Justia Arkansas Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Alcoa Road Storage, Inc. was awarded attorneys’ fees in a judgment arising from a condemnation proceeding. The City of Benton appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred in awarding attorneys’ fees because there is no statutory authority for awarding such fees against a municipality in a condemnation proceeding. Alcoa cross-appealed, challenging the circuit court’s denial of its request for payment of expert-witness fees. The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part, holding that the circuit court (1) erred in awarding attorneys’ fees because attorneys’ fees are not expressly provided for in Ark. Code Ann. 18-15-307(c); and (2) did not err in finding that expert-witness fees incurred by a landowner to establish the calculation of its just compensation are not “costs occasioned by the assessment” pursuant to section 18-15-307(c). View "City of Benton v. Alcoa Road Storage Inc." on Justia Law

Appellees, class representatives of property owners located in a subdivision, sought declaratory judgment that certain “tie-in rights” were unenforceable. During the suit, Appellant filed an interlocutory appeal of the circuit court’s denial of its motion to compel arbitration with the unnamed class members. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded case number CV 14-618 to rule on whether there was a valid agreement to arbitrate between Appellant and the unnamed class members. The mandate issued pursuant to an opinion that ordered Appellees to pay Appellant $5,091 for costs in the appeal. Appellees subsequently filed a motion regarding costs and a motion to recall and amend the mandate. Both motions were denied. The Supreme Court recalled the mandate in case number CV-14-618 and directed the clerk to amend the mandate to reflect that each party is to bear its own costs, holding that the circuit court was without jurisdiction to award judgment for costs. View "Dye v. Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC" on Justia Law

Appellants in this case were class representatives of a group of property owners located in Hot Springs Village. Appellants filed suit against a private golf club associated with the development seeking a declaratory judgment that the provisions contained in supplemental declarations were unenforceable. The circuit court declared that the supplemental provisions were valid and enforceable and that there had been no breach of the declarations. The court also denied the disgorgement of any dues paid during the suit. Appellants raised eight points of appeal. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that there was no error in the circuit court’s decision. View "Dye v. Diamante, a Private Membership Golf Club, LLC" on Justia Law

This case arose from a dispute between George Stokes and his son, Mason Stokes, over the ownership of farmland in Chicot County. Mason filed a petition to quiet title to the farmland. The circuit court ruled that Mason and George each owned an undivided one-half interest in the farmland as tenants in common and authorized distribution of one-half of the crop income to Mason. The court then awarded Mason attorney’s fees. The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part, holding that the circuit court (1) did not deny George’s constitutional right to trial by jury by adjudicating the equitable claims before the legal claims; (2) did not err by validating a 1999 warranty deed; (3) did not err in granting summary judgment and in ruling that a 2009 quitclaim deed was void; but (4) erred by awarding attorney’s fees to Mason. View "Stokes v. Stokes" on Justia Law

In 2013, the Kanis and Denny Roads Suburban Water Improvement District No. 349 of Pulaski County (the District) reassessed Southwest Power Pool, Inc.’s (SPP) commercial facility, an improvement on its property that is connected to the City of Little Rock’s waterworks system, which resulted in an annual levy of $60,653. The District’s board of equalization confirmed the reassessment. SPP then filed a complaint in circuit court, arguing that the reassessment was wrong as a matter of law and of fact. The circuit court largely granted the District’s motion for summary judgment, and, following a bench trial on the issue of the sufficiency of the 2013 notice of reassessment, the circuit court granted final judgment in favor of the District. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that SPP’s facility cannot be assessed, and accordingly, the 2013 reassessment, and the subsequent reassessments, are invalid. View "Sw. Power Pool Inc. v. Kanis & Denny Roads Suburban Water Improvement Dist. No. 34" on Justia Law

