I N TH E S U PR EM E C O U R T O F M I S S I S S I PPI N O. 2 0 0 5 - I A- 0 0 6 9 9 - S CT NATI ON AL H ERI TAGE REAL TY

, I NC. , M ARI NER H EALTH CAR E, I N C. f / k / a M ARI N ER PO S T-

ACU TE NETW ORK, I NC. , GRAN CARE, I

NC. , EVERGREEN H E A L T H C A R E , I NC . , GE OR GED. M

OR GA N, J

. D. LEE , ANG ELA M . W H I TT I NG TON AND CH

UCK ( C H A R L E S ) S INC L A IR
v. EST ATE O F EV

A BO LES

, D ECE ASED, ELI

ZA P R IC E , A D M IN IS T R A T R IX
D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 03/ 14/ 2005 TRI A L J U D G E: H O N
. J O N M
. BA RN W ELL C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: T

ALL AHA T C HI E

C O UN T Y C HAN C E

RY C OU R T ATT OR NE Y S F OR A P P E L L A NT S : L
. C A

R L H A G W OOD F A Y E M U RP HREE J A

M ES ATTO RN EY S F O R A

P P ELLEE: S U S A N N I C H O LS ES TES D O U G L A S B R Y A N T C H A F F IN KE NNE T H L U KE C ONNOR N ATU RE O F THE C A S E: C I VI L - W RO N G F U L D EATH D I SPO SI T

I O N : R E V E R SE DA N DR E N D E R E D- 09/ 07/

2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D:
CO N S O LI D ATED W I TH N O. 2 0 0 5 - I A- 0 0 7 5 0 - S CT2

NATI ON AL H ERI TAGE REAL TY

, I NC. , M ARI NER H EALTH CAR E, I N C. F/ K/ A M ARI N ER PO S TA C U T E N E T W OR K , I N C ., G R A N C A R E , I N C ., E V E R GR E E N H E A L T H C A R E , I NC . , GE OR GED. M OR GA N, J

. D. L E E , A NGE L A M . W H I T T I NGT ON AND CH

UCK ( CH ARL ES ) S I NCLAI R
v. EST ATE O F EV

A BO LES

, D ECE ASED, ELI

ZA P R IC E , A D M IN IS T R A T R IX D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 02/ 03/ 2005 TRI A L J U D G E: J O N M
. BA RN W ELL C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: T

ALL AHA T C HI E

C O UN T Y C HAN C E

RY C OU R T ATT OR NE Y S F OR A P P E L L A NT S : L
. C A

R L H A G W OOD F A Y E M U RP HREE J A

M ES ATTO RN EY S F O R A

P P ELLEE: S U S A N N I C H O LS ES TES D O U G L A S B R Y A N T C H A F F IN KE NNE T H L U KE C ONNOR N ATU RE O F THE C A S E: C I VI L - W RO N G F U L D EATH D I SPO SI T

I O N : R E V E R SE DA N DR E N D E R E D- 09/ 07/

2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D:
CO N S O LI D ATED W I TH N O. 2 0 0 5 - I A- 0 0 9 0 9 - S CT
NATI ON AL H ERI TAGE REAL TY

, I NC. , M ARI NER H EALTH CAR E, I N C. F/ K/ A M ARI N ER PO S TA C U T E N E T W OR K , I N C ., G R A N C A R E , I N C ., E V E R GR E E N H E A L T H C A R E , I NC . , GE OR GED. M OR GA N, J

. D. L E E , A NGE L A M . W H I T T I NGT ON AND CH

UCK ( CH ARL ES ) S I NCLAI R
v.3

T H E E S T A T E OF E V A B OL E S B Y A ND T H R OUGH ELI ZA PRI CE, AD M

I N I S TRATRI

X O F TH

E ESTATE OF E V A B OL E S , F OR T H E US E A ND BE

NEF I T OF T H E E STA T E O F E V A B OL E S, AN D F OR T H E U SE AN D BEN EFI T O F TH E W RON GFU

L D EATH BENEFI CI ARI ES OF EVA BOLES D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 04/ 01/ 2005 T RIAL J UDGE : M AR GAR ET C AR E Y M c C RA

Y C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: L

E F L O RE C O UN T Y C I RC UI T

C O URT ATT OR NE Y S F OR A P P E L L A NT S : L
. C A

R L H A G W OOD F A Y E M U RP HREE J A

M ES ATT O R N E Y S FO R A PPE L L E E : SU SA

N N I C H O L S E ST

E S D O U G L A S B R Y A N T C H A F F IN KE NNE T H L U KE C ONNOR N ATU RE O F THE C A S E: C I VI L - W RO N G F U L D EATH D I SPO SI T

I O N : R E V E R SE DA N DR E N D E R E D- 09/ 07/

2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D: E N B A NC . EAS LEY , J US TI CE, F O R TH E CO UR T:

P RO C E DU

RA L H I S T O RY ¶1
. T h is c a s e i

n v o l v e s th e c o n s o l i d ati o n o f th re e i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l s f ro m T a lla h a t c h ie
an d L ef l or e C ou n ti es , Mi s s i s s i pp i. T h e i n t er l ocu t or y appeal s ar i s e f r om t he o p e ni ng of

an
es t ate i n t h e C h an cer y C ou r t of t h e Secon d Ju di ci al D i s t ri ct of T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y, w h i ch w as l a te r c l o s e d a n d tra n s f e rre d to L e f l o re C o u n ty , a n d th e f i l i n g o f a w ro n g f u l d e ath l a w s u i t i n th e C ir c ui t C ou

r t of L e f l or e C ou n t y . T h e H on or a bl e J on M . B a r n w e l l w a s t h e c h a n c e l l or pr e s i d ing i n t h i s e s t at e m at t e r i n bot h T a l l a h at c h i e a n d L e f l or e C ou n ti e s . ¶2
. E v a B o l e s (B o l e s ) d i e d o n J a n u a ry 2 5 , 2 0 0 1 , i

n L e f l o re C o u n ty . B o l e s r e s id e d at th

e G ree n w o o d H e a l th & R e h a b i l it a t io n C e n

ter (G ree n w o o d H e a l th ) f o r m o re th a n f o u r y e a rs4

pr i or t o h er deat h a nd a t t he ti

m e of h er deat h . O n O ctob er 3, 20 01 , E l

i z a Pr i ce ( P ri ce) f i l ed
a p e ti ti o n f o r a p p o i n tm e n t a s a d m i n i s tratri x o f th e E s tate o f

E v a B o le s ( t h e E s tate ) i

n th e C h a n c e r y C o u r t o f t h e S e c o n d J u d i c i a l D i s t ri c t o f T a l l a h at c h i e C o u n t y , M i s s i s s i p p i
. On Oc t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 0 1 , t

h e c h a n c e l l o r a p p o i n t e d P ri c e a s t h e a d m i n i s tr a tri x o f t h e E s t at e . On J an u ar y 28 , 2 0 0 2 , P r i ce f

i l ed a com

pl ai n t ag ai n s t N at i on al H er i t ag e R eal t y , I n c.; M ar i n er H e a l t h C a r e , I n c . f / k/ a / M a ri n e r Pos t - A c u t e N e t w or k, I n c . ( M a rine r ) ; G r a n c a r e , I n c .; E v er gr e en H eal t h care, I n c.; G eorg e D . Morg

an; J . D . L ee; A

n g el a M . Wh i t ti n g t on ; an d C h u ck (C h a rl e s ) S i n c l a i r, (c o l l e c ti v e l y “ D e f e n d a n ts” ), in th e C i rc u i t C o u rt o f L e f l o re C o u n ty , Mi ss i ss i p p i
. T h e c o m p l a i n t al l e g e d th at B o l e s s u ffe r e d

a n i n ju ry a s a res u l t o f i n a d e qu ate c a re by t h e s t af f of G r een w oo d H eal

t h . O n D ece m ber 18 , 2 00 2, t

h e E s t a t e f

i l ed an am en ded
c om pl a i n t . ¶3
. O n J a n u a ry

1 3 , 2 0 0 5 , th

e D e f e n d a n ts f i l e d a m o ti o n to re n d e r th e o rd e r a p p o i n ti n g P ri c e a s a d m

