Puklich v. Puklich
Puklich v. Puklich
Opinion
[¶1] Elyse Puklich appeals, and Blayne Puklich cross-appeals, from a district court judgment awarding Blayne Puklich $6,012,230. The award includes the value of Blayne's interest in an automobile dealership, the value of Blayne's interest in a real estate partnership, and damages arising from Elyse's breach of fiduciary duties. We reverse in part and affirm in part.
I
[¶2] Elyse and Blayne Puklich are siblings who held ownership interests in a closely-held corporation, Puklich Chevrolet, Inc. ("PCI"), a limited partnership, B&E Holdings, LLP ("B&E"), and a closely-held corporation, B&E Bismarck Limited ("Limited"). PCI operates an automobile dealership in Bismarck. B&E owns, and leases to PCI, the real estate upon which the dealership is operated. Limited operates a reinsurance business to which PCI allocates a portion of premiums paid by automobile purchasers for extended warranties, credit and disability life insurance, and contractual liability insurance policies.
[¶3] On November 21, 2013, Elyse initiated this action to dissolve B&E. Blayne responded and asserted his own claims, including a request that the district court compel Elyse to buy his interest in PCI and seeking an award of damages for breach of fiduciary duties.
[¶4] A trial was held in late November and early December 2017. On June 28, 2018, the district court issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and ordered the entry of a judgment. The judgment dissolved B&E, compelled Elyse to purchase Blayne's interest in B&E for $2,940,660, and compelled Elyse to purchase Blayne's 19 percent ownership interest in PCI for $2,622,000. The judgment also awards Blayne $300,000 for Elyse's breach of a fiduciary duty owed to Blayne with respect to B&E. Finally, the judgment provides an award of $149,570 to Blayne for Elyse's breach of her duty of loyalty and fair dealing in winding up Limited. The judgment was entered on July 30, 2018.
[¶5] Elyse appeals the district court's valuation of B&E, the valuation of PCI, and the failure to reduce the value of Blayne's interest in PCI and B&E by the amount of dividends and distributions made to Blayne subsequent to the valuation dates used by the court. Elyse also challenges the determination she breached her fiduciary duty to B&E and the reciprocal award of $300,000 in damages to Blayne, the determination Elyse had breached her fiduciary duty to Blayne as a minority shareholder of PCI, the award of $149,570 related to the winding up of *599 Limited, and several specific findings of fact. Blayne's cross-appeal alleges the court should have determined Elyse breached her fiduciary duties to Blayne, PCI, and Limited by terminating Limited and starting a new reinsurance company, the court erred in valuing damages for Elyse's breach of fiduciary duties to Limited, the court failed to find a breach of fiduciary duties with regard to a real estate transaction in Valley City, and the court abused its discretion in denying Blayne recovery of his attorney fees.
II
[¶6] The district court valued B&E as of November 21, 2013, the date Elyse initiated her petition to dissolve B&E. The court valued PCI as of January 8, 2014, the date of Blayne's first response to Elyse's action. Blayne did not seek a buyout of his interest in PCI until he amended his pleading in June 2016.
[¶7] Elyse challenges the district court's valuation of B&E and PCI. She separately argues that regardless of the accuracy of the court's valuation of B&E and PCI, the court should have reduced the value of Blayne's interest in the two entities by distributions made to Blayne from the entities subsequent to the valuation date. She has not otherwise challenged the valuation dates used by the court.
[¶8] Valuation is a question of fact.
See
,
e.g.
,
Schultz v. Schultz
,
A
[¶9] Both parties provided the district court with expert opinions on the value of B&E, and the court adopted Blayne's expert's valuation. Elyse argues the court erred in adopting Blayne's expert's valuation of real estate owned by B&E because Blayne's expert valued the real estate as a fee simple estate, rather than a leased fee estate, and ignored the leases that provide PCI with use of the property. Real estate value was then used by a second expert to determine the value of the partnership.
[¶10] The district court recognized that Blayne's expert had valued the real property as a fee simple estate and that the expert had not considered the leases providing PCI with use of the property. However, the record also includes evidence that the leases were not "arm's-length" leases and the rent payable under the leases could be increased. Blayne's expert considered the rent that could be generated from market value leases and testified that if the leases reflected market value, the leased fee estate and the fee simple estate would be equal. Because there is evidence *600 in the record supporting the court's finding regarding the value of the real estate held by B&E, we are not left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made, the finding was not induced by an erroneous conception of the law, and the court's finding was not clearly erroneous.
