Discussion Board #1 - Beckworth v.

Beckworth

Due 10 Sep by 23:59 Points 50 Submitting an external tool Available 23 Aug at 10:00 - 10 Sep at 23:59

Beckworth v. Beckworth

On February 2, 2011, Ann Beckworth purchased aproperty in Mississippiand is the sole record owner. Her brother, Archie
Beckworth, was living in Chicago, Illinois, at the time Ann purchased the property. He began making monthly payments of $325
to Ann, following the purchase of the property. Three years later, Archie moved to Mississippi and started living in the residence
with Ann. He continued to make monthly payments to her.
"In May 2019, Ann notified Archie by certified mail to remove his personal belongings from the property. She subsequently filed
an eviction action with the justice court, alleging that Archie was a tenant, 'renting a room' in the residence where both parties
lived. Archie appealed the justice court's ruling to the circuit court on September 19, 2019. He also fled a motion to stay the
judgment of eviction, pending the appeal, claiming that Ann did not have legal authority to remove his personal property from
the residence because Archie was not a tenant, but has an 'ownership interest' in the property.
Atrial was held on November 4, 2019. Ann reiterated her claim that Archie was merely renting a room from her. Archie.
however, insisted that the two siblings had an oral agreement to be co-owners of the subject property and that the monthly
payments were toward purchasing the home, not rent. Citing the statute of frauds, the circuit court refused to allow Archie to
submit any evidence to support his claim of equitable estoppel. The court entered its judgment on November 19, 2019, ordering
Archie 'to vacate the home' within ten days. The circuit court further denied Archie's motion to stay the judgment pending
appeal on December 3, 2019.
The following day, Archie filed with the Court of Appeals of Mississippi. The question before the court of appeals was whether it
was a reversible error for the circuit court to exclude evidence of equitable estoppel based on the statute of fraud. Archie claims
that 'the failure to enforce the agreement in this case would result in adetriment to him and unjust enrichment to Ann in the
approximate amount of $35,000 based upon said payments by Archie."
The MississippiSupreme Court has expressly held:
Without a doubt, our statute of frauds provides that nocontract for the conveyance of an interest in land is binding unless signed
by the party to be charged. Equitable estoppel, however, is awell-established exception to oûr statute of frauds. Our cases have
repeatedly held that, where the elements of equitable estoppel are present, the statute of frauds constitutes no bar to
enforcement of that to which a party has agreed.

Because of this precedent, the Court of Appeals stated that, "in the present case,the circuit court, citing the statute of frauds.
erroneously denied Archie any opportunity to demonstrate the elements of equitable estoppel. 'Accordingly. they reverse the
circuit court's decision and remand for further proceedings on this issue"
Instructions: Read the case below along with the provided research. Write your case study according to the example provided
under the Modules tab in Canvas. You can also review the requirements in the Course Guide. Make sure you include your name.
title, date, questions, and answers to allquestions. Include a citations page at the end of your case study. Submit your case
study prior to the deadline. The Submissions Tab is located below each assignment.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.If Ann Beckworth was the sole owner of the property in question, what should Archie Beckworth have done before
making any payments to his sister?
2. Can oral agreements ever prove property ownership? Why or why not?
3. What is Equitable estoppel? What is the statute of frauds? Why are these legal concepts important in this case?
4. Explain how a written, contract would have prevented this fiasco between the siblings.
5. Assume that this case is now in your court. How would you rule in this case and why?

RESEARCH:

Beckworth v. Beckworth, 312 So. 3d 391 (Miss. App. 2021). https:/casetext.com/case/beckworth-v-beckworth-1

Equitable Estoppel, Legal Dictionary,
https://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Equitable+Estoppel
JAMES CHEN, "Statute of Frauds: Purpose, Contracts It Covers, and Exceptions" Investopedia, December 22. 2022.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/statute-of-frauds,asp
"Oral Contracts: Everything You Need to Know." UpCounsel,
https:/www.upcounsel.com/oral-contracts
Chapter 12, Business Law: Principles and Cases in the Legal Environment, Third Edition, Daniel V.
Davidson, Lynn M. Forsythe
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