i n i s t r a t r ix o f

th e E s tate , v

o i d a b i n i ti o i n th e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt. T h e bas i s o f t he m o t i o n

w as t h at B ol es w as a res i

den t of L ef l or e C ou n t y at t h e t i m e of h er deat h , n ot T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y . O n J an u ar y 28 , 2 00 5, t

h e ch an cel l or con du cted a h ear i n g an d
r e qu e s t e d t h at t h e pa r ti e s s u bm i t bri e f s o n t he i

s s u e s be f or e t h e c h a n c e r y c ou r t . T h e r e a f t e r , on F e b r u ar y 2, 20 05 , t

h e E s t ate f i l ed a pet i ti on f or appo i n t m en t of adm i n i s t r at ri x i n t h e C ha nc e r y C o u rt o f L e f l o re C o u n ty. O n F e b ru a ry 3 , 2 0 0 5 , th

e T a l l a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt t r an s f er r ed adm i n i s t r at i on of t h e E s t ate to L ef

l or e C ou n t y an d cl o s e d t he E s t ate i

n T al l ah atch i e C o u n ty . O n th e s am e d a y , th e L e f lo r e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt e n te re d a n o rd e r g ran ti n g P r i c e ’ s pe ti

ti on f or a ppoi n t m e n t a s a dm i n i s t r at ri x of t h e E s t at e . O n

Febr u a r y 28, 2005, t he T a l l a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt e n tere d th e o rd e r t

ran sf e rri n g th e E state to L e f

l o re5

C ou n t y C h an cer y C ou r t a nd c l osi

n g t h e T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y cas e. T h e D ef en dan t s as s er t ed t h at t h ey n ev er kn ew of t h e E s t ate’ s t

r an s f er f r om T al l ah atch i e to L ef l o r e C o un t y

u n ti l t h e or der
w as f i l ed on F eb r ua r y 28 , 2 00 5. T

h ereaf t er , t h e D ef en dan t s f i l ed a m ot i on r equ es ti n g or der
c e r ti f y i n g i s s u e s f or i n t e r l oc u t or y a ppe a l . O n M a r c h 14, 2005, t

h e C h a n c e r y C ou

r t of T al l a h atch i e C ou n t y en t ered an or der w h i ch g r an t ed t h e D ef en dan t s ’ m ot i on t o cer ti f y i s s u es f o r i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l
. T h e C h a n c e ry C o u rt o f T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty a l s o d e n ie d

th e D e f e n d a n t s ’ p re v

i o u s m o ti o n to re n d e r th e o rd e r a

p p o i n ti n g P ri c e a s a d m

i n i s tratri x o f th e E s t at e v oi d a b i n i ti o. ¶ 4. T h e D ef en dan t s f i l e d a no t i c e o f a p peal

t o t h i s C ou r t on M arch 30 , 2 00 5. T

h i s n ot i ce
o f a p p e a l c o n c e r n e d t h

e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt o rd e r w

h i c h tra n s f e rre d th e E s ta te f r om T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y t o L ef l or e C ou n t y an d cl osed t h e T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y es t ate ca s e. Th i s C o u r t a s s i g n e d t h e a p p e a l n u m b e r a s 2 0 0 5
- I A
- 0 0 7 5 0
- S C T. ¶5
. O n A p ri

l 6 , 2 0 0 5 , th

e D e f e n d a n ts f i l e d a s e c o n d p e ti ti o n f o r i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l wi th
a n a d d i ti o n a l e m e rg e n c y re qu e s t f o r s ta y . T h e s e c o n d i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l c o n c e rn e d (1 ) th e Febr u a r y 28, 2005, T a l

l a h at c h i e C o unt y C ha

n c e r y C ou r t orde r w h i c h t r a n s f e r r e d a dm i n i s t r ati on of t h e E s t at e t o L e f

l or e C ou n t y a n d c l os e d t h e T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y e s t at e , ( 2 ) t he M a

r c h 14, 2005, T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t orde r t h at de n i e d t h e D e f e n da n t s ’ pr e v i ou s m oti on t o r en der t h e or d e r appo i n ti n g P ri ce a s adm

i n i s t r at ri x v oi d ab i n i ti o, an d ( 3) a requ

es t f or s t ay
o f t h e L e flo r e C o u

n ty C i rc u i t C o u rt l a w s u i t th at w a s s e t f

o r tri a l o n M a y 1 6 , 2 0 0 5
. O n

A p ril 15 , 2 00 5, t

h i s C ou r t g r an t ed t h e s econ d p et i ti on f or i n t er l o c ut o r y appeal

an d t h e em er g en cy req u e st to sta

y th e sc h e d u l e d L e f l o re C o u n ty C i rcu i t C o u rt l a w su i t t ri a l
. T h i s in t e r l o c u to ry
a ppe a l w a s a s s i g n e d a ppe a l n u m be r 2005- I A
- 00699- SC T
.6

¶ 6. T h i s C ou r t ’ s A pri l 15, 2005, orde r

a l s o c on s o l i d a t e d t he M a

r c h 30, 2005, n

oti c e of appeal , ass i g n ed appeal

n u m ber 20 05
- I A
- 00 75 0- S C T , w i t h t h e s econ d i n t er l ocut or y appeal , a s s i g n e d a p p e a l n u m b e r 2 0 0 5
- IA
- 0 0 6 9 9
- S C T
. O n J u n e 2 2 , 2 0 0 5 , th

i s C o u rt d e n i e d th e P l ai n ti f f s ’ m ot i on t o r econ s i der g r an ti n g t h e i n t er l ocu t or y appeal an d em er g en cy s t ay . ¶7
. W h

i l e th e D e f e n d a n ts p u rsu e d th e i r n o ti c e o f a p p e a l an

d p e ti ti o n f o r i n terl o c u to ry appeal an d em er g en cy s tay wi t h t h i s C ou r t , t h ey a l s o p u r s u ed a m ot i on f or s u m m ar y j u dg m en t i n t h e L e f l or e C o unt

y C i r c u i t C ou r t l a w s u i t . O n M a r c h 15, 2005, t

h e D e f e n da n t s f i l e d a
m o ti o n f o r su m m ar y j u d g m e n t o n t h e b asi

s t h at P ri ce, as adm

i n i st r at ri x, h ad n o au t h o ri t y as a
m at t e r of l a w t o f i l e or m a i n t a i n t h e w r on g f u l de at h l a w s u i t i n L e f l o r e C o unt y. T

h e ba s i s of th e a rg u m e n t w a s th at P r ic e w a s n

o t a s tatu to ry w ro n g f u l d e ath b e n e f i c i a ry p u rs u a n t to th e
w r on g f u l deat h s t at u t e, Mi s s . C od e A

n n . § 11
- 7- 13 ( 19 72 ) , b eca u s e s h e was n ot a s po u s e, ch i l d, par en t , o r s i bl i n g of B ol es . P ri ce was B ol

es ’ s cou s i n. I n addi ti on , t h e D ef en dan t s ar g u ed t h at t h e o pen i n g of t h e E s t ate an

d t h e appoi n t m en t of P ri ce a s adm

i n i s t r at ri x i n t h e T al l ah atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt w a s v o i d a b i n i ti o f o r f a i l u re to m e e t th e ju ri s d i c ti o n a l re qu i re m e n ts of M i s s . C od e A

n n . § 91
- 7- 63 ( R

ev . 2 00 4) . L ef

l or e C ou n t y C i r cu i t C ou r t J u dg e M ar ga r et C a r e y - M c C r a y de n

i e d t h e D e f e n da n t s ’ m oti on f or s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t wi t h ou t opi n i on . T h e rea f ter, th e D e f e n d a n ts f i l e d a n o th e r p e ti ti o n fo r i

n terl o c u to ry a p p e a l o n th e su m m a ry j u d g m e n t d e c i s i o n , a s s i g n e d a p p e a l n u m b e r 2 0 0 5 -I A -0 0 9 0 9 -S C T
. O n J u n e 2 , 2 0 0 5 , t

