SUCCESSION OF NO. 21-CA-618 ROBERT S. MALONEY, SR. FIFTH CIRCUIT
COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 796-214, DIVISION "D" HONORABLE SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL, JUDGE PRESIDING
November 09, 2022
HANS J. LILJEBERG JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker, Jude G. Gravois, and Hans J. Liljeberg
AFFIRMED HJL FHW JGG COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT, ROBERT S. MALONEY, JR. J. Scott Loeb Lauren F. Bartlett Margaret M. Guidy Jason R. Anders
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE, CRAIG STEWART MALONEY, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE DULY CONFIRMED INDEPENDENT EXECUTOR OF THE SUCCESSION OF ROBERT S. MALONEY, SR., IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE DULY CONFIRMED INDEPENDENT EXECUTOR OF THE SUCCESSION OF BONNY BABIN MALONEY, AND IN HIS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY McClain R. Schonekas Patrick S. McGoey Andrea V. Timpa LILJEBERG, J.
Appellant, Robert S. Maloney, Jr., seeks reversal of the trial court’s March
24, 2021 judgment dismissing his petition to annul three codicils to the will of his
father, Robert S. Maloney, Sr. Appellant requests that this Court grant him a new
trial because he contends the trial court abused its discretion by denying his oral
request for a 60-day continuance of the trial on his petition to annul, and by
denying his motion for new trial arising from the same issue. Appellee, Craig S.
Maloney, as executor to the succession of the parties’ father, Robert S. Maloney,
Sr., filed an answer to the appeal asserting that the trial court erred by denying his
request for attorney’s fees against appellant.
For reasons stated more fully below, we find the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by denying appellant’s motion to continue the trial and by denying
appellee’s request for attorney’s fees. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s
March 24, 2021 judgment.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Decedent, Robert S. Maloney, Sr., and Bonny Babin Maloney were married
for 60 years. They had five children, Bobby Jean Maloney, who predeceased
them, Robert S. Maloney, Jr., Kurt B. Maloney, Julie Ann Maloney Wenck and
Craig S. Maloney. Robert S. Maloney, Sr. died testate on June 2, 2019. On June
13, 2019, the decedent’s surviving spouse, Bonny Maloney, filed a petition to be
appointed independent executrix and to probate a notarial will executed by the
decedent on December 21, 2012, as well as three codicils to the will each in
notarial form, executed by the decedent on June 15, 2018, August 28, 2018, and
February 26, 2019. After Bonny Maloney died on May 4, 2020, appellee, Craig
Maloney, became the successor executor for his father’s succession.
21-CA-618 1 On August 7, 2020, appellant and Kurt Maloney1 filed a petition to annul the
three probated codicils, as well as a prior judgment of partial possession that
placed Bonny in possession of various assets. Appellant and Kurt claimed that the
codicils dramatically altered the distribution of assets in the will in favor of
appellee and Bonny Maloney. The petition explained that due to strokes the
decedent suffered in September 2012, his vision was impaired resulting in the
inability to read which worsened with age. The petition also alleged that at the
time the decedent executed the first codicil in June 2018, as well as the subsequent
codicils, the decedent was afflicted with the physical and mental effects of
cerebrovascular disease, including the inability to read. Appellant and Kurt
claimed that the codicils are absolutely null because 1) they did not comply with
La. C.C. art. 1579, requiring certain formalities when the testator is unable to read;
2) the decedent lacked testamentary capacity; 3) Bonny and Craig Maloney unduly
influenced the decedent; and 4) the decedent signed the will and codicils outside of
the presence of the notary and witnesses.
The petition to annul also requested the issuance of a temporary restraining
order (“TRO”), without notice to the executor, to prohibit the executor from
disposing of succession property. The trial court granted the TRO on August 12,
2020. On August 24, 2020, the appellee executor filed a motion to dissolve the
TRO and requested costs and attorney’s fees for the alleged wrongful issuance of
the TRO. On September 1, 2020, the trial court signed an order declaring the
motion to dissolve the TRO moot because the TRO dissolved as a matter of law.
On September 22, 2020, appellee filed an exception of no cause of action
urging that the petition to annul contained no facts to support a claim that the
codicils should be annulled for lack of the decedent’s mental capacity or undue
1 Kurt Maloney did not join in or file an appeal of the March 24, 2021 judgment dismissing the petition to annul the codicils.
21-CA-618 2 influence. Appellant and his brother, Kurt, did not file an opposition to the
exception of no cause of action. However, they did withdraw their request for a
preliminary injunction to prohibit the encumbrance, transfer or sale of succession
assets. On October 22, 2020, appellee filed a supplemental memorandum
requesting attorney’s fees with respect to the issuance of the TRO.
