Clinton Keith Dawson and Brandy Lake v. Will Matthew Lowrey
Clinton Keith Dawson and Brandy Lake v. Will Matthew Lowrey
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Opinion by
This suit regards a dispute between Pat Lowrey’s natural children and his former step-children (children of a woman from whom Pat was divorced several years before his August 31, 2012 death after a long bout with cancer)
Clinton Keith Dawson and Brandy Lake, Pat’s former step-children, brought suit against Will Lowrey (Pat’s son, who also was his attorney-in-fact) with the proceeds of a bank account the object of the suit. The son, Lowrey, filed successive motions for summary judgment which were granted, and the trial court entered a final summary judgment against Dawson and Lake. In six points of error, Dawson and
1. Background
The moneys in controversy were initially held in a bank account maintained in a bank in Wolfe City, Texas, since 1996.
Two days before Pat died, Lake brought the necessary papers to Pat at his home to' open a new bank account, which was a single-party, payable-on-death (P.O.D.), savings account in Pat’s name designating Lowrey, Stepanovich, Dawson, and Lake as beneficiaries on his demise. The initial deposit to this account of $68,042.92 was transferred from Pat’s checking account with Lowrey. On that same day, Pat withdrew $2,000.00 from the new account, leaving a balance of $66,042.92. Lowrey was informed of this action, and the following day he, acting under the authority of the power of attorney given him by Pat, withdrew all funds from the savings account and closed it.
In his first amended original petition,
Lowrey thereafter filed a traditional motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 166a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. See Tex.R. Crv. P. 166a. Low-rey maintained that his actions were lawfully taken pursuant to a valid, unrevoked durable power of attorney given to him by Pat. He further claimed that because Dawson would only have acquired an interest in any funds in Pat’s P.O.D. savings account (9936) at the time of Pat’s death and because that account was devoid of funds when Pat died, Lowrey could not have converted or otherwise stolen any interest that Dawson held in that account. Lowrey argued that no formal fiduciary relationship ever existed between him and Dawson, as no factual basis was alleged which would support the existence of such a relationship. He further claimed that no informal fiduciary relationship existed as a result of “the equitable trust relationship created in the POD account” because (1) Dawson failed to show the dealings between Lowrey and him continued sufficiently long to justify Dawson’s reliance on Lowrey to act in his (Dawson’s) best interests, and (2) no special relationship of trust and confidence necessary to create an informal fiduciary relationship existed between Dawson and Lowrey prior to and apart from the alleged interest in the account on which the lawsuit was based. Lowrey further argued that Dawson had
Dawson filed his second amended original petition (on February 18, 2003) alleging the same causes of action as alleged in his first amended original petition, but with the additional claim of money had and received. In support of this claim, Dawson alleged that Lowrey took money that in equity and in good conscience belonged to Dawson.
In response, Lowrey filed his second motion for summary judgment, this attacking Dawson’s newly pled equitable claim for money had and received. In addition to legal arguments why this claim should not prevail as a matter of law, Lowrey also argued that the signature card purporting to establish the P.O.D. savings account failed to substantially comply with the provisions of Section 439A of the Texas Probate Code. Accordingly, he claimed that because of what he claims to be a discrepancy between the requirements of the Probate Code and the signature card as it existed, as a matter of law, the P.O.D. account was never created. On May 22, 2013, the trial court entered its order granting Lowrey’s second motion for summary judgment in its entirety.
II. Standard of Review
A traditional motion for summary judgment is granted only when the .movant establishes that there are no genuine issues of material fact and he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex.R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors, Inc. v. Fielding, 289 S.W.3d 844, 848 (Tex. 2009). We review the grant of a motion for summary judgment de novo “to determine whether a party’s right to prevail is established as a matter of law.” Lamar Corp. v. City of Longview, 270 S.W.3d 609, 613 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2008, no pet.); see Nash v. Beckett, 365 S.W.3d 131, 136 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2012, pet. denied) (citing Fielding, 289 S.W.3d at 848).
In our review, we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant and indulge every reasonable inference and resolve any doubts in the nonmovant’s favor. Limestone Prods. Distribution, Inc. v. McNamara, 71 S.W.3d 308, 311 (Tex. 2002) (per curiam); Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 223 (Tex. 1999). On appeal, the mov-ant must show that there is no material fact issue and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. McNamara, 71 S.W.3d at 311; Steel, 997 S.W.2d at 223.
