Estate of Layne v. Williams

727 S.W.2d 157, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 3655
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 17, 1987
DocketNo. WD 37965
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 727 S.W.2d 157 (Estate of Layne v. Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Layne v. Williams, 727 S.W.2d 157, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 3655 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

GAITAN, Presiding Judge.

Plaintiff-appellant, Albert Fred Greife, filed a Petition to Discover Assets in accordance with § 473.340 RSMo Supp.1984 as a residuary legatee under the will of Keron T. Layne. Motions for Summary Judgment filed by the respondents Geraldine Williams, United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, N.A. (“U.M.B.”) and American Bank of Higginsville (“A.B.H.”) were sustained by the trial court. Greife appeals alleging the trial court erred in the following respects: (1) in sustaining respondents’ motions for summary judgment because the motions were not supported by admissible evidence and; (2) erroneously applying the general regulations of the Department of the Treasury. U.M.B. also appeals, alleging that the trial court erred in failing to award U.M.B. attorneys’ fees. The judgment of the trial court is reversed.

Keron T. Layne died on February 29, 1984. Greife was named as a residuary legatee in the Last Will and Testament of Keron T. Layne. The Inventory and Ap-praisement prepared and verified by affidavit by the personal representative of Mrs. Layne’s estate listed five United States Treasury Notes held by U.M.B. in safekeeping account no. 1-0934-3 with the account receipts showing the notes “held for Keron Layne or Geraldine Williams.”

Greife filed a Petition to Discover Assets and a First Amended Petition to Discover Assets in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Lafayette County, Missouri, asking that the notes be included in the assets of the Estate of Keron T. Layne. Greife alleged that Geraldine Williams, A.B.H. and U.M.B. had adversely withheld and claimed possession of the notes.

U.M.B. filed an Answer and a Counterclaim for Interpleader. Williams and A.B.H. each filed an Answer. Motions for Summary Judgment were filed by Williams, A.B.H., and U.M.B. asking the court to find that the notes were the property of Geraldine Williams as the surviving joint tenant pursuant to Department of Treasury Regulations § 306.11. U.M.B. stated in its motion that A.B.H. requested U.M.B. to purchase the notes for the account of Keron Layne or Geraldine Williams. U.M.B. also filed a Motion for Attorneys’ fees requesting that it be granted reasonable attorneys’ fees to be paid [159]*159under its interpleader claim from the stake it held.

Greife filed a Motion for Summary Judgment requesting that the notes be declared owned one-half by N.R. Bradley as personal representative of the estate of Keron T. Layne, and one-half by Geraldine Williams. Greife claims in his motion that U.M.B. admitted that it purchased the notes for the safekeeping account titled “Keron T. Layne or Geraldine Williams.” Greife argues, therefore, that ownership of the notes is determined by the title to the safekeeping account in accordance with § 362.470 RSMo (1978).

Judgment was entered on December 31, 1985, granting the Motions for Summary Judgment of U.M.B., Williams, and A.B.H. Greife’s Motion for Summary Judgment was denied, as was U.M.B.’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees.

I.

Greife argues that there was no admissible evidence to support the court’s judgment granting respondents’ Motions for Summary Judgment. He argues that the court improperly considered the Department of Treasury Regulations offered by respondent Williams. At the time said regulations were offered, Greife objected to their consideration by the court on the grounds that the court could not take judicial notice of regulations of an administrative agency. However, in Macalco, Inc. v. Gulf Insurance Co., 550 S.W.2d 883 (Mo.App.1977), the court specifically stated that judicial notice of regulations of an administrative agency is allowed:

Regulations and rules promulgated by government agencies pursuant to delegation of authority from Congress have the force and effect of law and Missouri courts will judicially notice the rules and regulations adopted by such agencies ....

Macalco, 550 S.W.2d at 887.

The Department of the Treasury is authorized by Congress to issue regulations. Section 321 of title 31 U.S.C. provides that:

The Secretary of the Treasury shall ... (5) prescribe regulations that the Secretary considers best calculated to promote the public convenience and security, and to protect the Government and individuals from fraud and loss, that apply to anyone who may—
(A) receive for the Government, Treasury notes, United States notes, or other government securities; or
(B) be engaged or employed in preparing and issuing those notes or securities.

Section 321 further provides that the Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out the duties and powers of the Secretary. This statute clearly authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt regulations and the trial court properly took judicial notice of said regulations.

Greife also complains that defendants’ motions were not verified and were not based upon any “properly admitted evi-dentiary documentation.” Greife’s point is well taken. None of the parties’ motions were verified or supported by any admissible evidentiary material. Copies of five safekeeping receipts were attached to William’s motion but were not verified by an affidavit of someone with personal knowledge of the receipts. These safekeeping receipts indicate that the notes are “held for Keron Layne or Geraldine Williams.” U.M.B. stated in its Answer and Counterclaim, however, that the notes were “formerly held” in the safekeeping account for “Keron Layne or Geraldine Williams.” U.M.B. stated that it “currently holds” three of the notes for A.B.H. for the account of “Geraldine Williams Trust.” One of the notes was held in the account for “Keron Layne or Geraldine Williams” and was then held in the account for “Geraldine Williams Trust.” After the note matured on March 31, 1985, U.M.B. credited the account of A.B.H. with the principal and interest. U.M.B. did not indicate in its Answer what has become of the note, evidenced by receipt no. 849724, which matured on September 30, 1984. U.M.B. further stated that it has a contract with A.B.H. obligating U.M.B. to credit the account of A.B.H. with the principal and interest of the notes. U.M.B.’s Answer was [160]*160not verified. At oral argument on the motions, defendants’ attorneys further informed the trial court that the notes were “book-entry securities.” Counsel explained that this means the purchase of the notes was merely recorded on the bank’s records, but the notes were never issued by the Treasury. None of the allegations of counsel at oral argument were based upon personal knowledge or supported by affidavit. There was a total absence of competent, admissible evidence to establish the facts in this case, so that the trial court could determine that defendants were entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.

In Brown v. Upjohn Co., 655 S.W.2d 758 (Mo.App.1983), the defendant filed a summary judgment motion with an attached exhibit which was the package insert which allegedly accompanied all units of the drug at issue in the case. Neither the motion nor the exhibit were supported by affidavit. The court reversed the trial court’s order granting summary judgment for lack of evidentiary support, stating:

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Bluebook (online)
727 S.W.2d 157, 1987 Mo. App. LEXIS 3655, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-layne-v-williams-moctapp-1987.