On October 26, 2020, the trial court held a hearing on the unopposed
exception of no cause of action and appellee’s request for attorney’s fees. The trial
court granted the exception of no cause of action and allowed appellant and Kurt
30 days to amend the petition to annul to add additional facts in support of their
claims of lack of mental capacity and undue influence. The trial court also
deferred appellee’s request for attorney’s fees with respect to the issuance of the
TRO until trial. On that same day, the trial court also conducted a pre-trial
conference, and the parties set a trial date on the petition to annul for March 1,
2021. On November 25, 2020, appellant and Kurt filed a first amended and
supplemental petition which added factual allegations regarding the decedent’s
alleged lack of mental capacity, but deleted allegations regarding their claim for
alleged undue influence, as well as their request for injunctive relief.
On December 17, 2020, appellee filed a motion for partial summary
judgment urging that appellant and Kurt did not have evidence to prove the
codicils were invalid due to the alleged failure to execute them in the presence of a
notary and two witnesses. Prior to the hearing on the summary judgment motion,
appellant and Kurt agreed to withdraw this claim. On February 18, 2021, the trial
court signed an order dismissing the claim with prejudice, leaving claims regarding
the failure to follow requisite formalities due to the decedent’s alleged inability to
read and alleged lack of testamentary capacity to execute the codicils as the
remaining issues for trial.
21-CA-618 3 On the day of trial, March 1, 2021, the parties agreed to attempt mediation,
and the trial court continued the trial for ten days until March 11, 2021. The
parties participated in mediation, and appellee contends that the parties reached a
settlement and his counsel drafted settlement agreements. Appellant contends, on
the other hand, that the parties did not engage in substantive settlement
negotiations. Instead, he claims that during this time period, he and Kurt learned
their counsel was not prepared to proceed to trial because they did not have an
expert witness and did not subpoena other necessary witnesses for trial. Therefore,
instead of executing the settlement agreements, they decided to discharge their
attorney on the afternoon prior to the March 11, 2021 trial.
On the morning of March 11, 2021, appellant and Kurt appeared with new
counsel, who had not yet been retained or enrolled, and orally requested a 60-day
continuance to prepare for trial. Appellant and Kurt explained that they fired their
counsel because they learned that they did not have an expert witness and their
witnesses were not subpoenaed for trial. The only specific witness that they
referred to during their request for a continuance was their sister, Julie Maloney,
who testified at the trial.
Appellee’s counsel opposed the request for continuance arguing that
appellant and Kurt failed to establish good cause to continue the trial. He argued
that the parties reached a settlement, and appellant and Kurt were to appear at their
counsel’s office at 9 a.m. on the day prior to trial to sign the settlement agreements.
He claimed that appellant and Kurt did not appear at their counsel’s office until
3:30 p.m. and instead of signing the settlement agreements, they fired their
counsel. He also argued that appellant and Kurt missed their deadline to disclose
their expert witness and “were fully aware of all of these issues throughout their
case.” Counsel finally explained that a continuance would be unfair because
21-CA-618 4 appellee had Stage 4 cancer and was leaving in a few days to travel to Germany for
treatment.
After considering the parties’ arguments, the trial court denied the request
for another continuance. The trial court explained that on March 1, 2021, all
parties indicated they were ready for trial and did not raise any issues regarding the
need for additional time to prepare. The court stated that it allowed only ten days
to mediate the matter due to the appellee’s need to travel to Germany for treatment.
The trial court ruled that considering these circumstances, the decision of appellant
and Kurt to fire their counsel the night before trial did not constitute good grounds
to continue the trial.
The matter then proceeded to trial during which appellant and Kurt
represented themselves. They called four witnesses including Patricia
Breckenridge, the attorney who prepared the 2012 will and subsequent codicils,
their sister, Julie Maloney, Kristen Romero, the decedent’s administrative assistant
who was a witness to all three codicils, and Diane Lepler, Bonny’s sister. Neither
appellant nor his brother, Kurt, testified at the trial on the petition to annul.
Following the presentation of evidence and closing arguments, the trial court
dismissed the petition to annul the codicils and found that appellant and Kurt failed
to carry their burden to prove that the decedent could not read the codicils or that
he lacked the testamentary capacity to execute the codicils. In extensive oral
reasons for its ruling, the trial court recognized that the decedent suffered a stroke
in September 2012 that affected his vision at that time. The trial court observed
that shortly thereafter, the decedent executed his will in December 2012.
