Robertson v. Jacobs Cattle Co. ( 2015 )

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Nebraska A dvance Sheets
292 Nebraska R eports
ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
James E. Robertson et al., appellants, v.
Jacobs Cattle Company, a partnership,
et al., appellees.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed December 4, 2015. No. S-15-026.
1. Partnerships: Accounting: Appeal and Error. An action for a partner-
ship dissolution and accounting between partners is one in equity and is
reviewed de novo on the record.
2. Equity: Appeal and Error. On appeal from an equity action, an appel-
late court resolves questions of law and fact independently of the trial
court’s determinations.
3. Courts: Judgments. The proper place to pay a judgment is the clerk of
the court in which the judgment is obtained.
4. Courts: Appeal and Error. Where the Nebraska Supreme Court
reverses a judgment and remands a cause to the district court for a spe-
cial purpose, on remand, the district court has no power or jurisdiction
to do anything except to proceed in accordance with the mandate as
interpreted in the light of the Supreme Court’s opinion.
Appeal from the District Court for Valley County: K arin L.
Noakes, Judge. Affirmed.
Patrick J. Nelson, of Law Office of Patrick J. Nelson,
L.L.C., for appellants.
David A. Domina and Megan N. Mikolajczyk, of Domina
Law Group, P.C., L.L.O., and Gregory G. Jensen for appellees.
Heavican, C.J., Connolly, McCormack, Miller-Lerman,
Cassel, and Stacy, JJ.
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
Cassel, J.
INTRODUCTION
For the third time, we consider an appeal from a judi-
cial dissociation of four partners from a family agricultural
partnership having assets consisting primarily of real estate.
The main issue is whether the district court, in recalculat-
ing the buyout distributions, correctly implemented our man-
date from the second appeal. The dissociating partners rely
on a hypothetical capital gain on the real estate but ignore
that this “gain” exceeds the total profit on the hypothetical
sale of all of the partnership’s assets. We affirm the district
court’s judgment.
BACKGROUND
In Robertson v. Jacobs Cattle Co. (Robertson I),1 we upheld
the judicial dissociation of four partners of the Jacobs Cattle
Company, a family partnership owning agricultural land in
Valley County, Nebraska. However, we reversed the district
court’s calculation of the buyout price to be paid to the four
dissociating partners and remanded the cause for further pro-
ceedings on that issue.
In the second appeal (Robertson II),2 we again reversed the
district court’s calculation of the buyout price to be paid to the
dissociating partners. We remanded the cause with direction
that the court calculate the buyout distributions “by adding
12.5 percent of the profit received from a hypothetical sale of
the partnership’s assets . . . to the value of each dissociated
partner’s capital account.”3 The district court purported to fol-
low our mandate, but the dissociating partners filed this appeal
from its order.
The underlying facts concerning this appeal are primarily
contained in Robertson I and will be briefly summarized here.
1
Robertson v. Jacobs Cattle Co., 285 Neb. 859, 830 N.W.2d 191 (2013).
2
Robertson v. Jacobs Cattle Co., 288 Neb. 846, 852 N.W.2d 325 (2014).
3
Id. at 853, 852 N.W.2d at 331.
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Nebraska A dvance Sheets
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
The Jacobs Cattle Company was organized in 1979. As noted
above, the partnership consisted of agricultural land, compris-
ing 1,525 acres. As of September 2011, the land was appraised
at a value of $5,135,000.
At the time of litigation, the partnership consisted of seven
partners. (Our opinion in Robertson I stated that the partner-
ship had six partners. But as indicated in Robertson II, one
individual represented two trusts, and thus, the partnership had
seven partners.) The partners included:
• Ardith Jacobs, as trustee of the Leonard Jacobs Family Trust;
• Ardith Jacobs, as trustee of the Ardith Jacobs Living
Revocable Trust;
• Dennis Jacobs;
• Duane Jacobs;
• Carolyn Sue Jacobs;
• James E. Robertson; and
• Patricia Robertson.
In July 2007, Duane, Carolyn, James, and Patricia (collec-
tively the dissociating partners) filed a complaint against the
partnership, Ardith, and Dennis (collectively the remaining
partners). The complaint sought a dissolution and winding up
of the partnership under the Uniform Partnership Act of 1998.
In an amended answer and counterclaim, the remaining part-
ners alleged that dissociation, not dissolution, was the appro-
priate remedy.
After a bench trial, the district court determined that no
grounds for dissolution of the partnership had been established
under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 67-439(5) (Reissue 2009). However,
the court ordered dissociation of the four partners by judicial
expulsion pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 67-431(5)(a) and (c)
(Reissue 2009). And after receiving buyout proposals from the
parties, the court arrived at a distribution scheme wherein each
of the dissociating partners received 5.33 percent of the total
liquidation value of the partnership.
