Belinda Ellzey v. Eddie Owen McCormick
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2007-CA-01420-COA
BELINDA ELLZEY
APPELLANT
v.
EDDIE OWEN MCCORMICK
DATE OF JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
APPELLEE
07/16/2007
HON. EDWARD E. PATTEN, JR.
COPIAH COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
GAIL D. NICHOLSON
OLEN C. BRYANT
TIMOTHY LAVELLE RUTLAND
CIVIL - WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES
WILL CONTEST BARRED BY STATUTE
OF LIMITATIONS
AFFIRMED: 03/03/2009
BEFORE KING, C.J., GRIFFIS AND CARLTON, JJ.
KING, C.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1.
Owen D. McCormick (Owen) died on March 26, 2003. On March 29, 2003, upon
leaving the funeral services for Owen, Owen’s son Eddie O. McCormick (Eddie) gave
Belinda Ellzey (Belinda), Owen’s daughter, a copy of Owen’s latest will, dated 2002, and
a trust created on behalf of Belinda’s son, Brandon Ellzey (Brandon). After more than three
years of dispute between Eddie and Belinda as to the validity of the trust and Owen’s 2002
will, the chancellor entered a final judgment holding that the 2002 will was valid; the will
contest filed in Copiah County was barred by the statute of limitations; and an accounting
of the assets of the estate was not necessary because a sufficient accounting had been made.
The parties were ordered to divide the assets equally as stipulated; proceeds from a checking
account at Copiah Bank were to be held in trust for Brandon; gifts from Owen to his
granddaughters Mollie and Carrie McCormick were to be upheld; and the money used to pay
the mortgage on Eddie’s home and the proceeds from the sale of the trailer were to be
returned to the estate and distributed pursuant to the provisions of the last will and testament.
¶2.
Aggrieved, Belinda appeals and argues the following: (1) jurisdiction of Owen’s estate
was proper in Harrison County; (2) the chancellor erred in ruling that the will contest was
barred by the statute of limitations; (3) the chancellor’s findings and omission of substantial
evidence resulted in an abuse of discretion and clear error with regard to issues of
competency and undue influence; (4) the chancellor erred in holding that the trust for
Brandon was stipulated to in trial court proceedings when it was not; and (5) the chancellor
erred in not requiring Eddie to provide an accounting of the assets of Owen’s estate. For the
reasons explained below, we affirm the judgment of the chancellor.
FACTS
¶3.
Owen and his wife lived in Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi for more than fifty
years until her death in 1998. After the death of his wife, Owen was cared for by his
daughter Belinda, who at the time also lived in Gulfport, Mississippi, and their son Eddie,
who lived in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. Approximately a year after his wife’s death,
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Owen, with the assistance of Belinda, drafted a will.1
¶4.
On or about April 15, 2002, Owen was admitted to the hospital.
Owen was
subsequently admitted to the geriatric psychiatric unit of the hospital because he had episodes
of paranoia, aggression, confusion, and forgetfulness. On April 22, 2002, Owen’s physicians
completed statements in anticipation of a conservatorship because, in their professional
opinions, Owen was neither capable of handling his own business affairs nor capable of
caring for himself or making decisions in his best interest. Belinda procured a durable
general power of attorney in Harrison County on June 22, 2002, but it was procured to make
decisions regarding Owen’s personal and real property, not his health care.
¶5.
After a two-week stay in the hospital, Owen was discharged to a nursing home.
However, with the assistance of a nursing home employee, Owen left the nursing home and
returned to his home in Gulfport.
¶6.
On October 26, 2002, Owen moved to Crystal Springs to live with Eddie and his wife,
Lucy. Between October 2002 and March 2003, Owen changed the beneficiary on various
accounts and annuities, closed his safe-deposit box distributing the contents to his children,
sold his home in Gulfport, made substantial gifts to three of his four grandchildren, provided
financial assistance to Eddie, and executed a new will.
¶7.
On March 12, 2003, Owen was hospitalized for the fifth time within twelve months.
The medical records indicated that during these periods of hospitalizations there were
instances in which Owen experienced periods of confusion with very few days of lucidity.
