NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-4434-16T3
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD J. VALENTINE, SR.
Argued April 23, 2018 – Decided June 27, 2018
Before Judges Ostrer and Rose.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Bergen County, Docket No. P-000041-17.
Clara S. Licata argued the cause for appellant (The Law Office of Clara S. Licata, attorneys; Clara S. Licata, on the briefs).
Brian J. Halligan argued the cause for respondent (Crawford & Halligan, attorneys; Brian J. Halligan, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
In this probate matter, Eileen Valentine, a daughter of
decedent Edward J. Valentine, Sr., appeals from a May 4, 2017
order granting the executor's application to prepare the
decedent's house for sale, and dismissing her counterclaim to purchase the house. Eileen1 also claims the trial court erred in
summarily granting the executor's order to show cause without
holding a hearing. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
I.
We derive the salient facts from the record. Having died
testate in December 2011, decedent was survived by five adult
children with his predeceased wife: John P. Valentine, Anne
Valentine, Edward J. Valentine, Jr., Mary Catherine Jasper, and
Eileen. At the time of his death, Edward Sr. resided in the family
home in Waldwick.
In January 2012, decedent's Last Will and Testament was
admitted to probate. After providing for the payment of debts,
funeral expenses and taxes, decedent divided his "residuary
estate" among his five children as follows: fifteen percent to
John; twenty percent to Anne; fifteen percent to Edward, Jr;
twenty-five percent to Mary Catherine and twenty-five percent to
Eileen. With respect to Eileen's bequest, decedent further
directed
that a portion of her said bequest shall consist of the devise of my house, realty, and furniture and furnishings in my said house . . . [in] Waldwick . . . the value of which shall be credited toward her said bequest.
1 Because the interested parties bear the same last name, we use first names after their full names have been identified. We mean no disrespect in doing so.
2 A-4434-16T3 In the unlikely event that my total net estate shall, at the time of my death, be inadequate to enable my said daughter, EILEEN A. VALENTINE, to receive this property as a portion of her 25% bequest, then I direct that this realty be sold on the open market and the proceeds distributed among my children in the percentages indicated. However, my said daughter shall be given the option and opportunity to purchase said property, as a right of first refusal, before it is conveyed to any third party.
At the time of decedent's death, the estimated net value of
the probate estate was $430,396 including the family home, which
then appraised for $182,500. Because Eileen's bequest was twenty-
five percent of the residuary estate, her share was $107,599.
After decedent's death, Eileen's siblings permitted her to
reside in the family home until it was sold, provided she paid
expenses, insurance, and property taxes. In Fall 2015, after
several siblings requested sale of the family home, Eileen failed
to pay the fourth-quarter property taxes. On October 1, 2016,
Eileen voluntarily vacated the home, but did not remove all of her
personal property. Despite repeated requests, she failed to give
the executor a key to the residence.
Accordingly, in January 2017, the executor commenced the
present summary action, seeking relief that would enable him to
sell the family home. In his verified complaint, the executor
sought sale of the home, claiming:
3 A-4434-16T3 Since the value of the total net estate is inadequate to both meet the percentage bequest to Eileen and give the other children their respective percentage shares of the net estate, it is necessary that the house be sold and that the net proceeds be distributed to the children according to the percentages set forth in the will.
Eileen filed an answer and counterclaim,2 contending she told
the executor shortly after her father's death that she wanted to
purchase the family home, but the sale was "stonewalled" by most
of her siblings. She contends the executor misinterpreted the
provision of the Will devising the family home. In particular,
she argues "total net estate" includes probate and non-probate
assets, which would have qualified her to purchase the house
outright at the appraised value.
In a cogent written statement of reasons, the trial judge
granted the relief sought by the executor, finding "there [were]
no genuine issues of material fact prohibiting final judgment."
In doing so, he found the Will explicitly authorizes the executor
to sell the family home because the total net estate was inadequate
to allow Eileen to receive the house as her share. The judge also
denied Eileen's request for equitable relief because she waited
2 Pursuant to Rule 4:67-4(a), leave of court is necessary to file a counterclaim. Although Eileen did not request leave to file a counterclaim, the trial court considered her pleading.
4 A-4434-16T3 more than five years to attempt to purchase the home. This appeal
followed.
On appeal, Eileen argues there were disputed issues of
material fact that warranted a plenary hearing. She further
contends the judge erred in excluding non-probate property from
the "total net estate" provision in the Will. In particular, she
claims she should have received the house because her total
bequest, including probate and non-probate property, was adequate
to cover the appraised value of the house. As support, Eileen
contends the Will's scrivener agreed with her interpretation. We
disagree.
