April Ann Archer, by and through her mother and next friend, Regina Leigh Archer v. The estate of Mark Russell Archer, deceased

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REL: 03/12/2010 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 1090093 April Ann A r c h e r , by and t h r o u g h h e r mother and n e x t Regina L e i g h Archer friend, v. The e s t a t e o f Mark R u s s e l l A r c h e r , deceased 1090094 April Ann A r c h e r , by and t h r o u g h h e r mother and n e x t Regina L e i g h Archer v. The e s t a t e o f Mark R u s s e l l A r c h e r , deceased friend, 1090096 April Ann A r c h e r , by and t h r o u g h h e r mother and n e x t friend, Regina Leigh Archer v. The e s t a t e o f Mark R u s s e l l A r c h e r , deceased A p p e a l s from L a u d e r d a l e C i r c u i t C o u r t (CV-08-353; CV-06-123; CV-06-150) SMITH, Justice. These t h r e e a p p e a l s have been c o n s o l i d a t e d . 1090093, and no. 1090094, through h e r mother and next ("Archer"), appeals Lauderdale C i r c u i t fees after estate also part, that from o f an other court's Facts currently and remand w i t h and P r o c e d u r a l order debts Archer o f the against the estate"). order attorneys are April's reverse i n part, Leigh t h e payment o f a t t o r n e y Archer ("theArcher assets Ann A r c h e r , by Regina portion of certain the t r i a l certain o f Archer's that friend, Court p r i o r i t i z i n g t h e payment appeals account in from o f Mark R u s s e l l declares and no. 1090096, A p r i l I n cases no. held insofar Archer as i t i n the assets. We trust affirm instructions. History 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 These a p p e a l s are before this Court base See our d e c i s i o n Johnson v. on Stewart, (opinion on m a k e s no correction of application the f a c t s , taken t o be Taylor 189 the f a c t s 2d will 544, essentially sons, Jeffrey Bank Archer, Girdner's who was under the w i l l , and Mark R u s s e l l A r c h e r . leaving statement be (quoting 279 A l a . 6 2 4 , 25, 2004. 628, Girdner's her e s t a t e e q u a l l y between of 2006, the appellee for decision.'" of Tuskaloosa, 1 ( A l a . 2002 ) made b y a p p e l l a n t ... w i l l representative 16, brief. (1966))). divided H. 551-52 to the a p p e l l a n t ' s ^Ann R u s s e l l G i r d n e r d i e d on D e c e m b e r will i n Archer's f o r r e h e a r i n g ) ("Where and s u f f i c i e n t Nat'l S o . 2 d 1 4 1 , 144 So. statements accurate only as s t a t e d or a d d i t i o n '[t]he v. F i r s t 854 filed o f t h e s e a p p e a l s , we by A r c h e r ; a c c o r d i n g l y , f o r p u r p o s e s on b r i e f s as h i s s o l e estate heir appointed ("the Girdner her personal estate") M a r k d i e d on h i s minor two daughter, January April A r c h e r f i l e d s e p a r a t e b r i e f s i n c a s e s no. 1090093, no. 1090094, and no. 1090096. The b r i e f s Archer filed are v i r t u a l l y i d e n t i c a l i n c o n t e n t ; thus, f o r ease of r e f e r e n c e , a l l c i t a t i o n s to "Archer's b r i e f " i n t h i s opinion r e f e r to the b r i e f f i l e d i n c a s e n o . 1 0 9 0 0 9 4 . The d e f e n d a n t b e l o w , J e f f r e y H. Archer, the personal r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f Ann Russell G i r d n e r ' s e s t a t e , s u b m i t t e d a document t o t h i s C o u r t w a i v i n g the f i l i n g of a b r i e f . 1 3 1 0 9 0 0 9 3 ; 1 0 9 0 0 9 4 ; 1090096 Ann Archer. appointed At April's personal and Regina Leigh Archer, representative of the Archer some p o i n t , "mishandling mother, Regina came to believe misappropriating" estate. that assets was Jeffrey of the was Girdner e s t a t e and t h a t J e f f r e y ' s a c t i o n s were a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t i n g t h e value of the Archer the Lauderdale estate. Probate As a r e s u l t , Court f o r an o r d e r Archer petitioned r e m o v i n g J e f f r e y as p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e G i r d n e r e s t a t e a n d r e q u i r i n g an accounting alleged of the assets of the Girdner that personalty the with Girdner a total estate value the administration