In Robertson I, we affirmed the dissociation of the four
partners and the date of the judicial expulsion as the valuation
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Cite as 292 Neb. 195
date of the partnership’s assets. We also observed that the
buyout price was governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 67-434(2)
(Reissue 2009), which provides:
The buyout price of a dissociated partner’s interest is the
amount that would have been distributable to the disso-
ciating partner under subsection (2) of section 67-445 if,
on the date of dissociation, the assets of the partnership
were sold at a price equal to the greater of the liquidation
value or the value based on a sale of the entire business
as a going concern without the dissociated partner and
the partnership were wound up as of that date. Interest
must be paid from the date of dissociation to the date
of payment.
And another statute requires that profits and losses be cred-
ited and charged to the partners’ accounts. Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 67-445(2) (Reissue 2009) provides:
Each partner is entitled to a settlement of all partnership
accounts upon winding up the partnership business. In
settling accounts among the partners, profits and losses
that result from the liquidation of the partnership assets
must be credited and charged to the partners’ accounts.
The partnership shall make a distribution to a partner
in an amount equal to any excess of the credits over the
charges in the partner’s account. A partner shall contrib-
ute to the partnership an amount equal to any excess of
the charges over the credits in the partner’s account but
excluding from the calculation charges attributable to an
obligation for which the partner is not personally liable
under section 67-418.
We concluded that based upon the plain language of
§ 67-434(2), “the proper calculation must be based upon the
assumption that the partnership assets, here the land, were sold
on the date of dissociation, even though no actual sale occurs.”4
4
Robertson I, supra note 1, 285 Neb. at 877, 830 N.W.2d at 205.
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
And as to the appreciation in the land’s value, we determined
that the capital gain from a hypothetical sale of the land was to
be considered “profit” in the context of § 67-445(2). However,
there was no indication as to whether such profit should have
been distributed based upon the partners’ capital account own-
ership or their right to partnership income.
Under the operative partnership agreement, each partner was
allotted a capital account and an income account. A partner’s
capital account was “directly proportionate to the original
Capital contributions as later adjusted for draws taken from the
Partnership.” As for the income account, the partnership’s “net
profits and net losses . . . as determined by generally accepted
accounting principles” were to be credited or debited to each
partner’s income account in proportion to the partner’s votes in
the partnership. Out of a total of eight votes in the partnership,
the dissociating partners each possessed one vote. Thus, each
of the dissociating partners was entitled to 12.5 percent of the
partnership’s “net profits.”
In determining its initial buyout price, the district court
considered the value of the partnership’s assets, including the
appreciated value of the land, less the partnership’s liabilities,
and arrived at a liquidation value of $5,212,015 for the part-
nership. The court then applied each partner’s capital account
ownership percentage to the partnership’s total liquidation
value. Thus, because each dissociating partner possessed 5.33
percent capital account ownership, each dissociating partner
received 5.33 percent of the total liquidation value.
We reversed the district court’s buyout price and remanded
the cause for further proceedings concerning the treatment
of the appreciation in the value of the land. In Robertson I,
it was unclear whether the capital gain which would be real-
ized from a hypothetical sale of the land should be distributed
based upon the partners’ capital account ownership or as “net
profits” of the partnership. As the district court determined, if
the capital gain was distributable based upon capital account
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
ownership, each of the dissociating partners was entitled to
5.33 percent. But if the capital gain was to be treated as “net
profits,” each of the dissociating partners was entitled to
12.5 percent.
On remand, the district court received expert testimony
from both the dissociating partners and the remaining part-
ners. Ultimately, the court determined that the capital gain
from a hypothetical sale of the land did not constitute “net
profits.” Rather, the court determined that the capital gain
should be distributed in accordance with the partners’ capital
account ownership. This resulted in a lower buyout distribu-
tion to the dissociating partners, and the dissociating part-
ners appealed.
In Robertson II, we concluded that the district court erred
in determining that the capital gain from a hypothetical sale of
the land would not constitute “net profits.” In making its deter-
mination, the court had relied upon expert testimony that gain
or income could not be recognized until an actual sale of the
land took place. But this testimony was based upon the prem-
ise that no actual sale occurred. And we determined that this
premise was inconsistent with the controlling statute. As we
explained, “Appellees’ experts’ analysis ignored the statutory
requirement that the buyout distributions be calculated based
on the assumption that the assets had been sold and the result-
ing profits distributed to the partners.”5
However, we determined that there was sufficient evidence
for the district court to calculate the buyout distributions on
remand. The dissociating partners’ expert witness testified
that under generally accepted accounting principles, the term
“net profits” includes capital gain from the sale of land. Thus,
we concluded that the “capital gain from the hypothetical
sale of land should be distributed to the partners in accord­
ance with [the provision] governing the distribution of ‘net
5
Robertson II, supra note 2, 288 Neb. at 852, 852 N.W.2d at 330.
