Crafton, Tull, Sparks & Assocs. v. Ruskin Heights, LLC

• Decision Date: 28 February 2013
• Docket Number: No. 12-646,12-646
• Citation: 2013 Ark. 85
• Parties: CRAFTON, TULL, SPARKS & ASSOCIATES APPELLANT v. RUSKIN HEIGHTS, LLC; METROPOLITAN NATIONAL BANK; WILLIAM B. BENTON, JR; J. KEVIN ADAMS; EDWARD A. LABRY, III; JOHN G. BRITTINGHAM; CARLEN G. HOOKER; EDWARD F. DAVIS; DIRK W. VAN VEEN; AND DAVID RUFF, IN HIS CAPACITY AS TAX COLLECTOR FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS APPELLEES
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

2013 Ark. 85

CRAFTON, TULL, SPARKS & ASSOCIATES APPELLANT

v. RUSKIN HEIGHTS, LLC;METROPOLITAN NATIONAL BANK;WILLIAM B. BENTON, JR; J. KEVIN ADAMS; EDWARD A. LABRY, III;JOHN G. BRITTINGHAM; CARLEN G. HOOKER;EDWARD F. DAVIS; DIRK W. VAN VEEN; AND DAVID RUFF, IN HIS CAPACITY AS TAX COLLECTOR FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS APPELLEES

No. 12-646

SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS

Opinion Delivered February 28, 2013

APPEAL FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, [NO. CIV2009-2582-4]

HON. GEORGE CHADDWICK MASON, JUDGE

DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

KAREN R. BAKER, Associate Justice

Appellant Crafton, Tull, Sparks & Associates (CTSA) appeals from a November 29, 2010, order of the Washington County Circuit Court finding that CTSA's lien was second in priority to Appellee Metropolitan National Bank's lien on certain property. We dismiss the appeal for lack of a final order.

The facts underlying the case were previously set out in Crafton, Tull, Sparks & Associates v. Ruskin Heights, LLC, 2012 Ark. 56. In that case, we dismissed CTSA's appeal for lack of a final order because we identified several outstanding issues. First, Nabholz Construction Company's complaint in intervention and any relevant pleadings were notincluded in the record. Second, the record contained no final disposition as to Metropolitan's claims against Carlen G. Hooker and David Ruff. Finally, the status of CTSA's breach-of-contract claims against the individual defendants and its monetary-judgment claim against Ruskin Heights was unclear.

In dismissing the case without prejudice, we explained that because of the outstanding issues, the order was not final under Rule 54(b) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure. After the previous case was dismissed, CTSA requested a Rule 54(b) certificate from the circuit court in order to cure the deficiency. The circuit court filed an order titled "Final Judgment and Rule 54(b) certificate." The order stated that the following parties and actions remain unresolved: David Ruff, Washington County Tax Collector's cause of action for tax debt owed on the subject property and Nabholz's breach of contract claims against William B. Benton, Jr., J. Kevin Adams, Edward A. Labry, III, John G. Brittingham, Edward F. Davis, and Kirk. W. Van Veen. CTSA then brought this appeal.

Although neither party raises the issue, the question of whether an order is final and subject to appeal is a jurisdictional question, which the court will raise sua sponte. Moses v. Hanna's Candle Co., 353 Ark. 101, 103, 110 S.W.3d 725, 726 (2003). Rule 2(a)(1) of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure-Civil provides that an appeal may be taken only from a final judgment or decree entered by the trial court. Searcy Cnty. Counsel for Ethical Gov't v. Hinchey, 2011 Ark. 533. Under Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b), an order that fails to adjudicate all of the claims as to all of the parties, whether presented as claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, or third-party claims, is not final for purposes of appeal. Dodgev. Lee, 350 Ark. 480, 88 S.W.3d 843 (2002). An appeal from such an order, however, is permissible under Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) when the trial court directs the entry of a final judgment as to one or more of the claims or parties and makes express findings that there is no...