Economou v. Economou

• Decision Date: 19 January 1979
• Docket Number: No. 289-76,289-76
• Citation: 399 A.2d 496,136 Vt. 611
• Parties: Nicholas ECONOMOU and Lorraine Economou v. Costas ECONOMOU a/k/a Costa Economou, Dorothy Economou and Economou Farms, Inc.
• Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Page 496

399 A.2d 496

136 Vt. 611

Nicholas ECONOMOU and Lorraine Economou v. Costas ECONOMOU a/k/a Costa Economou, Dorothy Economou and Economou Farms, Inc.

No. 289-76.

Supreme Court of Vermont.

Jan. 19, 1979.

Motion to Reconsider Appeal Denied Feb. 20, 1979.

Nicholas and Lorraine Economou, pro se.

Saul L. Agel and Saxer & Bennett, Burlington, for defendants.

Before BARNEY, C. J., DALEY, J., SHANGRAW, C. J. (Retired), Specially Assigned, SMITH, J. (Retired), Specially Assigned, and CONNARN, District Judge, Specially Assigned.

DALEY, Justice.

This case is here for the second time. See Economou v. Economou, 133 Vt. 418, 340 A.2d 86 (1975). Upon remand, the cause was heard by the superior court, culminating in judgment for the defendants. The defendants' counterclaim was denied. A protective injunction was issued in their behalf, and attachments upon certain properties in Shoreham and South Burlington, Vermont, were released. The plaintiffs appeal from the judgment, appearing pro se before us.

By motion to dismiss, for failure to comply with our rules of appellate procedure, the defendants seek to have us deny the plaintiffs' appeal. Although the printed case and briefs filed by the plaintiffs fall short of being in compliance with our procedural rules we will not dismiss their appeal. This controversy has continued unabated since 1947. Many matters that induced prior actions are revived here. Some are repetitious; others involve different legal claims. In the interest of judicial finality, we will review the cause. Accordingly, we suspend the rules pursuant to V.R.A.P. 2, and deny defendants' motion to dismiss.

This is basically a dispute between two brothers. The defendant, Costas, arrived in this country from Greece in 1926. By 1939, he had founded the C. Economou Cheese Corporation, which operates in Hinesburg, Vermont. The plaintiff, Nicholas, joined him here in 1947. From that time on, their relationship, financial and fraternal, has generated a multitude of controversies.

From 1947 through part of 1950, Nicholas worked for the C. Economou Cheese Corporation. In trial below, he claimed that a percentage of the corporation's profits in addition to unpaid salary were still due him.

In 1950, Nicholas acquired two farms in Shoreham, the "Lavoie" property and the "Brileya" property. Nicholas paid off the Brileya mortgage the same year. However, his stay on the farm was brief. In early 1952, he left Shoreham for Cuba. Costas, to protect funds which he had invested in the Lavoie farm, caused attachments to be placed on these properties. Upon Nicholas's return from Cuba, he engaged, with Costas's backing, in a cheese venture in Swanton, Vermont, which, after approximately three and one-half months, proved unsuccessful and was abandoned.

Disputes and differences arising out of Nicholas's verbal contract of employment with C. Economou Cheese Corporation, as well as to monies loaned and advanced by and to each of the brothers, continued unabated. These difficulties were resolved on May 21, 1954, when Nicholas executed a release to Costas and the corporation. At the same time, Nicholas executed a real estate mortgage to Costas in the sum of $15,692.98, and Costas released the previously mentioned attachments. During trial, Nicholas, personally and through his counsel, admitted that this release discharged any claims which he may have had against Costas or the corporation prior to its execution.

The controversies, however, persisted. In January, 1955, Nicholas entered into an agreement for the purchase of an 860-acre farm owned by Henry Wortheim, on Dorset Street in South Burlington. Ten days later, the brothers again attempted to resolve their differences by way of $10,000.00 demand note from the plaintiffs to Costas and a release given by Nicholas to Costas and C. Economou Cheese Corporation. This transaction was a part of negotiations for the formation of a corporation, known as Economou Farms, Inc., to operate the Shoreham and South Burlington properties. The negotiations resulted in a written agreement which, however, could not be produced by either party at trial. By the terms of the agreement, the brothers were to have equal shares of stock ownership. Nicholas was to manage, and Costas was to maintain the books. Nicholas would transfer his interest in the realty and personalty on the farms. He would be paid $50,000.00 for the real estate and personal property, which he would then contribute to the newly formed corporation. Costas would extend the credit of the C. Economou Cheese Corporation in the sum of $50,000.00.