h i s C o u rt
a l so g ran tedth i s p e t it io n

f o r i n terl o c u to ry a p p e a l a n d c o n so l i d atedi t w i th a p p e a l n u m b e rs 2 0 0 5
- I A
- 0 0 7 5 0
- S C T a

n d 2 0 0 5
- I A
- 0 0 6 9 9
- S C T.7 F ACTS ¶ 8. E v a B ol es di ed on J an u ar y 25 , 2 00 1, i

n L ef l or e C ou n t y , Mi s s i s s i pp i. A t t h e t im e of h

er deat h , B ol es w as a r e s i d e nt o f G r een w oo d H eal

t h i n L ef l or e C ou n t y , Mi s s i s s i pp i. B ol es h ad
re s i d e d at G re e n w o o d H e a l th m o re th a n f o u r y e a rs p ri o r to h e r d e a t h f

ro m J u n e 2 7 , 1 9 9 6 to J a nu a r y 2 5, 20 01 . P ri

or t o h er r es i den ce a t G r een w oo d H eal

t h , B ol es r es i ded i n T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y , M i s s i s s i ppi
. ¶9
. A f ter B o le s ’ s d e a t h , P r ice , a c o u si n , f i l e d a p e ti ti o n f o r ap p o i n tm e n t as a d m i n i stratri x
an d f or l et t er s of adm i ni s t r a ti on f or t h e E s t ate i

n t h e C h an cer y C ou r t of t h e Secon d Ju di ci al D i s t ri ct of T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y , Mi s s i s s i pp i. I n t he p e t i t i on

, P ri ce a l l eg ed t h at B ol es r es i ded in T a ll a h atc h i e C o u n ty a t th e ti m e o f h e r d e ath
. H o w e v

e r, th e re c o rd re f l e c ts th at th e p la c e o f de at h a n d t h e n u r s i n g h om e f a c i l i t y l at e r w a s de t e r mi

ne d t o be l

oc at e d i n L e f l or e C ou n t y , n ot T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y . T h e r e a s on f or ope n i n g a n e s t at e g i v e n i n t h e pe ti ti on s t at e d: A s a r e s u l t of a l l e g e d i n a de qu at e c a r e i n a n u r s i n g h om e f a c i l i t y l oc at e d i n T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y , M i s s i s s i ppi , t h e D e c e de n

t di e d on J a n u a r y 25, 2001, a nd a res u lt in g cau s e of act i on h as acc r u ed on beh al f of P et i ti on er , E l i z a Pr i ce. T h e r e f o r e , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t h at [ a n ] e s t at e b e o p e n

e d i n o rd e r t h at s u c h a c au se of a c ti on m a y be pr os e c u

t e d. Th e p e ti ti o n a l s o s t at e d t h at “ [ t ] h e r e a r e n o o t h e r r e a l o r p e r s o n a l a s s e t s o f t h e Es t at e o f

Ev a Bo l e s o th e r th a n th i s p o te n ti a l c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e n u r s i n g h o m e . ” As s u c h , Bo l e s d i e d o wn i n g
n o rea l o r p e rso n a l p ro p e rt y i n T a l l a h atch i e C o u n ty. T h e T a l l a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C ou r t g r a n t e d Pri c e ’ s pe ti t i o n f o r a p p o int m e n

t of a dm i n i s t r at ri x a n d f or l e t t e r of adm i n i s t r at i on on O ctob er 9, 20 01 . O n

c e P r i ce was appo i

n t ed adm i n i s t r at ri x, P ri ce, on beh al f
o f th e E state, f

i l e d a c o m p l a i n t i n th e C i rcu i t C o u rt o f L e fl o r e C o u n

ty , Mi ss i ss i p p i o n Ja n u a ry 2 8 , 2 0 0 2
. T

h e co m p l ai n t al l e g e d n e g l

i g en ce, m ed i cal m al p r acti ce, m al i ce an d /o r g r o ss8

n e g l i g e n c e , f r a u d, bre a c h o f f

i d u c i a r y du t y , s t at u t or y s u r v i v a l c l a i m , a n d s t at u t or y w r on g f u l d e ath
. T

h e E s ta te s o u

g h t c o m p e n s ato r y a n d p u n i ti v e d am a g e s f o r Bo l e s ’ s i n ju ri e s . An
am e n d e d c o m p l a i n t w a s f i l e d o n D e c e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 0 2
. T

h e am e n d e d c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e d th e
sa m e c a u se s o f a c ti o n a n d so u g h t t h e sa m e rel i e f a s t h e o r ig in a l co m

p l a i n t. In th e i r an sw e rs t o t he am en ded com pl ai n t , t h e D ef en dan t s as s er t ed t h e i s s u e of j u ri s di ct i on or capac i t y an d
s t an di n g t o su e. ¶1 0
. L a t e r , t h

e D e f e n d a n ts f i l e d a m o ti o n to re n d e r th e o rd e r a

p p o i n ti n g P r ic e a s
a d m i n i s tratri x o f th e E s tate to b e v

o i d a b i n i ti o i n th e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt. P ri c e th e n so u g h t t o tr a n sf e r t h e E state to L e f

l o re C o u n ty. T h e T a ll a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u r t c l o s e d t h e E s t a t e a

n d t r a n s f e r r e d a d m i n i s t r a ti o n o f t h e Es t at e t o Le f

l o r e C o u n t y . Th e L e f l or e C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t r ati f i e d Pri c e ’ s pri or a c ti on s . T h e orde r s t at e d: [ T] h at t h e a c ti o n s t ak e n b y E l i z a

P ri c e a s A d m

i n i s t r at ri x o f t h e Es t at e o f

Ev a B o l e s u n d e r a u th o ri ty o f th e C h a n c e ry C o u rt o f T a lla h a t c h

i e C o u n ty , Mi ss i ss ip p i, b e , a

n d th e sa m e a re h e reb y , c o n f i rm e d a n d rati f i e d , o r as n

e c e ss a ry au t h or i z ed n u n c pr o t u n c. T h e T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y C h an cer y C ou r t den i ed t he D e f

e nd an t s ’ m ot i on t o r en der t h e or der appo i n ti n g P ri ce, as adm

i n i s t r at ri x of t h e E s t a t e , vo i d ab i

n i ti o. H ow ev

er , t h e T al l ah atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt g ran tedth e D e f e n d a n ts’ m o ti o n to c e rt i f y th i s i ss u e f o r i n terl o c u to ry
a ppe a l
. ¶ 11. C on

c u r r e n t wi t h t he c ha nc e r y c ou

r t pr oc e e di n gs , t h e D e f e n da n t s f i l e d a m oti on f or
s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t wi t h t h e L e f l or e C ou n t y C i r c u i t C ou r t on M a r c h 1 5 , 2 0 0 5. T

h e m oti on f or
s u m m ar y j u dg m en t as s er t ed t h at ( 1) P ri ce was n ot a s t a t u t or i l y w r on g f u l deat h ben ef i ci ar y , an d ( 2 ) t h e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt l a c k e d s u b je c t m atte r ju ri s d i c ti o n to a p p o i n t P r ic e9

a s a d m i n i s tratri x . M i s s . C o d e A

n n . § 1 1
- 7
- 1 3 l

i s ts s tatu to ry w ro n g f u l d e ath b e n e f i c i a ri e s to b e a s p o u s e , c h i l d , p a re n t, o r s i b l i n g o f a d e c e d e n t. P ri c e w a s B o l

e s ’s c o u s i n . C o n s e qu e n tl y , t h e D e f e n da n t s a rg u e d t h at Pr i c e ’ s a ppoi n t m e n t a n d ope n i n g of t h e E s t at e w a s v

oi d a b i n i ti o, th e ref o re, P ri c e l a c k e d a u th o ri ty to fi le o r m

a i n tai n th e w ro n g f u l d e ath l a w su i t i n c i rcu i t co u rt
a s a m a t t e r o f

l aw . T h e D ef en d an t s at t ach ed t h e af f i d av i t o f R o y Du m as ( Du m as) , p r ev i o u sl y f i l e d i n th e i r m o ti o n to re n d e r th e o rd e r a

p p o i n ti n g a d min is t r a t r i

x v o i d a b i n i ti o i n th e T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y C ha nc e r y