probate court to the c i r c u i t the petition. Thereafter lengthy, costly, risky, spawned several legal i n c l u d i n g the cases Ultimately, Archer consisted exceeding On M a r c h 2 1 , 2 0 0 6 , A r c h e r remove estate. of petition realty of the Girdner e n s u e d what A r c h e r refers Archer's entered from court and i n t e n s i v e l i t i g a t i o n Jeffrey court to estate c o u r t ; the c i r c u i t actions," and $1,000,000. petitioned the c i r c u i t from which the present and The granted t o as " a battle brief, appeals into the a were that p. 8, taken. settlement agreement, which i n c r e a s e d t h e v a l u e o f t h e G i r d n e r e s t a t e and the Archer e s t a t e by a combined t o t a l 4 of $544,315. The trial 1 0 9 0 0 9 3 ; 1 0 9 0 0 9 4 ; 1090096 court entered an o r d e r adopting the settlement agreement on December 22, 2008. In Potts January 2009, a n d James appointed to Archer; Archer's I r b y ; a n d James represent April, Hall, the guardian filed a reopening of estate cases f o rapproval and related, "[t]he attorney requested Irby the Girdner motion fee of one-third estate also this court "joint among a f e e o f $2,182.50 After a hearing, the t r i a l 2009, that, for alleged that contingent" i s and fees f o r Potts they had recovered f o r estate, other litem costs approve a t t o r n e y and t h e A r c h e r ad V. fees, The m o t i o n matter Frank motion of attorney o f t h e $544,315 requested, approve expenses." in that the t r i a l and court necessary attorneys, c o l l e c t i v e l y ; the things, for Hall that as the trial guardian ad litem. 27, among approval of attorney found other entered an o r d e r things, granted the motion f o r costs, and expenses. o n May follows: as fees, court The "5. The l i t i g a t i o n referenced a b o v e was c o m p l e x , p r o t r a c t e d and n e c e s s a r y t o p r e s e r v e the assets of t h e [ G i r d n e r e s t a t e ] on b e h a l f o f [ A p r i l ] . " 6 . The r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f F r a n k V. P o t t s a n d J a m e s Irby was directly responsible, i n the abovereferenced matters, f o r i n c r e a s i n g the value of both 5 order 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 the [ G i r d n e r e s t a t e ] and t o t a l of $544,315.00. the [Archer estate] by a " 8 . The p r o p e r t y l o c a t e d a t _ _ _ _ W i l l i n g h a m R o a d , F l o r e n c e , Alabama, 35630, and t h e p r o p e r t y l o c a t e d at _ _ _ M i c h a e l C o u r t , F l o r e n c e , Alabama, 35630, a n d $ 1 4 8 , 3 1 4 . 1 8 ... i n l i q u i d a s s e t s , c u r r e n t l y h e l d i n the T r u s t A c c o u n t of P o t t s & Young Attorneys, L.L.P., are a l l assets of [ A p r i l ] , d i r e c t l y secured through the e f f o r t s referenced i n paragraph 6, supra. "9. A l l costs and expenditures of the above-referenced litigation ... w e r e n e c e s s a r y as being directly related to the p r e s e r v a t i o n and recovery of the assets of the [Girdner estate] f o r [April], and are a p p r o v e d by this Court. The reimbursement o f a l l c o s t s and expenses t o P o t t s & Young A t t o r n e y s , L . L . P . , and t o James I r b y , P.C., were n e c e s s a r y and a p p r o p r i a t e and a r e a p p r o v e d by this Court. " 1 1 . The c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e [ A r c h e r e s t a t e ] b y t h e H e a l t h C a r e A u t h o r i t y and t h e C i t y o f F l o r e n c e , a public authority d/b/a Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in the amount of $2, 900.00 ... is a p p r o p r i a t e , due a n d i m m e d i a t e l y payable. "12. A f i r s t m o r t g a g e a g a i n s t t h e p r o p e r t y c u r r e n t l y s e r v i n g a s [ A p r i l ' s ] r e s i d e n c e , l o c a t e d on _ _ _ _ Road, F l o r e n c e , Alabama, 35630, h e l d by Cecil and Olivia Batchelor, is due and i m m e d i a t e l y p a y a b l e i n t h e amount o f $ 1 0 3 , 2 9 9 . 8 3 . " 1 3 . The p r o m i s s o r y n o t e i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 1 9 , 1 0 4 . 