1
The exact date of the execution of the 1999 will is not known, because it was
destroyed upon the execution of the 2002 will.
3
At some point between March 20, 2003, and March 23, 2003, Owen signed the trust
agreement for his grandson Brandon naming Eddie as the trustee, signed documents to close
a checking account at Hancock Bank in Harrison County, and finalized the sale of his home.
¶8.
On March 26, 2003, Owen passed away. At the cemetery after the funeral services,
Eddie gave Belinda a copy of Owen’s latest will and the trust on behalf of Brandon. On
April 1, 2003, Belinda filed a petition in the Harrison County Chancery Court to be
appointed administratix of Owen’s estate and to contest the validity of the 2002 will. Belinda
was appointed as administratix on April 2, 2003. On April 29, 2003, Belinda filed a petition
in the Harrison County Chancery Court as cause no. 03-00778-2 to recover assets, to set
aside an invalid will, for an accounting, and for equitable relief. On May 6, 2003, Eddie
filed a petition in the Copiah County Chancery Court to probate the 2002 will, which was
subsequently admitted to probate.
¶9.
On January 5, 2006, the Chancery Court of Harrison County dismissed without
prejudice the pending litigation on the issue of validity of the will, which had been admitted
to probate in the Copiah County Chancery Court as cause no. 2003-208. In the event that the
Copiah County Chancery Court found the will to be invalid, cause no. 03-00778-2 would be
reinstated and administration of the intestate estate would proceed before the Harrison
County Chancery Court. Thereafter, Belinda filed a petition in the Copiah County Chancery
Court to contest the 2002 will, to set aside the inter vivos gifts, to compel an accounting, and
to disgorge the wrongfully acquired assets or proceeds. On January 24, 2006, Eddie filed a
response in the Copiah County Chancery Court to the will contest and raised the statute of
limitation as an affirmative defense. At trial, the chancellor heard testimony as to the validity
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of the will, evidence of Owen’s testamentary capacity, and evidence as to whether the trust
that was created for Brandon was merely a checking account formerly established by Owen.
On July 16, 2007, the chancellor held that the 2002 will was valid, the will contest filed in
the Copiah County Chancery Court was barred by the statute of limitations, and an
accounting of the assets of the estate was not necessary because a sufficient accounting had
been made. Feeling aggrieved, Belinda appeals.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶10.
Unless the chancellor’s findings are “manifestly wrong, clearly erroneous, or an
erroneous legal standard was applied,” this Court will not disturb the chancellor’s findings
of fact. In re Estate of Ladner v. Ladner, 909 So. 2d 1051, 1054 (¶6) (Miss. 2004).
ANALYSIS
I. WHETHER JURISDICTION OF OWEN’S ESTATE WAS PROPER IN
HARRISON COUNTY.
¶11.
On January 5, 2006, the chancellor in the Harrison County Chancery Court dismissed
the case without prejudice due to the pending litigation in the Copiah County Chancery Court
as to the validity of the will and ruled that venue and jurisdiction were proper in the Copiah
County Chancery Court. Belinda argues that venue was proper in Harrison County because
Owen had personal property in a bank in Harrison County in the form of accounts and
certificate of deposits. Eddie asserts that the filing of a will for probate supercedes a
previously filed administration on the same estate; thus, Copiah County has proper
jurisdiction.
¶12.
Article 6 section 159 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 provides that the
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chancery court has full jurisdiction in matters testamentary and of administration. Johnson
v. Griffin (In re Estate of Hathorne), 987 So. 2d 486, 489 (¶13) (Miss. Ct. App. 2008).
According to Mississippi Code Annotated section 91-7-1 (Rev. 2004):
Wills shall be proved in and letters testamentary thereon granted by the
chancery court of the county in which the testator had a fixed place of
residence. If he had no fixed place of residence and land be devised in the
will, it shall be proved in and letters granted by the chancery court of the
county where the land, or some part thereof, is situated. If the testator had no
fixed place of residence and personal property only be disposed of by the will,
it may be proved in and letters granted by the chancery court of the county
where the testator died, or of the county in which some part of the property
may be.