[¶11] Elyse also argues the district court erred in rejecting the application of a minority discount and lack of marketability discount to Blayne's partnership interest. "Discounts for a minority interest and for lack of marketability are conceptually distinct."
Estate of Fleming v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue
,
[¶12] Elyse sought and was granted dissolution of B&E under N.D.C.C. § 45-20-07, which provides for the liquidation of the partnership assets, payment of the partnership debts, and the distribution of the surplus to the partners pursuant to their respective ownership interests. Because the dissolution of B&E results in the liquidation of its assets, the district court's rejection of the application of a minority discount and discount for lack of marketability, was not clearly erroneous.
B
[¶13] Elyse argues the district court erred in its valuation of PCI by accepting the valuation provided by Blayne as a penalty for Elyse's breach of a fiduciary duty and by rejecting the use of valuation discounts. The court concluded as follows:
V. Blayne's Count IV, that Elyse breached her duty of good faith and fair dealing in attempting to unfairly oppress Blayne as a minority shareholder in an effort to buy out his shares of PCI at below fair market value is proven. The Court award[s] no specific damages for the breach, but determines that the fair market value of Blayne's 19 percent ownership in PCI is $2,622,000. Elyse shall pay Blayne the sum of $2,622,000 for his 19 percent ownership interest in Puklich Chevrolet, Inc.
In its findings of fact, the district court found as follows:
177. The Court finds that Elyse has taken calculated steps in the past few years to force Blayne to sell his interest to her and to reduce any funds owing to Blayne from the business. The Court will not discount Blayne's interest as recommended by Sliwoski.
178. The Court finds that Blayne's 19 percent share of PCI is valued at $2,622,000 and orders that Elyse pay Blayne that sum for his 19 percent share.
[¶14] This Court accords great deference to the credibility determinations of a district court.
Interest of Voisine
,
*601 was not limited to making a credibility determination between opposing experts or determining the weight to be given to experts offering opposing views. The court adjusted its finding on the value of PCI to account for Elyse's breach of a fiduciary duty with respect to PCI and, in lieu of awarding damages for the breach, the court adopted the valuation of PCI provided by Blayne's expert.
[¶15] Upon determining that directors, or those in control of a closely-held corporation, have acted fraudulently or illegally to the shareholders, or in a manner unfairly prejudicial to the shareholders, the district court may "dissolve a corporation or grant any equitable relief it deems just and reasonable under certain specified conditions ...."
Brandt v. Somerville
,
[¶16] After finding Elyse had breached her fiduciary duty with regard to PCI, the district court could dissolve the corporation or grant the equitable relief that it deemed to be just and reasonable under the circumstances of this particular case. The court selected a value for PCI within the range of evidence, but in a manner that favored Blayne, as an equitable remedy for Elyse's breach of fiduciary duty. The court's valuation was not induced by an erroneous view of the law, was within the range of evidence presented at trial, and we are not left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made. We conclude the valuation of PCI was not clearly erroneous.
[¶17] Elyse also argues the district court erred in its valuation of PCI by rejecting the use of valuation discounts. This Court has previously noted the following regarding a district court's decision not to apply discounts for lack of control of a closely-held business when the business itself, or those with a controlling interest, have sought to purchase the minority interest:
"[A]lmost all of the courts that have considered the question" have refused to apply a discount in valuing stock to protect a minority shareholder. Christopher Vaeth, Annotation, Propriety of Applying Minority Discount to Value of Shares Purchased by Corporation or its Shareholders from Minority Shareholders ,13 A.L.R.5th 840 , 850 (1993). They realize the diminished value of a minority interest alone, but conclude that fact is irrelevant when the purchaser is the corporation or shareholders who control it. Charland v. Country View Golf Club, Inc. ,588 A.2d 609 , 611-12 (R.I. 1991). Those courts recognize the purpose of the corporate dissolution remedy intends "[n]o discount should be applied simply because the interest to be valued represents a minority interest in the corporation." Blake v. Blake Agency, Inc. ,107 A.D.2d 139 ,486 N.Y.S.2d 341 , 349 (1985). Brown v. Allied Corrugated Box Co., Inc. ,91 Cal.App.3d 477 ,154 Cal.Rptr. 170 , 176 (1979), explained that "the statutes suggest that a minority shareholder who brings an action for the involuntary dissolution of a corporation should not, by virtue of the controlling shareholder's invocation of the buy-out *602 remedy, receive less than he would have received had the dissolution been allowed to proceed."
