Sumpter v. Kosinski , 165 Mich. App. 784 ( 1988 )

Cynar, J.

Plaintiff, Alana C. Sumpter, filed this action in circuit court to have an antenuptial agreement declared void. Following a six-day bench trial, the antenuptial agreement was declared void and defendants appeal as of right. Richard John Sumpter, Charles Lynn Sumpter and Kipling Thomas Sumpter filed a motion to intervene, which was granted by this Court.

Plaintiff was thirty years old at the time of trial. She was a 1975 university graduate with a b.a. degree in communications.

In November, 1981, plaintiff was employed by Manufacturer’s Bank as a trust officer. She met Charles L. Sumpter at a business meeting in connection with the nursing home association of which Sumpter was executive director. By December, 1982, the relationship between plaintiff and Charles Sumpter had become more than a business relationship and they were discussing marriage.

Sometime prior to December, 1982, plaintiff was married to a Mr. MacDonald. However, she wanted a divorce and Charles Sumpter referred her to his own attorney, Raymond Kosinski. Kosinski represented plaintiff in her divorce from Mr. MacDonald. She received her personal property, household furniture and furnishings, china and silver, a 1983 Chrysler automobile and cash in bank accounts of approximately $45,000 as a property settlement.

When plaintiff and Charles Sumpter first discussed marriage, they chose a date in May over a September wedding. However, in late May, 1983, the wedding date was changed to June 9, 1983.

On about June 1, 1983, plaintiff became ill. On Monday, June 6, 1983, her illness was diagnosed as strep throat and she was given medication. Later that evening, plaintiff was in bed when Charles Sumpter discussed wedding plans with her. He said that his accountant had called and suggested that an antenuptial agreement be signed so that Sumpter’s assets would not be exposed again as they had in his prior divorces. Charles Sumpter informed plaintiff that the agreement would provide that in the event of divorce plaintiff would receive $15,000 per year for every year less than six that the parties were married and plaintiff was not employed. The $15,000 figure was arrived at because it was approximately one-half of plaintiff’s salary. Six years was chosen because that was the longest that either plaintiff or Charles Sumpter had ever been married. This entire conversation lasted ten or fifteen minutes. Plaintiff testified that Charles Sumpter led her to believe that the agreement that was to be prepared would provide for division of property in the event of divorce.

On the following day, Tuesday, June 7, plaintiff stayed home from work again because of her illness. Charles Sumpter had gone to work during the day. He returned home in the evening but left again around 6:00 p.m. to attend a bachelor party. Before he left, he told plaintiff that she should call Kosinski the next day to set up a time for signing the antenuptial agreement. Charles returned home from the bachelor party at about 1:00 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, June 8. He and plaintiff stayed up until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. because plaintiff wanted to discuss some intimate matters revealed to her by Charles Sumpter’s mother in a conversation that evening. The antenuptial agreement was not discussed.

Plaintiff went to work on the morning of Wednesday, June 8, even though she was still quite ill. She felt she had to go into the office because she had been on vacation the prior week, was out because of illness on Monday and Tuesday, and would be gone again on Thursday and Friday for her wedding and honeymoon. Plaintiff arrived at her office at 8:00 a.m. At about 9:00 a.m., she called Kosinski. Plaintiff spoke to Kosinski directly and they agreed that plaintiff would stop at his office on her way home from work at 3:30 or 4:00 p.m.

After having a late lunch with a friend, plaintiff arrived at Kosinski’s office at about 3:00 p.m. Kosinski was at a picnic and had not returned yet, so plaintiff waited for him. She knew she had arrived early but was hoping Kosinski would be ready to see her because she was still ill and wanted to go home. When Kosinski did arrive, he spoke to plaintiff for several minutes about Charles Sumpter’s prior marriages. He had the antenuptial agreement in front of him but did not give plaintiff a copy. Kosinski reviewed the agreement with plaintiff by reading certain portions verbatim and paraphrasing other portions. The portions that were read verbatim were the sections listing assets of both Charles Sumpter and plaintiff. Plaintiff told Kosinski that she no longer had $45,000 in bank accounts. Kosinski had gotten the $45,000 figure from plaintiff’s prior divorce settlement and had not verified it with plaintiff prior to preparing the antenuptial agreement.