Where, as here, a party moves for summary judgment on multiple grounds and the trial court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the ground or grounds upon which it was based, a party appealing that order must negate all possible grounds on which the order could have been granted. Star-Telegram, Inc. v. Doe, 915 S.W.2d 471, 473 (Tex. 1995); All Am. Siding & Windows, Inc. v. Bank of Am., Nat’l Ass’n, 367 S.W.3d 490, 497 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2012, pet. denied).
III. Analysis
A. The Statutory Requisites for the Creation of a P.O.D. Account Were Satisfied
Because this question has the ability to be fully dispositive of all claims, we first review Dawson’s sixth appellate point (pertaining to Lowrey’s claim that the P.O.D. account never actually existed because the legal requirements to establish such an account were not followed).
Dawson contends that the signature card establishing the P.O.D. account substantially complies with Section 439A of the Texas Probate Code and thus established a valid survivorship account.
OWNERSHIP OF ACCOUNT — CONSUMER (Select one by placing your initials next to account selected.) UNIFORM SINGLE-PARTY OR MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNT SELECTION FORM NOTICE: THE TYPE OF ACCOUNT YOU SELECT MAY DETERMINE HOW PROPERTY PASSES ON YOUR DEATH. YOUR WILL MAY NOT CONTROL THE DISPOSITION OF FUNDS HELD IN SOME OF THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS. [The following account was marked]
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X SINGLE-PARTY ACCOUNT WITH “P.O.D.” (Payable on Death) DESIGNATION
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NAME OR NAMES OF BENEFICIARIES:
WILL LOWREY & JILL STEPANO-VICH
CLINTON DAWSON & BRANDY LAKE
It is undisputed that the signature card bears Pat’s signature, shows the type of the account to be a P.O.D. account, and reflects Pat’s correct name and address.
Section 439 of the Probate Code “provided the exclusive means for creating ... P.O.D. (payable on death) accounts .... ” Stauffer v. Henderson, 801 S.W.2d 858, 862-63 (Tex. 1990) (citing Tex. Prob. Code Ann. § 439(b) (West 2003)). Section 439(a) of the Probate Code provides that “an agreement is sufficient to confer an absolute right of survivorship on parties to a joint account ... if the agreement states in substantially the following form: ‘On the death of one party to a joint account, all sums in the account on the date of the death vest in and belong to the surviving party as his or her separate property and estate.’” Tex. Prob.Code Ann. § 439(a) (West 2003). Section 439A, entitled “Uniform Single-Party or Multiple-Party Account Form,” supplements Section 439(a)’s acceptable forms of survivorship language. See Tex.Prob.Code Ann. § 439A (West 2003); In re Estate of Dellinger, 224 S.W.3d 434, 438 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2007). The acceptable form of survivorship language as stated in Section 439A reads, “The party to the account owns the account. On the death of the party, ownership of the account passes to the P.O.D. beneficiaries of the account. The account is not a part of the party’s estate.” Tex. Prob.Code Ann. § 439A(b)(2); see Tex. Estates Code Ann. §§ 113.051-.053 (West 2014).
Lowrey contends, in essence, that the failure to use the precise language set forth in Probate Code Section 439A is fatal to the establishment of a P.O.D. account. We are not persuaded by this argument. All that is required to make an interest “survive” to another party is a word or phrase expressing that the interest of the deceased party will survive to the surviving party. See In re Estate of Wilson, 213 S.W.3d 491, 494-95 (Tex.App.-Tyler 2006, pet. denied). Significantly, both Sections 439(a) and 439A contemplated that the exact language of the statute need not be employed. In this regard, Section 439(a) provided, “[A]n agreement is sufficient to confer an absolute right of survivorship on parties to a joint account ... if the agreement states in substantially the following form .... ” Tex. Prob.Code Ann. § 439(a); see also Holmes v. Beatty, 290 S.W.3d 852,
Here, the account application/signature card included nine choices whereby the creator of the account could specify the particular type of account to be created. Pat selected “SINGLE PARTY ACCOUNT WITH ‘P.O.D.’ (Payable on Death) DESIGNATION” by placing an “x” in the box next to this account designation. The remaining eight boxes next to the other types of accounts were left blank. The new account application/signature card also included a notice that the type of account selected may determine how property passes on the death of the account holder. Finally, the names of the four account beneficiaries are specifically named and listed on the card. The selection of a P.O.D. account with a listing of account beneficiaries, together with the referenced notice, indicates Pat’s intent to create an account with a right of survivor-ship in the listed account beneficiaries. Further, this information, together with the notice language utilized on the new account application/signature card, adequately discloses the information provided in Section 439A of the Probate Code. Accordingly, the trial court erred in impliedly finding that the language utilized to set up the P.O.D. account did not comply with the provisions of Section 439A of the Texas Probate Code.
