SHAW, Justice.
Jeff Snider ("Jeff"), as administrator of the estate of Thelma June Smith Snider ("Thelma"), deceased, the plaintiff below, appeals from the trial court's dismissal of his complaint against Marquita S. Morgan ("Morgan"), both as executrix of the estate of Troy Ray Snider ("Troy"), deceased, and on behalf of the estate of Harold Snider ("Harold"), deceased, and First Bank of Boaz ("First Bank"), the defendants below, for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
In October 1998, Thelma, the mother of Troy and Harold and the grandmother of Jeff and Morgan, executed a "General Power of Attorney" naming Troy and Harold her attorneys-in-fact. That document specifically provided that the enumerated powers could be performed by either Troy or Harold and that each was not required "to act in union with the other." Thelma died intestate on March 13, 2006. Troy died testate in June 2009. In September 2009, Jeff obtained letters of administration naming him administrator of Thelma's estate. In April 2010, Morgan obtained letters testamentary naming her executrix of Troy's estate. Harold died, presumably testate, see infra note 5, in July 2010.
In February 2011, Jeff sued Morgan, as executrix of Troy's estate; Harold's estate; and First Bank. Jeff's complaint alleged that, before Thelma's death, which was purportedly preceded by her declining physical and mental health resulting in her incompetency, Troy and Harold had "seized control of [Thelma's] assets and used them to their own benefit." The complaint specifically referenced a purported loan of $46,000 to Troy in January 1988 from Thelma and her husband, James F. Snider,
Contending both that Thelma was incompetent at the time the release was executed and that Troy's loan had not been repaid at the time of the release, Jeff's complaint, as subsequently amended, asserted a breach-of-contract claim against Harold's estate (count I), alleging that Harold had breached his contractual duties to Thelma by "us[ing] his purported powers as [Thelma's] purported attorney-in-fact to act contrary to [Thelma's] best interests" and seeking appointment of an administrator ad litem of Harold's estate;
Morgan moved to dismiss Jeff's complaint. Specifically, Morgan argued that the breach-of-contract claim against Troy's estate (count II), the unjust-enrichment claim (count III), and the money-had-and-received claim (count IV) were due to be dismissed under the "rule of repose." See, e.g., American Gen. Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Underwood, 886 So.2d 807, 812 (Ala. 2004) ("The common-law rule of repose, which is an affirmative defense, ... `bars actions that have not been commenced
Over Jeff's opposition, and without stating the reasons for its decision, the trial court granted Morgan's dismissal motion, dismissing the claims against Troy's estate and Harold's estate. Jeff subsequently filed a motion asking the trial court to "reconsider" that ruling (hereinafter referred to as a "motion to reconsider"), which the trial court denied, stating:
Thereafter, First Bank sought and obtained its own dismissal with prejudice from the case in consideration of the fact that it had been named as a party only as a result of its mortgage interest in Troy's real property.
In their briefs to this Court, the parties disagree as to the applicable standard of review. Morgan and First Bank appear to contend that their motions to dismiss were converted to motions for a summary judgment because matters outside the pleadings were submitted, and the trial court failed to exclude those matters. See Rule 12(b), Ala. R. Civ. P. ("If, on a motion asserting the defense numbered (6) to dismiss for failure of the pleading to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56...."). Morgan's motion to dismiss included as an exhibit a copy of the verified statement of claim that Jeff had filed against Troy's estate. Similarly, Jeff's response in opposition to that motion included both the statement of claim and the power of attorney. Nonetheless, the motions to dismiss were not converted to motions for a summary judgment, because the exhibits set out above were specifically referenced in Jeff's complaint and, thus, were not matters outside the pleading. Donoghue v. American Nat'l Ins. Co., 838 So.2d 1032, 1035 (Ala. 2002) (adopting the rule "precluding conversion when the exhibits in question are referred to in, and are central to, the plaintiff's complaint"). See also Lewis v. First Tuskegee Bank, 964 So.2d 36, 39 n. 1 (Ala.Civ.App.2007) ("`[D]ocuments attached to a motion to dismiss are considered a part of the pleadings if those documents were specifically referred to in the plaintiff's complaint and are central to the claim being brought."' (quoting Banks, Finley, White & Co. v. Wright, 864 So.2d 324, 327 (Ala.Civ.App.2001))).