When Kosinski mentioned estate planning provisions, plaintiff expressed surprise because Charles Sumpter had not previously mentioned estate planning to her. Kosinski said that he had told Charles Sumpter that estate planning provisions had to be in the document because an agreement that only contemplated divorce was not valid in Michigan. Further, Kosinski said that Charles Sumpter had instructed him to prepare a new will. Kosinski then showed plaintiff the will that Charles Sumpter executed in 1980, which left his former wife, Rhonda, an equal share with his three children. Plaintiff was told that Rhonda’s name would be taken out and her name would be inserted.

After Kosinski reviewed the agreement with plaintiff, he asked her if she was planning on having her own attorney. Plaintiff said she did not have time because she had many things to take care of prior to her wedding the next day. Kosinski said that he could represent both plaintiff and Charles Sumpter. He never told plaintiff that she should get her own attorney or that there could be any conflict because of his dual representation. Rather, he led plaintiff to believe that it was in her best interest to sign the agreement. The meeting lasted thirty-five to forty minutes. Plaintiff signed the antenuptial agreement, but Kosinski did not give her a copy to take with her. She received a copy in the mail about one month later.

Plaintiff returned home around 6:00 that evening. Some of Charles Sumpter’s family had already arrived for the wedding the next day. Plaintiff talked to Charles Sumpter privately and asked him about the estate provision in the antenuptial agreement. Charles Sumpter corroborated Kosinski’s statement about redrafting the will to provide for plaintiff.

Approximately two months after the wedding, Charles Sumpter had a heart attack. After an eight- or nine-day hospital stay, he died on August 17, 1983. His previous (1980) will was never changed.

On cross-examination, plaintiffs testimony was not consistent with her prior answers to interrogatories and the allegations in the complaint. Although asked in the interrogatories to describe every alleged fraudulent act of Kosinski, plaintiff never mentioned that he actually showed her Charles Sumpter’s 1980 will and said she would get one-quarter of the estate in place of Rhonda Sumpter. Furthermore, plaintiff said during her deposition that she understood that the antenuptial agreement allowed her and Charles Sumpter to dispose of their assets by will in any manner they wished. Plaintiff explained that she meant Charles Sumpter had discretion as to the remaining seventy-five percent of his assets. Plaintiff reiterated her belief that execution of a new will was to be part of the antenuptial agreement. However, she never asked Charles Sumpter whether he had executed a new will. When she received a signed copy of the antenuptial agreement in the mail, she neither discussed it with her husband nor took it to an attorney.

Katherine Gilson, a former attorney for Alana Sumpter, testified that she spoke on the telephone with Kosinski shortly after Charles Sumpter’s death. Kosinski said that it was his understanding that Charles Sumpter was going to change his 1980 will to provide that Alana Sumpter would receive one-fourth of his estate. Katherine Gilson signed an affidavit regarding her conversation with Kosinksi and it was introduced as an exhibit. A note made by Gilson during a conversation with Alana Sumpter was also introduced. The note said that Charles Sumpter had prepared a new will but it was never signed.

Immediately before resting her case, plaintiff moved to amend her complaint, requesting in the alternative, should the trial court determine the antenuptial agreement to be legal and valid, that the court further determine and hold that plaintiff had a right to the home, identified personal property and one-fourth of the residue of the estate. The motion was granted although opposed by the defense.

Kosinski testified that he prepared the antenuptial agreement according to Charles Sumpter’s instructions. The agreement was typed in final form around June 1, but Kosinski could not recall whether he made any attempt to contact plaintiff. Kosinski claimed it was the morning, not the afternoon, of June 8, that plaintiff came to see him. He was under the impression that plaintiff and Charles Sumpter would come to his office together. When Charles Sumpter was not with plaintiff, Kosinski asked where he was and plaintiff said he was coming in the afternoon.

When Kosinski saw that plaintiff was alone, he told her to see her own attorney. She said that Kosinski was her attorney. Kosinski insisted that there were many attorneys in the area, including the Manufacturer’s Bank Trust Office, where Kosinski knew someone who would most likely be willing to review the agreement. Plaintiff insisted that she did not want to and that the time factor was not important because all she had on her schedule for the evening was dinner.

