Wilson v. Estate of Arcese

23 Mass. L. Rptr. 11
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedAugust 9, 2007
DocketNo. 0701461
StatusPublished

This text of 23 Mass. L. Rptr. 11 (Wilson v. Estate of Arcese) 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
Wilson v. Estate of Arcese, 23 Mass. L. Rptr. 11 (Mass. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

Hopkins, Merita A., J.

The plaintiff, Richard Wilson (“Wilson”), brings this action again the Estate of Jane A. Arcese (“Estate”); 297 Grove Street Nominee Trust; Jane A. Arcese Living Trust; Courtney Jo Arcese (“Courtney”), as Trustee; and Stephanie M. Arcese (“Stephanie”), as Trustee, challenging the distribution of the estate of his late wife. This matter is before the court on Courtney’s and Stephanie’s motion to dismiss the complaint and Wilson’s motion for leave of court to file an amended complaint. For the reasons stated below, the plaintiffs motion is DENIED, and the defendants’ motion is ALLOWED.

BACKGROUND

This dispute concerns the estate of the late Jane Arcese (“Mrs. Arcese”), who passed away on Januaiy 13, 2007. Mrs. Arcese was the wife of Wilson and the mother of Courtney and Stephanie (collectively “the daughters”). Wilson is not the daughters’ father.

Approximately five months before her death, Mrs. Arcese was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Following her diagnosis, she required constant care and was taking heavy doses of medication. At times she appeared confused and unaware of her surroundings. During these months, Wilson alleges that Courtney and Stephanie made efforts to persuade Mrs. Arcese to dispose of her property in such a manner that would benefit only the daughters. Mrs. Arcese owned real properties located at 296 Grove Street, Framingham, Massachusetts and 15 Cottage Drive, Sanbomton, New Hampshire. She also owned substantial personal property. On or about November 1, 2006, Mrs. Arcese executed a Last Will and Testament. She named Hemy J. Arcese, Jr. (“Hemy”) as the executor. Wilson claims that this will designates the daughters as the primary beneficiaries and excludes himself. Mrs. Arcese’s will has not been though probate.

Wilson also alleges that Mrs. Arcese executed some intervivos trusts, of which Courtney and Stephanie serve as trustees, and transferred ownership of the real properties that she owned to these trusts. He argues that these trusts were created for the benefit of the daughters and not himself. In addition, Wilson claims that the trusts are in the process of selling these homes. He also states that items of personal property belonging to him are located in these homes.

Wilson filed a complaint against the Estate of Jane A. Arcese (“the Estate”); 297 Grove Street Nominee Trust; and the daughters, as trustees for the following counts: replevin and a claim under G.L.c. 191, §15 against all five defendants. The Court granted to Wilson a temporary restraining order (“TRO”). The TRO forbade the daughters, acting individually or otherwise, from disbursing any of the proceeds from the sale of the two real properties named above. Then, by agreement of the parties filed with the court, Wilson consented to the sales of the properties and the daughters agreed not to disburse the proceeds of these sales. Thereafter, Wilson filed for leave to amend his complaint. He seeks to add the following persons as defendants: Hemy as the Proposed Executor of the Estate; Linda Howard Isenberg, as trustee; Judith Coakley, as trustee; and the daughters, individually. The amended complaint contains the following counts: replevin and a claim under G.L.c. 191, §15 against all defendants, including those named in the first complaint; undue influence against the daughters, individually; and a claim under G.L.c. 191, §13 against the daughters and Hemy.

DISCUSSION

I. Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss

A. Standard of Review

Rule 12(b)(6) of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure permits the court, upon the motion of a [12]*12party, to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. A motion under Rule 12(b)(6) calls upon the court to test the legal sufficiency of the complaint. When considering such a motion, the court accepts as true all factual allegations contained in the complaint and draws all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor. Harvard Crimson, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard Coll., 445 Mass. 745, 749 (2006). The defendant is entitled to judgment pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) when “it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Nader v. Citron, 372 Mass. 96, 98 (1977) (internal quotations and citation omitted).2

Rule 12(b)(1) of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure allows the court to dismiss a claim for want of subject matter jurisdiction. Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). “Subject matter jurisdiction cannot be conferred by consent, conduct or waiver.” Litton Bus. Sys., Inc. v. Commissioner of Rev., 383 Mass. 619, 622 (1981). The court “must take note of lack of jurisdiction whenever it appears, whether by suggestion of a party or otherwise.” Id. ‘The burden is on the party asserting jurisdiction to prove jurisdictional facts.” Miller v. Miller, 448 Mass. 320, 325 (2007).

II. Estate as a Party

One of the named defendants, the Estate, does not have the capacity to be sued. Under Massachusetts law, claims for damages to be paid from the estate of the deceased person must be brought against the individual serving as the administrator of the estate. See Chandler v. Dunlop, 311 Mass. 1, 5 (1942); see also F.D.I.C. v. Connor, 20 F.3d 1376, 1384 (1994) (“An estate is not a legal entity and cannot be sued as such”). Wilson’s assertion that no administrator of Mrs. Arcese’s estate has been appointed does not change this requirement. As such, all claims against the Estate are dismissed pursuant to Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6).

C. General Law c. 191, §15

Wilson has not alleged facts sufficient to show that this court has jurisdiction over his claims under G.L.c. 191, §15. This statute, by its plain language, specifically gives jurisdiction to the probate court. It allows a surviving spouse of a decedent to take a specified share of the estate by “filling] in the registry of probate a writing signed by him or her.” More generally, it is the Probate Court that “ha[s] jurisdiction of probate of wills, of granting administration on the estates of persons who at the time of their decease were inhabitants of or residents ... of the commonwealth.” G.L.c. 215, §3. Challenges to a person’s will must be brought in probate court. Brignati v. Medenwald, 315 Mass. 636, 637 (1944) (“The only method provided by our law for the ascertainment of the validity of an instrument purporting to be the last will of a resident decedent is by a decree of the Probate Court for the county in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of his death”). In attempting to make a claim under G.L.c. 191, §15, Wilson is bringing a challenge to the distribution of his late wife’s assets. He is challenging her will and the intervivos trusts, alleging that they unfairly exclude him. He does not claim that the distribution of Mrs. Arcese’s estate violated any separate common-law rights. See, in contrast, Slawsby v. Slawsby, 33 Mass.App.Ct. 465, 466 (1992) (case in Superior Court involving a son bringing a quantum meriut claims against the executors of his father’s estate); Ratchford v. Ratchford, 397 Mass. 114, 115 (1986) (Boston Municipal Court had jurisdiction over a contract between ex-spouses).

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Bluebook (online)
23 Mass. L. Rptr. 11, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilson-v-estate-of-arcese-masssuperct-2007.