¶13.
A fixed place of residence is defined as where a person dwells, is domiciled, or may
usually be found. Armour & Co. v. Strahan, 130 Miss. 109, 111, 93 So. 2d 364, 365 (1922).
At the time of Owen’s death, Owen was living in Crystal Springs, which is located in Copiah
County. Owen had lived in Copiah County for at least five months at the time of his death.
Owen had sold his home in Harrison County; therefore, there was no land to be devised in
the will, only the proceeds from the sale. Owen did possess personal property in Harrison
County, which was in the form of accounts and certificates of deposits.
¶14.
At the time of his death, Owen’s fixed place of residence was in Copiah County and
according to statute a will can be probated by the chancery court of the county in which the
testator had a fixed place of residence. We find that jurisdiction was proper in Copiah
County, and this issue is without merit.
II. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN RULING THAT THE
WILL CONTEST WAS TIME-BARRED BY THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS.
¶15.
On appeal, Belinda asserts that the will contest was not time-barred because the issue
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of the validity of the will was before both the Harrison County Chancery Court and the
Copiah County Chancery Court. On April 1, 2003, Belinda filed a pleading in the Harrison
County Chancery Court to contest the validity of the will. On May 6, 2003, the will was
admitted to probate and letters testamentary were granted in the Copiah County Chancery
Court. On May 12, 2003, Belinda filed a petition for special appearance to assert lack of
subject matter jurisdiction in Copiah County. Belinda asserts that the courts were requested
to confer with each other and determine in which court the parties should proceed. As a
result, on January 5, 2006, the chancellor in the Harrison County dismissed the case in
Harrison County Chancery Court without prejudice due to the pending litigation in Copiah
County. Thereafter, on January 13, 2006, Belinda filed a petition in the Copiah County
Chancery Court to contest the probated will dated December 4, 2002.
¶16.
Eddie asserts that the will must be contested within two years of probate, and had
Belinda not been so persistent in having the estate administered in Harrison County, then she
would have filed the contest before January 2, 2006. Therefore, Eddie contends that the
statute of limitations as a defense to the will contest was proper.
¶17.
Pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated section 91-7-23 (Rev. 2004), any interested
person may contest the validity of a probated will within two years by petition or bill. If the
interested person does not appear within two years, the “probate shall be final and forever
binding.” Estate of Schneider, 585 So. 2d 1275, 1277 (Miss. 1991).
¶18.
Belinda filed the petition to contest the probated will in the Chancery Court of Copiah
County more than two years after the will was admitted to probate. In response to Belinda’s
pleading, on January 24, 2006, Eddie filed a response to the will contest and asserted the
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statute of limitation as an affirmative defense. We find that the chancellor’s ruling on July
16, 2007, which found that the will contest was time-barred, was proper.
¶19.
We find that the pleading for special appearance to assert lack of subject matter
jurisdiction, although timely filed, was not a sufficient pleading to contest the will.
Moreover, the petition filed to contest the will on January 13, 2006, was not filed within the
two-year statute of limitation. Therefore, we find that the will contest was time-barred.
Thus, this argument is without merit.
III. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR’S FINDINGS AND OMISSION OF
SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE RESULTS IN AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION
AND CLEAR ERROR WITH REGARD TO ISSUES OF COMPETENCY
AND UNDUE INFLUENCE.
¶20.
The chancellor ruled on July 16, 2007, that Owen possessed the requisite mental
capacity when he changed the beneficiary on various accounts, made inter vivos gifts, and
executed a new will. Belinda contends that Owen lacked the mental competency to carry out
such actions, because he was under the undue influence of Eddie when the 2002 will and
gifts were executed.
¶21.
First, Belinda asserts that the chancellor failed to consider the two affidavits by
physicians, which were obtained for the purpose of creating a conservatorship for Owen that
stated that Owen was not capable of making decisions in his best interest. Second, Belinda
argues that medical records, documenting Owen’s report of hallucinations in May 2002 were
disregarded by the court. Third, Belinda contends that the chancellor failed to consider
Brooke Ellzey’s testimony that her grandfather needed help with his personal hygiene.
