Shochet v. Allen
| Decision Date | 16 March 1999 |
| Docket Number | No. 74489,74489 |
| Parties | Randall SHOCHET, Plaintiff/Appellant, v. Terry C. ALLEN, Craft, Fridkin & Rhyne, Daniel Barklage, Barklage, Barklage, Heywood & Brett (now known as Barklage, Barklage, Brett, Ohlms & Martin Defendants/Respondents. |
| Court | Missouri Court of Appeals |
Randall M. Shochet, Chicago, IL, pro se.
Joseph F. Devereux, Jr., Devereux, Murphy, Striler, Brickley & Sher, L.L.C., St. Louis, Attys for Allen & Craft, Fridkin & Rhyne.
Bernard A. Reinert, St. Louis, Attys for Barklage, Barklage, Brett, Ohlms & Martin.
Randall Shochet (Client) appeals from the trial court's judgment entered in favor of Terry C. Allen; Craft, Fridkin & Rhyne; Daniel Barklage; and Barklage, Barklage, Heywood & Brett (now known as Barklage, Barklage, Brett, Ohlms & Martin) (collectively, Counsel) upon the granting of Counsel's motion for summary judgment. Counsel filed a motion to strike Client's brief on appeal (motion to strike), which was taken with the case. We grant Counsel's motion to strike and additionally dismiss the appeal for failure to comply with Rule 84.04(d). 1
Client, then a licensed and practicing dentist in Missouri, received a suspension from the Missouri Dental Board (Board) in 1990 for insurance fraud. Counsel represented Client in the Board's proceedings. The terms of the suspension precluded Client from providing dental services, employing personnel in a dental practice, and deriving revenue from a dental practice. Subsequently, the Board brought a second complaint against Client, alleging violations of the terms of the suspension. Client obtained other attorneys to represent him in those proceedings.
In this lawsuit, Client alleges Counsel is liable for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty in the representation of Client during the first Board proceedings. The trial court granted Counsel's motion for summary judgment. This appeal, in which Client is proceeding pro se, followed.
By the motion to strike, Counsel argues Client's brief should be stricken because (1) the "Points Relied On" do not comply with Rule 84.04(d) and Thummel v. King, 570 S.W.2d 679 (Mo. banc 1978); (2) the "Jurisdictional Statement" is deficient; and (3) the "Statement of Facts" is unfair and inadequate. Although we find both the "Jurisdictional Statement" and the "Statement of Facts" are inadequate, we will focus our attention on the "Points Relied On."
Rule 84.04(d) requires an appellant, in each point on appeal, to "state briefly and concisely what actions or rulings of the court are sought to be reviewed and wherein and why they are claimed to be erroneous, with citations of authorities thereunder." "Setting out only abstract statements of law without showing how they are related to any action or ruling of the court is not a compliance with this Rule." Rule 84.04(d). In Thummel, the Missouri Supreme Court stated Rule 84.04(d) mandates that each point relied on consist of three elements. Thummel, 570 S.W.2d at 685-86. First, the appellant must "concisely state" the ruling of the trial court being challenged. Id. at 686. Second, the appellant must set forth the rule of law the trial court should have applied. Id. Third, the point on appeal must state what testimony or evidence supports the rule of law appellant suggests should have been applied. Id. at 685, 686.
Adherence to the requirements of Rule 84.04(d) provides "notice to the party opponent of the precise matters which must be contended with and answered," and facilitates the appellate process in that it provides for full advocacy. Thummel, 570 S.W.2d at 686. "It is not the function of the appellate court to serve as advocate for any party to an appeal." Id. If a point does not set forth what trial court ruling is challenged, it does not preserve anything for review on appeal. Id. at 684-85; Faith Baptist Church of Berkeley, Inc. v. Heffner, 956 S.W.2d 425, 426 (Mo.App.E.D.1997).
Violations of Rule 84.04 are grounds for a court to dismiss an appeal. Faith Baptist Church of Berkeley, Inc., 956 S.W.2d at 426 (); Kent v. Charlie Chicken II, Inc., 972 S.W.2d 513 (Mo.App. E.D.1998) (). Pro se appellants are held to the same procedural rules as attorneys and do not receive preferential treatment regarding compliance with rules of procedure such as Rule 84.04. Faith Baptist Church of Berkeley, Inc., 956 S.W.2d at 426; 8182 Maryland Assoc. v. Lurie, 949 S.W.2d at 150, 151 (Mo.App. E.D. 1997).
Recently, the Missouri Supreme Court held an appellant's first three points failed to meet the requirements of Rule 84.04(d). J.A.D. v. F.J.D. III, 978 S.W.2d 336 (Mo. banc 1998). The Supreme Court found these three points failed to "state what was before the trial court that supports the ruling appellant contends should have been made." Id. at 340. The Supreme Court also concluded the first point was inadequate because it was "so nebulous that it is impossible to identify which of several possible claims appellant is attempting to raise." Id. at 339.
Here, Client's "Points Relied On" fail to comply with the requirements of Rule 84.04(d) as clarified in Thummel, supra, and are "so nebulous that it is impossible to identify" the issues the Client is attempting to raise. J.A.D., 978 S.W.2d at 339. The four "Points Relied On" in Client's brief are:
1. THERE WERE NO SUPERCEDING AND INTERVENING CAUSES WHICH PRECLUDED THE PLAINTIFF CLIENT FROM ESTABLISHING PROXIMATE CAUSE.
2. PLAINTIFF'S CLIENT'S REPRESENTATION IN, AND EVENTUAL SETTLEMENT OF, THE SECOND COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS DENTAL LICENSE CANNOT BE USED TO RULE OUT A CAUSAL CONNECTION.
3. REGARDING THE PLAINTIFF'S [CLIENT'S] FLORIDA DENTAL LICENSE...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Daniel v. Indiana Mills & Mfg., Inc.
...in points on appeal as the means for facilitating the appellate process is essential. 570 S.W.2d at 686; see also Shochet v. Allen, 987 S.W.2d 516, 518 (Mo. App.1999). Albeit that "[v]iolations of rules of appellate procedure, and specifically Rule 84.04, constitute grounds for a court to d......
-
A.D. v. N.R. (In re Estate of L.G.T.)
...evidentiary challenges were preserved for our review as they were not presented in Mother's points relied on. See Shochet v. Allen, 987 S.W.2d 516, 518 (Mo.App.E.D.1999) (“[i]f a point does not set forth what trial court ruling is challenged, it does not preserve anything for review on appe......
-
Environ. Energy Partners v. Siemens Bldg.
...what an appellant's brief shall contain. "Violations of Rule 84.04 are grounds for a court to dismiss an appeal." Shochet v. Allen, 987 S.W.2d 516, 518 (Mo.App.1999). Whether an appeal will be dismissed for failure to comply with Rule 84.04 is discretionary. Keeney v. Missouri Highway & Tra......
-
L.G.T. v. N.R.
...evidentiary challenges were preserved for our review as they were not presented in Mother's points relied on. See Shochet v. Allen, 987 S.W.2d 516, 518 (Mo. App. E.D. 1999) ("[i]f a point does not set forth what trial court ruling is challenged, it does not preserve anything for review on a......