7 0 ... h e l d b y S h i r l e y R i v e r a i s due t o be p a i d i n full, in priority behind the c l a i m against the [ A r c h e r e s t a t e ] b y The H e a l t h C a r e A u t h o r i t y o f Lauderdale C o u n t y and t h e C i t y of F l o r e n c e (an 6 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 expense o f Mark Archer's last i l l n e s s ) , the f i r s t mortgage t o [ C e c i l and O l i v i a ] B a t c h e l o r and t h e attorney fees." The trial court then ordered as f o l l o w s : "E. S o a s t o p r e s e r v e the assets of the [Archer estate], i t i s f u r t h e r ordered that the first m o r t g a g e a g a i n s t t h e p r o p e r t y c u r r e n t l y s e r v i n g as [April's] r e s i d e n c e , l o c a t e d on Road, F l o r e n c e , Alabama, 35630, h e l d by C e c i l a n d O l i v i a B a t c h e l o r , i s ORDERED t o b e i m m e d i a t e l y and f u l l y r e t i r e d f r o m t h e l i q u i d a s s e t s c u r r e n t l y h e l d i n t h e IOLTA T r u s t Account o f P o t t s & Young, A t t o r n e y s , L.L.P.; "F. So as t o p r e s e r v e the assets of the [Archer estate], i t i s further ordered that the promissory n o t e i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 1 9 , 1 0 4 . 7 0 ... h e l d b y S h i r l e y R i v e r a i s ORDERED t o b e i m m e d i a t e l y p a i d from the liquid a s s e t s c u r r e n t l y h e l d i n t h e IOLTA Trust Account o f P o t t s & Young, A t t o r n e y s , L.L.P." The be paid trial court's order provided that the attorney as f o l l o w s : " a . $ 1 9 , 4 7 4 . 3 6 ... f r o m t h e l i q u i d a s s e t s a s s e t s s t a t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 8, s u p r a ; of the "b. $ 1 6 5 , 8 0 9 . 8 6 ... a n d a n y o t h e r f u t u r e a l l o w a b l e a t t o r n e y f e e s a r e t o be r e c o v e r e d f r o m t h e e v e n t u a l sale of the Willingham Road or Michael Court p r o p e r t y or from the f u t u r e recovered l i q u i d assets owed through the settlement agreement herein referenced. "c. Guardian ad L i t e m f e e o f [$]2182.50 from t h e l i q u i d a s s e t s o f t h e a s s e t s s t a t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 8, supra." 7 fees 1090093; 1090094; Archer its May Archer 27, 1090096 moved t h e 2009, timely trial order; court the to trial alter, court amend, denied or the vacate motion. appealed. Standard of Review "Our s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w i s de n o v o : ' B e c a u s e t h e issues presented by [this appeal] concern only q u e s t i o n s of law i n v o l v i n g s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w i s de n o v o . See T a y l o r v . Cox, 710 So. 2d 40 6 ( A l a . 1998 ) . ' W h i t e h u r s t v. B a k e r , 959 So. 2d 69, 70 ( A l a . 2 0 0 6 ) . T h i s C o u r t h a s also said: " ' [ I ] t i s t h i s Court's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n a case i n v o l v i n g s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n to g i v e e f f e c t to the l e g i s l a t u r e ' s i n t e n t i n enacting a s t a t u t e when t h a t i n t e n t is m a n i f e s t e d i n the wording of the s t a t u t e . Bean D r e d g i n g [ , LLC v. A l a b a m a D e p ' t o f R e v e n u e ] , 855 So. 2 d [ 5 1 3 ] a t 517 [(Ala. 2003)]. ... "'"'If the language of the s t a t u t e i s u n a m b i g u o u s , t h e n t h e r e i s no room f o r j u d i c i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n and the c l e a r l y expressed i n t e n t of the l e g i s l a t u r e m u s t be g i v e n e f f e c t . ' " ' " P i t t s v . Gangi, 8 96 So. 2d 4 3 3 , 436 ( A l a . 2004 ) (quoting D e K a l b C o u n t y LP Gas Co. v . S u b u r b a n G a s , I n c . , 72 9 So. 2d 270, 275 ( A l a . 