Because we hold that a valid P.O.D. savings account was established, we next examine the issue of whether Dawson had standing to complain of Lowrey’s actions as attorney-in-fact for Pat.
B. Dawson Has No Standing to Sue to Seek Imposition of a Constructive Trust
To obtain the relief provided under a constructive trust, the proponent must prove, among other things, the breach of a special trust or fiduciary relationship or actual fraud. Gray v. Sangrey, 428 S.W.3d 311, 315 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2014, pet. filed). Dawson did not claim actual fraud. Instead, he claimed that a fiduciary relationship existed between Pat and Lowrey, and, further, that the breach of that fiduciary relationship was unfair to him.
On appeal, Lewis challenged Shomaker’s and Lomax’ standing to seek the imposition of a constructive trust, alleging that the fiduciary relationship that existed between her and Wallis did not “vest or somehow pass” from Wallis to Shomaker and Lomax. Id. at *2. In its application of common-law standing requirements to determine whether Shomaker and Lomax could sue for the imposition of a constructive trust, the court was “concerned with whether Shomaker and Lomax pleaded an injury that can be redressed through an equitable action for a constructive trust.” Id.
In its analysis, the court recognized that the funds from Wallis’ retirement plan and life insurance policy were nontestamenta-ry, and there was no instrument relating to them which required probate proceedings to be prosecuted in order to take effect. Id. The court further took the position that “the beneficiary of a life insurance policy has at least an estate in anticipation sufficient to authorize the beneficiary to raise the issue of the decedent’s mental capacity to change the designation.” Id. at *3. Further, the court stated that “equity may entertain jurisdiction of a suit by an original beneficiary of a life insurance policy to set aside a decedent’s change to another beneficiary on the ground of undue influence and to enjoin payment of the policy to the latter.” Id. (citing Tomlinson v. Jones, 677 S.W.2d 490, 492-93 (Tex. 1984)). Because Shomaker, as the executor of the will, was a designated beneficiary of neither the retirement plan nor the life insurance policy, he had no legal claim to the funds. Id. Accordingly, Shomaker did not have standing to file a suit for imposition of a constructive trust. Id. In contrast, Lomax, as a beneficiary, “had at least an estate in anticipation” in the proceeds of the retire
The Wallis court’s recognition of an “estate in anticipation” was based on Westbrook v. Adams, 17 S.W.2d 116, 120 (Tex.Civ.App.-Fort Worth 1929).
The context in which this phrase originated is far removed from the facts presented here, as this case involves neither an insurance policy nor a retirement plan (as in Wallis) nor the issue of mental capacity (as in Westbrook). Further, we find no Texas cases beyond Westbrook and Wallis which recognize such an “estate in anticipation,” these two cases being the sole ones in Texas jurisprudence to use that term. Westbrook is the touchstone case upon which Wallis relies; these cases appear to be outliers because none of the cases cited in Westbrook for authority are cases litigated in Texas. We, therefore, decline to recognize, in this ease, the existence of “an estate in anticipation” in a P.O.D. bank account. Indeed, we find no Texas authority to support the proposition that a P.O.D. account beneficiary has “an estate in anticipation” of the proceeds of that account.
Dawson also relies on Plummer, 51 S.W.3d at 843, to support the proposition that this Court has recognized a former P.O.D. beneficiary’s standing to complain of the actions of a decedent’s fiduciary. In Plummer, Agnes (the mother of all of the litigants) had funds which were held as certificates of deposit, some of which were P.O.D. accounts with Sandra as the beneficiary. Id. at 841. While Agnes was hospitalized, Sandra’s siblings employed a power of attorney signed by her to cash the certificates of deposit, depositing the funds realized from this into a preexisting checking account in the name of Agnes, an account in which the siblings had a right of survivorship. Id. The siblings testified that they consolidated the funds so that they would be available to pay for Agnes’ hospital bills and for her eventual nursing home care. Id. at 841-42.