Fourth, Belinda argues that testimony by Lucy was inconsistent with Brooke’s and Belinda’s
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testimony. Fifth, Belinda asserts that it is obvious from the record that Owen did assign
power of attorney to her; however, allegedly Owen claimed the power of attorney to be a
forgery and later had it revoked.
¶22.
Sixth, Belinda asserts that Brooke’s testimony that her grandfather did not want to sell
his house was not deemed credible by the chancellor. Seventh, Belinda asserts that the
chancellor failed to give weight or credibility to the testimony of Andy Sawyer, the realtor,
that he deviated from accepted real estate practice by completing disclosure papers for Owen
when considering Owen’s testamentary capacity. Eighth, Belinda asserts that although she
made no objections to receiving a share of the proceeds from the sale of the house, she does
contend that the chancellor dismissed the importance of the circumstances surrounding the
sale of the house. Next, Belinda asserts that the chancellor failed to consider Owen’s medical
records as a whole, but “cherry picked” which evidence to consider.
¶23.
Although Eddie asserts that there were discussions between the beneficiaries with
regard to taking Owen to the bank before moving him to Crystal Springs, Belinda and
Brooke dispute such discussions. Eddie testified that he also helped his father write letters
and complete forms to change the beneficiary on his assets; however, Belinda asserts that
these actions were instigated by Eddie, and not instigated on Owen’s own volition. The letter
writing to Owen’s financial institutions to change the beneficiary occurred within a month
of Owen moving in with Eddie.
¶24.
Next, Belinda contends that attorneys Paul Davis, who is Eddie’s brother-in-law, and
Robert Lawrence, a church member with Davis and Eddie, had no documentation to support
that the exchange of information between them and Owen was accurate. Neither Lawrence
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nor Davis made any notes when discussing the change of the will. Morever, neither Davis
nor Lawrence knew of the physicians’ affidavits as to Owen’s decision-making abilities in
April 2002, which both Davis and Lawrence assert would have been material. Belinda
asserts that Eddie has yet to disperse her share of the funds even after repeated requests. In
addition, Belinda argues that the chancellor ignored the notes in the medical records as to
Owen’s condition during transactions occurring during his hospital admission from March
12, 2003, until his death on March 26, 2003. Belinda also asserts that when Owen moved
to Crystal Springs with Eddie, Eddie promised to keep Belinda apprised of Owen’s financial
dealings, but Eddie failed to do so. Moreover, Belinda argues that she did not learn of
Owen’s new will and the trust, listing Eddie as the trustee, until Owen’s funeral.
¶25.
Last, Belinda contends that in making his ruling, the chancellor failed to consider the
lack of accounting regarding other assets, which include proceeds from the sale of Owen’s
car, the cemetery lots owned by Owen, and Owen’s house. Belinda asserts that following
Owen’s death, when she inquired as to the status of a particular asset, Eddie told her “it was
none of her business.” Belinda claims that although she does not desire the inter vivos gifts
to her nieces and son to be set aside, or the proceeds from the sale of Owen’s house returned,
she does request an accounting of the other assets.
¶26.
The appellate court will not interfere with the chancellor’s findings of fact, unless
these facts are manifestly wrong, clearly erroneous, or an erroneous legal standard was
applied. In re Estate of Ladner, 909 So. 2d at 1054 (¶6). Because the chancellor is the only
one to hear the testimonies of the witnesses and observe their demeanor, he is in the best
position to judge their credibility. Frazier v. Shackelford (In re Estate of Carter), 912 So.
10
2d 138, 143 (¶18) (Miss. 2005).
¶27.
Based on our review of the record, we find that the chancellor fully considered the
pleadings and evidence presented at trial before finding that Owen possessed the
testamentary capacity to complete the transactions, to make the inter vivos gifts, and to
execute the 2002 will. The chancellor found that, by February 2003, a confidential fiduciary
relationship existed between Owen and Eddie. Therefore, the chancellor ordered Eddie to
return the funds used to pay off the mortgage on Eddie’s home and the proceeds from the sale
of the trailer to be returned to the estate for distribution in accordance with the will. There
is nothing to suggest that the chancellor did not consider all of the evidence. We find that
the chancellor did not erroneously apply the law to the facts in this case. Therefore, this
issue is without merit.