1 998), quoting in turn earlier cases). In d e t e r m i n i n g the i n t e n t of the l e g i s l a t u r e , we m u s t e x a m i n e t h e s t a t u t e as a w h o l e a n d , i f p o s s i b l e , give e f f e c t to each s e c t i o n . Employees' Retirement Sys. of Alabama v. H e a d , 369 So. 2 d 1 2 2 7 , 1228 (Ala. 1979).' "Ex p a r t e E x x o n M o b i l (Ala. 2005). Further, Corp., 92 6 So. 2d 303, "'when d e t e r m i n i n g l e g i s l a t i v e i n t e n t f r o m t h e l a n g u a g e u s e d i n a s t a t u t e , a c o u r t may 8 30 9 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 explain the language, b u t i t may n o t detract from or add t o the s t a t u t e . S i e g e l m a n v . Chase M a n h a t t a n Bank (USA), N a t ' l A s s ' n , 575 So. 2d 1 0 4 1 , 1045 ( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) . When t h e l a n g u a g e i s c l e a r , t h e r e i s no room for judicial construction. E m p l o y e e s ' R e t i r e m e n t System [v. Head], 3 6 9 So. 2 d [ 1 2 2 7 , ] 1 2 2 8 [ ( A l a . 2002)].' "Water Works & Sewer 607 (Ala. 2002)." Ex parte Birmingham 200 9] So. 3d Bd. o f Selma, Bd. o f Educ., , 833 S o . 2 d 6 0 4 , [Ms. 1 0 7 1 5 3 9 , November 6, ( A l a . 200 9 ) . Discussion Archer presents the following issue on appeal: "When reasonable, necessary and appropriate attorneys fees are i n c u r r e d i n producing a recovery f o r an e s t a t e , and t h o s e f e e s a r e a g r e e d upon by a l l of t h e p a r t i e s and approved by t h e c o u r t , can t h e t r i a l c o u r t t h e n d e c l a r e t h o s e f e e s t o be a s s e t s o f a b e n e f i c i a r y , and order t h e law f i r m e a r n i n g those f e e s t o p a y t h e money t o t h i r d - p a r t y c r e d i t o r s i n violation of the s t a t u t o r y p r i o r i t y o f payment e n u m e r a t e d i n [ A l a . Code 1975,] § 4 3 - 2 - 3 7 1 ? " Archer's Archer brief, p. 7. In conjunction with this argument, contends: "[T]he court d e c l a r e d i n Paragraph 8 t h a t t h e l i q u i d a s s e t s h e l d by P o t t s & Young A t t o r n e y s , L.L.P., f o r a t t o r n e y s f e e s , a r e a l l a s s e t s o f [ A p r i l ' s ] ... e v e n though t h e [Girdner e s t a t e ] and t h e [Archer e s t a t e ] have n o t been c l o s e d o u t . [ A p r i l ' s ] e n t i t l e m e n t t o any r e m a i n i n g a s s e t s n e t o f payment o f c l a i m s i n accordance with § 4[3]-[2]-371, cannot y e t be determined." 9 1090093; 1090094; Archer's brief, Alabama to be 1090096 pp. Code 15-16 1975, (citations § 43-2-371, to the record provides: "The d e b t s a g a i n s t t h e e s t a t e s o f d e c e d e n t s p a i d i n the f o l l o w i n g order: "(1) The funeral "(2) The administration. "(3) the fees Expenses of and the charges last Archer fees a of of sickness. " ( 4 ) T a x e s a s s e s s e d on t h e e s t a t e decedent previous to h i s death. "(6) The argues other that the § 43-2-371 by trial court g i v i n g the payment such, death decedent." violated payment of the the plain attorney both the Coffee Memorial H o s p i t a l , which the trial court characterized as expense mortgage behind debts of the of of "an priority are expenses. " ( 5 ) D e b t s due t o e m p l o y e e s , as f o r s e r v i c e s rendered the year of the of the decedent. language omitted). of Mark A r c h e r ' s against the residence contends t h a t i n the present falls of last where claim illness," April and by the resides. the the payment of a t t o r n e y estate. fees first Archer case the payment of a t t o r n e y u n d e r § 4 3 - 2 - 3 7 1 ( 2 ) as a p a r t o f " [ t ] h e f e e s and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n " of Eliza has 10 Therefore, priority over Archer fees charges claims, the payment of 1090093; all 1090094; other debts 1090096 of the Archer argued in the estate other than the funeral expenses. Archer 371(2), "[t]he fees and trial court charges of that c a s e i n c l u d e d an a w a r d o f r e a s o n a b l e costs. The the court's as l i t i g a t i o n Archer maintained necessary to behalf [April]" of preserve were both the the ... [Girdner "[a]ll litigation and estate] and and estate] [April], Finally, the reimbursement Attorneys, appropriate the for trial of and a l l costs are the are court's L . L . P . , and and of of by fees and that approved and on attorneys the value by court's order a of total held above-referenced of by states expenses this estate] d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d to t o J a m e s I r b y , P.C., approved the estate] the assets order and in found of Archer's trial expenditures recovery [Girdner [Archer the above, increasing w e r e n e c e s s a r y as b e i n g preservation for of the 43-2- complex, p r o t r a c t e d efforts Additionally, costs ... and attorney noted "was assets that $544,315.00." that the responsible "directly of order, § administration" present trial under to the [Girdner this Court." that Potts "[t]he & Young were n e c e s s a r y Court." 