Lloyd Noland Found., Inc. v. HealthSouth Corp., 979 So.2d 784, 791 (Ala.2007) (emphasis added).
Jeff's primary claim on appeal, in light of the trial court's apparent dismissal of his claims based solely on the application of the rule of repose, is that, when the allegations of his complaint are viewed in the light most favorable to him, he has alleged facts demonstrating "that the actions or omissions which form the basis of this suit occurred within twenty ... years of the [filing] date of [that] complaint." (Jeff's brief, at p. 14.) More specifically, Jeff argues that his complaint alleged solely that the loan to Troy had not been repaid, omitting allegations "as to the
As the trial court noted in its order denying Jeff's motion to reconsider, it apparently construed the complaint's silence in that regard as Jeff's failure to allege any payment by Troy subsequent to the original loan date that would have tolled the rule of repose. The trial court apparently further concluded, despite the clear reference to the corresponding note and the terms of repayment included on the face of the copy of the mortgage attached to Jeff's amended complaint, that Jeff had failed to plead the existence of an agreement providing for an extended repayment period that might have also defeated the rule of repose. Those constructions appear to be contrary to the applicable standard, which requires that the allegations of the complaint be construed in Jeff's favor. See Lloyd Noland, supra.
With regard to the application of the rule of repose, we explained in Underwood, supra:
886 So.2d at 812-13.
As set out above, dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate only "when it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle the plaintiff to relief." Altrust Fin. Servs., Inc. v. Adams, 76 So.3d 228, 235 (Ala.2011). Thus, in order to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion based on the application of the rule of repose, Jeff's complaint only had to contain factual allegations supporting the "presum[ption] that the first missed payment occurred within twenty ... years of the date of [the] complaint." (Jeff's brief, at p. 17.)
Here, Jeff's complaint alleges that Troy "fail[ed] to repay," as promised, a purported loan, which, according to the attached mortgage, was reflected in a corresponding promissory note due and payable over a 30-year period. As Jeff correctly contends, his complaint merely alleged Troy's default — a precursor to an action being filed against Troy by Thelma and James to recover on the underlying debt — not a specific date on which that default purportedly occurred. We agree, as Jeff also argues, that the trial court may not merely "presume that the first missed payment [did not] occur[] within twenty ... years of the ... complaint." (Jeff's brief, at p. 17.) Further, Jeff includes in his brief to this Court authority establishing that any payment Troy made after an initial event of default would have restarted the repose period. See Underwood, 886 So.2d at 812 ("[A] partial payment on a mortgage debt is sufficient recognition by the mortgagor of the lien of the mortgage to start a new 20-year repose period running on the mortgagee's claims under the mortgage.").
In reaching that conclusion, we are mindful of Jeff's simultaneous demand, via the proof of claim filed against Troy's estate, for repayment of the entire "indebtedness reflected by the Mortgage," which, the claim asserted, "remain[ed] due and owing." Were we required to view that allegation in the light most favorable to the movants, it might support the trial court's judgment. However, the applicable standard dictates a different result:
Radenhausen v. Doss, 819 So.2d 616, 619-20 (Ala.2001).
In considering Rule 12(b)(6) dismissals, this Court has further observed:
Sims v. Lewis, 374 So.2d 298, 303 (Ala. 1979).
Here, Thelma and James did not have a viable and cognizable claim against Troy until Troy defaulted on the mortgage debt, if indeed he did. Although the proof of claim seeks the full amount of the loan, we do not see that as foreclosing the possibility, as Jeff argues on appeal, that Troy may have made payments and that a lesser amount was actually due. Because the 20-year common-law rule of repose is premised upon a preexisting right to assert a claim and because Jeff may possibly demonstrate a factual scenario where default and the resulting right to sue occurred within 20 years of the filing date of the underlying suit, the trial court erred in simply dismissing Jeff's complaint in its entirety based on the date of the original
To the extent that the trial court's dismissal may have been premised, in part, on the alternative statute-of-limitations ground included in Morgan's dismissal motion, Jeff disputes that the applicable statutes of limitations bar his claims. As indicated by its order denying Jeff's post-dismissal motion to reconsider, the trial court does not appear to have considered this alternative argument in dismissing Jeff's complaint. However, given the well established principle that "`[t]his Court may affirm a trial court's judgment on "any valid legal ground presented by the record, regardless of whether that ground was considered, or even if it was rejected, by the trial court,"'" Warren v. Hooper, 984 So.2d 1118, 1121 (Ala.2007) (quoting General Motors Corp. v. Stokes Chevrolet, Inc., 885 So.2d 119, 124 (Ala.2003), quoting in turn Liberty Nat'l Life Ins. Co. v. University of Alabama Health Servs. Found., P.C., 881 So.2d 1013, 1020 (Ala.2003)), we must examine the merits of each claim in light of the alternative statute-of-limitations ground.
