Opinion
969 CA 20-01042
03-18-2022
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RALPH W. BURROWS, ALSO KNOWN AS R.W. BURROWS, ALSO KNOWN AS RALPH WILLIAM BURROWS, ALSO KNOWN AS BILL BURROWS, DECEASED. JI TING WANG BURROWS, ALSO KNOWN AS JANE BURROWS, AND EVAN DREYFUSS, PETITIONERS-RESPONDENTS; MARCIA BURROWS, AS GUARDIAN OF AVA BURROWS AND AUDREY BURROWS, RESPONDENT-APPELLANT. E. SS., Appellant.
MCCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP, NEW YORK CITY (GERARD G. BREW OF COUNSEL), AND KEENAN AND KEENAN, P.C., UTICA, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT. MCCARTHY FINGAR LLC, WHITE PLAINS (ROBERT H. ROSH OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONERS-RESPONDENTS.
MCCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP, NEW YORK CITY (GERARD G. BREW OF COUNSEL), AND KEENAN AND KEENAN, P.C., UTICA, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.
MCCARTHY FINGAR LLC, WHITE PLAINS (ROBERT H. ROSH OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONERS-RESPONDENTS.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., SMITH, LINDLEY, CURRAN, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ.
Appeal from an order of the Surrogate's Court, Herkimer County (John H. Crandall, S.), dated May 28, 2020. The order, among other things, granted the motion of petitioners for summary judgment.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: Marcia Burrows (respondent), as guardian of Ava Burrows and Audrey Burrows (children), appeals from an order that, inter alia, granted petitioners' motion for summary judgment dismissing both respondent's objections to the probate of decedent's will and a petition to set aside the accompanying revocable trust based on, inter alia, lack of capacity and undue influence; denied respondent's cross motion for, inter alia, partial summary judgment declaring that petitioners had the burden of proving that the will and trust were not products of undue influence; and admitted decedent's will to probate. We affirm.
Initially, we conclude that Surrogate's Court properly granted that part of petitioners' motion for summary judgment dismissing the objection with respect to decedent's testamentary capacity. "It is the indisputable rule in a will contest that '[t]he proponent has the burden of proving that the testator possessed testamentary capacity and the [Surrogate] must look to the following factors: (1) whether [the testator] understood the nature and consequences of executing a will; (2) whether [he] knew the nature and extent of the property [he] was disposing of; and (3) whether [he] knew those who would be considered the natural objects of [his] bounty and [his] relations with them'" (Matter of Kumstar, 66 N.Y.2d 691, 692 [1985], rearg denied 67 N.Y.2d 647 [1986]; see Matter of Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d 1175, 1175 [4th Dept 2013]; Matter of Castiglione, 40 A.D.3d 1227, 1228 [3d Dept 2007], lv denied 9 N.Y.3d 806 [2007]). "Old age and bad health . . . when a will is executed are 'not necessarily inconsistent with testamentary capacity . . . as the appropriate inquiry is whether the decedent was lucid and rational at the time the will was made'" (Matter of Makitra, 101 A.D.3d 1579, 1580 [4th Dept 2012]; see Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1175-1176; Matter of Buchanan, 245 A.D.2d 642, 644 [3d Dept 1997], lv dismissed 91 N.Y.2d 957 [1998]).
Here, petitioners satisfied their initial burden on the motion of establishing decedent's testamentary capacity through submission of, inter alia, the self-executing affidavit and the SCPA 1404 hearing testimony of the witnesses to the will's execution-i.e., decedent's estate attorney and his personal accountant-as well as testimony of decedent's longtime executive assistant (see Matter of Giaquinto, 164 A.D.3d 1527, 1528 [3d Dept 2018], affd 32 N.Y.3d 1180 [2019]; Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1176; Matter of Murray, 49 A.D.3d 1003, 1004-1005 [3d Dept 2008]). Those individuals all testified that, despite his terminal illness, decedent was not operating under any mental impairment at the time of the will's execution and was entirely aware of his actions and his intentions with respect to the will. Indeed, those witnesses confirmed that decedent did not demonstrate any signs of cognitive decline; appeared to be fully competent, coherent, and aware when he executed the will; and understood the nature of the document that he was signing and what it accomplished. We also note that the execution of the will and the resolution of decedent's estate was the culmination of prolonged discussions between decedent and his estate attorney, as well as other advisors, and that decedent was an active participant throughout the estate planning process. The witnesses also testified that decedent repeatedly stated that he deliberately did not provide for the children in the will because he had already provided for them in a separate trust, thereby establishing that decedent had stated his intentions with respect to the children and had considered the consequences of his decision not to include them in the will (see Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1177; Matter of Walker, 80 A.D.3d 865, 866-867 [3d Dept 2011], lv denied 16 N.Y.3d 711 [2011]).