2 the We and therefore A s n o t e d , t h e d e f e n d a n t b e l o w , J e f f r e y H. A r c h e r , the p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e G i r d n e r e s t a t e , f i l e d no b r i e f 2 11 1090093; agree 1090094; with 1090096 Archer's court's findings attorney fees and charges generally establish and of contention costs Cashion v. award as 59 "fees Code I l l . App. held that and 2d "reasonably charges 1975, and 201, i t necessary the of 2d as "fees 43-2-371(2). § of See 745, a 754-55 208 N.E.2d be be re Estate 122, classified shown (Ala. conservatorship-fee a d m i n i s t r a t i o n " under In trial reasonable cases q u a l i f y So. citing must that award under 885 of a c l a i m may administration," the classification 194, before appeal i n the present Torbert, ( a f f i r m i n g the Ala. that administration" 2003) 371(2), on that of 125 as "an 43-2- Desisles, (1965), the f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n and § which expense charge of was b e n e f i t of the estate"). Under attorney the fees plain and costs in as "fees and second p r i o r i t y those fees claim by and language costs Eliza priority as mortgage against w i t h t h i s C o u r t , and, to the t r i a l c o u r t ' s of § the residence 43-2-371, present charges Memorial "[e]xpenses the the therefore Coffee of should the cases should hold administration," and be paid before the sickness," i n which A p r i l both holds and third the first resides, which as a r e s u l t , he h a s w a i v e d a n y f i n d i n g s as t o t h i s i s s u e . 12 of of H o s p i t a l , which last award objection 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 holds sixth priority trial c o u r t , however, p r i o r i t i z e d payment o f t h e a t t o r n e y f e e s b e h i n d payment Archer discretion to of the decedent." of the above-referenced contends proceeds because unambiguous, as " o t h e r d e b t s that determine "a claims. judge priority of does not payments (emphasis o m i t t e d ) . be followed." Archer's In support of this have from the s t a t u t e governing such p r i o r i t y and must The the estate i s clear, brief, p. argument, A r c h e r D o u g l a s v . K i n g , 889 S o . 2 d 534 ( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) , 18 cites f o rthe following proposition: "'"'The fundamental rule of statutory c o n s t r u c t i o n i s t o a s c e r t a i n and g i v e e f f e c t t o t h e intent of the l e g i s l a t u r e i n enacting the statute. Words u s e d i n a s t a t u t e must be g i v e n t h e i r n a t u r a l , p l a i n , o r d i n a r y , and commonly u n d e r s t o o d meaning, and where p l a i n l a n g u a g e i s u s e d a c o u r t i s bound t o interpret that language t o mean e x a c t l y w h a t i t says. If the language of the statute i s u n a m b i g u o u s , t h e n t h e r e i s no r o o m f o r j u d i c i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n and t h e c l e a r l y e x p r e s s e d i n t e n t o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e must be g i v e n e f f e c t . ' " ' " 889 S o . 2 d a t 538 Health quoting (quoting & Mental Retardation, i n turn Ex p a r t e A l a b a m a 840 S o . 2 d 8 6 3 , 867 Ex p a r t e M a s t e r Boat Builders, 2 d 1 9 2 , 196 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) , q u o t i n g i n t u r n Eng'g A s s o c s . Corp., Dep't ( A l a . 2002), I n c . , 779 S o . IMED C o r p . v . S y s t e m s 602 S o . 2 d 3 4 4 , 346 13 of Mental (Ala. 1992)). 1090093; We order, 1090094; agree w i t h Archer's by f a i l i n g priority with over the court's order 889 given language i s due So. 2d their bound to says.'"'"); Selma, Eisenberg (1932) an estate] first, 833 So. 2d this trial issue. See in a statute must language i s used commonly a court t o mean e x a c t l y w h a t i t of Educ., language are 604, So. i s clear, 3d at there is no class."); App. 699, 522 and ( A l a . 