FI LED U.S. COURT OF APPEALS ELEV ENT H CI RCUI T FEBRUARY 2, 20 09 T HOMAS K . KAHN CLERK [PUBLIS H] IN THE UN ITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

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__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ D. C. Dock etNo. 0 7- 80 92 1- CV-DMM RICHAR D JASON BELANGER, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE O F THE ESTATE O F RIC HARD JOSE BELANGER, DECEASED, Pl ai nt iff -Ap pe ll an t, ve rs us THE SALVA TION ARMY, Defen da nt -Ap pe ll ee.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co urt fo r th e So uthe rnDis tri ctof F lo rid a

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ (Feb ru ary 2, 2 00 9) Befo re EDMONDSON, Ch ie f Ju dg e, ANDERSON, Circ ui t J ud ge , andCOHILL, * Dis tri ctJu dg e. COHILL, Dis tri ctJu dg e:

Honora ble Mauric e B . Cohill , J r., United States District Judge f or the Western D istrict * of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.Ri ch ardJas onBel an ge r, as so n a ndpe rs on al rep res en tati ve of the Est at e o f

Ri ch ardJo se Bel an ge r, de ceas ed , bro ug htth is di ve rs ity act io n a ga in stThe Sa lv at io n Arm y to reco ve r fu nd s wh ic h Th e Sal va ti on Arm y ha d o bt ai ne d fr om

a pa y -o nde ath b an k a cco un t es tabl is he d i n t he na m e o f “ Ri ch ardJ. Be la ng er, InTrus t Fo r The Sal va ti on Arm

y .” The Es ta te arg ue s tha t Th e Sal va ti on Arm y , a co rp or at io n, can no t b e co ns id ereda “ su rv iv in g b en efi ci ary” un de r th e p ay -o n- de ath a cco un t pr ov is io ns of s ect io n 6 55 .82 , Flo rid a St atut es . The d is tri ctco urt g ran te d am ot io n to di sm is s i n fa vo r of

The Sa lv at io n Army , fin di ng th ata co rp or at io n c anbe a be ne fic ia ry

of apa y -o n- de ath b an k a cco un t u nd er Fl or id a la w. The Est at e ap pe al s. Thi s ca se pre se nt s an is su e o f fi rs t i m pr es si on : wh ethe r a co rp or at io n qu al ifi es as a“pe rs on ” p erm it te d t o b e a l awfu l b en efi ci ary of a pa y -o n- de ath acco un t u nd er s ect io n 6 55 .82 of t he Flo rid a St atut es . W e, th eref or e, m us t fo rm a reas on edop in io n a s t o h ow thi s s ta tu te sh ou ldbe in te rp ret ed . W e d et erm in e th atth e pl ai n l an gu ag e o f se ct io n 6 55 .82 pe rm it s a c or po rat io n t o b e a b en efi ci ary of a pa y on -d eath a cco un t b ecau se th e d efi ni ti on of t he term “pe rs on ” in sec ti on 1.0 1( 3) of th e Fl or id a St atut es in cl ud es co rp or at io ns . Accor di ng ly, fo r th e rea so ns setforth in gr eat er d et ai l b el ow, we af firm . I. BACKGROUND Ri ch ardJo se Bel an ge r di edin te st at e o n J un e 7 , 20 07 , lea vi ng as h is on ly 2he irs -at -la w hi s two s on s Nat han B el an ge r an d R ic ha rdJas on Bel an ge r. Ric ha rd

Ja so n Be la ng er was ap po in te d p ers on al rep res en tati ve of h is fathe r’s es ta te . The de ceas edBel an ge r le ft t wo b an k a cco un ts at t he W es t Pa lm Beac h b ran chof W as hi ng to n M utua l Ba nk : an in di vi du al ly hel d a cco un t i n t he na m e o f th e d eced en t on ly, an d apa y -o n- de ath a cco un t i n t he nam e o f “ Ri ch ardJ. Be la ng er, InTrus t fo r The Sal va ti on Arm

y .” At the ti m e o f Mr. Be lang er’s d eath, the re was ap pr ox im at el y

$1 4, 9 86 .45 inth e in di vi du al ly hel d a cco un t, an d app ro xi m at el y $1 05 ,51 3.8 0 i n t he pa y -o n- de ath a cco un t. On J ul y 12 , 20 07 , th e Est at e n ot ifi edThe Sa lv at io n Army of i ts in te nt io n t o ha ve th e b en efi ci ary de si gn at io n o f “ The Sal va ti on Arm y ” in th e p ay -o n- de ath acco un t d ecl aredin va li d o n t he ba si s tha t o nl y a na tu ral pe rs on m ay