In opposition, respondent failed to raise a triable issue of material fact with respect to decedent's capacity to execute the will. Respondent argued that there were questions of fact whether decedent had capacity to execute the will based on the effect his terminal cancer and its treatment had on his mind, alleging in particular that he suffered from "chemo brain" and was impaired by his use of morphine. As noted above, however, bad health-in this case a terminal cancer diagnosis-is not necessarily inconsistent with testamentary capacity because the relevant inquiry is whether decedent was competent at the time of the will's execution (see Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1177; Makitra, 101 A.D.3d at 1580; Murray, 49 A.D.3d at 1005). To the extent respondent contends that the Surrogate erred in granting petitioners' motion insofar as it sought to dismiss the testamentary capacity objection, thereby precluding her from introducing at trial expert medical testimony showing that decedent's illness made him incompetent to execute the will, we note that such "medical opinion evidence assumes a relatively minor importance" where, as here, "there is direct evidence that . . . decedent possessed the understanding to make a testamentary disposition" (Makitra, 101 A.D.3d at 1580 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Coddington, 281 A.D. 143, 145 [3d Dept 1952], affd 307 NY 181 [1954]). In any event, respondent has failed to present any evidence, medical or otherwise, to show that-at the time the will was executed-decedent lacked the requisite capacity or that he was mentally incompetent as a consequence of his illness. Indeed, all of the evidence in the record supports petitioners' assertion that decedent was lucid and of sound mind at the time in question (see Giaquinto, 164 A.D.3d at 1529-1530). At best, respondent merely speculates that the effects of decedent's illness and the treatment for that condition undermined his capacity when he executed the will, which is insufficient to raise a triable issue of fact and prevent probate of the will (see Matter of Bodkin [appeal No. 3], 128 A.D.3d 1526, 1528 [4th Dept 2015]; Matter of Eshaghian, 54 A.D.3d 860, 861 [2d Dept 2008]).
We further conclude that the Surrogate properly granted that part of petitioners' motion for summary judgment dismissing the undue influence objection with respect to the will. "A . . . contestant seeking to prove undue influence must show the exercise of a moral coercion, which restrained independent action and destroyed free agency, or which, by importunity which could not be resisted, constrained the [decedent] to do that which was against [his] free will" (Makitra, 101 A.D.3d at 1581 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Kumstar, 66 N.Y.2d at 693; Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1177-1178). "Undue influence must be proved by evidence of a substantial nature . . ., e.g., by evidence identifying the motive, opportunity and acts allegedly constituting the influence, as well as when and where such acts occurred" (Makitra, 101 A.D.3d at 1581 [internal quotation marks omitted]). "Mere speculation and conclusory allegations, without specificity as to precisely where and when the influence was actually exerted, are insufficient to raise an issue of fact" (Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1178 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Walker, 80 A.D.3d at 867).
Here, we conclude that petitioners met their initial burden on the motion to show that the will was not the product of undue influence (see Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1177-1178; Matter of Coniglio, 242 A.D.2d 901, 902 [4th Dept 1997]). The evidence establishes that, at the time of the will's execution, petitioner Ji Ting Wang Burrows (surviving spouse) was asked to leave the room so decedent could discuss the will with his advisors. The evidence also suggests that the surviving spouse was, at most, a passive participant in decedent's estate planning. Further, the testimony and affidavits submitted from decedent's advisors establish that decedent was actively engaged and clear about his intentions with respect to the will. As noted above, there was also testimony establishing that decedent intentionally decided not to include the children in the will inasmuch as he had already provided for them elsewhere. Petitioners also submitted respondent's deposition testimony in which she stated that, although she had a "personal belief" that the surviving spouse had exerted pressure on decedent, she had no documentary or other proof to substantiate that assertion.