C ou r t , wi t h t h e i r L e f l or e C ou n t y C i r c u i t C ou r t m oti on f or
s u m m ar y j u dg m en t . D u m as , a r eg i on al v i ce- pr e s i d e nt

of op erat i on s f or M ar i n er H eal t h car e, In c . , statedi

n h i s a f f i d av i t t h a t B o l e s w a s a res i d e n t o f G r e e n

w o o d H e a l th , l o c atedi n L e f l o re C ou n t y , on or a bou t J u n e 27, 1996 u

n ti l h e r de at h on J a n u a r y 25, 2001. Du

m a s a l s o s t at e d: T h at w h i l e a res i d e n t at t h i s n u rsi n g h o m e f a c i l i ty i n G ree n w o o d , L e f

l o re C o u n t y , Mi ssi ssi p p i , t h at t h i s was h er p er m an en t p l ace o f r es i d e n ce w

h er e sh e c o u l d a n d d i d rec e i v e m a i l , c o u l d e sta b l i sh th at as h e r p la c e o f

res i d e n c e w h e re s h e c o u l d e x e rc i s e h e r ri g h t to v o t e , a n d w a s h

e r p l a c e o f re s i d e n c e f o r th e r ecei p t o f Medi cai d / Medi car e b en ef i t s. T h e C i r cu i t C ou r t of L ef l or e C ou n t y den i e d t he D e f

en dan t s ’ m ot i on f or s u m m ar y j u dg m en t
wi th o u t o p in io n . T

h e re a f te r, th e D e f e n d a n ts f i l e d th e i r p e ti ti o n f o r i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l wi th th i s C o u r

t . T h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d a n d c o n s o l i d at e d t h e t h r e e i n t e rl o c u t o r y a p p e a l s , 2 0 0 5
- I A0 0 7 5 0
- S C T ; 2 0 0 5
- IA
- 0 0 9 0 9
- S C T ; a n d 2 0 0 5
- IA
- 0 0 6 9 9
- S C T , f ro m th e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e r y C ou r t a n d t h e Le f l or e C ou n t y C i r c u i t C ou r t de c i s i on s . Se e M .R .A .P. 5. ¶ 12
. T h e i s s u es pr es en t ed on appeal by t h e D ef en dan t s an d t h e Pl ai n ti f f h a ve b een r eca s t as f o l l o ws : I . W

h e t h e r t h e D e f e n d an t s h ave s t an d

i n g t o c h all e n ge t h e c r e at i on of th e E s ta te .10

I I . W h e t h e r B ol e s ’ s r

e s i de nc e w

as i n T all ah at c h

i e C ou n t y or L e f l or e C ou n t y. II I. W h e th e r P r ice e r r e d

b y o p e n ing th e E s ta te in

T a ll a h a tchie C o u n

ty a n d w h e th e r th e T a ll a h a tchie C o u n ty C h a n c e r

y C o u r t e r r e d b y tr a n s fe r r ing th e E s ta te fr

o m T a ll a h a tchie to L e fl o r e C o u n ty C h a n c e r y C o u r t. IV . W h e t h e r th e L e fl o r

e C o u n ty C ir c u it C o u r t e r r e d b y d e n y ing th e D e f e nda nt s ’ m

o t i o n f o r s um m a r y j udg m e nt . D I S C U S S I ON I. C r

e a ti o n o f th e E s ta te ¶ 13. T h e E s t at e a

rg u e s t h at t h e D e f e n da n t s c a n n ot c h a l l e n g e t h e c r e ati on of t h e E s t a t e . T hi

s
a rg u m e n t i s b a s e d o n t w o a s s e rti o n s (1 ) th e M i s s i s s i p p i C o n s ti tu ti o n o f 1 8 9 0 p ro v

i d e s th e j u ri s di ct i on al par am eter s of t h e ch an cer y an d ci r cu i t c o ur t s , an

d ( 2) t h e D ef en dan t s l ack
s t a n di n g t o c h a l l e n g e t h e c r e ati on of t h e E s t at e . A . Ju r

i s d i c t i on ¶1 4
. T h e E s tate re l

i e s u p o n th e M i s s i s s i p p i C o n s ti tu ti o n o f 1 8 9 0 , a rt. 6 , § 1 5 6 f o r i ts
a rg u m e n t th at t h e c irc u

i t c o u rt h a s n o a u th o ri ty , ju ri s p ru d e n ti a l l y a n d c o n s ti tu ti o n a l l y , to i n v a l i d ate th e c h a n c e ry c o u rt’s d e c i s i o n s wi th re s p e c t to th

e E s tate . T

h e E s tate a

rg u e s th at th e
c i rc u i t c o u rt c o rre c tl

y d e n i e d th e D e f e n d a n ts m o ti o n f o r s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t si n c e e s ta te
m a t t e r s a r e n o t wi t h i n a c i r c u i t c o u r t ’ s j u ri s d i c ti o n . T h e r e f o r e , a c i r c u i t c o u r t c a n n o t d e c l a re t h e e s t a bl i s h m e n t of a n e s t at e a n d i s s u a n c e of l e t t e r s of a dm i n i s t r ati on v oi d. ¶ 15. I n G e o r

g i a - P aci f i c C orp. v. M

oo n ey , 9 0 9 S o . 2 d

1 0 8 1 , 1 0 8 6
- 8 7 (M i

s s . 2 0 0 5 ), th

i s C ou r t s et f or t h t h e j u ri s di ct i on al par am eter s of t h e ch an cer y an d ci r cu i t cou r t s i n t h i s S t ate,
s tati n g :11

J u ri s di c ti on i s a qu e s ti on of l a w , a n d t h i s C ou r t r e v i e w s qu e s t i on s of l a w de n ov o. B ur net t e v . H ar t f or d U nder w r i t e r sI ns . C o. , 7 7 0 S o . 2 d

9 4 8 , 9 5 1 ( Mi

ss. 2 000)
. S e e a l

so R o g ers v. [ E a ves] , 8 1 2 S o . 2 d

2 0 8 , 2 1 1 ( M i

s s . 2 0 0 2 )
. Th

e M i s s i s s i pp i C on s ti t u ti on of 18 90 A

r t . 6 , § 1 59 s et s t h e j u ri s di ct i on al p ar am et er s of t h e ch an cer y co u r t an d stat es: T h e c h a n c e r y c o u r t s h

a l l h av e f u l l ju ri s d i c ti o n i n th e f o l l o wi n g m at t e r s a n d c a s e s , v i z .: (a ) A l l m atte rs i n e qu i ty ; ( b) D i v or c e a n d a l i m on y ; ( c ) M at t e r s t e s t am

e n t a r y a n d of a dm i n i s t r ati on ; ( d ) Mi n o r ' s bu si n ess; ( e ) C a s e s of

i di oc y , l u n a c y , a n d pe r s on s of u n s ou n d m i n d; ( f ) Al l cas es of w h i ch t h e s a i d c ou

r t h ad j u ri s di ct i on u n der t h e l a w s i n f or c e w h e n t h i s C on s ti t u ti on i s pu t i n ope r ati on . [ em ph as i s om i t t ed] . Mi

s s . C od e A

n n . § 9- 5- 81 ( R

ev . 2 0 0 2 ) a l s o pr ov

i des j u ri sdi cti o n t o t h e ch an cer y co u r t an d stat es: T h e ch an cer y cou r t i n addi ti on t o t h e f u l l j u ri s di ct i o n i n al l t he m at t e r s a n d c a s e s e x

pr e s s l y c on f e r r e d u pon i t by t he c on s ti t u ti o n s h a l l h av e j u ri s di c ti on of a l l c a s e s t r a n s f e r r e d t o i t b y t h e c i r c u i t c ou r t or r e m a n de d t o i t by t h e s u pr e m e c ou r t ; a nd s u ch f u r t h er j u ri s di ct i on , as i s , i

n t h i s ch apt er or el s ew h ere, pr ov i de d by l a w . I n con t r as t , t h e M i s s i s s i p p i C on s ti t u ti on of 18 90 , A r ti cl e 6, § 15 6 p r ov

i des t h at “ [ t ] h e ci r cu i t cou r t s h al l h av e ori g i n a l j ur i s d i ct

i on i n al l m at t er s ci v i l an d cr i m i n al i n t h i s s tate n ot v es t ed by t h i s C on s ti t ut i o n in s o m

e ot h er cou r t , an d s u c h a ppe l l at e j u ri s di c ti on a s s h a l l be pr e s c ri

be d b y l a w . ”