be th e be ne fic ia ry

of s uc h an a cco un t. The Est at e al so pro po se d ares ol ut io n o f th e is su e, of feri ng a 50 -5 0 s pl itof the fun ds , pri orto in st itut in g aform al laws ui t. The Sal va ti on Arm

y in di cat edth atit s B oa rdof Tru st ees wou ldtak e th e p ro po sa l u nd er co ns id erat io n a t i ts ne xtm eet in g. Ho wev er, wit ho utno ti fy in g t he Est at e, th e tru st ees pa ss eda Res ol ut io n au th or iz in g C ap ta in Tho m as McWill ia m s t o p res en t a de ath c ert ifi cat e to th e b an k a ndretrie ve th e fu nd s. On Au gu st28 , 20 07 , Cap ta in McWill ia m s p res en te d t he de ath c ert ifi cat e to th e West P al m

Beac h b ran chof Wash in gt on Mu tu al Ban k a ndretrie ve d t he su m s 3he ldinbo th th e in di vi du al acco un t an d t he pa y ab le -o n- de ath a cco un t. On

Sep te m be r 27 , 20 07 , th e es ta te rece iv eda m on th ly ban k s ta te m en t fr om W as hi ng to n Mu tu al Ban k i nd ic at in g t ha t b ot h a cco un ts ha d b eende pl et edan d t he fun ds di sb ur se d t o Th e Sal va ti onArm y . The es ta te th enbro ug htsu itto reco ve r th e fu nd s al le gi ng un

jus t en ric hm en t an d c on ve rs io n a s t o t he fun ds inbo th acco un ts . 1

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW W e rev ie w th e g ran t o f a m ot io n t o d is m is s u nd er Ru le 12 (b )(6 ) fo r fai lu re t o st at e a cl ai m

de no vo , acce pt in g the all eg at io ns inth e co m pl ai ntas t ru e an d co ns tru in g the m

inth e li gh t m os t fa vo rab le to th e p la in ti ff. Ja ck so n v . Bel lS ou th Tele co m m ., 37 2 F .3d12 50 , 12 62 (11 th Cir . 20 04 ). “ The in te rp ret at io n o f a s ta tu te is a pu rel y

leg al m atte r an d t he refo re s ub ject t o t he de no vo st an da rdof r ev ie w.” Kep ha rt v . Hadi , 93 2 S o.2 d 1 08 6, 1 08 9 (F la .20 06 ), cert . den ie d, -- - U.S. ----, 1 27 S.Ct . 12 68 , 16 7 L.Ed .2d92 (20 07 ). III. DISC USSION The is su e h ere i s wh ethe r a Co rp or at io n c anbe a be ne fic ia ry of apa y -o nde ath a cco un t b as edon th e p la inlan gu ag e o f se ct io n 6 55 .82 , Flo rid a St atut es . This

The district cour

t dismi ssed the cla ims relatingto the funds in the individual acc ount on 1 subject matter jurisdiction grounds f or fa ilure to meet the a

mount in controversy

require ment afte r first dismissing the c laim reg ardingthe pay-on-de ath ac count. Appar ently the funds in the individual account we re r eturne d to Washington Mutual Ba nk afte r it notified The Salvation Army of the e rror . This appea l conce rns only the district court’s r

uling on the pa

y -on-de ath acc ount. 4is anis su e o f st atut ory in te rp ret at io n. Ou r ta skis to gi ve effe ctto th e le gi sl at iv e in te ntof t he st atut e. Arno ld , Mathe ny andEaga n, P.A. v . Firs t Am eri canHol di ng s, In c., 98 2 S o.2 d 6 28 , 63 3 (F la . 20 08 ), ci ti ng Cas on v. Fl or id a Dep t. o f Man ag em en t Serv ic es , 94 4 S o.2 d 3 06 , 31 2 (F la . 20 06 ). “ Inatt em pt in g t o d is cernleg is la ti ve in te nt , we firs t l oo k t o t he actua l l an gu ag e u se d i n t he st atut e.” Dan ie ls v. Fl or id a Dep t. o f Heal th , 89 8 S o.2 d 6 1, 6 4 (F la . 20 05 ). “ Whe n t he st atut e is cle ar an d un am bi gu ou s, co urts wil l n otlo okbe hi ndth e st atut e's pl ai n l an gu ag e fo r le gi sl at iv e in te ntor r es ort t o ru le s o f st atut ory co ns tru ct io n t o a sc ert ai n i nt en t.” Id . Sect io n 6 55 .82 pro vi de s the fol lo win g d efi ni ti on of “ be ne fic ia ry :” 65 5.8 2. Pay -o n-de at h a cco unts (1 ) As u se d i n thi s s ect io n:

. . . (b ) “ Ben efi ci ary” m ean s a p ers on na m edas o ne to who m su m s o n de po si t i n a n a cco un t ar e p ay ab le on reque staft er d eath o f al l p art ie s o r fo r who m a pa rty is n am edas t ru st ee. § 6 55 .82 (1 )(b ), Fla . Sta t. The term “pe rs on ” is no t d efi ne d wi th in sec ti on 65 5.8 2. Sect io n 6 55 .76 9, Fl or id a St atut es , set s fo rth de fin it io ns of t erm s u se d i n s ect io ns 65 5.7 7 t hr ou gh 65 5.9 1, b utsec ti on 65 5.7 69 do es no t d efi ne th e te rm “pe rs on .” § 65 5.7 69 , Fla . Sta t. The refo re, we turn t o a ny relat edst atut ory pro vi si on s tha t d efi ne th e wor d “ pe rs on .” Cas on , 94 4 S o.2 d a t 3 13 ; s ee al so Sta te v. Mi tro , 70 0 S o.2 d 6 43 , 64 5 (F la .19 97 ) ( “ Inth e ab se nc e o f a s ta tu to ry de fin it io n, re so rt m ay

be ha d t o c as e 5la w or re la te d s ta tu to ry pro vi si on s wh ic h d efi ne th e te rm , andwher e a s ta tu te do es no t s pe ci fic al ly defi ne word s o f co m m on us ag e, su chword s ar e co ns tru edinth ei r pl ai n a ndord in ary se ns e”). Sect io n 1 .01 (3 ) of

th e Fl or id a St atut es do es pro vi de a de fin it io n o f th e te rm

“pe rs on .” 1.0 1. Defi ni tio ns Inco ns tru in g the se st atut es an d e ach an d e ve ry word , ph ras e, orpa rt he reo f, whe re the co nt ex t wi ll pe rm it :

. . . (3 ) The word“pe rs on ” in cl ud es in di vi du al s, ch il dr en , firm s, as so ci at io ns , join t ad ve ntur es , partn ers hi ps , est at es , tru st s, b us in es s tru st s, s ynd ic at es , fiduc iarie s, co rp or at io ns , andall ot he r gr oups or co m bi na ti on s. § 1 .01 (3 ), Flo rid a St atut es . This de fin it io n o f “pe rs on ” ap pl ie s t o s ect io n 6 55 .82 so lo ng as “ th e co nt ex t p erm it [s ]. ” § 1 .01 (3 ), Fla . Sta t. We fin d t ha t the co nt ex t o f se ct io n 6 55 .82 pl ai nl y

pe rm it s the us e o f th e d efi ni ti on of “ pe rs on ” as setforth in se ct io n 1 .01 (3 ). Becaus e th e d efi ni ti on of “ pe rs on ” insec ti on 1.0 1( 3) in cl ud es

“ co rp or at io ns ,” we ho ldth ata be ne fic ia ry of apa y -o n- de ath a cco un t m ay be a co rp or at io n. Th eref

or e, we fi ndth atThe Sa lv at io n Army is a pr op er b en efi ci ary of th e p ay -o n- de ath a cco un t o f Ri ch ardJo se Bel an ge r. The Est at e arg ue s tha t the re i s an am bi gu it y inth e co nt ex t o f se ct io n 6 55 .82 th atdo es no t p erm itth e ap pl ic at io n o f th e d efi ni ti on of “ pe rs on ” fo un d i n s ect io n 61.0 1( 3) to pa y -o n- de ath a cco un ts . The am bi gu it y , as e xp la in edby the Est at e, is th at th e le gi sl atur e rep eat ed ly use s t erm s thr ou gh ou t the st atut e ref erri ng to co nd it io ns no rm al ly attr ib ut edon ly to n atur al pe rs on s. Mo stsi gn ifi can tl y th e st atut e u se s the te rm “ su rv iv in g” to m od ify the term “be ne fic iary .” Noton ly doe s the st atut e u se va rio us form s o f th e te rm “ su rv iv in g” (fo r ex am

pl e, “ surv iv es ,” “ su rv iv ed ,” an d

“ su rv iv or ”), i t al so refe rs to rel at edterm s, s uc h a s “ di sabl ed ,” “ in cap aci ta te d,” an d

