Case Title: Lansford v. Gorham

Citation: 591 So. 2d 63

Docket Number: 1900287

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 1991-11-27T00:00:00Z

Document:
591 So. 2d 63 (1991)
Holly Howle LANSFORD, as executrix of the Estate of Henry Willingham Howle, deceased
v.
Opal GORHAM.
1900287.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
November 27, 1991.
Martha E. Williams, Cullman, for appellant.
Juliet G. St. John, Cullman, for appellee.
KENNEDY, Justice.
The Court's original opinion of August 23, 1991, is withdrawn, and the following opinion is substituted therefor.
On April 24, 1985, Henry Howle converted a checking account at AmSouth Bank in Cullman, Alabama, into a joint checking account, adding the name of Opal Gorham to the account. Both Henry Howle and Opal Gorham signed the signature card. Henry Howle was given a copy of the bank rules and regulations at that time. Mr. Howle died on September 29, 1986. On or about October 15, 1986, Ms. Gorham withdrew $122,124.77 from the joint checking account. On November 4, 1986, the Cullman County Probate Court granted letters *64 testamentary for the estate of Henry Howle to Holly Howle Lansford, the daughter of Henry Howle and the executrix of his estate. Upon Ms. Lansford's petition, the administration of Henry Howle's estate was removed to the Cullman Circuit Court. Ms. Lansford sent a written demand to Ms. Gorham to return the $122,124.77 to Henry Howle's estate. Ms. Gorham refused to do so.
Ms. Lansford filed an action in the circuit court, alleging in count one a conversion and praying in count two that a constructive trust be placed on the $122,124.77. The cause was tried before the trial court, sitting without a jury. The trial court held that, based on the language of the account signature card and the account rules and regulations and the evidence of the relationships between Henry Howle and the parties, the joint tenancy had created a right of survivorship in Ms. Gorham, and it entered a judgment for Ms. Gorham. The trial court's order states in pertinent part:
On appeal, the parties agree that the ownership of funds in a joint account is to be determined by an application of Ala. Code 1975, § 35-4-7, to the language of the joint tenancy instrument. Section 35-4-7 provides:
(Emphasis added.)
In Andrews v. Troy Bank & Trust Co., 529 So. 2d 987 (Ala.1988), we quoted Parr v. *65 Godwin, 463 So. 2d 129, 134-35 (Ala.1984), concerning the requirements of § 35-4-7:
529 So. 2d  at 993.
The bank's checking account rules and regulations state in pertinent part:
(Emphasis added.)
The relevant portion of the checking account signature card states:
(Emphasis added.)
Although the language on the signature card and its reference to the bank rules governing payment to the surviving depositor are not literally an express grant of a right of survivorship, this language does indicate an intention consistent with the creation of a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. In addition to this evidence of intent, the trial court found independent evidence from the relationships between the parties and Henry Howle to indicate that Henry Howle intended to create a joint account with right of survivorship with Ms. Gorham. The trial court's findings that this evidence satisfied the requirements of Ala.Code 1975, § 35-4-7, and Andrews v. Troy Bank & Trust Co., supra, for the creation of joint tenancies with right of survivorship are not clearly erroneous, without supporting evidence, manifestly unjust, or against the great weight of the evidence. Gaston v. Ames, 514 So. 2d 877, 878 (Ala.1987); Cougar Mining Co. v. Mineral Land & Mining Consultants, Inc., 392 So. 2d 1177 (Ala.1981).
The judgment of the trial court is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.
APPLICATION GRANTED; ORIGINAL OPINION WITHDRAWN; OPINION SUBSTITUTED; AFFIRMED.
HORNSBY, C.J., and MADDOX, SHORES, HOUSTON, STEAGALL and INGRAM, JJ., concur.