Marston v. Premier Bank, N.A.

665 So. 2d 725, 1995 La. App. LEXIS 3253, 1995 WL 714483
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 6, 1995
DocketNo. 27794-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 665 So. 2d 725 (Marston v. Premier Bank, N.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Marston v. Premier Bank, N.A., 665 So. 2d 725, 1995 La. App. LEXIS 3253, 1995 WL 714483 (La. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinions

IxSAVOIE, Judge Pro Tem.

The defendant, Premier- Bank, appeals from the trial court’s refusal to grant its declinatory exception of improper venue. For the reasons assigned below, we reverse the judgment of the trial court. The case is transferred to the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish.

FACTS

This case involves a dispute between the beneficiaries of a testamentary trust and the trustee concerning the management of the trust.1 The plaintiffs, Randall Marston, Lisa Marston, and Randy Marston, are beneficiaries of testamentary trusts created by the will of Randolph Marston, Sr. The late Mr. Marston owned property in several parishes throughout the state, and his total estate was valued at about $5 million. Premier Bank was designated as the trustee, as well as the executor for Mr. Marston’s succession. The succession proceedings were filed in the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish. The succession and the three trusts were administered by Premier Bank’s office in Caddo Parish.

The plaintiffs filed a rule to remove Premier Bank as the trustee and to recover damages for breach of fiduciary duty. Suit was brought in Webster Parish. The petition asserted that certain property and mineral interests located in Webster Parish were imprudently managed by Premier Bank, as trustee. The plaintiffs sought Premier Bank’s removal as trustee and their recognition as owners of the property held in trust.

Premier Bank filed a declinatory exception of improper venue. It argued that under LSA-R.S. 9:1725(5) and 9:1789 of the Louisiana Trust RCode, the “proper court” for a dispute involving a testamentary trust would be the court having jurisdiction over the settlor’s succession, i.e., the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish.

The trial court overruled the exception of venue. The court held that the allegations in the plaintiffs’ rule, alleging wrongful conduct, were sufficient to trigger application of LSA-C.C.P. Art. 74, which provided for venue in the parish where an offense or tort occurred. Premier Bank appealed.

LAW

Venue Articles

Venue refers to “the parish where an action or proceeding may properly be brought and tried under the rules regulating the subject.” LSA-C.C.P. Art. 41. The general rules of venue are set forth in LSA-C.C.P. Art. 42. The general rules of venue set forth in LSA-C.C.P. Art. 42 are subject to the exceptions provided in Articles 71 through 85 and as otherwise provided by law. LSA-C.C.P. Art. 43.

LSA-C.C.P. Art. 74 provides the following exception to the general rules of venue:

An action for the recovery of damages for an offense or quasi offense may be brought in the parish where the wrongful conduct occurred, or in the parish where the damages were sustained. An action to enjoin the commission of an offense or quasi offense may be brought in the parish where the wrongful conduct occurred or may occur.

[727]*727Since exceptions to the general venue rules are in derogation of a common right, they must be strictly construed, and the party claiming the benefit of an exception must bring himself clearly within the exception. Hawthorne Oil and Gas Corporation v. Continental Oil Company, 377 So.2d 285 (La.1979); Keele v. Knecht, 621 So.2d 106 (La.App. 2d Cir.1993).

Trust Code Provisions

According to LSA-R.S. 9:1789 “[a] trustee may be removed in accordance with the provisions of the trust instrument or by the proper court for sufficient cause shown.” LSA-R.S. 9:1725(5) defines “proper court” in the case of a testamentary trust as “the district court having jurisdiction of the set-tlor’s succession.”

LSA-R.S. 9:2081 defines a breach of trust as “[a] violation by a trustee of a duty he owes to a beneficiary as trustee.” The liability of a trustee who commits a breach of trust is set forth in LSA-R.S. 9:2201, which provides:

If a trustee commits a breach of trust he shall be chargeable with:
(1) A loss or depreciation in value of the trust estate resulting from a breach of trust; or
(2) A profit made by him through breach of trust; or
(3) A profit that would have accrued to the trust estate if there had been no breach of trust.

LSA-R.S. 9:2221 establishes the beneficiary’s remedies against an errant trustee:

A beneficiary of a trust may institute an action:
(1) To compel a trustee to perform his duties as trustee;
(2) To enjoin a trustee from committing a breach of trust;
(3) To' compel a trustee to redress a breach of trust;
(4) To remove a trustee.

Among other Trust Code provisions addressing breaches of trust by the trustee are the following:

ULSA-R-S. 9:2182
If a trustee commits a breach of trust, the proper court in its discretion may deny him all compensation, allow him a reduced compensation, or allow him full compensation.
LSA-R.S. 9:2202
A trustee is not liable to a beneficiary for a loss or depreciation in value of the trust property, or for a failure to make a profit not resulting from a breach of trust.
LSA-R.S. 9:2208
The proper court for cause shown and upon notice to an interested beneficiary may excuse a trustee wholly or partly from liability for a breach of trust if the trustee acted honestly and reasonably.

DISCUSSION

Examination of the plaintiffs’ petition reveals that it is drafted in terms of the trustee’s alleged breaches of trust, with the plaintiffs seeking redress under provisions of the Trust Code. Among the relief requested is damages for loss or depreciation in value of the trust estates as a result of breach of trust by Premier Bank, denial and/or reduction of fees paid to Premier Bank as trustee, and removal of Premier Bank as trustee. The petition alleges, and other documentation demonstrates, that the trust contains property in several parishes, including Webster, Caddo, Red River, Richland and Madison Parishes. Evidence in the record further shows that the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish had jurisdiction over the succession of the settlor, Mr. Marston. Therefore, it is “the proper court” as defined in LSA-R.S. 9:1725(5).

In the instant ease, we find that Caddo Parish is the proper venue for |6the plaintiffs action. The plaintiffs seek relief under the Trust Code. AH of the relief sought under their rule is available under LSA-R.S. 9:2201 and LSA-R.S. 9:2221. If a trustee is to be removed, the removal must be ordered by the “proper court” under LSA-R.S. 9:1789. When a trustee commits a breach of trust, “the proper court” determines the effect of that breach upon the trustee’s compensation. LSA-R.S. 9:2182. Furthermore, “the proper court” may excuse a trustee from liability for [728]*728a breach of trust under certain circumstances. LSA-R.S. 9:2208.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
665 So. 2d 725, 1995 La. App. LEXIS 3253, 1995 WL 714483, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/marston-v-premier-bank-na-lactapp-1995.