“ de ceas ed .” Fin al ly, th e st atut e in cl ud es refe ren ces to “ hi s” or “ he r,” b utdo es no t us e th e te rm

“ it ” o r “ it s.” W e d is ag ree t ha t the us e o f th es e te rm s i n t he co nt ex t o f se ct io n 6 55 .82 pr ecl ud es our ap pl y in g t he de fin it io n o f “pe rs on ” se ct io n 1 .01 (3 ). The s ta tu te at is su e h ere c on te m

pl at es th atso m e b en efi ci ari es of p ay -o n- de ath a cco un ts wil l b e na tural pe rs on s. Thus we ex pe ctth atth e st atut e wou ldad dr es s the cir cu m st an ces th atap pl y to na tu ral pe rs on s, wh ic h ast atut e can do witho utth ereb y im pl ic it ly ex cl ud in g n on -n atur al pe rs on s. We cann otag ree t ha t the us e o f te rm s n orm al ly at tri bu te d o nl y

to na tu ral pe rs on s cr eat es anam bi gu ity as t o wh ethe r th e le gi sl atur e in te nd edto ex cl ud e co rp or at io ns fro m be in g b en efi ci ari es of apa y -o n- de ath acco un t. The Est at e al so arg ue s tha t the Flo rid a le gi sl atur e’s fai lu re t o e xp res sl y in cl ud e th e Uni fo rm

Nonpr ob at e Tran sf

ers on Death Act ’s def

in it io n o f “pe rs on ” 7whe n e na ct in g s ect io n 6 55 .82 is ev id en ce o f th e Leg is latu re’s i nt en ti on to li m itpa y on -d eath a cco un ts to na tu ral pe rs on s. Th e Est at e arg ue s tha t the us e o f th e de fin it io n o f “pe rs on ”i n s ect io n 1 .01 (3 ) is no t p ro pe r inth is cas e b ecau se th e Fl or id a Leg is la tu re i n adi ffer en t s ta tu te pa ss edon th e sa m e d ay in cl ud edth e Uni fo rm Nonpr ob at e Tran sf

ers on Death Act ’s def

in it io n o f “pe rs on ,” whi ch ex pr es sl y pro vi de s tha t a c or

po rat io n m ay

be a be ne fic ia ry . The Flo rid a Uni fo rm

Tran sf er-o n- Death S ecu rit y

Reg is tra ti on Act d efi ne s

“pe rs on ” to m ean“ anin di vi du al , a co rp or at io n, an org an iz at io n, o r ot he r le ga l en ti ty.” Secti on71 1.5 01 , Flo rid a St atut es . The Es ta te arg ue s tha t thi s s ho ws tha t whe n t he leg is la tu re m ean t t o i nc lu de art ifi ci al pe rs on s as be ne fic iarie s i t sp eci fic al ly pro vi de d ade fin it io n t ha t ex pr es sl y in cl ud edco rp or at io ns as “ pe rs on s.” The Est at e fu rth er ar gu es th atif the de fin it io n o f “pe rs on ” in sec ti on 1.0 1( 3) were in te nd edto ap pl y

to bo thof t he no n- pr ob at e tr an sf er o n d eath s tatu te s -- th atis , th e pa y -o n- de ath a cco un t an d t he tra ns fer- on -d eath s ecu rit y reg is tra ti on st atut e -- the re wou ldha ve be enno reas on forth e Fl or id a Leg is la tu re t o s pe ci fic al ly defi ne

“pe rs on ” as itdi d i n s ect io n 7 11 .50 1. The Est at e arg ue s tha t the factth e Fl or id a Leg is la tu re d efi ne d “ pe rs on ” to in cl ud e co rp or at io ns insec ti on 71 1.5 01 , bu t d idno t d efi ne “pe rs on ” in sec ti on 65 5.8 2, m ean s tha t i n s ect io n 6 55 .82 th e le gi sl atur e in te nd edeit he r to ex cl ud e 8co rp or at io ns fro m th e d efi ni ti on of “ pe rs on ”, orto li m itth e d efi ni ti on of “pe rs on ” to na tural pe rs on s o nl y . There is no li m it at io n o n t he term “pe rs on ” in Sect io n 6 55 .82 in di cat in g t ha t the leg is latu re was no t re lying on Flo rid a’s ge ne ral de fin it io n o f

