Croessant's Estate, In re
| Decision Date | 27 October 1978 |
| Citation | 393 A.2d 443,482 Pa. 188 |
| Parties | In re ESTATE of Mary A. CROESSANT, Deceased. Appeal of Virginia Croessant RUDOLPH. |
| Court | Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
J. Kitridge Fegley, Aaron A. Brumbach, Reading, for appellant.
Rhoda, Stoudt & Bradley, D. Frederick Muth, Reading, for appellees, National Central Bank, etc.
Before O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, POMEROY, NIX, and LARSEN, JJ.
We are required by this appeal to determine the propriety of a decree removing appellant as a co-trustee of a testamentary trust created under the will of her mother. Appellant argues that the lower court abused its discretion in terminating her office. We agree and will reverse.
Mary A. Croessant, the testatrix, died on February 3, 1971. By her last will and testament dated October 23, 1969, she appointed her daughter, Virginia Croessant Rudolph, the appellant, as executrix of her will. In a separate provision, the testatrix appointed appellant and the Reading Trust Company, now the National Central Bank, appellee herein, as trustees of two trusts created by the will. The first of these, denominated a "Trust for Valerie Lynne Rudolph" (daughter of appellant and granddaughter of testatrix), provides for monthly payments of income and distributions of portions of the principal to Valerie upon her attaining ages 30, 45 and 60, respectively, at which latter time the trust shall terminate. The second trust consists of the residue of the estate. The will provides for monthly payments of $100 out of income to each of the two sisters of testatrix for their respective lives; the balance of income is to be paid to appellant in monthly installments during her lifetime. She is also given a right to invade principal to the extent that the trustees find necessary from time to time for the "support, maintenance, medical care and nursing care of my said daughter" (appellant). 1 The will further directs that so long as Virginia Croessant Rudolph lives, the corporate co-trustee shall be guided solely by her written advice as to investment or reinvestment of the trust principal, and shall not be liable for any loss occasioned by such reliance.
Letters testamentary were issued to the appellant on February 16, 1971. Little action was taken to administer the estate, however, and on January 5, 1975 appellant was removed, without objection, as executrix on petition of National Central Bank. The bank and appellant's daughter Valerie were appointed "succeeding executors" by the Register of Wills, having been named as such in the will. Premised upon her actions, or lack thereof, with respect to the administration of the estate, the bank, on September 5, 1975, petitioned the court for removal of appellant as co-trustee under the will. Following an evidentiary hearing, the orphans' court ordered appellant removed as trustee. It also decreed that appellee-bank be relieved of the testamentary directive that it comply with appellant's written instructions concerning the investment of the trust property. Exceptions were dismissed and this appeal followed from the decree of removal. 2
In ordering the appellant removed as trustee, the lower court relied principally on the testimony of Donald K. Bobb, Esq., a lawyer who had represented her as executrix. 3 His testimony revealed a pattern of inattention and neglect on the part of Mrs. Rudolph pertaining to the administration of her mother's estate. Her repeated failure to respond to counsel's inquiries and admonitions concerning estate matters culminated in the resignation of Mr. Bobb as counsel. This neglect was evidenced by the fact that corporations in which the decedent owned stock were not notified of the death nor were dividends and interest on the securities collected; state and federal income and death tax returns went unfiled; and taxes due on the estate were never paid. As further evidence of the appellant's inability to participate effectively as a trustee under the provisions of the will, the witness noted that on two occasions Mrs. Rudolph inquired into the possibility of removing the bank as a co-trustee. Appellant did not dispute the charges of her neglect in administration of the estate. Rather, her excuse was that she was incapacitated by numerous illnesses during the period in question. 4 Appellant testified that she had now recovered her health and desired to act as trustee, and in so doing would cooperate with the bank as co-trustee. As indicative of her ability to function responsibly she cited her successful management of her own considerable holdings. This testimony was corroborated by that of Mrs. Rudolph's accountant, James E. Berta, Jr., and her daughter, Valerie. Moreover, Valerie, the primary beneficiary under the trusts, twenty-seven years of age at the time of the hearing, testified that she desired that the appellant be allowed to continue as trustee. It is in light of this record that the action of the lower court must be viewed.
II.
