Case Title: In reÂ Marden Mosman Cove Irrevocable Trust

Citation: 179 Vt. 587, 2006 VT 3, 893 A.2d 344

Docket Number: 2004-475

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2006-01-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
In re Marden Mosman Cove Irrevocable Trust (2004-475); 179 Vt. 587; 893 A.2d 344

2006 VT 3

[Filed 06-Jan-2006]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                                  2006 VT 3

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 2004-475

                            SEPTEMBER TERM, 2005

  In re Anne Roberts Marden Mosman     }	 APPEALED FROM:
  Cove Irrevocable Trust	         }
                                       }
     	                                 }	Addison Superior Court
                                       }	
  	                                 }
                                       }	DOCKET NO. 227-10-03 Ancv

                                          Trial Judge: Helen M. Toor

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       ¶  1.  This appeal concerns the disposition of a family trust
  entitled the Anne Roberts Marden Mosman Cove Irrevocable Trust ("Trust"). 
  Appellant Anne Roberts Marden is settlor of the Trust and mother of the
  appellees, Elliot Davis and George Davis, Jr., who are trustees.  The
  Trust's only asset is a parcel of real estate located in Ferrisburgh,
  Vermont; specifically, at Mosman Cove on Lake Champlain.  In October 2003,
  after funds to pay property taxes and expenses ran low, appellees brought
  an action to modify the provision in the trust that disallowed sale of the
  property prior to 2024.  Appellant opposed the modification request and
  submitted counterclaims.  The parties eventually stipulated to sell the
  Trust's property, but continued to dispute entitlement to the proceeds of
  the sale.  After a bench trial, the trial court ruled in favor of
  appellees.  On appeal, appellant contends that the court erred in finding
  that the primary purpose of the Trust was to preserve the Trust assets for
  use of the three named beneficiaries (three of appellant's five sons) and
  their children, and in not finding that the Trust had failed so that the
  sale proceeds would revert to her, the settlor.  We affirm.  

       ¶  2.  We review a trial court's findings only to ensure that any
  credible evidence fairly and reasonably supports them, and we set them
  aside only when they are clearly erroneous.  Simendinger v. City of Barre,
  171 Vt. 648, 649,