In 2013, the Kanis and Denny Roads Suburban Water Improvement District No. 349 of Pulaski County (the District) reassessed Southwest Power Pool, Inc.’s (SPP) commercial facility, an improvement on its property that is connected to the City of Little Rock’s waterworks system, which resulted in an annual levy of $60,653. The District’s board of equalization confirmed the reassessment. SPP then filed a complaint in circuit court, arguing that the reassessment was wrong as a matter of law and of fact. The circuit court largely granted the District’s motion for summary judgment, and, following a bench trial on the issue of the sufficiency of the 2013 notice of reassessment, the circuit court granted final judgment in favor of the District. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that SPP’s facility cannot be assessed, and accordingly, the 2013 reassessment, and the subsequent reassessments, are invalid. View "Sw. Power Pool Inc. v. Kanis & Denny Roads Suburban Water Improvement Dist. No. 34" on Justia Law

Appellees brought this suit against the City of Little Rock for just compensation for the taking of Appellees’ property in connection with a modification of the I430/I630 Interchange. After a jury trial, the circuit court entered judgment in favor of Appellees. The City filed a notice of appeal and later filed a motion for extension of time to lodge the record. The circuit court denied the motion for extension. The City subsequently filed a second motion for extension. A special judge granted an extension to lodge the record. Appellees filed an amended and substituted motion to dismiss, contending that the circuit court erred in granting the extension of time because the City did not strictly comply with the requirements of Ark. R. App. P-Civ. 5. The Supreme Court granted the motion and dismissed the appeal, holding that the City failed strictly to comply with Rule 5, and therefore, the circuit court erred in granting the motion for extension of time to file the record. View "City of Little Rock v. Hermitage Dev. Corp." on Justia Law

In 2014, the City of Siloam Springs filed a second amended complaint for condemnation of land and order of immediate possession of property owned by Appellees. The complaint alleged that the amount of $13,950 would be just compensation for the taking. Appellees denied that $13,950 was just compensation. A jury rendered a verdict in favor of Appellees, concluding that they were entitled to just compensation in the amount of $22,253. Appellees subsequently filed a motion for attorney’s fees, alleging that their property had been taken by the State through the Arkansas State Highway Commission and that they were entitled to attorney’s fees under Ark. Code Ann. 27-67-317(b). The trial court entered a judgment in favor of Appellees and awarded attorney’s fees and expenses. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the City in this case proceeded under its authority as a municipality in exercising eminent domain over the property; and (2) there is no statutory authority for an award of attorney’s fees against a municipality in a condemnation proceeding. View "City of Siloam Springs v. La-De LLC" on Justia Law

Appellants and Appellees owned property on two sides of Hurricane Creek. Appellants alleged that Appellees and past owners of the property placed fill material in the floodway and floodplain of Hurricane Creek and that, since that time, Appellants had experienced an increased frequency and extent of flooding on their property. The parties subsequently reported to the trial court that they had reached a settlement. However, the proposed settlement contained a provision releasing claims Appellants “may have in the future.” Appellants disputed the scope of the release. The circuit court granted Appellee’s motion to enforce settlement agreement, concluding that the agreement and release encompassed the terms actually agreed on by the parties. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the trial court’s grant of Appellee’s motion to enforce settlement was in error where there was no agreement between the parties as to the scope of the release. View "Billingsley v. Benton NWA Props., LLC" on Justia Law

Plaintiffs, a car dealership and related individuals, had an oral agreement that Defendant would use, free of charge, an empty bay at the site of its car dealership for its nonprofit and youth-outreach activities. Defendant put approximately $100,000 of improvements into the bay. One year later, Plaintiffs asked Defendant to sign a lease and to begin paying rent and utilities. When Defendant refused, Plaintiffs brought an action alleging unlawful detainer and seeking a writ of possession, damages, costs and attorney’s fees. Defendant filed a counterclaim and third-party complaint. The circuit court granted Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, issued a writ of possession, and dismissed all of Defendant’s counterclaims and third-party claims. The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part, holding that the circuit court (1) properly granted summary judgment on the issue of unlawful detainer; (2) erred in granting summary judgment on Defendant’s counterclaims of promissory estoppel and detrimental reliance; and (3) did not abuse its discretion in denying Plaintiffs’ request for attorney’s fees. View "Anderson's Taekwondo Ctr. Camp Positive, Inc. v. Landers Auto Group No. 1, Inc." on Justia Law