This Court recognized that Sandra had no vested right in the account before her mother’s death and that her mother could remove her right of survivorship, could
The issue of standing was not raised at trial or on appeal by the parties in Plummer. Quite understandably, the question of standing was not addressed in the opinion that was rendered. Even though it would have been proper and appropriate to have raised the issue of standing sua sponte,
Here, Pat appointed Lowrey as his attorney-in-fact by a durable general power of attorney which was duly signed by Pat before a notary in June 2012. The validity of this power of attorney has not been contested and is documentary evidence that Pat elected to grant Lowrey the ability to manage his finances. It is further uncontested that the transfer of account funds was accomplished via that power of attorney. Although Dawson complains of Lowrey’s alleged self-dealing in the transfer of account funds, the statutory scheme establishing and governing the use of durable powers of attorney does not authorize a stranger to the ceded power to request an accounting. Although the Texas Probate Code has since been repealed, it was in effect at the time Pat executed the power of attorney in favor of Lowrey and virtually identical laws prevail under the Texas Estates Code. The Probate Code required the attorney-in-fact or agent to inform and to account to the principal for all actions taken pursuant to the power of attorney. Tex. Prob.Code Ann. § 489B; see also Tex. Estates Code Ann. §§ 751.101-.106. Under the statute, the principal may demand an accounting by the attorney-in-fact or agent, the details of which are outlined in the statute.
In essence, Dawson claims that even though he is a stranger to the durable power of attorney, he is nevertheless legally entitled to question Lowrey’s actions taken pursuant to that power. We find no persuasive authority for this position. The statute specifically addresses the right to demand an accounting and limits that right to the principal. If the Legislature wanted to expand this right, it could have easily done so. To hold that a stranger to a
C. Remaining Summary Judgment Claims
The trial court granted summary judgment with respect to Dawson’s causes of action for tortious interference with inheritance rights, money hand and received, and theft.
III. Conclusion
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Dissenting Opinion by Justice CARTER.
. Because the claims of Brandy Lake and Clinton Keith Dawson are identical, Lake and Dawson will be referred to collectively as "Dawson” for ease of reading. Pat was divorced from Dawson’s mother, Cynthia Jane Lowrey, on June 4, 2003.
. Alaine Jill Stepanovich, Pat's daughter, was initially a party to the lawsuit. The claims against Stepanovich were nonsuited without prejudice prior to the filing of this appeal.
. The general durable power of attorney authorized Lowrey "to do and perform all acts and exercise all powers and general authority with respect to all of the following designated transactions and matters as fully described in the State of Texas Powers of Attorney Act, applying to all powers of attorney created and specified therein ...." The power of attorney specifically included banking transactions.
Durable powers of attorney were authorized pursuant to Sections 481 through 506 of the Texas Probate Code, which was in force and effect during these transactions and through the date of trial. Tex. Prob.Code Ann. §§ 481-506 (West 2003).
Beginning in 2009 and finally concluding effective January 1, 2014, the Texas Legislature, as part of its topic-by-topic statutory revision program, repealed the Texas Probate Code and re-codified its provisions in the Texas Estates Code. The new codification is "without substantive change,” and its purpose is to make the law "more accessible and understandable.” See Tex. Estates Code Ann. § 21.001 (West 2014). Because the governing law at the time of the occurrences mentioned here and at the time of trial was prior to the repeal and recodification of the Texas Probate Code, we cite the provisions of the Texas Probate Code and include at the conclusion of this opinion, a Table of Citations which provides the session law citations for the repealed Probate Code sections as well as a cross-reference to the re-codified Estates Code citations.
.The bank’s records indicate that Lowrey wire transferred $12,000.00 of the account funds to a Chase Bank account in his name in McKinney. Additionally, Lowrey withdrew $37,731.21 from the account on August 30, 2012, with which he purchased five cashier's checks as follows: (1) a $10,000.00 check payable to Lake, (2) an $11,731.21 check payable to Dawson, (3) a $12,000.00 check payable to Stepanovich, and (4) two $2,000.00 checks payable to Stepanovich. The remaining account balance of $16,267.04 was then transferred back to the original checking account from which it was transferred by Pat on the previous day, bearing account number 503051424. Lowrey never gave Dawson and Lake their checks. Instead, he deposited the $11,731.00 and $10,000.00 checks into the original checking account, numbered 503051424. On August 31, 2012, Lowrey appears to have withdrawn (in the form of cash or cashiers’ checks, payable to himself) the sum of approximately $38,000.00. As of August 31, 2012 (the date of Pat’s death), the checking account numbered 503051424 reflected a balance of $1,300.00.
