Westover v. Wees ( 2018 )

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.
IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE
TODD WESTOVER, Plaintiff/Appellant,
v.
JAMES F. WEES, et al., Defendants/Appellees.
No. 1 CA-CV 17-0005
FILED 3-15-2018
Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
No. CV2016-090138
The Honorable David King Udall, Judge
AFFIRMED
COUNSEL
McCarthy Law PLC, Scottsdale
By Kevin F. McCarthy, Cy Treven Hainey
Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant
Broening Oberg Woods & Wilson, PC, Phoenix
By Donald Wilson, Jr., Brian Holohan
Counsel for Defendants/Appellees
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Judge Kenton D. Jones delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Randall M. Howe and Judge James B. Morse Jr. joined.
WESTOVER v. WEES, et al.
Decision of the Court
J O N E S, Judge:
¶1 Todd Westover appeals the trial court’s entry of summary
judgment in favor of Appellees (collectively, Wees). For the following
reasons, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2 In January 2016, Westover filed a complaint against Wees
alleging he committed legal malpractice by failing to timely appeal an
adverse ruling regarding child support in a domestic relations matter.
Shortly after Wees answered the complaint, Westover filed a certification
pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 12-2602(A),1 stating that
expert witness testimony was not necessary to prove the attorney’s
standard of care or liability. Both parties moved for summary judgment.
¶3 After the matters were fully briefed and oral argument held,
the trial court issued an under advisement ruling, finding Westover’s
malpractice claim failed for two reasons. First, the court found Westover
could not prove Wees caused him damages because the thirty-day time to
appeal the child support ruling had not begun to run, as that ruling was not
contained in a signed, final order. See Occhino v. Occhino, 164 Ariz. 482, 484
(App. 1990) (noting an unsigned minute entry is not appealable) (citing
Rancho Pescado, Inc. v. Nw. Mut. Life Ins., 140 Ariz. 174, 181 (App. 1984)).
Second, the court found Westover did not establish the applicable standard
of care or liability through expert testimony. The court then entered an
order dismissing Wees’ complaint with prejudice.
¶4 Westover moved, unsuccessfully, for reconsideration and
then timely appealed the final judgment. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
A.R.S. §§ 12-120.21(A)(1) and -2101(A)(1).
DISCUSSION
¶5 Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law.” Ariz. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Nat’l Bank of Ariz. v. Thruston, 218
Ariz. 112, 115, ¶ 14 (App. 2008). When reviewing a grant of summary
judgment, we view the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving
party. Campbell v. SZL Props., Ltd., 204 Ariz. 221, 223, ¶ 8 (App. 2003)
(quoting Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. v. Fed. Ins., 172 Ariz. 104, 107 (App.
1 Absent material changes from the relevant date, we cite a statute’s
current version.
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WESTOVER v. WEES, et al.
Decision of the Court
1992)). We then determine de novo whether a genuine issue of material fact
exists and whether the trial court correctly applied the substantive law. Id.
(citing Gonzalez v. Satrustegui, 178 Ariz. 92, 97 (App. 1993)). We may affirm
summary judgment on any ground argued by the parties and supported by
the record. KB Home Tucson, Inc. v. Charter Oak Fire Ins., 236 Ariz. 326, 329,
¶ 14 (App. 2014) (citing Mutschler v. City of Phx., 212 Ariz. 160, 162, ¶ 8 (App.
2006)).
¶6 To prove a claim for legal malpractice, a plaintiff must prove
duty, breach, causation, and damages. See Glaze v. Larsen, 207 Ariz. 26, 29,
¶ 12 (2004) (citing Phillips v. Clancy, 152 Ariz. 415, 418 (App. 1986)). Thus,
“even where a plaintiff has discovered actual negligence, if he has sustained
no damages, he has no cause of action.” Amfac Distribution Corp. v. Miller,
138 Ariz. 152, 154 (1983).
¶7 On appeal, Westover argues that the trial court erred in
dismissing his claims with prejudice without providing him an opportunity
to submit an expert affidavit. Westover does not, however, challenge the
court’s finding that he cannot prove Wees caused him damage by failing to
appeal the child support order when the time to appeal had not yet run.
Westover has thereby waived review of those findings. See Schabel v. Deer
Valley Unified Sch. Dist. No. 97, 186 Ariz. 161, 167 (App. 1996) (“Issues not
clearly raised and argued in a party’s appellate brief are waived.”) (citations
omitted). Because Westover does not dispute the finding that he cannot
prevail on the causation and damage elements of his malpractice claim,
irrespective of the presence or absence of expert testimony regarding the
standard of care or liability, both the entry of summary judgment in Wees’
favor, and the dismissal of Westover’s claims with prejudice, were proper.
CONCLUSION
¶8 The trial court’s order is affirmed. As the prevailing party,
Wees is awarded his costs incurred on appeal upon compliance with
ARCAP 21(b).
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