Appellant and Kurt did not challenge the December 2012 will. The trial court
found that the evidence established that the decedent read along during the reading
of the codicils prior to executing them, and was able to engage in and understand
business dealings at the time he executed the codicils. The trial court also found
21-CA-618 5 that appellee was not entitled to recover attorney’s fees. On March 24, 2021, the
trial court executed a written judgment dismissing appellant and Kurt’s petition to
annul the codicils and also denying appellee’s request for attorney’s fees.
Appellant filed a motion for new trial on April 6, 2021, arguing that a
miscarriage of justice occurred because the trial court denied his request for a
continuance and he was not represented by counsel at trial. In denying the motion
for new trial, the trial court stated:
There is certainly no [miscarriage] of justice in this matter. They presented all of the exhibits that they intended to present through their counsel. This Court even gave them time to call additional witnesses and paused the case until the following day to allow them to find additional witnesses, so motion for new trial is denied.
On May 26, 2021, the trial court issued a written judgment denying the
motion for new trial. Appellant filed a timely petition for devolutive appeal, which
the trial court granted. Following the lodging of the record with this Court,
appellee filed a timely answer to the appeal seeking review of the trial court’s
denial of his request for attorney’s fees.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
Denial of Appellant’s Motion to Continue Trial
Appellant contends the trial court committed reversible error and prejudiced
him by denying his motion to continue the March 11, 2021 trial date. Appellant
contends that good grounds for the continuance existed after he discharged his
counsel on the eve of trial because 1) he discovered counsel had not properly
prepared the case; 2) new counsel appeared on the morning of trial and advised the
court he was prepared to enroll if the court allowed a 60-day continuance; and 3)
appellee would not have been prejudiced by granting the continuance. Appellant
also contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion for new trial on the
same grounds.
21-CA-618 6 “A continuance may be granted in any case if there is good ground therefor.”
La. C.C.P. art. 1601.2 In determining whether to grant a continuance, the trial
court must consider the particular facts in each case. Suarez v. Acosta, 15-750 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 3/16/16), 194 So.3d 626, 632. Some factors trial courts consider are
diligence, good faith, and reasonable grounds of the party seeking the continuance.
Bolden v. Jeffrey’s Steel Co., 96-518 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/11/96), 684 So.2d 1102,
1105, writ denied, 97-418 (La. 3/27/97), 692 So.2d 399. Of equal importance is
the other litigants’ corresponding right to have the case heard as soon as
practicable. Walker v. Aulds, 28,968 (La. App. 2 Cir. 12/11/96), 685 So.2d 421,
423. The trial court may also weigh the condition of the court docket, fairness to
the parties and other litigants before the court, and the need for orderly and prompt
administration of justice. Gilmore v. Wickes Lumber, 04-2769 (La. App. 1 Cir.
2/17/06), 928 So.2d 668, 674.
A trial court has great discretion in granting or denying a motion for a
continuance under La. C.C.P. art. 1601, and that discretion will not be disturbed on
appeal in the absence of clear abuse of discretion. Morris v. Westside Transit Line,
02-1029 (La. App. 5 Cir. 2/25/03), 841 So.2d 920, 928, writ denied, 03-852 (La.
5/16/03), 843 So.2d 1132. An abuse of discretion occurs when such discretion is
exercised in a way that deprives a litigant of his day in court. Louisiana State Bd.
of Dentistry v. Baker, 33,828 (La. App. 2 Cir. 9/27/00), 768 So.2d 683, 684.
Because the discharge of one’s lawyer is not, by itself, grounds for
postponing another party’s access to the courts for a decision in a pending action,
the client bears the burden of showing other circumstances that would justify a
continuance. Suarez, 194 So.3d at 632. This Court and others have recognized
that a reasonably diligent client having fired his lawyer for unpreparedness could
2 La. C.C.P. art. 1602 provides mandatory grounds for the continuance of a trial. However, appellant does not argue and this Court does not find that appellant raised grounds warranting a continuance of the trial under this provision.
21-CA-618 7 be “good” grounds for a continuance in the absence of counterbalancing
circumstances. Id.; Rainone v. Exxon Corp., 93-2008 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1/13/95),
654 So.2d 707, 711, writ denied, 95-337 (La. 3/24/95), 655 So.2d 1340.
Appellant contends that the trial court did not properly weigh the relevant
factors when it denied his motion for continuance and effectively denied him of his
day in court. He argues that, after the trial court continued the March 1, 2021 trial,
he discovered his attorney had not retained an expert to testify regarding the
competency of the decedent to execute the codicils and certain critical witnesses
were not subpoenaed for trial. Appellant argues that his counsel did not act
diligently in preparing the case for trial, missed deadlines, and failed to conduct
adequate discovery prior to the deadline. He also argues that he appeared on the
morning of trial with counsel willing to enroll in the case if the trial court granted a
60-day continuance. Appellant contends the continuance would not have
interfered with appellee’s cancer treatment or deprived him of his day in court
because the trial court could have re-set the trial to accommodate appellee’s
treatment schedule.