2002 ) ) ; 511, 512-13, [prioritizing certain, legally fourth 607 90 C o l o . s e c o n d , and t h i r d , system to and Bd. costs the ordinary, language to i t s p l a i n the ranking plain, and c o n s t r u c t i o n . ' " ( q u o t i n g Water Works & Sewer according 703, Thus, ("'"'Words u s e d [statutory] statute Demands w h i c h as fees court's i s inconsistent 43-2-371. Birmingham is definite, construed § and where p l a i n v. R e i n i n g e r , ("The the t r i a l of a t t o r n e y reversed a t 538 parte room f o r j u d i c i a l of t o be natural, ("'When t h e Bd. of interpret that Ex that above-referenced claims, u n d e r s t o o d meaning, is contention t o g i v e the award the plain Douglas, be 1090096 payment and 10 P.2d [in statute of 585 under must be classifications Durham v. (1999) ("The prioritizing 14 94 6 against and t a k e p r e c e d e n c e o v e r a ... S.E.2d 583, 945, of c l a i m s mandatory, also and i n d i s p u t a b l e i n t e n d m e n t . adjudicated City see Hicks, demand o f 135 N.C. purpose of the payment of claims 1090093; against 1090094; an estates, all estate] is to with proper safeguards to Archer's remaining with § assets e s t a t e and Archer's Thus, contention net 4[3]-[2]-371, Girdner brief Archer has on." no A l a . R. other affirm, the (Ala. of r u l e s to b e n e f i t 4 60 Co. 2d So. stated particular to v. 7 P., 392, 134 6, that in determined" support with because the of 3d parts fails this issue. requirements that 1347 are arguments to the cases, relied the record any authority, f u n c t i o n to when perform J.K. (quoting Inc., (Ala. 988 quoting ( A l a . C i v . App. the to party 15 we 306 1986), unable of appellant.'"'" 300, General, closed, of d u t y nor an the cite to to accordance yet been which provides and for (Ala. "[w]e argument claims 2008) So. 2d in turn 1 984)). address the v. 998 , i n t u r n H e n d e r s o n v. A l a b a m a A & M 392 2d entitlement shall contain "citations So. Media of be comply App. research Corp., "[April's] e s t a t e have not appellant 2008), quoting So. yet authorities, legal McCutchen has administration definite that f o r i t i s n e i t h e r our UMS-Wright Nix, and authority in failed " ' " ' W h e r e an all 483 orderly payment the Archer i n an a p p e l l a n t ' s b r i e f statutes, of cannot cites Rule 28(a)(10), may provide creditors."). As any 1090096 1 004 Univ., Gibson This merits v. Court of asserting i t presents a no 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 authorities in Chiropractic & Health 2006) So. (citing of i t . " Edgeworth v. Family C t r . , P.C., 940 S o . 2 d 1 0 1 1 , 1 0 2 2 Crutcher 2 d 8 2 , 97 order support v . Wendy's o f N o r t h (Ala. 2003)). Alabama, Accordingly, i s due t o be a f f i r m e d as t o t h i s (Ala. Inc., the t r i a l 857 court's issue. Conclusion B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , we a f f i r m t h e t r i a l insofar in as i t c o n c l u d e d the trust April's that the l i q u i d account of Potts any a u t h o r i t y i n support trial court's the attorney Eliza the Coffee residence the t r i a l with this fees of that issue. i n s o f a r as i t p r i o r i t i z e d behind t h e payment o f b o t h Memorial H o s p i t a l and t h e f i r s t i n which A p r i l L.L.P., a r e wholly f a i l e d to present Court resides. order currently held & Young, A t t o r n e y s , assets because Archer order assets court's to this We r e v e r s e t h e t h e payment o f the claim mortgage by against We r e m a n d t h e c a u s e t o c o u r t w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o e n t e r an o r d e r consistent opinion. 1090093 -- AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; AND PART; REVERSED IN PART; AND REMANDED WITH I N S T R U C T I O N S . 1090094 -- AFFIRMED IN REMANDED WITH I N S T R U C T I O N S . 16 1090093; 1090094; 1090096 -- 1090096 AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; AND REMANDED WITH I N S T R U C T I O N S . Cobb, C . J . , and Woodall, P a r k e r , a n d Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 17

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