Scalfani v. Pacitto

7 Mass. L. Rptr. 337
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedAugust 8, 1997
DocketNo. 9607360
StatusPublished

This text of 7 Mass. L. Rptr. 337 (Scalfani v. Pacitto) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scalfani v. Pacitto, 7 Mass. L. Rptr. 337 (Mass. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

Brassard, J.

INTRODUCTION

This matter comes before the court on the defendants’, Katherine A. Pacitto (“Pacitto”), Executrix of the Estate of Katherine A. Scalfani, Josephine Car-gill (“Cargill”) and Joseph Morrissey (“Morrissey”), motion for summary judgment. For the reasons discussed below, the defendants’ motion for summary judgment is DENIED.

[338]*338BACKGROUND

The plaintiff, Michael Scalfani (“Michael"), brings this action as Executor of the Estate of Josephine Scalfani (“Josephine”), his mother. Pacitto is the Executrix of the Estate of Katherine A. Scalfani. Katherine A. Scalfani (“Katherine") is the sister of Michael and the cousin of Pacitto. Cargill is the mother of Pacitto. Morrissey is the attorney who drafted the will of Katherine and prepared, notarized and recorded the deed in question.

Josephine owned a home located at 220 Ferry Street in Everett, Massachusetts. Michael and Katherine lived there almost their entire lives with their parents. Josephine suffered from Parkinson’s disease and allegedly dementia, while Katherine had multiple sclerosis. Towards the end of their lives, Katherine and Josephine lived together in the downstairs apartment, while Michael lived in the upstairs apartment with his family.

In December 1988, Josephine gave power of attorney to her daughter, Katherine. This gave Katherine full authority to manage Josephine’s financial matters. On January 24, 1989, Josephine deeded to Katherine her home at 220 Ferry Street. This transfer of deed was done independently of the power of attorney. The deed was prepared by Morrissey.

In January 1996, Katherine died. Her will left her entire estate to Pacitto. In March 1996, Michael objected to his sister’s will and claimed that his sister had been unduly influenced by Pacitto and others. The Middlesex Probate Court found Michael’s objections to be groundless. Josephine died on July 20, 1996, and Michael was appointed executor of her estate. Josephine’s estate is insolvent.

Michael is not contesting the validity of his sister’s will before this court. He is contesting, on the grounds of fraud, the deed which transferred 220 Ferry Street from Josephine to Katherine and he alleges that money belonging to Josephine was fraudulently taken by the defendants.

DISCUSSION

This court grants summary judgment where there are no genuine issues of material fact and where the record entitles the moving party to judgment as a matter of law. Cassesso v. Commissioner of Correction, 390 Mass. 419, 422 (1983); Community Nat’l Bank v. Dawes, 369 Mass. 550, 553 (1976); Mass.R.Civ.P. 56(c). “The moving party bears the burden of affirmatively demonstrating the absence of a triable issue, and that the summary judgment record entitles the moving pariy to judgment as a matter of law.” Pederson v. Time, Inc., 404 Mass. 14, 16-17 (1989). “The nonmoving party cannot defeat the motion for summary judgment by resting on its pleadings and mere assertions of disputed facts . . .” LaLonde v. Eisner, 405 Mass. 207, 209 (1989).

The defendants move for summary judgment on three theories. These are: (1) the complaint is barred by the provisions of G.L.c. 260, §2A and §4; (2) the decision made by the probate judge collaterally estops the claims alleged in the complaint; and (3) the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