II.
We will not disturb the factual findings and legal conclusions
of a trial judge unless we are convinced that those findings and
conclusions "are so manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent with
the competent, relevant and reasonably credible evidence as to
offend the interests of justice." Tractenberg v. Twp. of W.
Orange, 416 N.J. Super. 354, 365 (App. Div. 2010) (quoting Rova
Farms Resort, Inc. v. Investors Ins. Co. of Am., 65 N.J. 474, 484
(1974)). "However, '[a] trial court's interpretation of the law
and the legal consequences that flow from established facts are
not entitled to any special deference.'" Ibid. (quoting Manalapan
5 A-4434-16T3 Realty, L.P. v. Twp. Comm. of Manalapan, 140 N.J. 366, 378 (1995))
(alteration in original).
Rule 4:83-1 designates that "all actions in the Superior
Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, shall be brought in a
summary manner by the filing of a complaint and issuance of an
order to show cause pursuant to [Rule] 4:67." Consequently,
probate matters are specifically subject to Rules governing
expedited summary actions when in the trial court. See Courier
News v. Hunterdon Cty. Prosecutor's Office, 358 N.J. Super. 373,
378 (App. Div. 2003).
Actions brought in a "summary manner" are distinguishable
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-4434-16T3
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD J. VALENTINE, SR.
Argued April 23, 2018 – Decided June 27, 2018
Before Judges Ostrer and Rose.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Bergen County, Docket No. P-000041-17.
Clara S. Licata argued the cause for appellant (The Law Office of Clara S. Licata, attorneys; Clara S. Licata, on the briefs).
Brian J. Halligan argued the cause for respondent (Crawford & Halligan, attorneys; Brian J. Halligan, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
In this probate matter, Eileen Valentine, a daughter of
decedent Edward J. Valentine, Sr., appeals from a May 4, 2017
order granting the executor's application to prepare the
decedent's house for sale, and dismissing her counterclaim to purchase the house. Eileen1 also claims the trial court erred in
summarily granting the executor's order to show cause without
holding a hearing. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
I.
We derive the salient facts from the record. Having died
testate in December 2011, decedent was survived by five adult
children with his predeceased wife: John P. Valentine, Anne
Valentine, Edward J. Valentine, Jr., Mary Catherine Jasper, and
Eileen. At the time of his death, Edward Sr. resided in the family
home in Waldwick.
In January 2012, decedent's Last Will and Testament was
admitted to probate. After providing for the payment of debts,
funeral expenses and taxes, decedent divided his "residuary
estate" among his five children as follows: fifteen percent to
John; twenty percent to Anne; fifteen percent to Edward, Jr;
twenty-five percent to Mary Catherine and twenty-five percent to
Eileen. With respect to Eileen's bequest, decedent further
directed
that a portion of her said bequest shall consist of the devise of my house, realty, and furniture and furnishings in my said house . . . [in] Waldwick . . . the value of which shall be credited toward her said bequest.
1 Because the interested parties bear the same last name, we use first names after their full names have been identified. We mean no disrespect in doing so.
2 A-4434-16T3 In the unlikely event that my total net estate shall, at the time of my death, be inadequate to enable my said daughter, EILEEN A. VALENTINE, to receive this property as a portion of her 25% bequest, then I direct that this realty be sold on the open market and the proceeds distributed among my children in the percentages indicated. However, my said daughter shall be given the option and opportunity to purchase said property, as a right of first refusal, before it is conveyed to any third party.
At the time of decedent's death, the estimated net value of
the probate estate was $430,396 including the family home, which
then appraised for $182,500. Because Eileen's bequest was twenty-
five percent of the residuary estate, her share was $107,599.
After decedent's death, Eileen's siblings permitted her to
reside in the family home until it was sold, provided she paid
expenses, insurance, and property taxes. In Fall 2015, after
several siblings requested sale of the family home, Eileen failed
to pay the fourth-quarter property taxes. On October 1, 2016,
Eileen voluntarily vacated the home, but did not remove all of her
personal property. Despite repeated requests, she failed to give
the executor a key to the residence.
Accordingly, in January 2017, the executor commenced the
present summary action, seeking relief that would enable him to
sell the family home. In his verified complaint, the executor
sought sale of the home, claiming:
3 A-4434-16T3 Since the value of the total net estate is inadequate to both meet the percentage bequest to Eileen and give the other children their respective percentage shares of the net estate, it is necessary that the house be sold and that the net proceeds be distributed to the children according to the percentages set forth in the will.
