lutz, 101 N.C. App. at 303-04, 399 S.E.2d at 388-89 (Court did not apply doctrine of equitable estoppel because no detrimental reliance).\nAlthough the case at hand does not include allegations of breach of fiduciary duty or misrepresentation, we find that the principle of equitable estoppel should nevertheless apply. Defendant argues she did not assert her equitable distribution claim initially because the language in plaintiff\u2019s complaint stating that they would reach an agreement regarding the distribution of their property led her to believe it was unnecessary to assert her claim. When they did reach such agreement, defendant relied on the agreement to her detriment by paying all of the subsequent mortgage payments without ever receiving title to the property from defendant. We agree that equitable estoppel applies to preclude plaintiff from now objecting to defendant\u2019s assertion of a claim for equitable distribution.\nFinally, plaintiff argues that the court\u2019s unequal distribution of property in the equitable distribution order is not supported by sufficient findings of fact. When a court makes an unequal division of property, it must consider the factors listed in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 50-20(c). Plaintiff points out that the court only considered one of the statutory factors, subsection (c)(6).\nIn Armstrong v. Armstrong, 322 N.C. 396, 368 S.E.2d 595 (1988), the Court stated that under section 50-20(c) findings regarding the statutory factors \u201cmust be made and considered, when evidence concerning them is introduced . . . .\u2019\u2019Id. at 406, 368 S.E.2d at 600 (emphasis added). Thus, the trial court was only required to consider factors relevant to the evidence presented by the parties. In this case the evidence before the court related to the marital residence and the 1986 agreement between the parties. The court correctly considered this evidence in connection with the factor listed in subsection (c)(6) of section 50-20. That subsection covers:\n[a]ny equitable claim to, interest in, or direct or indirect contribution made to the acquisition of such marital property by the party not having title, including joint efforts or expenditures and contributions and services, or lack thereof, as a spouse, parent, wage earner or homemaker; . . .\nN.C.G.S. \u00a7 50-20(c)(6) (Cum. Supp. 1992). No other factors were at issue in this case, thus the court did not err in making findings only regarding subsection (c)(6).\nPlaintiff contends that he was not permitted to present any evidence at the equitable distribution hearing. We are unable to determine from the record whether or not this contention is true. On page 6 of the transcript, after the court had called a thirty-minute recess, it was noted that the reporter was not present during the proceedings, and that the transcript was typed from a tape-recording of the proceedings, which was the extent of what was made available. There is no record of what happened after the court recessed. Defendant points out, however, that in paragraph 5 of its Order the trial court refers to testimony given by the plaintiff. Plaintiff has not provided a narration of the unrecorded proceedings or any evidence indicating he was precluded from presenting evidence other than the statement in his brief. We must presume the trial judge acted correctly and permitted plaintiff, who was without counsel at the equitable distribution proceeding, to present evidence.\nThe judgment of the trial court is hereby affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nJudges EAGLES and McCRODDEN concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "LEWIS, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Lewis & Shuford, P.A., by Robert C. Lewis, for plaintiff-appellant.", "Sigmon, Sigmon, and Isenhower, by W. Gene Sigmon, for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "FRED DENNIS GILBERT, Plaintiff/Appellant v. PEGGY FREDELL GILBERT, Defendant/Appellee\nNo. 9227DC598\n(Filed 20 July 1993)\n1. Divorce and Separation \u00a7 172 (NCI4th)\u2014 equitable distribution \u2014not asserted prior to judgment of divorce \u2014not preserved by wording of complaint and judgment\nThe issue of equitable distribution was not preserved by the wording of a complaint or by the judgment where it was undisputed that defendant did not file any claim, counterclaim, motion, or separate action for equitable distribution before the judgment of absolute divorce. The issue of equitable distribution can only be preserved if it was asserted prior to the judgment of absolute divorce; even if the judge here had reserved the issue of equitable distribution through the wording in the judgment, he would only have done so on behalf of plaintiff since defendant did not assert her claim prior to the divorce judgment. Only plaintiff was entitled to later assert a claim for equitable distribution in this case. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 50-ll(e).\nAm Jur 2d, Divorce and Separation \u00a7\u00a7 439 et seq., 957.\nDefault decree in divorce action as estoppel or res judicata with respect to marital property rights. 22 ALR2d 724.\nDivorce decree as res judicata in independent action involving property settlement agreement. 32 ALR2d 45.\n2. Divorce and Separation \u00a7 172 (NCI4th)\u2014 equitable distribution \u2014not asserted prior to judgment of divorce \u2014 equitable estoppel\nEquitable estoppel applied to preclude a plaintiff from objecting to defendant\u2019s assertion of a claim for equitable distribution where defendant argued that she did not assert her equitable distribution claim initially because the language in plaintiff\u2019s complaint stating that they would reach an agreement regarding the distribution of their property led her to believe it was unnecessary to assert her claim, and, when they did reach such agreement, defendant relied on the agreement to her detriment by paying all of the subsequent mortgage payments without ever receiving title to the property from defendant.\nAm Jur 2d, Divorce and Separation \u00a7\u00a7 439 et seq., 957.\nDefault decree in divorce action as estoppel or res judicata with respect to marital property rights. 22 ALR2d 724.\nDivorce decree as res judicata in independent action involving property settlement agreement. 32 ALR2d 45.\n3. Divorce and Separation \u00a7 144 (NCI4th)\u2014 equitable distribution \u2014 unequal distribution of property \u2014consideration of only one statutory factor\nThe trial court did not err in an equitable distribution action which resulted in an unequal distribution of property by making findings regarding only the factor in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 50-20(c)(6). The only evidence before the court related to the marital residence and the 1986 agreement between the parties and the trial court was only required to consider factors relevant to the evidence presented by the parties.\nAm Jur 2d, Divorce and Separation \u00a7\u00a7 915 et seq.\n4. Divorce and Separation \u00a7 173 (NCI4th(\u2014 equitable distribution \u2014hearing\u2014presentation of evidence\nThere was no error in an equitable distribution hearing where plaintiff contends that he was not permitted to present any evidence, it was noted in the transcript that the reporter was not present after a recess and that the transcript was typed from a tape-recording of the proceedings, there is no record of what happened after the court recessed, the trial court referred in its order to testimony given by plaintiff, plaintiff did not provide a narration of the unrecorded proceedings or any evidence indicating that he was precluded from presenting evidence other than the statement in his brief, and it must be presumed that the trial judge acted correctly and permitted plaintiff, who was without counsel, to present evidence.\nAm Jur 2d, Divorce and Separation \u00a7\u00a7 950 et seq.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Order entered 6 April 1992 by Judge George W. Hamrick in Lincoln County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 12 May 1993.\nLewis & Shuford, P.A., by Robert C. Lewis, for plaintiff-appellant.\nSigmon, Sigmon, and Isenhower, by W. Gene Sigmon, for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0233-01", "first_page_order": 263, "last_page_order": 269 }