In opposition, appellee argues that appellant cannot demonstrate any abuse
of discretion by the trial court. He contends that appellant did not meet his burden
to establish grounds to justify a continuance because he provided no evidence to
support his self-serving statements that he learned just prior to trial that his
attorney was not prepared. Appellee further argues that appellant failed to provide
any details regarding the critical witnesses that should have been deposed or
subpoenaed, or details regarding the testimony appellant expected to obtain from
an expert to meet the high burden of proof to nullify the codicils. Appellee also
argues that “counterbalancing circumstances” existed to warrant denial of
appellant’s oral request for a continuance because it would have been unfair to him
due to his need to leave the country to receive treatment for Stage 4 cancer.
21-CA-618 8 While this Court and other courts have recognized that firing an attorney for
lack of preparation could constitute good grounds for a continuance, we cannot
find that the trial court abused its discretion considering all of the facts and
circumstances of this case. Our review of the record and appellant’s arguments
indicate that he sought the continuance to conduct further discovery to determine
whether evidence and witnesses existed to support an attack on the codicils. We
have only appellant’s arguments that he and Kurt lacked knowledge regarding the
alleged failure to secure an expert witness or subpoena witnesses. Appellant does
not provide any details regarding the identity of witnesses that their counsel should
have deposed or subpoenaed, or the testimony he expected to obtain from an expert
witness.
The only specifics regarding the alleged critical witnesses that were not
subpoenaed that appellant refers to in his appellate brief are the “witnesses to the
execution of the documents.” However, appellant called the attorney who drafted
and notarized the codicils, as well as one of the witnesses to each of the codicils, as
witnesses at trial and they both testified that the decedent read the codicils along
with the notary prior to executing the documents and signed the codicils in the
presence of the notary and witnesses on each occasion. In addition, after appellant
and Kurt rested their case, the trial court allowed them to call Bonny’s sister, Diane
Lepler, as a witness to testify regarding information she possessed regarding the
decedent’s execution of the codicils.
Considering the factual and procedural history of this case, we cannot find
that the trial court abused its great discretion in denying appellant’s request to
continue the trial for 60 days, particularly considering the counterbalancing
circumstances presented by appellee’s health issues. We further find that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion by denying appellant’s motion for new trial
21-CA-618 9 arising from the same ruling denying the request for a continuance of the trial of
the petition to annul the codicils.
Denial of Appellee’s Request for Attorney’s Fees
As explained above, appellee filed an answer to the appeal arguing that the
trial court abused its discretion by denying appellee’s request for attorney’s fees.
In addition to the attorney’s fees appellee requested for filing the motion to
dissolve the TRO under La. C.C.P. art. 3608, appellee also argued that he incurred
significant attorney’s fees in defending this matter and will incur additional fees to
defend this appeal.3 As a result, appellee requested that this Court 1) reverse the
trial court’s judgment denying his request for attorney’s fees under La. C.C.P. art.
3608; 2) remand the matter back to the trial court for a hearing and consideration
of his request for attorney’s fees through trial; and 3) award attorney’s fees under
La. C.C.P. art. 2164 for defending this allegedly frivolous appeal.4
First, we find that the trial court did not err in denying attorney’s fees for
the alleged wrongful issuance of the TRO under La. C.C.P. art. 3608. As noted
above, the trial court found that appellee’s motion to dissolve the TRO was moot
because the TRO dissolved as a matter of law. A TRO expires by its terms within
such time as fixed by the court, but in no event more than ten days after entered by
the court. See La. C.C.P. art. 3604(A); 1A La. Civ. L. Treatise, Civil Procedure –
Special Proceedings, § 1.2. The trial court signed the TRO on August 12, 2020;
therefore, it expired as a matter of law on August 22, 2020. Appellee did not file a
3 La. C.C.P. art. 3608 provides:
The court may allow damages for the wrongful issuance of a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction on a motion to dissolve or on a reconventional demand. Attorney's fees for the services rendered in connection with the dissolution of a restraining order or preliminary injunction may be included as an element of damages whether the restraining order or preliminary injunction is dissolved on motion or after trial on the merits. 4 La. C.C.P. art. 2164 provides:
The appellate court shall render any judgment which is just, legal, and proper upon the record on appeal. The court may award damages, including attorney fees, for frivolous appeal or application for writs, and may tax the costs of the lower or appellate court, or any part thereof, against any party to the suit, as in its judgment may be considered equitable.