For shareholders dissenting from changes in a closely-held corporation, the courts fixing "fair value" have often refused to apply a minority discount. See MT Properties, Inc. v. CMC Real Estate Corp. ,481 N.W.2d 383 , 388 (Minn. App. 1992) ("because the legislature has enacted the statute with the evident aim to protect the dissenting shareholder, we must prohibit application of minority discounts when determining 'fair value' in statutory dissenter's rights cases"); In re Valuation of Common Stock of McLoon Oil Co. ,565 A.2d 997 , 1003 (Me. 1989) ; Columbia Management Co. v. Wyss ,94 Or.App. 195 ,765 P.2d 207 , 213-14 (1988). As the Delaware Supreme Court explained in Cavalier Oil Corp. v. Harnett ,564 A.2d 1137 , 1145 (Del. 1989) :
Discounting individual share holdings injects into the appraisal process speculation on the various factors which may dictate the marketability of minority shareholdings. More important, to fail to accord to a minority shareholder the full proportionate value of his shares imposes a penalty for lack of control, and unfairly enriches the majority shareholders who may reap a windfall from the appraisal process by cashing out a dissenting shareholder, a clearly undesirable result.
We agree a trial court ascertaining "fair value" of minority shares under the Business Corporation Act should not automatically discount their value.
Fisher v. Fisher
,
C
[¶18] Elyse appeals the district court's decision not to reduce the amount she is required to pay Blayne for his ownership interests in PCI and B&E for dividend payments and distributions that were made subsequent to the valuation dates for the two businesses. The court acknowledged Elyse's argument, reserved consideration of the post-litigation dividends and distributions until its final judgment, and concluded that because Blayne continued to be an owner of the businesses through trial, he was entitled to keep the distributions he received between the date of valuation and completion of the court-ordered purchases of Blayne's interests.
[¶19] B&E was a partnership, Elyse sought dissolution of the partnership, and Blayne responded with a request to expel Elyse from the partnership. The district court granted the dissolution requested by Elyse, ordered her to compensate Blayne for his ownership interest, and denied Blayne's request to expel Elyse from the partnership.
[¶20] We have recognized that valuation of a partnership ownership interest should be determined as of the date of dissolution.
Red River Wings, Inc. v. Hoot, Inc.
,
[¶21] While we do not agree with Elyse's contention that the dissolution occurred on November 21, 2013, her contention necessarily calls into question the district court's selection of November 21, 2013 as the valuation date when our prior case law provides that the valuation should occur on the date of dissolution.
Red River Wings
,
[¶22] We also note that although the district court's use of a valuation date requested by the parties was different from the dissolution date and was contrary to our case law, the result for Elyse with regard to the post-petition distributions is the same as it would have been had the court applied the law. If the law had been applied, distributions would have been required to have been made until the judicial determination granting the dissolution in July 2018 and the ensuing winding up of the partnership. An application of the law would have delayed the valuation date of Blayne's interest until July 2018, but would not have eliminated the distributions between the filing of the petition on November 21, 2013 and the winding up of the partnership. We conclude the court's valuation of Blayne's ownership interest was not clearly erroneous as a result of the court's decision not to reduce the valuation of B&E by the amount of the post-petition distributions.
[¶23] Elyse also challenged the district court's refusal to reduce the purchase price of Blayne's interest in PCI by the amount of dividends paid to Blayne during the pending litigation. Elyse's challenge to the PCI distributions, like the B&E distributions discussed in paragraphs 18-22, is essentially a challenge to the valuation date used by the court and an assertion that the valuation date should be considered the date Blayne's interest terminated. On appeal, neither party has challenged the valuation date used by the court. Additionally, N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-115(4)(a) provides that the court should determine "the fair value of the shares as of the date of the commencement of the action or as of another date found equitable by the court ." (Emphasis added). As we determined in the prior paragraphs with regard to the post-litigation distribution from B&E, Blayne continued to hold his interest in PCI after the start of the litigation. We conclude the court's valuation of Blayne's ownership interest was not clearly erroneous as a result of the court's decision not to reduce the valuation of PCI by the amount of the dividends paid during the litigation because Blayne continued to own his interest in PCI.