Kosinski left the room to discuss the matter with his partner. They reviewed In re Benker Estate, 416 Mich 681; 331 NW2d 193 (1982), and determined that the standards set out in that case had been met and it would be proper to represent plaintiff. Plaintiff signed a statement consenting to the representation. Plaintiff also signed the ante-nuptial agreement. Kosinski said that plaintiff had the antenuptial agreement in her hand as he went over it with her. After going through the entire agreement, he asked plaintiff if it accurately reflected the agreement she made with Charles Sumpter. She said, "I think so.” Kosinski told plaintiff that it had to be the agreement she had made or else it would be changed. He told her not to sign the agreement if she did not want to. According to Kosinski, plaintiff said that Charles Sumpter told her a long time ago that he would not marry her unless an antenuptial agreement was made. Kosinski said he never showed plaintiff a copy of Charles Sumpter’s 1980 will because that would have been unethical and because all wills in his office are kept in a locked file drawer. Kosinski pointed out to plaintiff that she was getting a very small percentage of Charles Sumpter’s estate under the antenuptial agreement and she was getting no cash. She replied that if anything ever happened to Charles Sumpter, she would sell the house.

On the first day of trial, defendants made a motion in limine to exclude evidence relating to the finances of Charles Sumpter and Fairlane Convalescent Home, which he owned. The trial judge ruled that the financial information could not be admitted to show that there was nondisclosure of assets because plaintiff had not alleged nondisclosure. However, plaintiff had alleged that the disparity in assets between Charles Sumpter and plaintiff rendered the antenuptial agreement void. Therefore, the financial information would be admitted to show that there was a large disparity in assets.

Officers of Comerica Bank, Fairlane Convalescent Home, and Charles Sumpter’s cpa were called as witnesses. They produced financial documents relating to the approximately $2,000,000 net worth of Charles Sumpter and the Fairlane Convalescent Home. The records were admitted into evidence. Counsel for defendants made a continuing objection on grounds of relevancy to most of the financial records. However, Comerica Bank’s credit file for Fairlane Convalescent Home was admitted without objection.

The Comerica Bank credit file contained copies of newspaper articles regarding indictments in federal court against Charles Sumpter and others for Medicare fraud. Defendants objected on grounds of relevancy. The objection was overruled.

At the conclusion of trial, the trial judge ruled that Kosinski’s dual representation of plaintiff and Charles Sumpter constituted a constructive fraud. Thus, the antenuptial agreement was void. At the hearing on entry of judgment, the trial judge made further rulings at the request of defendants. He ruled that he was finding in favor of plaintiff on all counts of the complaint except the one for "undue influence and duress,” which had already been disposed of by summary disposition.

i

DID THE CIRCUIT COURT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION?

Intervening appellants argue that the probate court had exclusive jurisdiction. Plaintiff maintains that her action is purely equitable in nature and the probate court does not have equitable jurisdiction.

Defendant Kosinski moved to transfer the action from circuit court to probate court. The circuit court denied the motion. Plaintiff argues that intervening appellants are precluded from raising the subject matter issue on appeal since they did not timely appeal from the trial court’s order.

It is well established that subject matter jurisdiction can be considered at any stage of a proceeding because it calls into question the power of the court to hear a case. Actions of the parties cannot operate as a waiver of or consent to subject matter jurisdiction. Goodman v Bay Castings Div of Gulf & Western Industries, 49 Mich App 611, 625; 212 NW2d 799 (1973); Hastings v Hastings, 154 Mich App 96, 99; 397 NW2d 232 (1986).

The circuit court had subject matter jurisdiction over the instant case. MCL 600.605; MSA 27A.605 provides:

Circuit courts have original jurisdiction to hear and determine all civil claims and remedies, except where exclusive jurisdiction is given in the constitution or by statute to some other court or where the circuit courts are denied jurisdiction by the constitution or statutes of this state.

Exclusive jurisdiction is granted to the probate court over certain matters as provided in MCL 700.21; MSA 27.5021. If a matter is not one of exclusive jurisdiction, the probate court may exercise concurrent jurisdiction with other courts over matters that are ancillary to the settlement of an estate as provided under MCL 700.22; MSA 27.5022.

There are no Michigan cases deciding whether a claim contesting the validity of an antenuptial agreement is a "matter relating to the settlement of the estate of a deceased person,” which would give the probate court exclusive jurisdiction. In York v Isabella Bank & Trust, 146 Mich App 1; 379 NW2d 448 (1985), this Court had to decide whether the probate court had exclusive jurisdiction over claims against a personal representative of an estate. This Court held that some of the claims were within the exclusive jurisdiction of the probate court, while others were exclusively within the jurisdiction of the circuit court (i.e., intentional infliction of emotional distress).

It was held in In re Kus Estate, 136 Mich App 343; 356 NW2d 23 (1984), that a probate court has no jurisdiction over a breach of contract claim made by the personal representative of an estate. The breach of contract claim had nothing to do with administration of the estate, and a probate court does not“ become a court of general jurisdiction merely because an estate is involved. The probate court can only acquire jurisdiction when jurisdiction is expressly granted to it by statute.