Respondent failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition inasmuch as she offered nothing but speculative allegations that petitioners actually influenced decedent's distribution of his assets through the will (see Alibrandi, 104 A.D.3d at 1178; Matter of Dubin, 54 A.D.3d 945, 946-947 [2d Dept 2008]; see also Lewis v DiMaggio, 151 A.D.3d 1296, 1299-1300 [3d Dept 2017]). At best, the circumstantial evidence respondent relies on to show petitioners' undue influence goes only to petitioners' opportunity or motive, not to whether they actually wielded such influence on decedent (see Matter of Branovacki, 278 A.D.2d 791, 792 [4th Dept 2000], lv denied 96 N.Y.2d 708 [2001]; Coniglio, 242 A.D.2d at 902). To the extent that respondent relies on a single email exchange between the surviving spouse and decedent's estate attorney to show that the surviving spouse exerted influence on the will, we note that respondent's argument ignores the numerous other emails from around the same time demonstrating decedent's active participation in his estate planning. Further, the email from the surviving spouse belies respondent's contention that the surviving spouse controlled the estate negotiations because the email merely conveyed decedent's wishes to his attorney and, notably, decedent was copied on the email. Decedent's decision not to provide for the children in the will-a departure from his prior estate plan-did not, by itself, raise issues of fact with respect to whether the will was the product of undue influence because respondent did not controvert the testimony establishing that decedent knowingly departed from the prior estate plan based on his conclusion that he had already sufficiently provided for the children in other ways.
We also conclude that the Surrogate properly granted that part of the motion seeking summary judgment dismissing the petition to set aside the revocable trust. Assuming, arguendo, that, as respondent contends, the level of capacity required to execute a revocable trust is the same as that required to execute a contract (see Matter of Edson, NYLJ, Jul. 14, 1997 at 31, col 1, at 31, col 2, 1997 NYLJ LEXIS 440, *5-6 [Sur Ct, Suffolk County 1997]; 2 Harris, NY Estates: Probate, Administration and Litigation § 25:24 [2021]; Eve Preminger et al., Trusts and Estates Practice in New York § 5:203 [West's NY Prac Series 2021]; cf. Matter of Cuttitto Family Trust, 10 A.D.3d 656, 657 [2d Dept 2004]; Matter of Aronoff, 171 Misc.2d 172, 177 n 6 [Sur Ct, NY County 1996]), we conclude that petitioners satisfied their initial burden on the motion of establishing decedent's capacity to create the revocable trust. In support of their motion, petitioners submitted, inter alia, the affirmation of decedent's estate attorney who opined that, based on his extensive correspondence and communication with decedent in the months leading up to the trust's creation, decedent had the capacity to enter into a contract. Indeed, he noted that decedent was able to read and write, was aware of each and every provision in the trust and the nature and effect of his actions, and could understand and articulate the complexities of the assets that were being placed in the trust. In short, decedent had the capacity to create the trust because his "mind was [not] so affected as to render him . . . wholly and absolutely incompetent to comprehend and understand the nature of the transaction" (Matter of Mildred M.J., 43 A.D.3d 1391, 1392 [4th Dept 2007] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see generally Thomas v Gray, 121 A.D.3d 1091, 1092 [2d Dept 2014], lv denied 25 N.Y.3d 961 [2015], rearg denied 25 N.Y.3d 1196 [2015]; Feiden v Feiden, 151 A.D.2d 889, 890 [3d Dept 1989]). We further conclude that, in opposition, respondent failed to raise a triable issue of fact with respect to decedent's capacity to create the trust, instead relying heavily on the same impermissible speculation about the effects of decedent's cancer diagnosis on his ability to execute the trust that she offered with respect to the will (see generally Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 N.Y.2d 557, 562 [1980]).
For reasons previously stated in connection with the will contest, we further conclude that petitioners met their initial burden of establishing that the revocable trust was not the product of undue influence (see generally Bazigos v Krukar, 140 A.D.3d 811, 813-814 [2d Dept 2016]; Matter of Seelig, 13 A.D.3d 776, 777-778 [3d Dept 2004], lv denied 4 N.Y.3d 707 [2005]) and that respondent failed to raise a triable issue of fact in opposition (see generally Zuckerman, 49 N.Y.2d at 562).
