Azarian v. Ettinger

435 N.E.2d 638, 13 Mass. App. Ct. 1077, 1982 Mass. App. LEXIS 1331
Massachusetts Appeals Court·Decided May 20, 1982·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

These are consolidated appeals by Madeline C. Azarian and Margaret E. Azarian (the Azarians) from certain orders and a judgment entered by the Probate Court in connection with Alice W. Ettinger’s guardianship of their sister, Elizabeth A. Azarian.

1. We need not consider the appeal from the order dismissing so much of Madeline’s petition as sought to remove Ettinger as guardian of Elizabeth’s person. It was agreed by the parties at oral argument that this portion of the appeal has become moot because Ettinger acquiesced in Elizabeth’s living with Madeline in Connecticut pursuant to the latter’s appointment as guardian of Elizabeth’s person by a Connecticut Probate Court, and because Elizabeth will attain the age of majority on June 9, 1982.

2. On the date long scheduled for the trial of several matters pending in the case, counsel for Madeline filed a motion for recusal. After a lengthy hearing the judge denied the motion. We have carefully examined the grounds in support of the motion in so far as they were argued below and have been preserved on appeal. Recusal is a matter within the judge’s “sound discretion,” Commonwealth v. O’Connor, 7 Mass. App. Ct. 314, 320 (1979), and cases cited, and the judge did not abuse his discretion in declining to recuse himself here. See Dittemore v. Dickey, 249 Mass. 95, 100 (1924); Preston v. Peck, 279 Mass. 16, 19 (1932); King v. Grace, 293 Mass. 244, 247 (1936).

3. (a) The arguments advanced by Madeline that she was not a party to the proceedings to remove Ettinger as guardian of Elizabeth’s property and, therefore, not subject to sanctions for her violation of discovery orders under S.J.C. Rule 1:02A, § 8(c), as appearing in 382 Mass. 735 (1981) (compare Mass.R.Civ.P. 37[d], 365 Mass. 800 [1974]), ignore (i) the language in both removal petitions and numerous other pleadings which plainly indicate that she was appearing on her own behalf and not as next friend of Elizabeth, see generally Miles v. Boyden, 3 Pick. 213, 218-219 (1826); Butler v. Winchester Home for Aged Women, 216 Mass. 567, 569 (1914); Reynolds v. Remick, 327 Mass. 465, 473 (1951); Caldwell v. Zaher, 344 Mass. 590, 591 (1962); (ii) her own position that she was a party, consistently taken by counsel until it became apparent that her refusal to comply with discovery orders might lead to the imposition of sanctions; and (iii) the substantial record support for the conclusion that her petitions were filed pursuant to G. L. c. 201, § 33. These and other factors lead us to conclude that it is a mere afterthought for Madeline to contend that the petition was filed pursuant to G. L. c. 201, § 2. (b) In view of Madeline’s wilful refusal to attend a deposition after her request for a protective order had been properly denied, the probate judge had discretion to dismiss so much of Madeline’s petition as sought to remove Ettinger as guardian of Elizabeth’s property. S.J.C. Rule 1:02A, § 8(c). See Atlantic Cape Fisheries v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 509 F.2d 577, 579 (1st Cir. [1078]*10781975). The flimsy grounds offered by Madeline in opposition to the deposition, and the fact that Ettinger had already been deposed, warranted the judge in concluding that she was “wilfully withholding relevant data to . . . [Ettinger’s] prejudice ... in defiance of discovery orders.” Litton Business Tel. Syss., Inc. v. Schwartz, ante 113, 118 (1982). In these circumstances, there was no abuse of discretion in the judge’s choice of sanctions under rule 1:02A. See Anderson v. Froderman, 361 Mass. 890 (1972), cert. denied, 410 U.S. 940 (1973) (decided under prior S.J.C. Rule 3:15, § 8(c), 351 Mass. 811 [1967]).

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Azarian v. Ettinger, 435 N.E.2d 638, 13 Mass. App. Ct. 1077, 1982 Mass. App. LEXIS 1331 (Mass. Ct. App. 1982).

435 N.E.2d 638 (Azarian v. Ettinger) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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