Count I of Jeff's complaint alleged a breach-of-contract claim against Harold's estate based on Harold's purported misuse of the powers granted him under the power of attorney executed by Thelma. More specifically, Jeff generally contended that, in acting contrary to Thelma's best interests, Harold breached that power-of-attorney agreement. Notably, the language included in count I of Jeff's complaint does not specifically refer to the circumstances surrounding the release of the indebtedness and satisfaction of the mortgage, nor does it appear to limit Harold's complained-of conduct to any one specific event or period of time while he was serving as Thelma's attorney-in-fact. Further, count I specifically incorporated earlier factual allegations set out in Jeff's complaint, including the contention that "Troy... and Harold ... seized control of Thelma['s]... assets and used them to their own benefit" during the last 10 years of Thelma's life, i.e., from approximately March 1996 until March 2006.
Assuming, as we must under the applicable standard set out above, that Jeff can prove the allegation in his complaint that Harold received consideration in exchange for acting as Thelma's attorney-in-fact, there may be circumstances under which Jeff can demonstrate that a valid contract was, in fact, created between Thelma and Harold. Compare Smith v. Wachovia, 33 So.3d 1191, 1200 (Ala.2009) (holding that "[b]ecause no promise or performance was extended to the wife by the husband for her performance under the power of attorney," "the undertaking was gratuitous in nature and did not create any legally enforceable contract right"). Further, pursuant to its terms, the power of attorney Thelma executed was intended to be "a durable power of attorney" and to remain
The parties agree that an action alleging breach of contract is subject to the six-year statute of limitations found in § 6-2-34, Ala.Code 1975. Thus, even assuming that the power of attorney was not a contract under seal and thus subject to the more forgiving 10-year statute of limitations provided in § 6-2-33, Ala.Code 1975,
Count II of Jeff's complaint alleged a breach-of-contract claim against Troy's estate based on Troy's purported failure to repay the $46,000 loan from Thelma and James. Although Jeff failed to plead the existence of a note and specifically acknowledges, in keeping with the trial court's findings, that he has not located the installment note referenced in the resulting mortgage, that acknowledgment does not preclude the possibility that one does exist or that Jeff could otherwise demonstrate a set of facts entitling him to relief on this claim as well. In fact, although Jeff does not state in his complaint that a "note" exists, he does plead a contract, the terms of which are supported by the mortgage attached to and incorporated into his complaint.
Further, Jeff cites authority establishing that, in Alabama, "the statute of limitations does not begin to run against the payee until the last installment is due and unpaid." Williams v. Williams, 497 So.2d 481, 483 (Ala.1986). Thus, assuming that Jeff can invalidate Harold's release and demonstrate a 30-year installment debt, Jeff's complaint was filed before the last installment would have fallen due in 2018. Although Jeff may not ultimately prevail as to this issue, at present our sole concern is whether, under the facts alleged, he might ultimately be able to do so. Therefore, the trial court erred to the extent that it relied on the applicable statute of limitations in dismissing this claim.
Initially, we note that count III of Jeff's complaint asserted unjust-enrichment claims against both Harold's estate and Troy's estate based on the general allegation that Harold and Troy "knowingly accepted the enjoyment and benefit of Thelma['s] ... money and assets, including without limitation the Loan, without compensating
Further, the above-quoted language from Jeff's complaint both specifically references the loan and suggests a broader, more general misuse of Thelma's assets by both Troy and Harold during her alleged incapacity spanning the last 10 years of her life, i.e., until her death in 2006. In his brief, however, Jeff's own interpretation of his complaint limits his claim to Troy's alleged failure to repay the loan "in monthly installments over a period of thirty (30) years, beginning in 1988 and ending in 2018." (Jeff's brief, at p. 27.) In performing our statute-of-limitations analysis, we, therefore, limit our analysis solely to the loan-based assertions in Jeff's complaint.