In addition, Nicholas was to be paid $75.00 per week, and, in the event of any profits from the venture, the plaintiffs would be entitled to the first $5,000.00 of annual profits. Nicholas in turn gave a release to Costas and to the C. Economou Cheese Corporation of all claims based upon his employment with them. As part of the agreement, the defendants cancelled a note for $10,000.00 which the plaintiffs had given them on January 13, 1955. The agreement also called for the new corporation to assume certain debts and obligations of the plaintiffs.

Economou Farms, Inc. was incorporated in March, 1955. The money, however, was never paid to Nicholas; the shares of stock were not issued; and Nicholas's properties were not transferred to Economou Farms, Inc. Nonetheless, after its incorporation, Economou Farms, Inc. operated the farms. And it formally acquired the properties after a series of transactions during the next five years. In May, 1955, Nicholas assigned his interest in the Wortheim land to it. Then, in 1958, after foreclosure proceedings were instituted against the Lavoie property, that real estate was transferred to Economou Farms, Inc. And it obtained the Brileya property by warranty deed in 1960, in conjunction with the exchange of mutual releases among the parties.

During the last half of the 1950s, Economou Farms, Inc. operated at a loss. Although the planning had called for Nicholas to serve as manager, experienced farm hands twice ran the farms during that period. In time, Nicholas and his wife, Lorraine, became unhappy with the arrangement. Their dissatisfaction eventually led them to consult an attorney. In 1960, they brought an action against Costas, C. Economou Cheese Corporation, and Economou Farms, Inc.

In that action, the plaintiffs sought the following: payment of monies claimed to be due Nicholas from the C. Economou Cheese Corporation from 1947 through 1950; the issuance of 50% Of the capital stock of Economou Farms, Inc. to Nicholas; the termination of Economou Farms, Inc. and C. Economou Cheese Corporation and the distribution of their assets; an accounting by Economou Farms, Inc., C. Economou Cheese Corporation and Costas; payment to Economou Farms, Inc. of the balance of $50,000.00 credit by C. Economou Cheese Corporation to Economou Farms, Inc.; and the cancellation of a $10,000.00 promissory note and of a release, both executed by Nicholas in January, 1955. The prayer for relief did not request a rescission of the transactions for the Shoreham and South Burlington properties.

The litigation engendered extensive negotiations between the parties. Each was represented by an attorney. The talks resulted in the exchange of mutual releases on April 30, 1960, and the suit was discontinued.

Approximately eleven years later, the plaintiffs brought the action now before us asserting claims to wages and profits and to the lands conveyed. In their complaint as amended, they sought to have the court apply the equitable doctrines of rescission and reformation so as to obtain the return of the Brileya, Lavoie and Wortheim real estate, which had previously been conveyed to Economou Farms, Inc. The defendants denied the claims of the plaintiffs and in their answer set up the affirmative defenses of release and of accord and satisfaction. The plaintiffs admitted that the releases were voluntarily executed but claimed that the 1960 release did not encompass the retention of the farms by the corporation.

Upon conflicting evidence, the trial court found and concluded that the release of April 30, 1960, discharged all claims that existed between the parties prior to its execution, including any right the plaintiffs may have claimed or may have had to all real and personal property conveyed to Economou Farms, Inc. The plaintiffs' prayer for rescission was denied on the ground that the releases were supported by sufficient consideration and that the consideration had not been returned. Reformation was not granted due to the plaintiffs' failure to sustain their burden of proof. The court further concluded that any and all claims made by the plaintiffs were barred by accord and satisfaction.

On appeal the appellants raise, in essence, two principal issues for our consideration. First, they seek a new trial, claiming that they have evidence of fraudulent endorsements on certain checks and documents introduced into evidence below. In support of their claim, they have submitted the opinion of a handwriting expert, who was consulted after judgment was entered. The appellants also contend that the evidence does not support the trial court's findings of fact and the findings in turn do not support the court's conclusions and judgment.

The claim of fraud was raised but not proved in the superior court. However, the particular allegation of fraud that is now raised was not presented in the superior court. As that issue is now raised for the first time, we cannot consider it. Kuhn v. Department of Employment Security, 134 Vt. 292, 293, 357 A.2d 534, 535 (1976); LaFountain v. Vermont Employment Security Board, 133 Vt. 42, 48, 330 A.2d 468, 472 (1974).

The appellants have not made any challenge to specific findings, and ordinarily we do not search the record for error. See Capital Candy Co. v. Savard, 135 Vt. 9, 12, 369 A.2d 1361, 1363 (1976). However, in view of the...