However, it is not clear under York or Kus whether determining the validity of an antenuptial agreement is a matter related to the estate of a deceased person which would give the probate court exclusive jurisdiction. Therefore, since the probate court has not expressly been granted exclusive jurisdiction over claims attacking the validity of antenuptial agreements, and since the Legislature has granted concurrent jurisdiction over matters affecting the distribution of estates, we conclude that the circuit court had jurisdiction over this matter.

Intervening appellants, relying on In re Cain Estate, 147 Mich App 615; 382 NW2d 829 (1985), contend that, once a court acquires jurisdiction, its jurisdiction cannot be interfered with by another court. However, as indicated in Kus, the mere fact that an estate is involved will not necessarily vest jurisdiction in the probate court.

Additionally, the necessity for equitable relief is another reason for finding that the probate court does not have exclusive jurisdiction. The trial court’s ruling on this issue does not require reversal.

II

DID THE CIRCUIT COURT ERR IN DENYING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT?

Defendants moved for summary judgment pursuant to GCR 1963, 117.2(1) and (3). Under Rule 117.2(3), now MCR 2.116(C)(10), the factual support for a claim is tested. The trial court must consider the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, admissions, and other documentary evidence to determine whether it is possible for the claim to be supported at trial. Brooks v Reed, 93 Mich App 166, 170; 286 NW2d 81 (1979), lv den 411 Mich 862 (1981). Under Rule 117.2(1), now MCR 2.116(C)(8), the standard to be applied is whether plaintiffs claim, on the pleadings alone, is so clearly unenforceable as a matter of law that no factual development could possibly justify a right to recovery. Stewart v Isbell, 155 Mich App 65, 74; 399 NW2d 440 (1986).

The request for summary judgment was based on the plaintiffs deposition which indicated that plaintiff knowingly signed the antenuptial agreement giving up her rights under the Revised Probate Code. Defendants also argued that any alleged promise by Sumpter to change his will lacked specificity and that a broken promise or unfulfilled prediction cannot constitute fraud. Further, even if decedent promised to provide for plaintiff, this promise was in contravention of the parol evidence rule and the statute of frauds. The trial court denied the motion on the basis that the case was not ripe for summary judgment.

On January 14, 1985, defendants renewed their motion for summary judgment. Following a further hearing and the filing of supplemental briefs, the trial court issued a written opinion. Summary judgment was granted on Count iv, "Lack of Am-pie Opportunity to Review and Obtain Independent Advice”, in which duress and undue influence were alleged, on the basis that there was no genuine issue of material fact or that there was a failure to state a valid claim. Summary judgment was denied on the other counts of plaintiffs complaint on the basis that the trial court found a genuine issue of material fact existed regarding whether the antenuptial agreement was entered into with the understanding that plaintiff would be provided for in the will of Charles Sumpter. More specifically, the court observed that the question was whether, at the time the antenuptial agreement was executed, Alana C. Sumpter understood and Charles Sumpter intended that Alana C. Sumpter would receive one-fourth of the estate of Charles Sumpter.

Summary judgment for a defendant may properly be entered where a plaintiff’s deposition testimony negates causation. Such judgment may also be entered if statements of fact are made in a clear, intelligent and unequivocal manner in absence of any explanation or showing of mistake. Stefan v White, 76 Mich App 654, 659; 257 NW2d 206 (1977); Southern Rendering Co v Standard Rendering Co, 112 F Supp 103, 108 (ED Ark, 1953).

Plaintiffs complaint, deposition testimony and answers to interrogatories raised a genuine issue of material fact as to whether she signed the antenuptial agreement with the understanding that her husband to be would change his will to provide for her.

Defendants further argue that, since it is premised on an oral agreement, plaintiffs claim is barred as a matter of law by the parol evidence rule. However, the trial court noted in its opinion that the parol evidence rule bars extrinsic evidence of prior agreements only when the parties intended their written agreement to be final and complete. It was noted in Goodwin, Inc v Orson E Coe Pontiac, Inc, 392 Mich 195, 204; 220 NW2d 664 (1974), and NAG Enterprises, Inc v All State Industries, Inc, 407 Mich 407, 410-411; 285 NW2d 770 (1979), that there are a number of exceptions to the parol evidence rule. Extrinsic evidence is admissible to show that a contract has no effect because of fraud, illegality, or mistake, or to show that the contract was only partially integrated because essential elements were not reduced to writing. Id. In this case, extrinsic evidence was admissible to show that plaintiff executed the agreement through fraud or by mistakenly believing that her husband would provide for her in his will. Also, extrinsic evidence was properly introduced to show that the antenuptial agreement was not fully integrated. Therefore, summary judgment was correctly denied.

in

DID THE CIRCUIT COURT ERR IN DENYING INTERVENING APPELLANTS’ MOTION TO INTERVENE?