M i s s . C on s t . of 1890 a rt . 6 , § 1 5 6
. T

h e ref o re, w h i l e c h a n c e ry c o u rt s h av e ju ri sd i c ti o n o f a ll ma t ters i n e qu i t y , c i r c u i t c ou r t s a r e c ou r t s of ge n e r a l j u ri s di c ti on . L a w r

e n c e C o u n ty Sch. D i s t . v. B r i s t er , 823 So. 2d 459, 460 ( M i s s . 2001)
. ¶ 16. T h e E s t at e i s c o r r e c t i n i t s a rg u m e n t t h at t h e c h a n c e r y c ou r t i s v e s t e d wi t h j u ri s di c ti on
o f m atte rs te s ta

m e n ta ry a n d o f a d m i n i s trati o n , l i k e th e a d m i n i s t r a t io n o f

e s tate s , i

n th e
c h a nc e r y c o ur t s o f

t h i s St at e . See M i

s s . C on s t . ar t . 6 , § 15 9. T

h e D ef en dan t s pu r s u ed an
a c ti o n i n t h e Ta l l a h at c h i e C o u n t y C h a n c e r y C o u

r t t o d e c l a r e t h e Es t at e v

o i d a b i n i ti o . Th e12

T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt d e n ie d t h is m

o ti o n a n d tra n s f e rre d th e E s tate to th

e L e f l o re C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt . T h e D e f e n d a n ts p e ti ti o n e d a n d w e re g ran te d in t e r l

o c u to ry
a p p e a l b y t h is C o u r t o n

th e c h a n c e ry c o u rt d e c i si o n . T h e D e f e n d a n ts a l so p e ti ti o n e d a n d w e re g r a n t e d i n t e rl oc u t or y a ppe a l by t h i s C ou r t on t h e c i r c ui t c o ur t ’ s de n

i a l of t h e i r m oti on f or
su m m a ry ju d g m e n t. B o t h t h

e se i ss u e s a re b e f

o re th i s C o u rt o n tw o se p a rate i n terl o c u to ry ap p eal s w h i ch h av e b een co n sol i d at ed f o r ap p eal p u r p o ses b y t h i s C o u

r t . We wi

l l ad dr ess
w h e th e r th e D e f e n d a n ts h av e s ta n d i n g to m a i n ta i n th e i r a c ti o n i n th e s ta n d i n g p o r t io n o f th

i s i s s u e . B . S ta n d

in g ¶1 7
. T h e E state arg

u e s th at t h e D e f e n d a n ts l a c k sta n d i n g to c h a ll e n g e t h e c h

a n c e ry c o u rt ’s
a c ti o n s re g a rd l e ss o f th e w h e th e r t h e D e f e n d a n ts c h o o se to c h

a l l e n g e t o th e c h a n c e ry c o u rt
a c ti o n s i n c i rcu i t co u rt o r c h a n c e ry

c o u rt . T h e E state m

a i n tai n s th at t h e D e f e n d a n ts a re p o te n ti a l d e b to rs a

n d n o t h e i rs o r c re d i

to rs o f t h e E s t a te , th

e re f o re , th e y l a c k s ta n d i n g to
c ha l l e n g e t h e T a l l a h a t c h i e C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t a c ti on s . T h e E s t at e r e l

i e s on I n r e E s t at e of Johnson , 7 7 9 S o . 2 d

1 6 4 , 1 6 6 ( M is s . C t . A p p . 2 0 0 0 ) an d M
. R
. C
. P
. 2 4 d e a l

i n g wi th i n t e r v e n ti on . T h i s c a s e wi l l be di s c u s s e d i n f u r t h e r de t a i l be l ow . ¶ 18
. T h e D ef en dan t s ar g u e t h at as t o t

h e ch an cer y cou r t m at t er , t h e c ha nc e l l o r n

ev er d e te rm i n e d th e m to b e wi

th o u t stan d i n g . In d e e d , th e c h a n c e l l o r m e re l y d e n ie d th e m o ti o n to decl are t h e E s t ate v

oi d ab i n i ti o an d cer ti f i ed t h e j u ri s di c t i on al i s s u e f or i n t er l ocu t or y appeal
wi t h ou t addr es s i n g s t an di n g . T h e D ef en dan t s al s o ass er t t h at t h e ch an cel l or r at i f i ed t h ei r
a ppe a r a n c e i n t h e c h a n c e r y c ou r t by h e a ri n g or a l a rg u m e n t a n d r u l i n g on t h e i r m oti on
c h a l l e n g i n g th e o p e n i n g o f th e E s tate . T

h e D e f e n d a n ts a rg u e th at th e T a l la h atc h i e C o u n ty13

C h a n c e ry C o u rt l a c k e d ju ri sd i c t io n t o o p e n

th e E state an

d a p p o i n t P ri c e a s a d m

i n i stratri x p u rs u a n t to M i s s . C o d e A

n n . § 9 1
- 7
- 6 3 (1 ). T

h i s s tatu te a d dre s s e s th

e n e c e s s a ry re qu i re m e n ts t o g r a n t l e t t e r s of a dm i n i s t r ati on i n a pa r ti c u l a r c ou n t y . ¶ 1 9
. Ad d i

ti o n a l l y , t h e D e f e n d a n t s a rg u e t h at t h e E s t at e f

o c u s e s o n t h e w r o n g c o u r t in i ts
s t a n d i n g a rg u m e n t. T h e D e f e n d a n ts a s s e rt th

at th e y h av e s ta n d i n g s i n c e th e y h av e a ri g h t to ch al l en g e t h e l e ga l a ut ho r i

t y or capac i t y of a par t y pl ai n ti f f i n t h e ci r cu i t cou r t act i on pu r s u an t to M
. R
. C
. P
. 9 (a ). T

h e D e f e n d a n ts m a i n ta i n th at th e m o ti o n f o r s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t file d i n th e L ef l o r e C o u n t y C i r cu i t C o u r t i s n o t a n a p p eal

o f t h e ch an cer y co u r t ’ s deci si o n n o r a r equ est f o r th e c i rc u i t c o u rt to a s s u

m e ju ri s d i c ti o n o f th e E s tate o p e n

e d i n t h e T a l

l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u r t . I n s t e a d , th

e D e f e n d a n ts a rg u e th a t b y f i l i n g a l a w s u i t i n th e L e f l o re C o u n ty C i rc u i t C o u rt, t h e E s t a t e s u

b je c te d i tse l f to th e ju ri s d i c ti o n o f th e c i rc u i t c o u rt. C o n s e qu e n tl y , th e D e fe n d a n ts c a n c h a l l e n g e th e c i rc u i t c o u rt a c ti o n p u rs u a n t to M
. R
. C
. P
. 9 (a ). T

h e E s ta te i s t h e o n l y p l ai n ti f f i n t h i s act i o n b ecau se B o l es h as n o stat u t o r y w r o n g f u l d eat h b en ef i ci ari es. Pri c e i s B ol e s ’ s c ou s i n a n d n ot a w r on g f u l de at h be n e f i c i a r y u n de r M i s s . C ode A nn. § 11- 7- 13. T h eref or e, i n keepi n g wi t h M
. R .C .P . 9 ( a) , t

h e D ef en dan t s ar g u e t h at t h ey h av e been s u ed by an i n v a l i d a n d v o i d e s tate v i a th e a c ti o n s o f a n i n v a l i d l y a p p o i n te d a d m i n i s tratri x . S i n c e th e E s ta te i s v oi d, t h e D ef en dan t s ar g u e t h at t h ey are bei n g s u ed by a pl ai n ti f f t h at i s a n on - en ti t y an d l eg al
n u l l i ty b y a m atte r o f l a w . In o t h e r w o rd s , a

n e s tate v o i d a b i n i ti o c a n n o t su e a d e f e n d a n t i n
c i rc u i t c o u rt s i n c e a v o i d e d e s tate i s n o t a re a l p l a i n ti f f , b u t a l e g a l n u l l i ty . A c c o rd i

n g l y , th e D e f e n d a n t s a rg u e th at a n y o f th e P l a i n ti f f ’s a s s e rti o n s th at th e y l a c k s ta n d i n g to c h a l l e n g e th e
a u th o ri ty o f P ri c e to m a i n ta i n th e L e f l o re C o u n ty l a w s u i t i s wi th o u t m e ri t.14

