Shourek v. Stirling

652 N.E.2d 865, 1995 Ind. App. LEXIS 729, 1995 WL 364048
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 20, 1995
Docket37A03-9412-CV-453
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 652 N.E.2d 865 (Shourek v. Stirling) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shourek v. Stirling, 652 N.E.2d 865, 1995 Ind. App. LEXIS 729, 1995 WL 364048 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinions

OPINION

STATON, Judge.

Frank Shourek, ("Shourek") in his capacity as successor administrator of the estate of Lillian Jonas, appeals from the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Suzanne and Jack Stirling (collectively "Stirling"). In his appeal, Shourek presents three issues for our review which we consolidate into one and restate as whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in Stirling's favor.

We reverse and remand.

The facts most favorable to the judgment reveal that Stirling and the decedent, Lillian Jonas, ("Jonas") were joint holders of a checking account ("Easy Green Account") and four certificates of deposit ("CD'S") both of which Jonas was the sole monetary contributor. Jonas named Stirling a joint holder on these accounts between April and July 1990. The accounts provided that Stirling and Jonas were joint holders with rights of survivorship and that either party retained the right to withdraw funds without the other party's signature. Jonas fell critically ill on February 28, 1991 and on March 2, 1991 just prior to Jonag' death, Stirling withdrew approximately $65,000 from these accounts. Later that day, Jonas died intestate.

Shourek, Jonas' nephew, then brought a conversion action against Stirling alleging that Stirling was not entitled to these funds because title did not pass to Stirling until Jonas' death. The trial court granted summary judgment in Stirling's favor and this court affirmed determining that the estate had no claim of title to the accounts because the accounts became the sole property of the surviving joint tenant and thus, the estate could not fulfill the elements of a conversion action. See Shourek v. Stirling (1993), Ind.App., 607 N.E.2d 402.

On transfer, the Indiana Supreme Court determined that in order for Stirling to benefit from the presumption of survivorship in the multi-party accounts statute, the funds must remain in the account when the joint owner died. The court concluded that Stirling had no survivorship rights because she depleted the accounts prior to the decedent's death. The court then ordered the case to be remanded in order for the trial court to examine whether Stirling acquired ownership of the accounts prior to Jonas' death by inter vivos gift. See Shourek v. Stirling (1993), Ind., 621 N.E.2d 1107.

On remand, the trial court initiated an evidentiary hearing on the issue of the inter vivos gift but then aborted the hearing and ordered the parties to brief the issues so that a summary judgment ruling could be completed. After submission of the briefs, the trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law and granted summary judgment in Stirling's favor on the grounds that Jonas gave the accounts to Suzanne Stirling as an inter vivos gift.

Shourek now contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in Stir-Ting's favor because Stirling cannot prove by clear and convincing evidence that Jonas made an inter vivos gift of the Easy Green Account and the four CD's.1

[867]*867When reviewing the grant or denial of summary judgment, we use the same standards used by the trial court. Ramon v. Glenroy Construction Co., Inc. (1993), Ind.App., 609 N.E.2d 1123, 1127, trans. denied. Summary judgment is appropriate only when the evidentiary matter designated by the parties shows that there are no genuine issues as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Id.; Ind.Trial Rule 56(C).

Where material facts conflict or undisputed facts lead to conflicting inferences, summary judgment is inappropriate, even if the court believes the non-moving party will not succeed at trial. Greathouse v. Armstrong (1993), Ind., 616 N.E.2d 364, 366.

Specific findings and conclusions entered by the trial court when ruling on motions for summary judgment merely afford the appellant an opportunity to address the merits of the trial court's rationale. Campbell v. Spade (1992), Ind.App., 617 N.E.2d 580, 582. The specific findings and conclusions also aid in our review by providing us with a statement of reasons for the trial court's actions. However, they have no other purpose. Id. Rather than relying upon the trial court's findings and conclusions, we must base our decision upon the TR. 56(C) materials properly presented to the trial court. Id.

We note that Ind.Code 82-4-1.5-4 provides that sums remaining on deposit at the death of a party to a joint account belong to the surviving party or parties as against the estate unless there is clear and convine-ing evidence of a different intent at the time the account is created. This statute creates the presumption that a survivor to a joint account is the intended receiver of the proceeds in the account. Matter of Estate of Banko (1993), Ind., 622 N.E.2d 476, 480, reh. denied.

A gift inter vivos, as distinguished from a testamentary gift, or one made in contemplation of death, is one by which the donee becomes in the lifetime of the donor the absolute owner of the thing given. Hopping v. Wood (1988), Ind.App., 526 N.E.2d 1205, 1207, trans. denied.

A gift inter vivos occurs when: (1) the donor is competent to contract; (2) the donor has freedom of will; (3) the donor intends to make a gift; (4) the gift is completed with nothing left undone; (5) the property is delivered by the donor and accepted by the donee; and (6) the gift is immediate and absolute. Lucas v. Frazee (1984), Ind.App., 471 N.E.2d 1163, 1168.

With respect to bank accounts, the mere fact that money is deposited in a joint account to the credit of the owner and another is not sufficient to show an intent to make a gift to the other. Rogers v. Rogers (1982), Ind.App., 437 N.E.2d 92, 96. There must be intent to give and deliver, and an irrevocable surrender of control of the funds. Id.

Shourek contends that the facts do not support the trial court's conclusion by clear and convincing evidence that Jonas intended to convey an inter vivos gift to Stirling. Shourek argues that the facts unerringly lead to the conclusion that Jonas intended for Stirling to receive the funds at her death not at the time she named Stirling as a joint holder.2

[868]*868Shourek notes that Jonas was aware that the contract for both the Easy Green Account and the CD's specifically stated "[elach of you intend that upon your death the balance in the account (subject to any previous pledge to which we have consented) will belong to the survivor(s)." Moreover, Shourek indicates that Stirling understood that the monies were only hers at Jonas' death as evidenced by Stirling's failure to exercise any control of the funds at any time prior to Jonas' imminent death.

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Shourek v. Stirling
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Bluebook (online)
652 N.E.2d 865, 1995 Ind. App. LEXIS 729, 1995 WL 364048, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shourek-v-stirling-indctapp-1995.