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
profits.’”6 And we remanded the cause with direction that the
district court “enter an order which calculates a buyout dis-
tribution by adding 12.5 percent of the profit received from a
hypothetical sale of the partnership’s assets . . . to the value
of each dissociated partner’s capital account.”7
On remand, the dissociating partners offered seven exhibits
for the district court’s consideration: this court’s opinion and
mandate, a certified copy of the application to spread mandate
and determine judgment amount filed with the district court,
affidavits and e-mails pertaining to attempts by the dissoci-
ating partners’ counsel to obtain a bill of exceptions for the
evidentiary hearing following our mandate in Robertson I, and
the bill of exceptions for that hearing. The remaining partners
objected, essentially based on this court’s determination that
there was sufficient evidence already in the record for the dis-
trict court to calculate the buyout distributions on remand. The
district court sustained the objections.
The district court purported to follow our mandate in
Robertson II. To that effect, it again identified the net liquida-
tion value of the partnership as $5,212,015. From that amount,
it subtracted the total balance of the partners’ capital accounts
to arrive at a gain of $4,052,201 from the liquidation:
Net liquidation value $5,212,015
Total balance of capital accounts ($1,159,814)
Gain on liquidation of partnership $4,052,201
The court then distributed 12.5 percent of the gain to each
of the dissociating partners, in addition to the balance of the
dissociating partners’ capital accounts. Thus, the dissociating
partners received:
• Duane $598,497  =  ($4,052,201  ×  .125)  +  $91,972
• Carolyn $598,501  =  ($4,052,201  ×  .125)  +  $91,976
• James $598,977  =  ($4,052,201  ×  .125)  +  $92,452
• Patricia $598,976  =  ($4,052,201  ×  .125)  +  $92,451
6
Id.
7
Id. at 853, 852 N.W.2d at 331.
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Nebraska A dvance Sheets
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
Finally, the court ordered that the buyout distributions be paid
to the “Clerk of the District Court of Valley County.”
The dissociating partners filed a timely notice of appeal. We
denied the remaining partners’ motion for summary affirmance.
After briefing and oral argument, the appeal was submitted.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
In the current appeal, the dissociating partners assign nine
errors. In those errors, summarized and condensed, they con-
test (1) the ultimate amount of their buyout distributions; (2)
the district court’s authority, under this court’s mandates, to
require that payment be made to the clerk of the district court;
and (3) the exclusion of the evidence offered by the dissociat-
ing partners.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1,2] An action for a partnership dissolution and accounting
between partners is one in equity and is reviewed de novo on
the record.8 On appeal from an equity action, an appellate court
resolves questions of law and fact independently of the trial
court’s determinations.9
ANALYSIS
Buyout Distributions.
In Robertson II, we concluded that the “capital gain from
the hypothetical sale of land should be distributed to the part-
ners in accordance with [the provision] governing the distri-
bution of ‘net profits.’”10 We remanded the cause, directing
the district court to “enter an order which calculates a buyout
distribution by adding 12.5 percent of the profit received from
a hypothetical sale of the partnership’s assets . . . to the value
8
Robertson II, supra note 2.
9
Id.
10
Id. at 852, 852 N.W.2d at 330.
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
of each dissociated partner’s capital account.”11 On remand, the
district court utilized a net liquidation value of the partnership
in the amount of $5,212,015. From that figure, it subtracted
the total balance of the partners’ capital accounts, resulting in
a gain of $4,052,201 from the liquidation.
The dissociating partners contend that the district court
should have calculated the buyout distributions beginning
with a capital gain from the hypothetical sale of the farm-
land. From the land’s market value, they would compute
the capital gain by subtracting the land’s original purchase
price. They assert that they each should have received 12.5
percent of this capital gain, in addition to the balance of
their capital accounts. According to the dissociating partners,
such a calculation would result in distributions of $718,685
to Duane, $718,689 to Carolyn, $719,165 to James, and
$719,164 to Patricia.
We acknowledge that we made frequent reference to “capi-
tal gain” in Robertson I and Robertson II; however, the dis-
sociating partners’ proposed calculation is too simplistic. The
dissociating partners overlook the proper framework of a
hypothetical liquidation of the partnership. As we stated in
Robertson II, “[T]he buyout distributions were to be calculated
based on the assumption that the partnership assets had been
liquidated and the profits from such liquidation were cred-
ited to the partners.”12 And in determining the buyout price,
§ 67-445(2) provides that “profits and losses that result from
the liquidation of the partnership assets must be credited and
charged to the partners’ accounts.”