¶2 0
. In Johnson , t

h e C ou r t of A pp eal s f ou nd t h at C ol s on , a do ctor bei n g s u ed f or n eg l i g en ce b y a p u tati v e f ath e r, l a c k e d sta n d i n g to i n terv e n e i n a p ater n it y a

n d h e i rsh i p su i t i n c h a n c e ry
c ou r t . C o l s o n w a

n t e d t o i n t e r v e n e i n t h e h e i r s h i p a c ti on a n d f or “ a l l kn ow n h e i r s [ t o] be m

a de p ar ti es to t h e acti o n t o d et er m i n e h ei r s” Id . T

h e C o ur t o f A p p e a l

s f ou n d t h at C ol s on h a d n o
con di ti on al ri g h t t o i n t er v en e, n or an y as s er t ed cl ai m t h at t h ere was a com

m on qu es ti on o f f act
or l a w wi t h e i t h e r t h e pat e r n i t y or he ir s h i p pr oc e e di

n gs . Id . “ [ T ] h

ere i s n o su g g es ti on t h at C o l s o n’ s de f

e n s e t o t h e c l a i m of n e g l i g e n c e w ou l d be i n a n y w a y i m pa c t e d by t h e pat e r n i t y or h e i r s h i p a c ti on s .” Id . T

h e C ou r t o f A p p e a l s , f

u r t h er h el d t h at econ om i c i n t eres t s , su

ch as C o l s o n ’s d e s i re to i n te rv e n e to av o i d th e c o s t o f d e f e n d i n g a la w s u it b ro u

g h t b y a w ro n g p a rty , i n a n d of i t s e l f w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o w a r r a n t i n t e r v e n ti on . Id . at 167. ¶21. T h e D e f e n da n t s a rg u e t h at t h e E s t at e ’ s r e l

i a n c e on I n r e J o h n s on a

n d M .R .C .P. 24
c o n c e rn i n g i n te rv e n ti o n m i s s e s th e p o i n t. B y f i l i n g th e m o t io n in c h

a n c e ry c o u rt, th e D ef en dan t s as s er t t h at t h ey w ere at

t acki n g t h e j u ri sdi ct i o n a l b a si s o f th e a d m i n i s trati v e
a p p o i n tm e n t o f th e a d min is trato r. T

h e D e f e n d a n ts d i s ti n g u i s h th e i r c l a i m f ro m th at o f th e d o c to r i n I n r e Johnson
. ¶2 2
. H e re , th

e D e f e n d a n ts a rg u e th at th e y a re n o t c h a lle n g in g w h e th

e r P ri c e i s qu a l i f i e d to
s e r v e a s a dm i n i s t r at ri x n o r w he t he r Pri

c e i s a bl ood re l ati v e of B ol e s a s C ol

s on di d i n In re J o h n s o n . In s te a d t h e D e f

e n d a n ts c h a l l e n g e th e s u b je c t m atte r ju ri s d i c ti o n b a s e d u p o n th e
s tatu to ry re qu i re m e n t to o p e n a n e s tate i n M i s s i s s i p p i
. In a d d i ti o n , th e D e f e n d a n t s c la im th

at,
u n lik e I n r e Johnson , th

e re i s m o re th a n ju s t a n e c o n o m i c i n te re s t at sta k e in t h e l a w s u i t. P u n i ti v e dam ag es w ere s ou

gh t b y t h e E s t ate, w

h i ch t h e D ef en dan t s ar g u e are “ qu as i
- cr i m i n al ”15

i n n at u r e . I n de e d i n C oo pe r I n d u s t r i es , Inc. v. L eat h er

m an T oo l G r ou p, I n c. , 532 U .S. 424, 43 2, 12 1 S . C t . 1 67 8, 14 9 L . E d. 2d67 4 ( 20 01 ) , t h e U n i t ed S t ates S u

pr em e C o ur t he l

d t h at p u n i ti v e d am ag es ha v e b e e n d escr

i b ed as “ qu asi
- cri m i n al ” i n n at u r e. T h e S u p r em e C o u r t al so h e l d th at p u n i ti v e d am a g e s “ o p e ra te a s ‘p ri

v ate fin e s ’ in t e n

d e d to p u n i s h th e d e f e n d a n t a n d to det er f u t u r e w r on g do i n g . A j u r y ' s as s es s m

en t of t h e ex t en t of a pl ai n ti f f ' s i n j u r y i s es s en ti al l y
a f a c tu a l d e te rm i n ati o n , w h e re a s i ts i m p o s i ti o n o f p u n i ti v e d am a g e s i s a n e x p re s s i o n o f i ts
m or a l c on de m n ati on .” Id . W e a g

r e e . ¶23
. T h e D ef en dan t s al s o r el y u po n M .R .C .P . 9 ( a) t o su

pp or t t h ei r po s i ti on t h a t t he y h av e
s t a n di n g . M .R .C .P. 9( a ) s t at e s : “ [ t ] h e c a pa c i t y i n w h i c h on e s u e s or i s s u e d m a y be s t at e d i

n
o n e ’s i n i ti a l p l e a d i n g . ” T h e c o m m e n ts to M
. R
. C
. P
. 9 (a ) s tate , i n p a rt: A p a rty d e s i ri n g to ra i s e a n is s u e a s to th

e l e g a l e x i s te n c e , c a p a c i ty , o r a u th o ri ty o f a p a r t y wi

l l b e re qu i re d to d o s o b y

s p e c i f i c n e g ati v e av e rm e n t. T h i s is c on s i s t e nt w i t h pa s t pr oc e du r e w h i c h h e l d t h at a f f i r m ati v e de f e n s e s c a n n ot be r e li e d u p o n u n l e ss sp e c i f i c a l l y p l e a d e d
. . . If

l a c k o f c a p a c i ty a p p e a rs a f f i r m ati v e l y on t h e f a c e of t h e c om pl a i n t , t h e de f e n s e m a y be r a i s e d by a m ot i on pu r s u an t t o R u l e 12(b) ( 6) ( f

ai l u r e t o state a c l

ai m u po n w h i ch r el i ef m ay b e g ran ted ), R u l e 1 2 (c) (a

m o ti o n f o r j u d g m e n t o n th e p l e a d i n gs, o r R u le (f ) (a m o ti o n to stri k e ). Se e al s o E as t M i ss . St at e H os p. v . Cal l e ns , 892 So. 2d 800 ( M i s s . 2004) ( c om

pl a i n t di d n ot
s peci f y w h et h er pl ai n ti f f w as s u i n g par ti es i n t h ei r i n di v i d ua l ver s u

s of f i ci al capac i t y pu r s u an t to M
. R
. C
. P
. 9 (a )); F

r i er s on v. D el t a O u t do or, Inc. , 794 So. 2d 220, 224- 25 ( M i s s . 2001) (a l th o u g h th e C o u rt re f e re n c e s a f a i l u re to p l e a d i n s u f f i c i e n t le g a l c a

p a c i ty i n th e c o m p l a i n t, pu r s u an t t o M.R .C .P . 9 ( a) , i

t w as act u al l y t h e def en dan t w h o f ai l ed t o al l eg e i n s u f f i ci en t m en t al
c a p a c i ty u n ti l th e a p p e a l ); M os by v. M

o o r e , 716 So. 2d 551, 560 ( M i s s . 1998) ( M i

l l s , J ., d i ss e n ti n g i n p a rt ) (p l a i n ti f f s re qu i red to a l l e g e c a p a c i ty i n th e i r co m p l a i n t)
.16