There is no doubt that the court of common pleas, acting through the orphans' court division, has authority over the administration of testamentary trusts. See Section 711 of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, 20 Pa.C.S. § 711 (1975); Coleman Estate, 456 Pa. 163, 317 A.2d 631 (1974); Dillon Estate, 441 Pa. 206, 272 A.2d 161 (1971); Wilson v. Board of Directors of City Trusts, 324 Pa. 545, 188 A. 588 (1936). Under this authority the orphans' court may remove a trustee whenever the interests of the trust are likely to be jeopardized by the trustee's continuance in office. See Section 3182 of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, 20 Pa.C.S. § 3182 (1975); Quinlan Estate, 441 Pa. 266, 273 A.2d 340 (1971); Beichner Estate, 432 Pa. 150, 247 A.2d 779 (1968); Restatement (Second) of Trusts, § 107 (1959); II Scott on Trusts, § 107 (3rd ed. 1967). Removal of a trustee is, however, a drastic action, and proof of the need for this remedy must be clear. Quinlan Estate, supra; DiMarco Estate, 435 Pa. 428, 257 A.2d 849 (1969); Fraiman Estate, 408 Pa. 442, 184 A.2d 494 (1962); Corr Estate, 358 Pa. 591, 58 A.2d 347 (1948). Especially is this so where, as here, the person named as trustee enjoyed the special confidence of the decedent as evidenced by the specific appointment of the person as trustee in the will. Estate of Nassar, 467 Pa. 325, 356 A.2d 773 (1976); LaRocca Trust, 419 Pa. 176, 213 A.2d 666 (1975); Hodgson's Estate, 342 Pa. 250, 20 A.2d 294 (1941); Bailey's Estate, 306 Pa. 334,159 A.2d 549 (1932); Restatement (Second) of Trusts, § 107, Comment F (1959); II Scott on Trusts, § 107.1 at 849 (3rd ed. 1967). Hence, "(w)hile the removal of a trustee is a matter resting largely within the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the trust, it is equally clear that an abuse of that discretion renders its exercise subject to review." Crawford's Estate, 340 Pa. 187, 190, 16 A.2d 521 (1940). Accord: Scientific Living, Inc. v. Hohensee, 440 Pa. 280, 270 A.2d 216 (1970); LaRocca Trust,supra; Holmes Trust, 392 Pa. 17, 139 A.2d 548 (1958); Glessner's Estate,343 Pa. 370, 22 A.2d 701 (1942).
The court's action in the case at bar was based upon two findings: (1) that a hostile relationship existed between Mrs. Rudolph and the bank, her co-trustee, and (2) that Mrs. Rudolph was incapable of performing her fiduciary duties in the administration of the trust. 5 For the reasons that follow we are satisfied that neither finding is supported by the record and that accordingly, the lower court erred as a matter of law in terminating appellant's office.
It is true, as the trial court noted, that hostility among trustees or between a trustee and beneficiary may be so severe as to justify relief by removal in order that the proper administration of the trust be not jeopardized. See, e. g., DiMarco Estate, supra; Beichner Estate, supra; Hughes' Estate (No. 1), 319 Pa. 321, 179 A. 577 (1935); Hurley's Estate, 313 Pa. 53, 169 A. 81 (1931); Restatement (Second) of Trusts, § 107, Comment A (1959). In the case before us, however, there is an absence of convincing evidence that hostility between the two trustees did in fact exist. While appellant on two occasions in the past expressed a desire that the co-trustee resign, she clearly stated her willingness to cooperate with the appellee-bank. Moreover, even if we assume that some degree of hostility between the bank and Mrs. Rudolph does exist, this is not ground for removal unless the ill-feeling can be said to endanger the estate. Cf. Scientific Living, Inc. v. Hohensee, supra; DiMarco Estate, supra; Fraiman Estate, supra. There was no such showing in the present case.
Alternatively, the lower court concluded that appellant's inability as executrix to manage the estate of the testatrix presented adequate grounds for her removal as trustee. It may be accepted that "(w)here the same person is executor and trustee, evidence of his misconduct as executor is admissible in a suit to remove him as trustee." II Scott on Trusts, § 107, at 841-42 (3rd ed. 1967). Cf. Rentschler's Estate, 11 D. & C.2d 357 (1958), Aff'd 392 Pa. 46, 139 A.2d 910 (1958). As observed earlier, however, removal of a trustee is a drastic action and therefore it must clearly appear that the misconduct in the capacity of executor will likely continue with respect to the trust. Here, appellant's inability to perform as executrix was attributable to her prolonged illnesses. 6 The orphans' court may have been correct in concluding that appellant's state of health was not a sufficient excuse for her misfeasance, 7 but the uncontroverted evidence indicates that appellant is now in good health. The record is devoid of any evidence to support a finding that appellant's incapacity to serve as a fiduciary will continue now that her health has been restored. In the words of the governing statute, the orphans' court is to remove a trustee due to incompetency only where "the incompetency Is...
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Estate of Oshiver
...court having jurisdiction over the trust, but an abuse of that discretion renders its exercise subject to review. In re Croessant's Estate, 482 Pa. 188, 393 A.2d 443 (1978). However, there is a distinction between cases involving the removal of a court appointed trustee and those involving ......