Estate of Barnhart

226 Cal. App. 2d 289, 37 Cal. Rptr. 909
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 13, 1964
DocketCiv. No. 27796
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 226 Cal. App. 2d 289 (Estate of Barnhart) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Barnhart, 226 Cal. App. 2d 289, 37 Cal. Rptr. 909 (Cal. Ct. App. 1964).

Opinion

226 Cal.App.2d 289 (1964)

Estate of GEORGE EDWARD BARNHART, Deceased. EDWARD J. CUMMINGS, as Executor, etc., et al., Objectors and Appellants,
v.
PATRICIA CHALGREN et al., Claimants and Respondents; STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Claimant and Appellant.

Civ. No. 27796.

California Court of Appeals. Second Dist., Div. Two.

April 13, 1964.

Joslyn & Joslyn, R. B. Joslyn, Hahn & Hahn, William S. Johnstone, Jr., and Loren H. Russell for Objectors and Appellants.

Stanley Mosk, Attorney General, and Carl Boronkay, Deputy Attorney General, for Claimant and Appellant.

Holmes, Ross, Woodson, Millard & Ryburn and John W. Holmes for Claimants and Respondents.

KINCAID, J. pro tem. [fn. *]

The decedent herein, George Edward Barnhart, died on April 26, 1962, a resident of the County of Los Angeles. Judgment admitting his will to probate and appointing Oscar E. Watson, executor of said will, was filed September 21, 1962. Said will, holographic in form and on one page, reads:

"I, George Edward Barnhart, being of Sound mind & I believe body, wish to make provision for the disposition of my property, if for any reason God should wish to call me."

00 from Patricia Chalgren

"1. One payment of $1000 as final settlement, *293"

Altadena Pasadena

the property at 2228 New York Dr/ & 407 & 411 Waldo Ave./

all books, tools & machinery

to be deeded to Patricia Chalgren to have and to hold intack/ during her life time then turn it over to the State of California as a museum at 2228 New York Dr. plus 100 Shares McCord -

"2. Joan Pengra - 100 Shares McCord -"

"3. Imogene Warner 100 Shares U.S. Steel."

"4. Joanne - Ed - Robert - Wayne - All the Lots as"

except lot 4 T 7330 -

of in L.A. County/ which I now own. plus 100 shares of McCord -

"5. Bill Harris Jr. 100 G. Unilever -"

"6. Lot 4 T 7330 to Oscar Watson - he to act as trustee for my Estate."

"7. All residue from any LawSuit [TEXT STRICKEN]-[to be]- 10% to Mr. Oscar Watson & the Balance Equally divided - Mr. Watson to have the full & complete say in all matters. George Edward Barnhart"

Dec. 30, 1961.""

In addition to the above, there is written along the left side of said document, "8. Mr. Glenn Ogg 10% of any LawSuit Residue," and along the right side, "10% to Mr. Ogg."

A petition to determine interests in estate was filed by Patricia Chalgren and Joan Pengra, the daughters and only heirs at law of the decedent. In response to said petition statements of interest were filed by William Harris, as guardian ad litem of William Harris, Jr.; by Oscar E. Watson; by Edward Cummings individually and as guardian of the Estate of Wayne R. Cummings and Robert Cummings and as executor of the Estate of Joanne J. Cummings; and by the State of California.

Following a court trial findings of fact, conclusions of law and the judgment were filed. A notice of appeal from the judgment was filed by the State of California; by William Harris, in his capacity as guardian ad litem, and by Edward J. Cummings, in his own behalf and in his capacities as guardian and executor.

The decedent was born in California in 1895 and had a long career as an inventor and engineer, particularly in the field of aviation. Some of his inventions were used by the United States Government during World War II and later he *294 carried on his research in a shed at the rear of his residence 2228 New York Drive, Altadena.

Decedent and his wife divorced in 1931 and she moved to Minnesota taking the two children, Patricia and Joan, with her. Patricia visited decedent twice and there was extensive communication between them with exchange of gifts. Joan spoke with decedent by telephone upon several occasions, and exchanged some letters with him receiving occasional gifts. She never saw him after the separation in 1931.

In aid of construction of the intent and meaning of testator's will, extrinsic evidence was offered by various of the parties and received by the trial court without objection. In addition to the foregoing, such evidence showed that decedent and Watson had been longtime friends and business acquaintances. William Harris, Jr., referred to in the will as "Bill," lived next door to the decedent who was fond of him. He had known Imogene Warner since 1939 and they had visited and conversed frequently. The Cummings family consisted of Joanne, Ed, Robert and Wayne, all of whom had known the decedent since 1943, had received substantial gifts from him and had visited him from their home in Chicago on several occasions.

After receiving the extrinsic evidence the trial court found that as to paragraph 1 of the will the testator intended to devise all of his interest in the real properties located on New York Drive, Altadena and on Waldo Avenue, Pasadena to Patricia; that although the testator intended that some part or all of the real property, books, tools and machinery referred to in paragraph 1 should be turned over to the State of California as a museum after the death of Patricia, the court is unable to ascertain whether said intention related to only part of said property and, if so, to what property, or whether said intention related to the whole of said property. The court then further found that the books, tools and machinery mentioned in paragraph 1 are a part of the residue of the estate and the property at 2228 New York Drive, Altadena, is not and cannot be made physically available for museum use; that the court cannot ascertain what property referred to in paragraph 1 of the will, including books, tools and machinery, the testator intended should be turned over to the State of California as a museum; or what purpose the museum was intended to serve; or who were the beneficiaries thereof; or whether the testator intended Patricia to administer some or all of the property so referred to as a trust; or whether he intended some or all of said property to be *295 administered as a trust only by said estate or by both Patricia and the state. Under paragraph 1 the testator intended to bequeath 100 shares of the stock of McCord Corporation to Patricia.

As to paragraphs 7 and 8 the court found that testator intended to bequeath to Watson and Ogg each 10 per cent of the net proceeds realized by his estate from any lawsuit but as to any balance remaining the court is unable to ascertain the intention of the testator as to whom he intended to give all or any part thereof; that by his will the testator did not dispose of all or any said balance and all thereof is therefore included in the residue of the estate of said decedent. As to the residue of the estate the court found that it is not disposed of by the will and as to said residue the decedent died intestate.

The state contends that the trial court erred (1) in failing to construe the meaning of paragraph 1 of the will as giving Patricia Chalgren a life estate only in the real and personal property (excluding the McCord stock) described therein and as giving the state the remainder interest in said property; (2) in failing to construe the language of paragraph 7 of the will disposing of the balance of the net proceeds which are realized by the estate from any lawsuit in equal shares to each of the legatees named in the will, including the state, who were not otherwise given specific shares of such proceeds.

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Related

Estate of Barnhart
272 Cal. App. 2d 768 (California Court of Appeal, 1969)
Bobcock v. Watson
272 Cal. App. 2d 768 (California Court of Appeal, 1969)
Estate of Meininger
237 Cal. App. 2d 102 (California Court of Appeal, 1965)
Sharp v. American Heart Ass'n
237 Cal. App. 2d 102 (California Court of Appeal, 1965)

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226 Cal. App. 2d 289, 37 Cal. Rptr. 909, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-barnhart-calctapp-1964.