¶2 4
. W e f

i n d t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t s h av e s t a n d i n g b e f o r e t h e c h a n c e r y a n d c i r c u i t c o u r t s . Th e D ef en dan t s h av e s t an di n g i n t h e ch an cer y cou r t act i on s i n ce t he y c hal l en g ed t h e T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t ’ s s u bj e c t m at t e r j u ri s di c ti on t o o pe n t h e E s t at e . Pu

r s u a n t t o M .R .C.P. 9, t h e D ef en dan t s al s o can ch al l en ge a p a r t

y pl ai n ti f f i n ci r cu i t cou r t . T h e record r ef

l ect s t h at t he D e f

e nd a nt s c h

a l l e n g e d Pr i c e ’ s a u t h ori t y a n d c a pa c i t y t o m a i n t a i n t h e l a w s u i t i n e a c h of th e i r an sw e rs. T

h e ref o re, th e D e fe n d a

n ts p res e rv

e d th e i r ch a l l e n g e to c a p a c i ty i n th e L e f l o re C o u n ty C i rc u i t C o u rt a c ti o n . T h u s , th e D e f e n d a n ts a l s o h av e s ta n d i n g to c h a lle n g e t h e E s ta

te
a s a pa r t y pl a i n ti f f i n t h e c i r c u i t c ou r t a c ti on . I I . R e s i d e n ce ¶2 5
. P ri

o r to a d dre s s i

n g w h e th e r P ri c e e rre d b y o p e n in g th

e E s tate i n th e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h an cer y C ou r t , t h e par ti es di s pu t e B ol es ’ s pl ace of r es i den ce. T h eref or e, an i n i ti al de t e r m i n ati on of w h e t h e r B ol e s w a s a

r e s i d e nt o f T a l

l a h at c h i e or L e f l or e C ou n t y wi l l be di s c u s s e d. ¶2 6
. M i

s s . C o d e A

n n . § 9 1
- 7
- 6 3 (1 ) s tate s , i

n p a rt: L e tte rs o f a d m i n i s trati o n s h a l l b e g ran te d b y th e c h a n c e ry c o u rt o f t h e c o u n

ty in w h i c h t h e i n t e s t at e h a d, at t h e ti m e of h i s de at h , a f i x e d pl a c e of r e s i d e nc e ; b ut i f t h e in t e s t at e d i d n o t h av e a f i x e d p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e , t h e n b y t h e c h a n c e ry cou r t of t h e cou n t y w h ere t h e i n t es t ate di ed, o r t h a t i n w h i ch h i s per s on al pr ope r t y or s om e pa r t of i t m a y be
. ¶2 7
. T h e D e f e n d a n ts a rg u e th at B o l e s f a i l e d t o me e t a

n y o f th e ju ri s d i c ti o n a l re qu i re m e n ts of M i s s . C od e A

n n . § 91
- 7- 63 ( 1 ) t o o p e n an es t ate i n T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y . P ri ce’ s i n i ti al peti ti on f or appo i n t m en t of a d m i n i s t r at ri x an d f or l et t er s of adm i n i s t r at i on s t ated t h at B ol es
re s i d e d i n T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n t y at th e ti m e o f h e r d e ath a n d th at a s a re s u l t o f a l l e g e d i n a d e qu ate
c a r e f r o m a n u r s i n g f a c i l i t y l o c at e d i n Ta l l a h at c h i e C o u n t y , s h e d i e d o n J a n u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 0 1
. Th

eT h e D e f e n d a nt s a l s o r e l y on a n u n pu bl i s h e d M i s s i s s i ppi f e de r a l di s t ri c t c ou r t opi n i on , 1 C osby v. L i l es , 1 9 9 6 W L

4 0 8 8 6 4 (N
. D
. M i

s s . 1 9 9 6 ) w

h i c h s tate d i n p a rt: F a c to r s o ft e n

ta k e n i n to a c c o u n t b y c o u rts i n e v a l u ati n g th e d o m i c i l e o f a p a rty a re : c u rre n t re s i d e n c e ; v o ti n g p ra c ti c e s ; l o c a ti o n o f p e rs o n a l a n d r e a l

p ro p e rty ; l ocat i on of ban k accou n t s ; m e m ber s h i ps i n or g an i z at i on s an d ass oci at i on s ; pl ace o f em p l o y m en t ; dri v er ' s l i cen se an d au t o m o b i l e r eg i st r ati o n ; p ay m en t o f t ax es; a s w e l l a s s e v e r a l ot h e r s . See 13B W ri

g h t , M i l l e r &C oope r , F

eder al P r act ice & P roced u re , § 3612 ( 1969)
. 17 peti ti on al s o stated t

ha t B o l e s ha d n

o r eal or per s on al as s et s ot

h er t h an t h e pot en ti al cl ai m
a g a i n st t h e n u rsi n g f a c i l i ty. B a se d

o n th e se a ss e rt i o n s, t h e T a l

l a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt
a ppoi n t e d Pri c e a s a d m in

i s t r at ri x of t h e E s t at e . L at e r , i

t w a s de te r

m i n e d t h at t h e pe ti ti on
con t ai n ed er r or s . A s i

t t u r n ed ou t , L ef l or e C ou n t y, no t T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y , w as w h ere B ol es
a c t u a l l y di e d a n d w he r e t

h e n u r s i n g h om e w a s l oc at e d. T

h e pot e n ti a l c a u s e of a c ti on f or i n adequ ate n u r s i n g care, t h eref or e, w as i n L ef l or e C ou n t y as w el l
. ¶28. T h e D e f e n da n t s c on t e n d t h at L e f l or e C o u n t y w a s w h e r e B ol e s ( 1) h a d a f i x e d pl a c e of
re s i d e n c e at G re e n w o o d H e a l th , (2 ) d i e d o n J a n u a ry 2 5 , 2 0 0 1 , a

n d (3 ) h a d a p e rs o n a l p ro p e rty by w ay of a pot en ti al cl ai m ag ai n s t t h e D ef en dan t s f or al l eg ed per s on a l inj ur y. T

h e E s t ate, ho w e ve r , a

rg u e s t h at B ol e s w a s a l i f e l on g r e s i de n t of T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y u n ti l s h e e n t e r e d t he
n u r s i n g h om e i n L ef l or e C ou n t y . F ur t he r , t

h e E s t ate ar

g u es t h at i t i s u n cl ear w h et h er B ol es h ad th e re qu i s i te m e n ta l c a p a c i ty to c h a n g e h e r f i x e d p l a c e o f re s i d e n c e o r i f s h e w a n te d to
s om e da y r e t u r n h om e t o T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y . ¶29. B ot

h pa r ti e s r e l y i n pa r t on H al f o r d v. H i n es , 233 M i

s s . 786, 79 So. 2d 264 ( 1955) , f or f a c t o r s i n d e t e r m i ni ng r e s i d e nc y. I n H

a l f o rd , a wi l l c o n te s t c a s e , D o rs e y

, a re a l p ro p e rty 1
ow n e r i n Fr a n kl i n C ou n t y , s pe n t h i s l a s t s i x y e a r s of l i f e l i v i n g i n J e f f e r s on C ou n t y . Id . at18

265- 66. T

h e m at t e r w a s r e m

ov e d f r om J e f f e r s o n C ou n t y t o Fr a n kl i n C ou n t y . Id . at

269. W h e n de t e r m i n i n g r e s i de n c y , t h i s C ou r t c on s i de r e d t e s ti

m on y f r om v a ri o u s wi t n e s s e s t h at ( 1) D or s e y l ive d h

i s e n ti r e l i f e i n Fr a n kl i n C ou n t y , e x c e pt t h os e s i x y e a r s i n J e f f e r s on C ou n t y ; ( 2) h e ow n ed 80 8 acr es of

pr op er t y i n F r an kl i n C ou n t y ; ( 3) t w o w e e k s p r i o r

t o h i s deat h , D or s ey to l d a wi tn e s s th at h e w a s c o min g b a c k

to h i s “ h o m e ” a n d s tate d th at h e n e v e r m o v e d to J e f f e r s on C ou n t y ; ( 4) h e n e v e r m ov e d a n y h o u s e h ol d e f f e c t s f r om Fr a n kl i n C ou n t y ; ( 5) h e on l y b ro u g h t a s u i tc a s e to J e f

f e rs o n C o u n ty ; a n d (6 ) h e w a s b u ri e d o n h i s l a n d in F r a n k lin

