Maier v. Henning

548 A.2d 1266, 378 Pa. Super. 410, 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2957
CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedOctober 12, 1988
DocketNos. 2488, 2526
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 548 A.2d 1266 (Maier v. Henning) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Maier v. Henning, 548 A.2d 1266, 378 Pa. Super. 410, 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2957 (Pa. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

JOHNSON, Judge:

This is a consolidated appeal from summary judgment which the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of Common [412]*412Pleas of Carbon County granted in a declaratory judgment action.

We are asked to determine whether a general power of sale clause contained in a will may override an express limitation upon sale found in the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code1 (the Code). We are also asked to determine whether the failure to object to a petition to sell real estate at private sale may constitute a statutory joinder on the part of a specific devisee under a will. Since we find the language of Section 3351 of the Code2 to be both clear and free from doubt, and since we are unaware of any other provisions permitting the divestiture of specifically devised real estate, we reverse.

On May 19, 1980, Walter Sudu (the “Decedent”), died testate. Albert F. Maier and Albert F. Maier, Jr., (the “Executors”), were appointed Executors of the Decedent’s Estate by the Carbon County Register of Wills on May 27, 1980.

The Decedent’s Estate included a 17.1 acre parcel of property known as the “Hickory Run Plaza” (truck stop) leased to Interstate Traveler Services, Inc., since 1974. Included in the lease, and operated as an integrated unit with the truck stop, were four surrounding properties: (1) a 1.99 acre tract with a sewage treatment plant; (2) a 50 foot by 50 foot tract which was used for a high rise sign; and (3) two parcels containing easements from the truck stop to the sewage treatment plant and high rise sign location. These four parcels of property are the subject of this litigation. The truck stop together with the four surrounding properties were specifically devised by the Decedent in his will to Stanley Sudu, Joseph Sudu and Anna Perez (the “Devi-sees”).

On October 29, 1981, the Executors presented to the Orphans’ Court for Carbon County a Petition for Leave to Sell at Private Sale (the “Petition”) certain specifically [413]*413described real estate to Earl L. Henning, his heirs and assigns (the “Hennings”). This Petition was presented under Section 3351 of the Code. Included within the perimeter of the legal description for the property to be conveyed to the Hennings were the four parcels of real estate at issue in this litigation. Both the Petition, and the subsequent deed to the Hennings, (ie. Earl L. Henning, Gunnar M. Henning and Maynard W. Henning, t/a GEM Properties) provided that the conveyance was under and subject, inter alia, to all restrictions, exceptions, convenants and conditions as contained in prior documents in the chain of title.

Prior notice of intention to present the Petition for Leave to Sell at Private Sale, including a copy of the Petition, was served on the Devisees’ attorney by certified mail, return receipt requested. The attorney representing the Devisees in the estate proceedings had previously filed on December 19,1980, a Petition for Citation Why an Account Should Not be Filed by the Executors, and on June 4, 1981, a Petition for an Order to Compel the Executors to Distribute Income from Specifically Devised Property. Further, the Petition for Leave to Sell at Private Sale specifically identified each of the Devisees as interested parties under the will.

No objections to the intended private sale by the Executors to the Hennings were voiced by the Devisees. The Orphans’ Court by decree dated October 29, 1981, approved the proposed sale. Subsequently, by deed dated January 22, 1982, and recorded in Carbon County the Executors conveyed the property described in the Petition and Court Decree to the Hennings.

In dispute in this litigation is the fee simple ownership of the sewage treatment plant, the high rise sign location, and the two access easements to these locations. The Hennings claim ownership of these tracts pursuant to the Executors’ Deed and Court confirmation. The Devisees claim fee ownership of these tracts pursuant to the will and the aforesaid specific devise.

[414]*414To resolve this dispute and proceed with the orderly distribution of the estate, the Executors filed an Action for Declaratory Judgment. Following the close of the pleadings, a Motion for Summary Judgment was filed by the Executors. This Motion was granted by the Court, which found fee simple ownership of the disputed parcels to be in the Hennings under and subject to the lease with Interstate Traveler Services, Inc. In reaching this conclusion the Court held that the Devisees by their inaction and failure to object to the Petition for Leave to Sell at Private Sale had acquiesced and joined in such sale in accordance with the provisions of Section 3351 of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, 20 Pa.C.S. § 3351. Timely Notices of Appeal from the Court’s Order were separately filed by the Executors and the Devisees. The appeals have been consolidated by stipulation.

Before summary judgment may be entered, the case must be clear and free from doubt, the moving party must prove that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Pa.R.Civ.P. 1035; Pennsylvania Gas & Water Co. v. Nenna & Frain, Inc., 320 Pa.Super. 291, 467 A.2d 330 (1983). The parties agree that there are no material questions of fact. Consequently, in reviewing the orphan’s court summary judgment, we determine whether the court committed an error of law. Id.

It is clear from the will that the testator intended to convey a fee simple interest in the real estate set forth in Paragraph 4 of the will, and not just an easement right. In pertinent part the will provides:

It is to be understood that this specific devise includes not only the above 17.1 acres, but also all those parcels set forth as Exhibits B, C and D, attached to the Agreement of Lease above described, and also the 40-foot right-of-way to the high rise sign as shown in red on Exhibit A, attached to said Agreement of Lease.

It is also clear that the legal title passed at the Decedent’s death on May 19, 1980 to the Devisees, subject only [415]*415to the lawful powers of the personal representatives, the Executors and all orders of the court. 20 Pa.C.S. § 301.

Unless the Petition for Leave to Sell Real Estate, presented on October 29, 1981, could operate to divest the Devisees of their already acquired interest under the will, the deed of January 22, 1982 from the Executors to the Hennings could only transfer that property not already included in the specific devise. We are persuaded that no divesture occurred.

We begin our analysis by eliminating any consideration of a judicial sale under Section 3353 of the Code, 20 Pa.C.S. § 3353. The petition contains no averment that it is advisable that the sale have the effect of a judicial sale. Equally important, the decree of court signed on October 29, 1981 in response to Count III of the Petition does not contain a finding that the proposed sale is “desirable for the proper administration and distribution of the estate.” 20 Pa.C.S. § 3353. Nor could the Court have so found, given the large number of real estate parcels remaining under the residuary clause and the other significant assets remaining in the estate not specifically bequeathed or devised.3

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Related

Maier v. Henning
578 A.2d 1279 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
548 A.2d 1266, 378 Pa. Super. 410, 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2957, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/maier-v-henning-pasuperct-1988.