Morgan v. Vestre

2011 ND 144, 799 N.W.2d 379, 2011 N.D. LEXIS 136, 2011 WL 2698224
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 13, 2011
DocketNo. 20100400
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 2011 ND 144 (Morgan v. Vestre) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Morgan v. Vestre, 2011 ND 144, 799 N.W.2d 379, 2011 N.D. LEXIS 136, 2011 WL 2698224 (N.D. 2011).

Opinion

CROTHERS, Justice.

[¶ 1] Rose Morgan appeals from the district court’s judgment denying probate of Maxine Vestre’s will after a jury found Maxine Vestre lacked testamentary capacity to make a will and the will was the product of undue influence. Morgan argues the district court erred by allowing a jury trial after James Vestre (“Vestre”) waived his right to a jury trial, by denying her motions for summary judgment and judgment as a matter of law, by admitting certain evidence and by refusing to use her proposed jury instruction on forgetfulness. We affirm.

I

[¶ 2] Maxine Vestre died on December 26, 2008. On January 27, 2009, Morgan, Maxine Vestre’s friend, applied for appointment as the personal representative for the estate and to informally probate the will executed on February 2, 2007. Morgan is the personal representative named in the February 2, 2007 will. On February 4, 2009, Vestre filed an objection to probate of the will and to appointment of Morgan as the personal representative, alleging that the will was invalid because Maxine Vestre was subject to undue influence and that Maxine Vestre lacked testamentary capacity when she executed the will.

[383]*383[¶ 3] On April 28, 2009, the court issued a scheduling order, stating a jury-trial was requested. On May 26, 2009, Vestre’s attorney wrote a letter to the court, stating Vestre waived his right to a jury trial. On September 1, 2009, Vestre demanded a jury trial. Morgan objected to the jury demand, arguing Vestre waived his right to a jury trial. The district court held a jury trial.

[¶ 4] On January 8, 2010, Morgan moved for summary judgment, arguing Vestre had not met his burden of raising more than a mere suggestion of undue influence and lack of testamentary capacity. Vestre opposed the motion, arguing he raised questions of material facts. The court denied Morgan’s summary judgment motion.

[¶ 5] Before trial, Morgan proposed a jury instruction using the term “mere forgetfulness.” The district court concluded that those words are covered by the term “memory” in a different instruction and that including them would confuse the jury. On October 5, 2010, a three-day jury trial began. Morgan lodged several objections to evidence presented by Ves-tre, arguing the evidence was not relevant because it was remote in time to the execution of the will. The court overruled the objections, stating the timing of the evidence was an issue of weight for the jury to decide. At the conclusion of evidence, Morgan moved for judgment as a matter of law, which the court denied. The jury returned a special verdict finding Maxine Vestre lacked testamentary capacity and was subject to undue influence. Judgment denying probate of the will was entered on the jury’s verdict and Morgan appeals.

II

[¶ 6] Morgan argues the district court abused its discretion by holding a jury trial after Vestre waived his right to a jury trial. Vestre asserts the district court did not abuse its discretion. Under Rule 38(b), N.D.R.Civ.P., “[o]n any issue triable of right by a jury, a party may demand a jury trial.” “A proper [jury trial] demand may be withdrawn only if the parties consent.” N.D.R.Civ.P. 38(e).

[¶ 7] “[A] trial court has broad discretion to grant relief from the waiver of the right to a jury trial.” Greenwood, Greenwood & Greenwood, P.C. v. Klem, 450 N.W.2d 745, 747 (N.D.1990). This Court will not reverse a trial court’s decision about “an untimely request for a jury trial unless the trial court abused its discretion.” Id. “A district court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable manner, or when it misinterprets or misapplies the law.” In re Estate of Cashmore, 2010 ND 159, ¶ 21, 787 N.W.2d 261.

[¶ 8] At a motion conference on April 17, 2009, the district court agreed to allow the parties to request a jury trial until September 1, 2009. On May 26, 2009, Vestre’s attorney sent a letter to the district court stating, “After discussing this matter with my client, he has indicated that he would request that this matter be tried to the Court, rather than to a jury.” On September 1, 2009, Vestre sent the district court a jury demand. Morgan opposed the jury demand, arguing Vestre waived his right to a jury trial. The district court held a jury trial.

[¶ 9] Vestre relies on First Western Bank v. Wickman to argue that his attorney could not withdraw the jury demand. 500 N.W.2d 896 (N.D.1993). This case is different than Wickman. In Wick-man, the attorney did not have his client’s consent to withdraw the jury demand, and the district court was aware the attorney did not have his client’s consent. Id. at 898. Here, nothing in the record suggests [384]*384that Vestre’s attorney did not have Ves-tre’s permission to withdraw the jury demand nor that the court had any knowledge of Vestre’s . lack of consent. Vestre’s reliance on Wickman is misplaced. An attorney is able to withdraw a jury demand on behalf of a client with the client’s consent. Id. (“[A]n attorney may withdraw a client’s demand for a jury trial, without the actual appearance of the client or the submission of his or her signed statement, only if the attorney is expressly authorized by the client to do so.”).

[¶ 10] Vestre argues his jury demand was valid because he sent it before the district court’s September 1, 2009 deadline. Whether the jury demand was before the deadline is not relevant. “Once a right is waived at a court proceeding, the trial court can reinstate that right should it choose.” Steckler v. Steckler, 492 N.W.2d 76, 79 (N.D.1992). Here, the district court decided to hold a jury trial after Vestre waived and then renewed his right to a jury trial. Morgan failed to show the district court erred by reinstating Vestre’s right to a jury trial. Even assuming error, Morgan has not established prejudice by the jury trial. Rule 39(c), N.D.R.Civ.P., permits the district court to use an advisory jury to try the factual issues in a case. See Murphy v. Murphy, 1999 ND 118, ¶ 44, 595 N.W.2d 571 (“[A] trial court may submit, in its discretion, factual questions to an advisory jury.” (quoting Sargent County Bank v. Wentworth, 500 N.W.2d 862, 872 (N.D.1993))). Because the district court could have used an advisory jury without the party’s consent, we cannot see under the facts of this case how the court abused its discretion by holding a jury trial after Vestre’s waiver.

Ill

[¶ 11] Morgan asserts the district court committed reversible error by admitting evidence remote in time to execution of the will. Vestre argues the evidence was relevant to both the competency and the undue influence claims. A district court’s admission of evidence is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Davis v. Killu, 2006 ND 32, ¶ 6, 710 N.W.2d 118. “A trial court has broad discretion on evidentiary matters, and we will not overturn its admission or exclusion of evidence on appeal unless that discretion has been abused.” Id. “A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily, unconscionably, or unreasonably, or when its decision is not the product of a rational mental process.” Id.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2011 ND 144, 799 N.W.2d 379, 2011 N.D. LEXIS 136, 2011 WL 2698224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/morgan-v-vestre-nd-2011.