.The trial court’s final summary judgment failed to incorporate the two previous summary judgment orders. Nevertheless, the issues ruled on in each of the partial summary judgment orders are subject to review on appeal. See Webb v. Jorns, 488 S.W.2d 407, 408-09 (Tex. 1972) (interlocutory orders are merged into final judgment and thus become final for purposes of appeal, whether or not the interlocutory order is specifically named within final judgment).
. Lowrey’s initial motion for summary judgment was filed with respect to the claims asserted in this petition.
. Dawson also sought injunctive relief in the form of a court order requiring Lowrey to turn over the disputed funds to the registry of the court until such time as rightful ownership of those funds could be determined by the court. These funds were deposited into the registry of the court pursuant to an agreed temporary order of September 21, 2012.
. On March 15, 2013, the trial court sent a letter to the parties indicating that Lowrey's motion for summary judgment was granted as to the claims of tortious interference with inheritance rights and conversion. The letter indicated that the court was denying Lowrey’s motion on the claim under the Texas Theft Liability Act, and the claims seeking the imposition of a constructive trust and a declaratory judgment. The trial court requested that an order be prepared consistent with this ruling. The trial court wrote a second letter to the parties on the same date indicating that it inadvertently omitted ruling on Lowrey’s motion seeking summary judgment on the breach of fiduciary duty claim. The court indicated that summary judgment was also granted on that claim. On March 22, 2013, the trial court sent a third letter to the parties to clarify that the motion for summary judgment on the issue of Lowrey’s breach of fiduciary duty to the decedent was granted, as Dawson lacks standing to make such a claim on the decedent’s behalf. On April 5, 2013, the trial court sent a letter to the parties indicating that after further consideration, it was error to deny Lowrey’s motion for summary judgment in part. The court indicated that it was withdrawing its prior rulings and was granting Lowrey’s first motion for summary judgment in its entirely. Counsel for Lowrey was directed to prepare an order granting the summary judgment.
. On April 19, 2013, the trial court sent a letter to the parties indicating, "Mr. Lowrey's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted.” The court stated that there was no evidence that Dawson "had ownership” of the funds made the basis of the lawsuit and that such proof is required "for the element that the money belongs to the plaintiff in equity and good conscience.”
. Lowrey attached counsel’s affidavit in support of his request for attorney fees as an exhibit to this motion.
. Additionally, the judgment awarded appellate attorney fees to Lowrey, should Dawson’s appeal be unsuccessful, and further ordered the disbursement of funds held in the registry of the Court, previously deposited pursuant to agreed temporary orders.
.Dawson also contends there are genuine issues of material fact as to the P.O.D. account signature card. This argument assumes ambiguity, leading to the consideration of extrinsic evidence. Because there is no ambiguity, this issue is properly addressed as a matter of law.
. Dawson also initially alleged that a fiduciary relationship existed between himself and Lowrey as a result of an equitable trust relationship created in the P.O.D. account. This claim, however, was abandoned on appeal. ' 'Appellants point out that they do not rely upon a breach of a fiduciary relationship between Appellee and Appellants." The abandonment of this claim was confirmed by
. Additionally, Lowrey argues that there is no dispute that Dawson was not related to Pat at the time of Pat’s death and that Pat did not list Dawson as a divisee or beneficiary in his will. He claims that because Dawson was not an “interested person” as defined in the Probate Code, he has no standing to bring this claim. See Tex Prob.Code Ann. § 3(r) (West Supp. 2013). Under the statute, "interested person" or "person interested” means "heir, devisee, spouse, creditor, or any other having a property right in or claim against an estate being administered; and anyone interested in the welfare of an incapacitated person, including a minor.” Tex. Prob.Code Ann. § 3(r), § 10 (West 2003) (person interested in estate may file opposition in probate proceeding).