The parties disagree as to the applicable statute of limitations. Specifically, without including a citation to supporting authority, Jeff maintains that the six-year statute of limitations set out in § 6-2-34(9), Ala. Code 1975, applies to implied contracts and thus governs his unjust-enrichment claim. Contrary to that position, Morgan and First Bank cite nonbinding authority in support of the proposition that, depending on the source of the alleged unjust enrichment, either the two-year statute of limitations applicable to tort-based actions or the six-year statute of limitations applicable to contract-based claims may apply. See Auburn Univ. v. International Bus. Machs. Corp., 716 F.Supp.2d 1114, 1118 (M.D.Ala.2010) ("[S]ome unjust-enrichment claims, such as claims for enrichment flowing from a breach of the corporate fiduciary duties of loyalty and due care, clearly arise from tort injuries, while other unjust-enrichment claims, such as claims for enrichment flowing from the rendering of substantial performance on a merely technically invalid contract, clearly arise from contract injuries.").
The court in Auburn University observed that "Alabama state courts have not decided whether unjust-enrichment claims are tort claims or implied-contract claims, much less which statute of limitations applies to such claims." 716 F.Supp.2d at 1117. Our research similarly confirms that there is a distinct absence of authority definitively stating the statute of limitations applicable to an unjust-enrichment claim. We need not, however, decide that issue here.
Jeff argues that Troy's estate was unjustly enriched each time a payment on the mortgage came due and Troy failed to make that payment. We agree. As set out above, there are circumstances alleged by Jeff that could establish that payments on the note secured by the mortgage were due over a 30-year period
Jeff's complaint asserted, solely against Troy's estate, a claim alleging "money had and received" based on Troy's alleged "enjoy[ment] of the benefit of the loan without repaying the same." As mentioned previously, with regard to "claims for ... money had and received, a plaintiff may commence a suit as soon as the defendant receives money and the circumstances imply the obligation to restore it." Underwood, 886 So.2d at 813. See also Rice v. Tuscaloosa County, 242 Ala. 62, 67, 4 So.2d 497, 500 (1941) (holding that, as to a claim of money had and received, "[the] right of action accrues, and the statute of limitations begins to run, immediately upon the payment" and further citing the "many similar holdings supporting the view that the claim accrued on the date the money was paid" (emphasis omitted)); American Bonding Co. of Baltimore v. Fourth Nat'l Bank of Montgomery, 205 Ala. 652, 656, 88 So. 838, 842 (1921) ("Upon the receipt of this money by the bank an action arose in favor of said Estelle Manegold for money had and received, which action is barred in six years from the date of the accrual thereof.").
The parties correctly agree that this particular claim, which clearly seeks "the recovery of money upon a loan," is afforded a six-year limitations period under § 6-2-34(5), Ala.Code 1975. See also Johnson v. Life Ins. Co. of Alabama, 581 So.2d 438, 443 (Ala.1991). Morgan and First Bank argue, as to the money-had-and-received claim, both that "[t]here could be no clearer starting date for the statute of limitations... than the date of the mortgage in January of 1988" and that "the statute of limitations should have begin [sic] running on the first missed mortgage payment." (Appellees' brief, at pp. 32, 33.) Under either theory, the applicable statute of limitations appears to bar Jeff's prosecution of the claim for money had and received and justifies its dismissal. Specifically, assuming that the statute of limitations began to run at the date of the mortgage, it expired in January 1994 — six years after Troy initially received the money from Thelma and James in January 1988. Alternatively, given that the alleged facts will not logically support the assumption that Troy continued making mortgage payments after the release of the indebtedness in 2002, and because this claim is not contract-reliant, then the statute of limitations expired in 2008 — six years after the release. Thus, regardless of which of the two alternate theories is applied, the statute would have run as to this particular claim well before the filing date of the underlying complaint.
In consideration of the foregoing, we affirm the Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of Jeff's claim against Troy's estate for money had and received (count IV) and the portion of count III representing Jeff's unjust-enrichment claim against Harold's estate. The trial court's judgment of dismissal of the remaining counts, however, must be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings.
MALONE, C.J., and STUART, PARKER, and WISE, JJ., concur.