Eileen filed an answer and counterclaim,2 contending she told
the executor shortly after her father's death that she wanted to
purchase the family home, but the sale was "stonewalled" by most
of her siblings. She contends the executor misinterpreted the
provision of the Will devising the family home. In particular,
she argues "total net estate" includes probate and non-probate
assets, which would have qualified her to purchase the house
outright at the appraised value.
In a cogent written statement of reasons, the trial judge
granted the relief sought by the executor, finding "there [were]
no genuine issues of material fact prohibiting final judgment."
In doing so, he found the Will explicitly authorizes the executor
to sell the family home because the total net estate was inadequate
to allow Eileen to receive the house as her share. The judge also
denied Eileen's request for equitable relief because she waited
2 Pursuant to Rule 4:67-4(a), leave of court is necessary to file a counterclaim. Although Eileen did not request leave to file a counterclaim, the trial court considered her pleading.
4 A-4434-16T3 more than five years to attempt to purchase the home. This appeal
followed.
On appeal, Eileen argues there were disputed issues of
material fact that warranted a plenary hearing. She further
contends the judge erred in excluding non-probate property from
the "total net estate" provision in the Will. In particular, she
claims she should have received the house because her total
bequest, including probate and non-probate property, was adequate
to cover the appraised value of the house. As support, Eileen
contends the Will's scrivener agreed with her interpretation. We
disagree.
II.
We will not disturb the factual findings and legal conclusions
of a trial judge unless we are convinced that those findings and
conclusions "are so manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent with
the competent, relevant and reasonably credible evidence as to
offend the interests of justice." Tractenberg v. Twp. of W.
Orange, 416 N.J. Super. 354, 365 (App. Div. 2010) (quoting Rova
Farms Resort, Inc. v. Investors Ins. Co. of Am., 65 N.J. 474, 484
(1974)). "However, '[a] trial court's interpretation of the law
and the legal consequences that flow from established facts are
not entitled to any special deference.'" Ibid. (quoting Manalapan
5 A-4434-16T3 Realty, L.P. v. Twp. Comm. of Manalapan, 140 N.J. 366, 378 (1995))
(alteration in original).
Rule 4:83-1 designates that "all actions in the Superior
Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, shall be brought in a
summary manner by the filing of a complaint and issuance of an
order to show cause pursuant to [Rule] 4:67." Consequently,
probate matters are specifically subject to Rules governing
expedited summary actions when in the trial court. See Courier
News v. Hunterdon Cty. Prosecutor's Office, 358 N.J. Super. 373,
378 (App. Div. 2003).
Actions brought in a "summary manner" are distinguishable
from summary judgment actions because in a summary action, the
court makes findings of fact and accords no favorable inferences
to the action's opponent. O'Connell v. N.J. Mfrs. Ins. Co., 306
N.J. Super. 166, 172 (App. Div. 1997). If the court is "satisfied
with the sufficiency of the application, [it] shall order defendant
to show cause why final judgment should not be rendered for the
relief sought." Courier News, 358 N.J. Super. at 378 (alteration
in original) (quoting R. 4:67-2(a)). Furthermore, summary actions
are specifically designed to be expeditious and avoid plenary
hearings. Pursuant to Rule 4:67-5,
The court shall try the action on the return day, or on such short day as it fixes. If . . . the affidavits show palpably that there
6 A-4434-16T3 is no genuine issue as to any material fact the court may try the action on the pleadings and affidavits, and render final judgment thereon. If any party objects to such a trial and there may be a genuine issue as to a material fact, the court shall hear the evidence as to those matters which may be genuinely in issue, and render final judgment. At the hearing or on motion at any stage of the action, the court for good cause shown may order the action to proceed as in a plenary action . . . .
Consequently, judges sitting in probate on summary
proceedings have broad discretion in determining the genuine
nature of the factual dispute and whether the issue merits a
plenary hearing. See Tractenberg, 416 N.J. Super. at 365 (holding
that a judge properly utilized a summary proceeding to determine
whether facts supported the claim that the attorney-client
privilege or attorney work product doctrine protected the release
of certain documents under the Open Public Records Act).
Here, we find the trial judge reasonably exercised his
discretion in determining a plenary hearing was not warranted, and
dismissing the counterclaim. Importantly, the parties do not
dispute the value of the probate estate or the date-of-death value
of the family home. We, therefore, agree that no genuine issues
as to any material facts were raised here and, as such, a plenary
hearing was not necessary. See R. 4:67-5.