We review this issue although intervening appellants did not file a timely appeal from the circuit court order denying intervention.

GCR 1963, 209.1, now MCR 2.209(A), provides:

.1 Intervention of Right. Anyone shall be permitted to intervene in an action

(1) when a statute of this state or a court rule confers an unconditional right to intervene; or

(2) by stipulation of all the parties; or

(3) upon timely application when the representation of the applicant’s interest by existing parties is or may be inadequate and the applicant may be bound by a judgment in the action; or

(4) when the applicant is so situated as to be adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of property which is in the custody or subject to the control or disposition of the court or officer thereof.

Intervention is a matter of discretion with the trial judge. Dudkin v Civil Service Comm, 127 Mich App 397, 404; 339 NW2d 190 (1983). However, the court rule should be liberally construed to allow intervention when the applicant’s interest may be inadequately represented. D’Agostini v City of Roseville, 396 Mich 185, 188-189; 240 NW2d 252 (1976).

Gerald Coughlin, guardian ad litem of Kipling Thomas Sumpter, filed a motion to intervene in the circuit court proceeding alleging that Kipling Thomas Sumpter’s interest might not be adequately represented. A personal representative has the duty to protect the estate from unlawful demands. In re Brack Estate, 121 Mich App 585, 590; 329 NW2d 432 (1982). After a hearing, the circuit court ruled that there had been no showing that Kipling Thomas Sumpter’s interest might not be adequately represented. Additionally, the circuit court found that Gerald Coughlin, as guardian ad litem, had no standing to intervene in circuit court. The probate court has no authority to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent a minor in a circuit court proceeding. King v Emmons, 283 Mich 116, 125; 277 NW 851 (1938). The trial court did not abuse its discretion in its ruling on this issue.

iv

DID THE CIRCUIT COURT ERR IN RULING THAT THE ANTENUPTIAL AGREEMENT WAS VOID?

Appellants contend that the circuit court erred in holding that the antenuptial agreement was void. In his opinion, the trial judge considered the factors set out in In re Benker Estate, supra. In Benker, the Supreme Court found that an ante-nuptial agreement must be based on a fair disclosure of assets by both parties in order to be valid and that when certain factors are present, a rebut-table presumption of nondisclosure will be created. The factors involved in the Benker case were: (1) the lack of any provision for the widow in the agreement; (2) the fact that the deceased husband had a very ample estate compared to the widow’s estate; (3) the modest lifestyle of the decedent husband and the lack of any outward appearance of wealth; (4) the fact that there was no indication, in general or in specific terms, that either party was informed as to the property interests of the other; (5) the lack of independent counsel representing the widow; (6) the fact that the attorney who drafted the agreement could only testify as to his normal procedure, which included a discussion of assets but did not include the disclosure of undisclosed assets; and (7) the fact that the scrivener testified that he was not concerned with what the widow would get. 416 Mich 683-684. In the instant case, most of the factors in the Benker case are not present. In dicta, the Benker Court also stated:

In order for an antenuptial agreement to be valid, it must be fair, equitable, and reasonable in view of the surrounding facts and circumstances. It must be entered into voluntarily by both parties, with each understanding his or her rights and the extent of the waiver of such rights. [Benker, supra, p 689.]

In the instant case, the trial judge applied the factors in Benker in ruling that the antenuptial agreement was invalid. He noted, however, that Benker was only considered as a guideline because Benker dealt with the issue of nondisclosure of assets while the instant case did not allege nondisclosure. The trial court had ruled on a motion in limine that evidence of nondisclosure of assets could not be introduced because it was not alleged by plaintiff.

After considering some of the factors in Benker, the trial judge made his initial ruling that the antenuptial agreement was invalid because of constructive fraud. A trial court’s finding will not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. Darnell v Auto-Owners Ins Co, 142 Mich App 1; 369 NW2d 243 (1985). Special deference is given to the trial court’s assessment of the credibility of witnesses. Kroll v Crest Plastics, Inc, 142 Mich App 284; 369 NW2d 487 (1985). Unlike active fraud, constructive fraud has been defined as a breach of a legal or equitable duty that tends to deceive others, regardless of the moral guilt of the person committing the fraud. Goodrich v Waller, 314 Mich 456; 22 NW2d 862 (1946); General Electric Credit Corp v Wolverine Ins Co, 420 Mich 176; 362 NW2d 595 (1984).