[¶24] In its findings of fact, the district court provided for a continuation of distributions to Blayne until the purchase of his interest in B&E was complete and during any period of appeal. Blayne continued to receive distributions post-trial. "When supervising dissolution of a partnership, the district court acts as a court of equity, giving it the discretion to determine what is fair and equitable under the circumstances."
*604
In re PB&R
,
[¶25] The judgment granted Elyse's request for dissolution of the partnership, compelled the purchase of Blayne's interest, and set a specific price for the purchase. However, the dissolution did not terminate the partnership and the partnership continued until it had completed winding up its affairs. N.D.C.C. § 45-20-02. Winding up the partnership requires the settlement of all partnership accounts. N.D.C.C. § 45-20-07. Although the district court determined the value of Blayne's partnership interest, by granting the dissolution requested by Elyse, the partnership continued until the winding up was complete, including payment to Blayne for his interest in the partnership. It was not an abuse of discretion to require continued payments until the winding up of the partnership was complete and Blayne's interest had been paid.
[¶26] The district court also ordered Elyse to continue to pay dividends to Blayne from PCI until his interest had been purchased by Elyse. A court has a wide range of discretion under N.D.C.C. ch. 10-19.1 to fashion equitable remedies for a breach of fiduciary duty, and we review the court's determination about remedies under the abuse of discretion standard.
See
Danuser v. IDA Mktg. Corp.
,
[¶27] Elyse's argument that post-judgment distributions were inappropriate requires consideration of whether Blayne is receiving a double recovery from post-judgment distributions and post-judgment interest. Recovery of both post-judgment interest and post-judgment distributions would be an inappropriate double recovery.
Ivy v. Calais Co., Inc.
,
D
[¶28] Elyse appeals the determination that she breached her fiduciary duty to B&E. Whether there has been a breach of a fiduciary duty is a finding of
*605
fact subject to the clearly erroneous rule under N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(a).
Akerlind
,
[¶29] The district court determined Elyse had access to and control of the records for B&E. The court also determined Elyse had a duty to provide Blayne with access to those records and had a duty to respond to reasonable requests for partnership information under N.D.C.C. § 45-16-03. The court also determined Blayne was entitled to a share of the profit under N.D.C.C. § 45-16-01(2), and Elyse breached her fiduciary duty to provide Blayne with timely distributions. After a review of the record, we are satisfied there is evidence to support the court's finding that Elyse breached her fiduciary duties to Blayne with respect to B&E, we are not left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made, and we conclude the finding was not clearly erroneous.
E
[¶30] Elyse contends the damage award to Blayne in the amount of $300,000 for Elyse's breach of fiduciary duties to Blayne as a partner in B&E is clearly erroneous because there is no evidence in the record to support the award. The district court's only finding on the issue of damages with regard to the breach of fiduciary duties relating to B&E reads as follows: "The Court awards Blayne the sum of $300,000 to cover the increased cost he had to incur to force Elyse to honor her obligation [of good faith, fair dealings and to act diligently]." The court provided no further explanation.
[¶31] Blayne contends the district court received evidence to support the damage award pursuant to a summary of damages received into evidence during the direct examination of one of Blayne's experts. The summary provides the expert's opinion regarding the fair market value and an alternative fair value of various damage claims. In general, the summary provides a subtotal for each business and then a "Total Before Attorney Fees" totaling the fair market value of the damage claims and the fair value of the damage claims. The expert was questioned about each of the entries above the "Total Before Attorney Fees."
[¶32] Following the summary's "Total Before Attorney Fees," there is a section labeled attorney fees with the amount of $577,486.92. This is the "evidence" Blayne contends supports the district court's award of $300,000 for Elyse's breach of her fiduciary duty with respect to B&E. However, during the examination of Blayne's expert and the review of the summary by the expert, upon reaching the section titled "Total Before Attorney Fees," the following exchange occurred between Blayne's attorney and the expert regarding the remaining entries:
Q. And we didn't talk about attorney's fees so we just ignore the rest of that stuff; right?
A. Correct.
From the transcript of the examination, it is clear the expert did not provide confirmation of the attorney fees incurred by Blayne and was not asked to provide testimony regarding the expenses incurred by Blayne. Blayne offered no other references to the record to support the $300,000 damage award. The district court also denied Blayne's specific request for attorney fees and, even if the uncorroborated line item for attorney fees provided on the damage summary could be relied on, there is no indication what portion, if any, is related to Elyse's breach of her fiduciary duties with respect to B&E.
