Opinion
2014-11-21
In the Matter of the Application for the Rescission of the LORIE DEHIMER IRREVOCABLE TRUST, Successor to the Marion A. Sears Trusts. Lorie M. Dehimer, Petitioner–Appellant; Howard P. Sears, Jr., Thomas A. Sears and David H. Wood, Trustees, Respondents–Respondents. In the Matter of the Application for the Rescission of the J. Steven Dehimer Irrevocable Trust, Successor to the Marion A. Sears Trusts. J. Steven Dehimer, Petitioner–Appellant; Howard P. Sears, Jr., Thomas A. Sears and David H. Wood, Trustees, Respondents–Respondents. In the Matter of the Application for the Rescission of the William Dehimer Irrevocable Trust, Successor to the Marion A. Sears Trusts. William S. Dehimer, Petitioner–Appellant; Howard P. Sears, Jr., Thomas A. Sears and David H. Wood, Trustees, Respondents–Respondents.
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (John A. Cirando of Counsel), for Petitioners–Appellants.Bousquet Holstein PLLC, Syracuse (Cecelia Cannon of Counsel), for Respondents–Respondents.
Modified and affirmed as modified.
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (John A. Cirando of Counsel), for Petitioners–Appellants. Bousquet Holstein PLLC, Syracuse (Cecelia Cannon of Counsel), for Respondents–Respondents.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., CARNI, VALENTINO, and WHALEN, JJ. MEMORANDUM:
Respondents are trustees of certain irrevocable inter vivos trusts and, in proceedings to rescind those trusts, petitioners appeal from an order granting the pre-answer motions of respondents seeking to dismiss the petitions pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7). We agree with petitioners that Surrogate's Court erred in granting that part of respondents' motions with respect to the claim for breach of fiduciary duty in each petition, and we therefore modify the order accordingly.
In considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211, the Surrogate must afford the petition a liberal construction and “determine only whether the facts as alleged fit within any cognizable legal theory” ( Leon v. Martinez, 84 N.Y.2d 83, 87–88, 614 N.Y.S.2d 972, 638 N.E.2d 511). “Whether a [petitioner] can ultimately establish [his or her] allegations is not part of the calculus” ( EBC I, Inc. v. Goldman, Sachs & Co., 5 N.Y.3d 11, 19, 799 N.Y.S.2d 170, 832 N.E.2d 26). To state a claim to recover damages for breach of fiduciary duty, petitioners herein must allege: “(1) the existence of a fiduciary relationship, (2) misconduct by [respondents], and (3) damages directly caused by [respondents'] misconduct” ( Rut v. Young Adult Inst., Inc., 74 A.D.3d 776, 777, 901 N.Y.S.2d 715; see Armentano v. Paraco Gas Corp., 90 A.D.3d 683, 684–685, 935 N.Y.S.2d 304; McGuire v. Huntress [Appeal No. 2], 83 A.D.3d 1418, 1420, 920 N.Y.S.2d 531, lv. denied 17 N.Y.3d 712, 2011 WL 4916446). We conclude that the petitions adequately state a claim for breach of fiduciary duty in that they allege that respondents failed to act in the best interests of petitioners with respect to their complete distribution of certain sub-trusts under which petitioners were beneficiaries, and the use of 55% of those distributions to fund newly-created inter vivos trusts under which petitioners have no beneficial interest.
We have considered petitioners' remaining contentions and conclude that they are without merit.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by denying that part of respondents' motions to dismiss the claim in each petition for breach of fiduciary duty, and reinstating each petition to that extent, and as modified the order is affirmed without costs.