“pe rs on ” fo un d i n s ect io n 1 .01 (3 ). W e fi ndth atinth e ab se nc e o f an y expr es s i nt en t to li m itwho canbe a“pe rs on ” und er s ect io n 6 55 .82 th atth e Leg is lature i nt en de d t o rel y on th e d efi ni ti onof “ pe rs on ” fo un d i n s ect io n 1 .01 (3 ). W e rei te rat e th atwe ha ve fou ndno am

bi gu ity insec ti on 65 5.8 2 t ha t wo ul d re qu ire us to ex am in e th e tra ns fer- on -d eath s ecu rit ie s re gi st rat io n s ta tu te to ass is t u s i n a sc ert ai ni ng th e le gi sl at iv e in te ntof s ect io n 6 55 .82 . Fi na ll y , th e Est at e arg ue s tha t the term “be ne fic ia ry ” in th e co nt ex t o f se ct io n 65 5.8 2 m us t re fer t o n atur al pe rs on s o nl y si nc e th e co m

m on law d oc tri ne reg ard in g Tot te n t ru st s h as alwa y s re ferr edto ba nkacco un ts th atare s etup intru stfor in di vi du al s, n otco rp or at io ns . The Es ta te arg ue s tha t s ect io n 6 55 .82 is th e co di fic at io n o f th e co m

m on law o f Tot te n tru st s. A Tot te n tru stis a ba nkacco un t se t up b y on e in di vi du al to be he ld“ in tru stfor ” an ot he r in di vi du al . Mat te r of Tot te n, 1 79 N.Y. 112 (19 04 ). His to ric al ly, on ly natur al pe rs on s wer e b en efi ci ari es of Tot te n t ru st s. Th eref

or e, th e Est at e arg ue s tha t as th e co di fic at io n o f Tot te n tru st s, s ect io n 6 55 .82 do es no t co nt em pl at e th ata co rp or at io n c anbe a pr op er be ne fic ia ry

of a n “ in tru stfor ” b an k a cco un t. 9Fl or id a ad op te d t he co m m on law d oc tri ne of To tt entru st s i n 1 95 6. Se ym ou r v. Se ym ou r, 85 So .2d72 6 (F la . 19 56 ). In 1 99 0, the Flo rid a Supr em e Co urt i n Sh rin ers Hos pi ta l fo r Cri pp le d C hi ldrenv. Zri ll ic , 56 3 S o.2 d 6 4 (F la . 19 90 ), de cl aredFlo rid a’s m ortm ai n s ta tu te , whi chres tri ct edch ari tabl e b eque st s, un co ns ti tu ti on al . After r ev ie win g t he hi st or ic al jus ti fic at io n d is fav or in g b eque st s t o ch ari ti es th e Fl or id a Supr em e Co urt n ot edth at“ [o ]ver t im e, so ci ety 's a tt itud e h as ch an ge d t o t he po in t wh ere c ha rit ab le gi fts , dev is es an d t ru st s n ow ar e fav or edan d wil l b e h el d v al idwhen ev er p os si bl e.” Id . at 6 8. Th e Fl or id a le gi sl atur e fo rm al ly rep eal edth e m ortm ai n s tatu te in19 91 . Sect io n 6 55 .82 was e na ct edin19 95 . Whi le th e m ortm ai n s ta tu te co nc ern ed pr ob at e rathe r th anpa y -o n- de ath b an k a cco un ts , itis cle ar tha t the Flo rid a Leg is latu re en act edsec ti on 65 5.8 2 wi th th e kno wled ge th atso ci ety no w fav or ed ch ari tabl e g ift s an d t he refo re was no t en act in g aco di fic at io n o f th e co m m on law o f Tot te n t ru st s l im it in g b en efi ci ari es to na tu ral pe rs on s o nl y . W e co nc lu de th atth e en actm en t o f se ct io n 6 55 .82 in19 95 is no t a c od ifi cat io n o f th e co m m on law o f Tot te n t ru st s d oc tri ne li m it in g p ay -o n- de ath a cco un ts to na tu ral pe rs on s o nl y . III. CONCLUSION Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we af firm th e d is tri ctco urt’s o rd er g ran ti ng a m ot io n t o d is m is s i n fa vo r of The Sa lv at io n Army

an d d is m is si ng th is act io n. 10AFFIRMED.

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