[¶33] The district court offered no explanation of how the $300,000 damage award was determined. Blayne had the burden to prove damages proximately caused by the
*606
breach of fiduciary duties.
See
Nesvig v. Nesvig
,
F
[¶34] Elyse challenges the district court's finding that she breached fiduciary duties owed to Blayne with regard to the operation of PCI. Elyse contends Delaware law applies because PCI was incorporated in Delaware, and Delaware law does not recognize a cause of action for minority suppression. This Court has not previously been requested to consider the "internal affairs doctrine" which holds the laws of the state of incorporation control the internal affairs of a corporation to insure only one state has the authority to regulate internal corporate affairs rather than imposing conflicting demands on a corporation.
See, e.g.
,
Villari v. Mozilo
,
[¶35] It is not necessary to decide if the laws of this State or the laws of the state of incorporation control the internal affairs of PCI. Both Delaware law and North Dakota law require "those in control of a corporation to act in good faith, and affords remedies to minority shareholders if those in control act fraudulently, illegally, or in a manner unfairly prejudicial toward any shareholder."
Lonesome Dove Petroleum, Inc. v. Nelson
,
[¶36] Whether there has been a breach of a fiduciary duty is a finding of fact subject to the clearly erroneous rule under N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(a).
Akerlind
,
G
[¶37] Elyse challenges the district court's findings of fact supporting the court's determinations discussed previously in this opinion.
[¶38] The first subject matter of the challenged findings of the district court relates to the valuations provided by Blayne's expert witnesses and have been
*607
addressed earlier in this opinion in our discussion of the valuations. To the extent her challenges are to the court's preference of Blayne's valuation expert over her valuation expert, we note that a court's reliance on one party's expert witness over the other party's expert witness is not clearly erroneous.
See
Byron v. Gerring Indus., Inc.
,
[¶39] Elyse also challenges the findings that she had breached various fiduciary duties. As noted earlier in our opinion, whether shareholder or partner action constitutes a breach of fiduciary duties is a question of fact subject to the clearly erroneous rule.
See
Kortum v. Johnson
,
[¶40] Elyse challenges the findings supporting the amount of damages awarded for the breaches. A damage award will be sustained on appeal if it is within the range of evidence presented to the trier of fact.
See
Stuber v. Engel
,
III
[¶41] Blayne, in his cross-appeal, contends Elyse breached her fiduciary duties to Blayne and Limited when she terminated the reinsurance business and formed a new reinsurance business, and Elyse's formation of the new reinsurance business breached her fiduciary duties to Blayne and PCI. Blayne also contends the district court abused its discretion in determining the amount of damages resulting from Elyse's breach of her fiduciary duty to Blayne and B&E, Elyse breached her fiduciary duties to B&E in the purchase of the Valley City real estate, and the court abused its discretion in denying Blayne recovery of his attorney fees.
A
[¶42] Blayne's first two issues in his cross-appeal relate to Elyse's formation of a new reinsurance business to replace Limited. Blayne contends Elyse's formation of the new reinsurance business and the manner in which she replaced Limited breached her fiduciary duties to Blayne and Limited, because she had a fiduciary duty to protect Limited as a going concern. Blayne also contends Elyse breached her fiduciary duties to Blayne and PCI by ceding PCI's Finance and Insurance ("F&I") premiums to the new reinsurance business.
[¶43] The district court addressed Blayne's allegations that Elyse's termination of Limited and formation of a new *608 reinsurance company breached her various fiduciary duties to Blayne, PCI, and Limited. With regard to Blayne and PCI, the court found "Elyse hid her plan for the F&I reinsurance business from Blayne and his representatives ..." and "Elyse intentionally misrepresented and misled Blayne and his agents ...." With regard to Blayne and Limited, the court awarded Blayne "damages for misconduct and breach of duty ...." In its conclusions, the district court noted the following:
Blayne's Count III, that Elyse's actions in winding up the business of B&E Bismarck Limited, the reinsurance company, breached her duty of loyalty and fair dealing, is proven. Elyse did breach her duty in winding up the business of B&E Bismarck Limited. The Court finds no support for Elyse's claim that as a 50 percent owner of the business, she had the full right and authority to shut down the business on her terms without notifying Blayne, the co-owner.