We likewise conclude that the Surrogate properly denied respondent's cross motion for partial summary judgment seeking, inter alia, a declaration that petitioners maintained a confidential relationship with decedent such that the burden of proof shifted to them to establish that the will and revocable trust were not the products of undue influence. Generally, "[t]he burden of proving undue influence . . . rests with the party asserting its existence" (Matter of Nurse, 160 A.D.3d 745, 748 [2d Dept 2018]; see Matter of Panek, 237 A.D.2d 82, 83-84 [4th Dept 1997]). Where, however, "there was a confidential or fiduciary relationship between the beneficiary and the decedent, [a]n inference of undue influence arises which requires the beneficiary to come forward with an explanation of the circumstances of the transaction" (Blase v Blase, 148 A.D.3d 1777, 1778 [4th Dept 2017] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Bazigos, 140 A.D.3d at 813; Matter of Prievo v Urbaniak, 64 A.D.3d 1240, 1241 [4th Dept 2009]), i.e.," 'to prove the transaction fair and free from undue influence'" (Prievo, 64 A.D.3d at 1241). On her cross motion, respondent had the initial burden to establish" 'the requisite threshold showing that a confidential relationship existed'" (id.; see Matter of Graeve, 113 A.D.3d 983, 984 [3d Dept 2014]).
"[T]o demonstrate the existence of a confidential relationship, there must be evidence of circumstances that demonstrate inequality or a controlling influence" (Matter of Albert, 137 A.D.3d 1266, 1268 [2d Dept 2016], lv denied 27 N.Y.3d 910 [2016]; see Nurse, 160 A.D.3d at 748). A confidential relationship is "one that is 'of such a character as to render it certain that [the parties] do not deal on terms of equality'" (Matter of Bonczyk v Williams, 119 A.D.3d 1124, 1125 [3d Dept 2014]). As relevant here, "the existence of a family relationship does not, per se, create a presumption of undue influence; there must be evidence of other facts or circumstances showing inequality or controlling influence" (Feiden, 151 A.D.2d at 891; see Bonczyk, 119 A.D.3d at 1126; Graeve, 113 A.D.3d at 984). Indeed, a "familial relationship counterbalances any presumptions arising from any claimed confidential relationship or the fact that petitioner was a beneficiary" (Matter of Ruhle, 173 A.D.3d 1389, 1391 [3d Dept 2019]).
Respondent did not meet her burden of establishing as a matter of law that the surviving spouse had a confidential relationship with decedent. Respondent supplied no evidence showing that the role of the surviving spouse in decedent's estate planning process or other financial decisions was "anything more than a conduit to effectuate [his] desires" (Matter of Prevratil, 121 A.D.3d 137, 142 [3d Dept 2014] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Bonczyk, 119 A.D.3d at 1127). Indeed, any assertion that the surviving spouse exercised a controlling influence over decedent's decisions was undermined by the evidence establishing decedent's sound mind and his active participation in the estate planning process. Further, the surviving spouse's involvement in decedent's medical care did not establish a confidential relationship given that decedent "was not under her exclusive care and control and had fairly regular contact with friends as his illness progressed" (Prevratil, 121 A.D.3d at 142-143; cf. Oakes v Muka, 69 A.D.3d 1139, 1139-1141 [3d Dept 2010], appeal dismissed 15 N.Y.3d 867 [2010], reconsideration denied 16 N.Y.3d 733 [2011]). To the extent the surviving spouse's involvement in decedent's medical care suggests the existence of a confidential relationship, any presumptions arising from the existence of such a relationship were ultimately counterbalanced by the familial relationship between them (see Ruhle, 173 A.D.3d at 1391; Prevratil, 121 A.D.3d at 143; Graeve, 113 A.D.3d at 984-985).
Furthermore, the fact that the surviving spouse held a power of attorney for decedent did not establish a confidential relationship between her and decedent. A "power of attorney, standing alone, is insufficient to establish the existence of a confidential relationship or to shift the burden of proof regarding undue influence"-particularly where, as here, the surviving spouse never exercised the power of attorney (Giaquinto, 164 A.D.3d at 1530; see Dwyer v Valachovic, 137 A.D.3d 1369, 1371 [3d Dept 2016]). No inference of undue influence applies with respect to petitioner Evan Dreyfuss inasmuch as he was not a beneficiary of the will (see Matter of Coopersmith, 48 A.D.3d 562, 563 [2d Dept 2008]; cf. Matter of Delorey, 141 A.D.2d 540, 541-542 [2d Dept 1988]).
We have considered respondent's remaining contention and conclude that it does not warrant reversal or modification of the order.