21-CA-618 10 motion to dissolve the TRO until two days later on August 24, 2020. The ruling of
a trial judge on the issue of damages and attorney’s fees under La. C.C.P. art. 3608
should not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion. Arco Oil &
Gas Co. v. DeShazer, 98-1487 (La. 1/20/99), 728 So.2d 841, 844; Alvarez, 182
So.3d at 1158. Considering these circumstances, we cannot find that the trial court
clearly abused its discretion by denying appellee’s request for attorney’s fees under
La. C.C.P. art. 3608.
In his appellate brief, appellee further argues for the first time that in
addition to attorney’s fees for the wrongful issuance of the TRO, he is entitled to
attorney’s fees under La. C.C.P. art. 863(B) because appellant and Kurt made
factual assertions they knew to be false, made unsupported and frivolous legal
arguments, and used the litigation as a means to harass appellee.5 Appellee
contends that at the conclusion of the trial, he asked the trial court for the
opportunity to brief the attorney’s fees issue, but the trial court summarily denied
the request for attorney’s fees.
La. C.C.P. art. 863 provides for an award of sanctions against an attorney or
party when an attorney or party signs and certifies a pleading in violation of the
requirements set forth in La. C.C.P. art. 863(B). However, appellee did not file a
motion pointing to any specific pleadings that warranted an award of sanctions
under La. C.C.P. art. 863 in the lower court, did not raise any issues regarding the
5 La. C.C.P. art. 863(B) provides:
B. Pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit or certificate, except as otherwise provided by law, but the signature of an attorney or party shall constitute a certification by him that he has read the pleading, and that to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief formed after reasonable inquiry, he certifies all of the following:
(1) The pleading is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation. (2) Each claim, defense, or other legal assertion in the pleading is warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law. (3) Each allegation or other factual assertion in the pleading has evidentiary support or, for a specifically identified allegation or factual assertion, is likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery. (4) Each denial in the pleading of a factual assertion is warranted by the evidence or, for a specifically identified denial, is reasonably based on a lack of information or belief.
21-CA-618 11 application of this provision in his pre-trial order, and did not mention this
provision during the trial, in closing arguments or prior to the trial court’s ruling on
the petition to annul. Accordingly, we decline to grant any relief or remand this
issue to the trial court as this Court does not consider or remand issues such as this
raised for the first time on appeal. See Uniform Rules ‒ Courts of Appeal, Rule 1-
3.
Finally, we also deny appellee’s request for attorney’s fees for this appeal.
La. C.C.P. art. 2164 is penal in nature and must be strictly construed. Alombro v.
Alfortish, 02-1081 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/29/03), 845 So.2d 1162, 1170. An appellate
court may award damages for a frivolous appeal under La. C.C.P art. 2164 “when
there is no serious legal question, when the appeal is taken solely for the purpose
of delay, or when it is evident that appellant's counsel does not seriously believe in
the position he advocates.” Id. “An appeal is not automatically deemed frivolous
simply because it lacks merit.” Id. After considering the arguments, we do not
find that the present matter meets the requirements of a frivolous appeal, and
therefore we decline to award sanctions under La. C.C.P. art. 2164.
For the reasons set forth above, we affirm the trial court’s March 24, 2021
judgment denying appellant’s petition to annul the codicils to the decedent’s will
and appellee’s request for attorney’s fees.
AFFIRMED
21-CA-618 12 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER INTERIM CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY NOVEMBER 9, 2022 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
21-CA-618 E-NOTIFIED 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK) HON. SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL (DISTRICT JUDGE) JASON R. ANDERS (APPELLANT) LAUREN F. BARTLETT (APPELLANT) MICHAEL G. CALOGERO (APPELLEE) ANDREA V. TIMPA (APPELLEE) MCCLAIN R. SCHONEKAS (APPELLEE) PATRICK S. MCGOEY (APPELLEE)
MAILED J. SCOTT LOEB (APPELLANT) PATRICIA G. BRECKENRIDGE (APPELLEE) MARGARET M. GUIDY (APPELLANT) ATTORNEY AT LAW ATTORNEYS AT LAW 141 EAST OAKRIDGE PARK 1180 WEST CAUSEWAY APPROACH METAIRIE, LA 70005 MANDEVILLE, LA 70471