[¶44] Blayne's argument is essentially that, although the district court found Elyse had breached her fiduciary duties, it improperly excluded some of Elyse's actions from the finding there had been a breach. Blayne provides the following quote to support his assertion the court misapplied the law: "as Dealer and Owner of PCI ... had the right to cede future business to ELP," the new reinsurance entity. Blayne also quotes the court's finding: "Elyse had the authority to transfer the PCI business to ELP." Blayne argues the determination that Elyse had the right to cede future business to ELP incorrectly states the law and ultimately results in the court failing to award damages for Elyse's breaches of fiduciary duties associated with winding up Limited and starting a new reinsurance business.
[¶45] Appellate courts review the record and findings as a whole and if the controlling findings are supported by the evidence, they will be upheld on appeal notwithstanding immaterial misstatements in the lower court's decision.
See
Hawkins v. Williams
,
B
[¶46] Blayne contends the district court abused its discretion in its determination of the damages with respect to Elyse's breach of fiduciary duties to Blayne and Limited. Blayne quotes the court's finding that "the term of 10 years [used in calculating future damages] is too long, as Elyse had the authority to transfer the PCI business to ELP." Again, the court, in its conclusions, expressly rejected Elyse's assertion "she had the full right and authority to shut down the [reinsurance] business on her terms ...." Based on the record as a whole, we conclude the court properly considered the question of damages for Elyse's breach of fiduciary duties to Blayne and Limited.
*609 C
[¶47] Blayne asserts the district court erred by not addressing his claim that Elyse breached her fiduciary duties to B&E in the purchase of the Valley City real estate. Blayne's complaint did not mention the Valley City real estate opportunity and, at trial, Elyse objected to the admission of evidence on the issue. Under N.D.R.Civ.P. 15(b), pleadings may be amended at any time to include issues not raised in the pleadings when they are tried by the express or implied consent of the parties. But the rule does not apply when the opposing party objects to the introduction of evidence relating to the unpled claim.
See
Fleck v. Jacques Seed Co.
,
D
[¶48] Blayne contends the district court abused its discretion by failing to award him his attorney fees. We will not reverse a determination on attorney fees absent an abuse of discretion.
Estate of Brandt
,
IV
[¶49] We do not address other arguments raised because they are either unnecessary to the decision or are without merit. The district court's award of damages to Blayne for Elyse's breach of fiduciary duty with regard to B&E was clearly erroneous, and we reverse that portion of the judgment. We affirm the remainder of the judgment.
[¶50] Jon J. Jensen
Lisa Fair McEvers
Daniel J. Crothers
Jerod E. Tufte
Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Elyse PUKLICH, Petitioner, Appellant, and Cross-Appellee v. Blayne PUKLICH, Respondent, Appellee, and Cross-Appellant and Blayne Puklich, Individually and Derivatively as a Shareholder of Puklich Chevrolet, Inc., BE Bismarck Limited & B+E Reinsurance Limited, Plaintiff, Appellee, and Cross-Appellant v. Elyse Puklich, Defendant, Appellant, and Cross-Appellee and ELP Performance Limited, a Nevis Corporation and Puklich Ketterling, Inc., a North Dakota Corporation, Defendants
- Cited By
- 13 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- A district court's findings on valuation of property will not be reversed unless they are clearly erroneous. The application and appropriate amount of a minority discount and a lack-of-marketability discount are questions of fact. If those in control of a closely-held corporation have acted fraudulently, illegally, or in a manner prejudicial to the shareholders, a court may dissolve the corporation or grant any equitable relief it deems just and reasonable. Valuation of a partnership ownership interest should be determined as of the date of dissolution. A court has discretion under partnership and corporation laws to fashion equitable remedies for a breach of fiduciary duties. Appellate courts review the record and findings as a whole and if the controlling findings are supported by the evidence, they will be upheld on appeal notwithstanding immaterial misstatements in the lower court's decision. Unpled claims are not tried by the express or implied consent of the parties when the opposing party objects to the introduction of evidence relating to the unpled claim.