In re the Estate of Rudnick

32 A.D.2d 780, 302 N.Y.S.2d 252, 1969 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3863

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: June 2, 1969
• Status: Published

Opinion

In a proceeding by the administratrix (the decedent’s widow) for judicial settlement of her account, in which claims against three siblings of the decedent were made, the latter appeal from two orders of the Surrogate’s Court, Kings County, dated October 1, 1968 and October 23, 1968, respectively, the first referring the issues to a Referee for hearing and report and the second denying appellants’ motion to dismiss the claims pursuant to CPLR 3211 (subd. [a], pars. 5, 7) and 3212. Appeal from order of October 1,1968 dismissed. An order of reference to hear and report is not appealable. Order dated October 23, 1968 reversed, on the law; appellants’ motion granted; and the administratrix’ claims, set forth in items 5, 7 and 8 of Schedule J of her account, dismissed. Appellants are allowed one bill of $30 costs and disbursements jointly, payable out of the estate, to cover the appeals from both orders. ■ The claims against appellants involve a loan, the proceeds from the sale of real property, and the withdrawal of money from a bank account. We disagree with the Surrogate that there are issues to be tried with respect to these three claims. The documentary proof supplied by appellants demonstrates the lack of merit to the claims. Further, the claims are stale and barred by the Statute of Limitations. In response to the strong proofs proffered by appellants, the administratrix offered no documentary proofs, no direct averments and no probative facts; instead she offered conelusory, vague, conjectural and indirect allegations that do not raise any questions of fact to be tried. The claims should have been dismissed summarily. Christ, Acting P. J., Brennan, Rabin, Benjamin and Martuscello, JJ., concur.