There is no dispute that the deceased had been married four times, had three children, and the plaintiff had been married twice prior to the present marriage. Plaintiff, age twenty-eight, was an experienced, well-educated, mature and sophisticated businesswoman. There is no dispute that plaintiff was aware Kosinski had represented Sumpter individually and in his past business dealings. There is no dispute that plaintiff was aware of the wealth of the deceased before the marriage. There is also no dispute that the deceased had prior marital problems and was desirous of protecting his assets in the event of a divorce. There is also no dispute that the time moved swiftly from the engagement in November, 1982, with the changing of marriage dates, to the date of the marriage. It should be observed that, when affairs of the heart are involved, legal guidance no matter how appropriate is often not heeded. There is no dispute that the provision for a home for plaintiff identified the marital home as being the home the parties were occupying at the time of the husband’s demise. Based on what was known about the business dealings of the deceased, the mortgage on the marital home was no surprise. However, there was no indication that such encumbrance would exist if death was expected. It was undisputed that this was a happy marriage which ended after sixty-nine days as a result of this thirty-nine-year-old husband’s unexpected death.

Assuming reliance on the definition of constructive fraud to be a breach of legal or equitable duty that tends to deceive others, regardless of the moral guilt of the person committing the fraud, the trial court’s reasons for ruling the antenuptial agreement void were clearly erroneous.

The proofs do not support a breach of any legal or equitable duty owed by Kosinski to plaintiff. Kosinski’s actions did not tend to deceive, nor was the plaintiff deceived. Neither do the proofs support any tendency to deceive on the part of the deceased. The only reasonable conclusion, based on the plaintiff’s allegations, appears to be that the deceased intended to provide for the plaintiff in a will but had not gotten around to doing so when death unexpectedly occurred. In effect, the trial court’s disposition in favor of the plaintiff far exeeded her expectations of inheriting one-fourth interest in the estate of the deceased. The trial court’s determination of this issue was clearly erroneous. The issue to be decided by the trial court, based on the alleged promises of the deceased husband, should have been whether the plaintiff was entitled to receive the marital home, the identified personal property and a one-fourth interest in the residue of the estate.

v

DID THE CIRCUIT COURT ERR IN ADMITTING EVIDENCE REGARDING ALLEGED BUSINESS DEALINGS AND FINANCIAL RECORDS OF CHARLES SUMPTER?

Based on the record in this case, the substantial financial worth of the deceased was no more relevant than the nominal financial worth of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, as well as the deceased, was well aware of the disparity when agreeing not to have any designs on the property of the other as the antenuptial agreement provided. For the most part, the financial testimony and appraisals were of little evidentiary value. Portions of the Comerica Bank credit file, and particularly the newspaper clippings contained therein regarding Charles Sumpter’s indictment, were inadmissible evidence. The trial court did not give this evidence much weight. We find that any error which may have occurred was harmless.

vi

DID THE CIRCUIT COURT ERR IN FAILING TO SUFFICIENTLY SET FORTH FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW?

MCR 2.517(A) provides:

(1) In actions tried on the facts without a jury or with an advisory jury, the court shall find the facts specially, state separately its conclusions of law, and direct entry of the appropriate judgment.

(2) Brief, definite, and pertinent findings and conclusions on the contested matters are sufficient, without overelaboration of detail or particularization of facts.

(3) The court may state the findings and conclusions on the record or include them in a written opinion.

In Birkenshaw v Detroit, 110 Mich App 500, 509; 313 NW2d 334 (1981), this Court held that "Minimal compliance with the court rule is satisfactory, provided it reveals the factual basis for the court’s ultimate conclusions.”

In this case, the trial court’s adoption of items one through thirty-nine of plaintiffs brief, except as modified or disputed, and the additional findings made where facts were disputed placed an enormous burden on appellate review in deciphering what findings of fact were made by the trial court. Appellate review was accomplished only after expending an enormous amount of time.

We reverse the trial court’s decision and remand this case for the trial court to determine whether the deceased agreed to provide for the plaintiff in a will, as contended and, if so, to determine whether the plaintiff is entitled to receive the marital home, the identified personal property, and a one-fourth interest in the residue of the estate.

Reversed and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

R. C. Anderson, J., concurred.