A. M.G.L.c. 260, §2A and §4.

The defendants argue that the plaintiffs claims are barred by the statute of limitations. In Massachusetts, a plaintiff must file a cause of action in tort within three years after the cause of action accrues. G.L.c. 260, §2A; Shahzade v. Gregory, 930 F.Sup. 673 (D.Mass. 1996). This three-year statute of limitations also applies to actions of contract or tort for malpractice against attorneys. G.L.c. 260, §4. A cause of action will accrue when a plaintiff knows of the cause of action or should reasonably have known of the cause of action. Riley v. Presnell, 409 Mass. 239 (1991). However, “the statute of limitations may be tolled under G.L.c. 260, §12, if the wrongdoer, either through actual fraud or in breach of a fiduciary duty of full disclosure, keeps from the person injured knowledge of the facts giving rise to a cause of action and the means of acquiring knowledge of such facts.” Frank Cooke, Inc. v. Hurwitz, 10 Mass. App. 99, 106 (1980); G.L.c. 260, §12. “(T]he question when a plaintiff knew or should have known of this cause of action is one of fact which in most instances will be decided by the trier of fact.” Riley, 409 Mass at 240. An action that would have survived the original party in her lifetime may be commenced by her executor or administrator. G.L.c. 228. Also, actions to recover property obtained by fraud survive the death of the party defrauded. Marvel v. Cobb, 200 Mass. 293 (1908); Lovejoy v. Bailey, 214 Mass. 134 (1913); Batty v. Greene, 206 Mass. 561, 564 (1910). Finally, the right to maintain a lawsuit in equity to set aside a deed that was transferred by fraud or deceit is not lost when the person defrauded dies. Busiere v. Reilly, 189 Mass. 518 (1905).

The question before this court is when did the decedent, Josephine, know or when should she reasonably have known of the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of funds and transfer of the deed to 220 Ferry Street and the alleged malpractice by Morrissey. To determine when the cause of action accrued, this court must determine when Josephine (1) had knowledge or sufficient notice that she was harmed and (2) had knowledge or sufficient notice of what caused the harm. Bowen v. Eli Lilly & Co., 408 Mass. 204, 208 (1990). The plaintiff argues that Josephine believed she was the owner of 220 Ferry Street up until the time of her death. Furthermore, the plaintiff states in his affidavit that Josephine suffered from dementia and Parkinson’s disease, and could not have been competent enough to have knowledge of the deceit and fraud. “An injury to the mind could interfere with the discov[339]*339eiy of the cause of action.” Riley, 409 Mass. at 246. He also alleges that Katherine intentionally concealed the transfer of the home up until her death. The plaintiff concludes that the deceit and fraud on the part of the defendants could not have been discovered until January 1996, when Katherine died. Accordingly, because this action was filed in December 1996, within three years of the death of Katherine, the action is timely.

The defendants assert that Josephine actively participated in the transfer of her personal property to her daughter by executing the power of attorney in December 1988. The defendants also point to the affidavits of certain witnesses and urge that Josephine was capable of transferring the deed and that the deed was not obtained by fraud and deceit. The defendants conclude that Josephine knew or should have known of the facts that would give rise to any claim sometime in January 1989, which is beyond the statute of limitations.

This court, however, does not believe the defendants have met their burden of affirmatively demonstrating the absence of a triable issue. Pederson, 404 Mass. at 16-17. The affidavit of Madeline Caruso does not specifically address Josephine’s mental condition at the time of the transfer of the deed. Also, Morrissey’s deposition testimony does not specifically address Josephine’s mental state at the time of the deed transfer.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Pederson v. Time, Inc.
532 N.E.2d 1211 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1989)
LaLonde v. Eissner
539 N.E.2d 538 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1989)
Bowen v. Eli Lilly & Co.
557 N.E.2d 739 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1990)
Community National Bank v. Dawes
340 N.E.2d 877 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1976)
Riley v. Presnell
565 N.E.2d 780 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1991)
Cassesso v. Commissioner of Correction
456 N.E.2d 1123 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1983)
Almeida v. Travelers Insurance
418 N.E.2d 602 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1981)
Busiere v. Reilly
75 N.E. 958 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1905)
Marvel v. Cobb
86 N.E. 360 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1908)
Batty v. Greene
92 N.E. 715 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1910)
Lovejoy v. Bailey
101 N.E. 63 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1913)
Franklin v. North Weymouth Cooperative Bank
186 N.E. 641 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1933)
Marcus v. Richardson
11 N.E.2d 599 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1937)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
7 Mass. L. Rptr. 337, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scalfani-v-pacitto-masssuperct-1997.