Justia Idaho Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The issue before the Supreme Court concerned a will contest brought by Petitioner-Appellant Tanya Wooden on the basis that the Last Will and Testament of Kathleen R. Conway was executed without testamentary capacity and under the undue influence of W. Cecil Martin, Conway's son, guardian, and a will beneficiary. The magistrate court denied Petitioner's claims, and the district court affirmed on appeal. Because the Court found the magistrate court was presented with substantial and competent evidence on which to base its decision, it affirmed the district court’s appellate decision. View "RE: The Estate of Kathleen R. Conway " on Justia Law

Patricia Shelton filed suit alleging breach of contract a legal malpractice against her former attorneys Defendants-Appellants R. Bruce Owens, Jeffrey Crandall, and Owens and Crandall, PLLC (Owens). During the pendency of her action, Ms. Shelton passed away. Plaintiff-Appellee Lois Bishop sought to assert Ms. Shelton's claims as her personal representative. Owens unsuccessfully argued that the legal malpractice claim abated upon Ms. Shelton's death, and that her breach of contract claim did not state a claim. Owens appealed. Because Patricia Shelton’s legal malpractice claim sounds in tort and abated upon her death, and her breach of contract claim fails to state a claim, the Supreme Court concluded the district court erred in denying Owens’s motion for summary judgment and in granting Bishop’s motion to substitute as plaintiff. View "Owen v. Bishop" on Justia Law

This case involved an ongoing dispute between brothers Ron McCann (Ron) and William McCann, Jr. (Bill) concerning the operation of McCann Ranch & Livestock Company, Inc. (Ranch), a closely-held corporation created by their father, William McCann, Sr. (William, Sr.). In 1997, William, Sr.'s shares passed to a trust set up to benefit his wife Gertrude, with Gary Meisner as trustee. In 2008, Ron filed suit against Bill, the Ranch and Meisner (Respondents) alleging a breach of fiduciary duties and seeking equitable relief or, the dissolution of the corporation. The district court granted summary judgment for the Respondents. Ron appealed, arguing that the district court erred in characterizing his claims as derivative and in finding that he failed to satisfy the elements of I.C. 30-1-1430(2)(b). Ron also argued that the court incorrectly limited the scope of discovery. Respondents cross-appealed, arguing that the district court erred in failing to award them attorney's fees. Upon review, the Supreme Court concluded the district court erred in granting summary judgment to Respondents as they failed to establish the necessary elements set forth in I.C. 30-1-1430(2)(b). Furthermore, the Court found that the district court did not err when it denied Respondents attorney fees. The case was remanded to the district court for further proceedings. View "McCann v. McCann, Jr. " on Justia Law

Petitioner Virginia Beaudoin appealed a district court's dismissal of her motion for summary judgment on a breach of fiduciary duty claim against Defendant Davidson Trust Company. The claim stemmed from Davidson Trust’s mistaken distribution of trust funds to Beaudoin when Beaudoin’s two children were, in fact, the designated beneficiaries. Because the Supreme Court found that Davidson Trust owed Petitioner no fiduciary duty at the time of the alleged breach, the Court affirmed the district court's decision dismissing Petitioner's claim. View "Beaudoin v. Davidson Trust Co. " on Justia Law

At issue in this case were the rights of three brothers who were residuary beneficiaries under a testamentary trust. One of the brothers leased the trust property when the trust terminated. The other two brothers sued him and the trustee to determine their respective rights. The one brother appealed the district court's judgment that found the trust was properly terminated and that he was not entitled to compensation for improvements he made to the property. Upon careful consideration of the district court record, the Supreme Court found there were genuine issues concerning reimbursement for the improvements made to the property. The Court reversed the district court on that issue, but affirmed the lower court as to all other issues. The case was remanded back to the district court for further proceedings. View "Beus v. Beus" on Justia Law

Plaintiff-Appellant Mary Soignier appealed a district court's decision that granted summary judgment to her former attorney, W. Kent Fletcher. On appeal to the Supreme Court, Plaintiff asserted that Attorney Fletcher negligently drafted a will that failed to "adequately effectuate the testator's intent." After reviewing the record and the applicable legal authority, the Supreme Court found that the district court correctly granted summary judgment to Mr. Fletcher. The Court affirmed the district court's judgment. View "Soignier v. Fletcher" on Justia Law