The capital gain from the sale of the land does not repre-
sent the “profits and losses” from the liquidation of all of the
partnership’s assets. As the dissociating partners conceded at
oral argument, the record does not reflect what the profit or
11
Id. at 853, 852 N.W.2d at 331.
12
Id.
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
loss would have been on the hypothetical sale of the remain-
ing assets, i.e., the assets other than the land. They attempt to
minimize the significance of this concession by stating that
the “value” of the personal property was only about $35,000.
But the liquidation value of the remaining assets tells us noth-
ing regarding the gain or loss from their hypothetical sale.
Thus, the dissociating partners’ arguments are premised only
on the gain or loss from part of the assets. Our discussion in
Robertson II makes it abundantly clear that the hypothetical
sale must apply to all of the partnership assets. The dissociat-
ing partners’ calculations fail this basic requirement.
As determined by the district court, the net liquidation value
of the partnership was $5,212,015. And none of the parties
contested this figure in Robertson I.
In order to calculate the “profits and losses,” the total
balance of the partners’ capital accounts in the amount of
$1,159,814 must be subtracted from the net liquidation value.
The partners’ capital accounts are not profits derived from
the hypothetical liquidation of the partnership’s assets, but
represent equity in the partnership and, as the dissociating
partners conceded at oral argument, included all of the cumu-
lative profits and losses during the life of the partnership
other than those flowing from the hypothetical sale of net
partnership assets. Thus, as identified by the district court,
the net profits from the liquidation would be $4,052,201. And
each of the dissociating partners was entitled to 12.5 percent
of this amount, in addition to the balance of his or her capi-
tal account.
Based on the above analysis, we conclude that the district
court correctly followed our mandate to determine a buyout
distribution by adding “12.5 percent of the profit received
from a hypothetical sale of the partnership’s assets” to the
balance of each dissociating partner’s capital account. The
dissociating partners rely wholly upon the use of pure capital
gain in calculating the buyout distributions. But that approach
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ROBERTSON v. JACOBS CATTLE CO.
Cite as 292 Neb. 195
fails to implement the statutory framework of §§ 67-434(2)
and 67-445(2).
Adopting the dissociating partners’ argument would lead
to an absurd result. Their argument assumes a total partner-
ship “pie,” as of the valuation date, of at least $6,173,514
($5,013,700 capital gain on real estate + $1,159,814 capital
accounts). But the “pie” to be divided cannot exceed the total
hypothetical liquidation value of all of the partnership’s assets
less the total amount of the partnership’s liabilities. The undis-
puted evidence shows that this amount was $5,212,015. Their
argument simply does not “add up.” The assigned errors con-
cerning the buyout distribution have no merit.
Payment to Clerk of District Court.
[3] The dissociating partners assert that the district court
was without authority, within the parameters of this court’s
mandate, to order that the buyout distributions be paid to the
clerk of the district court. They argue that there was no previ-
ous order or mandate that buyout payments be made to the
clerk of the district court. But under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2214
(Reissue 2008), the clerk of each court “shall exercise the
powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed upon
him by . . . the common law” and is “under the direction of his
court.” And we have previously indicated that the proper place
to pay a judgment is the clerk of the court in which the judg-
ment is obtained.13 This assigned error lacks merit.
Exclusion of Evidence on Remand.
[4] Finally, the dissociating partners claim that the district
court erred in refusing to receive the exhibits they offered at
the hearing on remand following Robertson II. Our opinion
in Robertson II indicated that the record was sufficient to
determine the appropriate buyout distributions to be paid to
the dissociating partners. And our mandate did not permit
13
See Myers v. Miller, 134 Neb. 824, 279 N.W. 778 (1938).
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a further evidentiary hearing to be conducted. Where the
Nebraska Supreme Court reverses a judgment and remands a
cause to the district court for a special purpose, on remand,
the district court has no power or jurisdiction to do anything
except to proceed in accordance with the mandate as inter-
preted in the light of the Supreme Court’s opinion.14 Thus,
the district court did not err in refusing to receive addi-
tional evidence.
CONCLUSION
We find no error in the district court’s calculation of the
buyout distribution on remand, or in its order that such dis-
tributions be paid to the clerk of the district court. Further,
we find no error in the district court’s exclusion of evidence.
Therefore, we affirm.
A ffirmed.
Wright, J., not participating.
14
VanHorn v. Nebraska State Racing Comm., 273 Neb. 737, 732 N.W.2d 651
(2007).