IV. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT THE
TRUST FOR BRANDON WAS STIPULATED TO IN THE TRIAL
PROCEEDINGS.
¶28.
Belinda asserts that the record does not show that she stipulated to the proceeds in the
checking account at Copiah Bank remaining in a trust (for Brandon) of any kind, especially
not one controlled by Eddie. Belinda claims that the stipulation was to have the money set
aside for Brandon placed in a checking account and not in a trust. Belinda argues that there
never was a trust until a trust was created by Owen three days before he died; the funds now
held in the trust were previously held in an account. Belinda also asserts that the money in
that account has always belonged to Brandon, and her name had been previously placed on
the account for tax purposes.
¶29.
Although the chancellor did err in stating that the parties stipulated that the proceeds
11
in the checking account be held in a trust for Brandon, the stipulation was immaterial to the
validity of the trust. Belinda agrees that $10,533.59, which includes interest, belongs to
Brandon. However, Belinda asserts that she did not agree that the money should remain in
a trust of any kind, especially one being controlled by Eddie. The chancellor found that there
was sufficient evidence of a valid trust agreement executed by Owen for Brandon, and the
funds in the checking account held in Copiah Bank would serve as the basis for the trust
created. Belinda provided no evidence to suggest that the trust was not valid. Therefore,
Belinda’s assignment of error is without merit.
V. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN NOT REQUIRING EDDIE
TO CONDUCT AN ACCOUNTING OF THE ASSETS OF THE ESTATE.
¶30.
Belinda asserts that the chancellor erred in ruling that no additional accounting of
Owen’s assets was necessary because a sufficient accounting had already been provided.
Belinda contends that Eddie had a fiduciary duty to provide an accounting of the assets. The
estate had been open for five years, and there had not been any publication for creditors nor
had there been any annual accounting made. Moreover, Belinda contends that the letter
written by Eddie on April 28, 2003, listing all Owen’s assets and providing an explanation
as to the distribution of the assets was not an adequate accounting of the assets, but it was
merely a self-serving act on his part. On January 13, 2006, Belinda filed a petition in the
Copiah County Chancery Court to set aside the probated will, to set aside inter vivos gifts,
for an accounting and for order compelling disgorgement of wrongfully acquired assets or
the proceeds therefrom. In addition, Belinda argues that other assets such as the sale of her
father’s car, the cemetery lots previously owned by Owen, and assets from Owen’s home
12
have never been accounted for.
¶31.
According to Mississippi Code Annotated section 91-7-277 (Rev. 2004), an
accounting must be filed by the executor at least once a year, showing the disbursements and
receipts of the estate. In Frazier, 912 So. 2d at 144 (¶21), the supreme court held that
executors have a fiduciary duty to all interested parties to carry out all the provisions of the
will that may be lawful. Among those fiduciary duties, the executor is responsible for
providing an accounting of the assets. Id. at 146 (¶26). “This accounting may be waived by
the testator through the will. However, the chancery court may require an accounting even
when the testator has waived it where there are charges of mismanagement or
maladministration of the estate.” Id. (citations omitted).
¶32.
Owen’s will does not require the executor to furnish a bond or an accounting to any
court, file an inventory of property coming into the hands of the beneficiaries, or to report
to any court with respect to the duties imposed upon the beneficiaries or with respect to the
administration of the estate. The chancellor held that the accounting was sufficient, and there
was no evidence of mismanagement found. Based on our review of the record, we cannot
say that the chancellor erred. Owen’s will explicitly required neither an accounting of the
assets nor an inventory of the property. There is no evidence of any mismanagement of the
estate. We find that this issue is without merit.
¶33. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHANCERY COURT OF COPIAH COUNTY IS
AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE
APPELLANT.
LEE AND MYERS, P.JJ., GRIFFIS, BARNES, ISHEE AND CARLTON, JJ.,
CONCUR. IRVING, J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN THE RESULT. ROBERTS,
J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY. MAXWELL, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
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