. "Standing” is a party’s justiciable interest in the suit and is a component of subject-matter jurisdiction. Nootsie, Ltd. v. Williamson Cnty. Appraisal Dist., 925 S.W.2d 659, 661-62 (Tex. 1996). In Texas, the standing doctrine requires that there be (1) " ‘a real controversy between the parties'" that (2) " 'will be actually determined by the judicial declaration sought.' ” Austin Nursing Ctr., Inc. v. Lovato, 171 S.W.3d 845, 849 (Tex. 2005) (quoting Nootsie, 925 S.W.2d at 662). " ‘Standing focuses on ... who may bring an action,' " M.D. Anderson Cancer Ctr. v. Novak, 52 S.W.3d 704, 708 (Tex. 2001) (quoting Patterson v. Planned Parenthood, 971 S.W.2d 439, 442 (Tex. 1998)), and is determined at the time suit is filed in the trial court, Texas Association of Business v. Texas Air Control Board, 852 S.W.2d 440, 446 n. 9 (Tex. 1993). Whether a plaintiff has standing is a legal question we determine de novo. See Mayhew v. Town of Sunnyvale, 964 S.W.2d 922, 928 (Tex. 1998). Because standing is a component of subject-matter jurisdiction, it cannot be waived and may be raised for the first time on
. The Wallis case (and reporting authorities) make the notation after the Westbrook case “aff'd sub nom., Adams v. Bankers’ Life Co., 36 S.W.2d 182 (Tex.Com.App.1931, holding approved).” It is worthy to note that although the suit to which this cite refers may have had similar parties to Westbrook, both cases were disputes over the same policy of insurance, and both cases resulted in reversals and remands by courts of appeal, the questions resolved in the two were rather markedly different, and Adams did not affirm the same holdings as Westbrook. Accordingly, the Westbrook case is the sole Texas authority for the holding in Wallis.
. Standing is a component of subject-matter jurisdiction. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d at 445.
. Section 751.104 of the Estates Code includes the same requirement of accounting by the attorney-in-fact or agent to the principal of a durable power of attorney, and sets out detailed requirements of items to be included in such accounting. Tex. Estates Code Ann. § 751.104.
. While Dawson pled conversion, he does not appeal the trial court’s grant of summary judgment on that issue.
. A constructive trust is a remedy — not a cause of action. See Meadows v. Bierschwale, 516 S.W.2d 125, 131 (Tex. 1974). Each of Dawson’s remaining causes of action is ultimately based on Lowrey’s alleged wrongful utilization of the power of attorney for his own gain, in a manner that was unfair to Dawson.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
Pat Lowrey gave his son, Will Lowrey (Lowrey), a power of attorney, but he also designated his surviving beneficiaries of his bank account. One day later, just before his father died, Lowrey withdrew all the funds and closed the account. While the power of attorney gave Lowrey legal rights, he also had a fiduciary duty to his father. No one questions that, but Low-rey argues that Dawson has no standing to enforce the alleged breach of that fiduciary relationship. I believe this Court, at least inferentially, found standing in a similar situation in Plummer. The Tyler court in Wallis has expressly found standing to exist in this situation. Consequently, I believe the weight of authority supports a determination that Dawson has standing to pursue this claim for breach of fiduciary duty.
The facts of Plummer v. Estate of Plummer and In re Estate of Wallis are set out in the majority opinion and will not be repeated. Plummer v. Estate of Plummer, 51 S.W.3d 840 (Tex.App.-Texarkana 2001, pet. denied); In re Estate of Wallis, No. 12-07-00022-CV, 2010 WL 1987514 (Tex.App.-Tyler May 16, 2010, no pet.) (mem. op.). In Plummer, this Court ultimately found that evidence was sufficient to support a jury verdict that siblings who withdrew money by authority of a power of attorney did not breach their fiduciary duty. In order to reach that conclusion, it was necessary to determine that the challenging party had standing. While it was not expressly stated, a finding of standing was a necessary prerequisite to this Court’s holding.
The Tyler court was directly confronted with this issue in Wallis. In Wallis, it was determined that the beneficiary designated
I would find Dawson has standing to pursue this claim, reverse the summary judgment, and remand to the trial court for further determination of the alleged breach of fiduciary duty. I respectfully dissent.
Table 1
Table of Citations
Dawson, et al. v. Lowrey, 06-13-00107-C
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