7 A-4434-16T3 We also disagree with Eileen that discovery and a plenary
hearing are necessary to determine decedent's intent concerning
her share of the estate and the meaning of "total net estate."
Plenary hearings are required when there are "contested issues of
material fact on the basis of conflicting affidavits." Conforti
v. Guliadis, 128 N.J. 318, 322-23 (1992). Here, Eileen's claim
that the scrivener said he agreed with her interpretation of the
Will fails because she did not provide a supporting affidavit
attesting to his alleged representation, and thus constitutes
inadmissible hearsay.
Although Eileen did not specifically raise the doctrine of
probable intent, we have recently determined that a trial court
may look beyond the plain language of a trust or will and consider
extrinsic evidence of intent to determine whether an ambiguity
exists. In re Trust of Nelson, ___ N.J. Super. ___, ___ (App.
Div. 2018) (slip op. at 13). Here, however, Eileen fails to
present any competent extrinsic evidence to contradict the trial
court's interpretation of decedent's Will.
Specifically, in the first paragraph, decedent directed
payment of his debts and funeral expenses. In the second
paragraph, he directed payment of taxes from his residuary estate.
This paragraph specifically includes property in his "gross
8 A-4434-16T3 estate, whether such property passes under this Will or otherwise."
(Emphasis added).
Conversely, in the third paragraph, decedent explicitly
referenced his "total net estate" in determining whether Eileen
should receive the family home as part of her twenty-five percent
bequest. (Emphasis added). Clearly, unless Eileen exercised her
right of first refusal, the terms of the Will dictated sale of the
home to a third party where, as here, the value of the residence
exceeded Eileen's twenty-five percent share.
Further eroding Eileen's argument that "total net estate"
includes non-probate property, is the "Estate Summary" listing
decedent's probate and non-probate property. This summary
indicates that Eileen received, as non-probate property, either
20% or 35% of decedent's individual retirement account; 100% of a
Bank of America account; and 100% of a Wells Fargo account.
Eileen's twenty-five percent bequest in the Will is separate and
apart from those non-probate assets.
Eileen also contends the trial court improperly invoked the
doctrine of laches in dismissing her counterclaim. Specifically,
she alleges that "although the [e]xecutor interposed a boilerplate
affirmative defense of laches, his counsel did not make a laches
argument to the court [during oral argument]." Eileen's argument
lacks merit.
9 A-4434-16T3 As Eileen concedes, procedurally, the executor pled laches
as an affirmative defense. R. 4:5-4. Substantively, the doctrine
of laches bars a party seeking to enforce a known right on the
grounds that the party "engage[d] in an inexcusable and unexplained
delay in exercising that right to the prejudice of the other
party." Fox v. Millman, 210 N.J. 401, 418 (2012) (quoting Knorr
v. Smeal, 178 N.J. 169, 180-81 (2003)). "Laches may only be
enforced when the delaying party had sufficient opportunity to
assert the right in the proper forum and the prejudiced party
acted in good faith believing that the right had been abandoned."
Knorr, 178 N.J. at 181 (citation omitted). "The key factors to
be considered in deciding whether to apply the doctrine are the
length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, and the 'changing
conditions of either or both parties during the delay.'" Ibid.
(quoting Lavin v. Bd. of Educ., 90 N.J. 145, 152 (1982)).
"[W]hether laches should be applied depends upon the facts of the
particular case and is a matter within the sound discretion of the
trial court." Mancini v. Twp. of Teaneck, 179 N.J. 425, 436 (2004)
(emphasis added) (internal citation omitted).
Here, the trial judge properly found, as a court of equity,
that it "[could] not aid [Eileen's] more than five-year long delay
in making her claim." Rather, he determined, "The appropriate
time for [Eileen] to purchase this Property has long passed, and
10 A-4434-16T3 the other beneficiaries, [Eileen's] brothers and sisters, are
entitled to their share of the Estate." As the judge aptly
observed, Eileen's "claim runs afoul of the well-established
equitable maxim, 'Equity aids the vigilant, not those who sleep
on their rights.'" (citations omitted). We agree. See also Kaye
v. Rosefielde, 223 N.J. 218, 231 (2015) ("As a general rule, courts
exercising their equitable powers are charged with formulating
fair and practical remedies appropriate to the specific
dispute."). (citations omitted).
We, therefore, conclude the record contains substantial,
credible evidence to support the findings of the trial judge and
we perceive no basis to disturb them. We find insufficient merit
in Eileen's remaining arguments to warrant further discussion in
a written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).
Affirmed.
11 A-4434-16T3