C o u n ty . Id
. at 2 6 9
. T h i s C o u

r t af f i r m ed t h e wi l l co n t est b ei n g r em o v ed t o F r an k l i n C o u n t o n t h i s basi s. Id
. ¶3 0
. W e fin d th

at B o l e s ’s p l a c e o f re s i d e n c y i s L e f l o re C o u n ty . B o l e s l i v e d a n d d ie d in L e f l or e C ou n t y f or m or e t h a n f ou r y e a r s p r i o r t o h

e r de at h . T h e E s t at e a dm

i t s t h at t h e pe ti ti on f i l e d i n th e T a l l a h a t c h ie C o u n ty

C h a n c e ry C o u rt w a s i n c o rrec t as to th

e l o c ati o n o f B o l e s’s d e ath a n d n u rs i n g f a c i l i ty . B o l e s ’s d e ath

o c c u rre d i n L e f l o re C o u n ty a s e v i d e n c e d i n th e d e ath
c e r ti f i c at e . Pr i or t o h e r de at h , B ol e s h a d be e n a r e s i de n t of G r e e n w ood H e a l

t h , t h e n u r s i ng f a c i l i t y l oc at e d i n L e f l ore C ou n t y . A n a f f i dav i t pr ov i de d by Du m a s , a v i c e - pr e s i de n t of
o p e ra ti o n s f o r M a ri n e r, s tate d

th at L e f l o re C o u n ty w a s w h e re B o l e s h a d h e r p e rm a n e n t p la c e
o f res i d e n c e , w h e re B o l e s r e c e iv e d

m a i l , a n d w h e re B o l e s re c e i v e d Me d i c a i d /Me d i c a re b e n e f i ts. In a d d i ti o n , P ri c e s t a tedi

n h e r p e ti ti o n f i l e d wi th th e T a l l a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C ou r t t h at apar t f r om t h e pot en ti al l aw s u i t ag ai n s t t h e n u r s i n g h om e, B ol es h ad n o o t h er r eal
or pe r s on a l a s s e t s . T

h e a l l e g e d c a u s e of a c ti on f or t he n u r s i n g h om e n e g l i g e n c e oc c u r r e d i n L ef l or e C ou n t y, no t T a l l a h

atch i e C ou n t y as i n i ti al l y as s er t ed by P ri ce. Fu r t h er , B ol es h ad
n e v e r b e e n p l a c e d u n d e r c o n s e rv ato rs h i p . T h e r e fo r e , a

n y c l a i m a s to B o l

e s ’s m e n ta l c a p a c i ty19

i s wi th o u t m e ri t. W e f i n d th at B o l e s w a s a re s i d e n t o f L e f l o re C o u n ty . I I I . T h e C h an c e r

y C ou r t ac t i on A . W h e th e r th e T a lla h a tc h

ie C o u n ty E s ta te w

a s v o id a b in itio ¶3 1
. W e n o w tu

rn to w h e th e r o p e n i n g th e E s tate i n T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty w a s v o i d a b in it io
. T h e D e f e nd a nt s a rg

u e t h at ope n i n g t h e E s t at e i

n T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y a n d t h e a ppoi n t m e n t of Pri c e i n T a l l a h atc h i e C ou n t y a r e vo i

d, n ot v oi da bl e . T h e ba s i s of t h e D e f e n da n t s ’ a s s e r ti on i s t h at t h e s t at u t or y r equ i r em en t s i n r eg ard t o v en u e f or s om e ch an cer y m at t er s are ex

cl us i ve,
m e a n i n g t h at t h e r e qu i r e m e n t s a r e j u ri s di c ti on a l a nd, t

h u s , t h e s e t y pe s of c a s e s m

u s t be d i s m i s s e d a n d c a n n o t b e tra n s f e rre d i f f i l e d i n th e w ro n g c o u n t y . I n a d d i

ti o n , th e D e f e n d a n ts
a rg u e th at i n th o s e c h a n c e ry m atte rs w h e re v e n u e i s e x c l u s i v e , o r i n o th e r w o rd s ju

ri s d i c t io n a l,
a n y m atte rs f i l e d i n a w ro n g c o u n ty a re v o id a b i

n i ti o a n d a n y o rd e rs o f

th e c h a n c e ry c o u rt a re
v o i d a b i n i ti o d u e to a l a c k o f s u b je c t m atte r ju ri s d i c ti o n . H e r e , t h e D e f

e n d a n ts a rg u e th at th i s
e s tate m atte r i s o n e o f th e s e i n s ta n c e s w h e re v e n u e i s ju ri s d i c ti o n a l
. T h e D e fe n d a

n ts
an al og i z e t h e di v or ce s t at u t e w i t h t h e es t ate s t at

u t e. ¶3 2
. I n d e e d , th

i s C o u rt h a s h e l d th at th e d i v o rc e s tatu te p re s c ri b i n g w h e re a d i v o rc e s u it
m u s t be f i l e d g oe s t o s u bj e c t m at t e r j u ri s d i c t i o n a nd no t

m e r e v e n u e . P r i ce v . Pr i ce , 2 0 2 Mi

ss. 2 6 8 , 3 2 S o . 2 d 1 2 4 ( 1 9 4 7 )
. In S l au gh t er v. S l au gh t er , 8 6 9 S o . 2 d

3 8 6 , 3 9 1 (M i

s s . 2 0 0 4 ), th

i s C ou r t h e l d: [ I ] n P r i ce v . Pr i ce , 2 02 M i

s s . 2 6 8 , 2 7 1
- 7 2, 32 S o. 2d12 4, 12 5 ( 19 47 ) , [ w e] st at e d “ t h at t h e s t at u t e p r e s c ri b i n g w h e r e t h e s u i t m u s t b e i n s ti t u t e d i s n o t a m e re s t at u t e of v en u e t h at m ay be w ai v ed bu t on e of j u r i s d i c t i o n o f

t h e s u bj ect m at t er of t h e s u i t .” Id ., at

27 1- 72 , 3 2 S o . 2 d a t 12 5 ( ci ti n g A m i s i n D i v or ce i n M i s s i s s i ppi , Sec . 240)
. Se e al

s o C art er v. C art er , 2 7 8 S o . 2 d 3 9 4 , 3 9 6 ( Mi ss. 19 73 ) ( r ef

eren ci n g a rev i ew of au t h or i ti es w hi c h s t ate i

n ef f ect “ t h at a di v or ce su i t b ro u g h t i n th e w ro n g c o u n ty g o e s to th

e ju ri sd i c ti o n , a n d i s n o t a m e re20

m at t e r of v e n u e ” )
. T h i s C ou r t h a s h e l d t h at i n di v or c e c a s e s i

f v e n u e i s n ot pr ope r t h e n t he a c t i o n s h

ou l d be di s m i s s e d, n ot t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e c or r e c t c ou n t y . S l au gh t er , 869 So. 2d at

391. Se e al

s o P r i ce , 3 2 S o . 2 d

at 1 2 6 ; C

ru se v. C ru se , 2 0 2 Mi

ss . 4 9 7 , 5 0 0 , 3 2 S o . 2 d 3 5 5 , 3 5 5 (1 9 4 7 ).

“ H o w e v e r, th i s C o u rt h a s h e l d th at i f a c o u rt th at [s i c ] h a s n o s u b je c t m atte r ju ri s d ic t io n in

a
c a s e t h e j u dg m e n t i s r e n de re d v oi d, n ot v oi da bl e .” Id
. ¶3 3
. T h i s C o u rt h a s l i m i t e d c a s e la w o n

e state m atte rs. In D a

y v. H a rt , 232 M i

s s . 516, 517, 9 9 S o . 2 d

6 5 6 , 6 5 7 (1 9 5 8 ), th

i s C o u rt a d dres se d

w h e t h e r t h e L in

c o l n C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt h ad j u ri s di ct i on t o g r an t adm i n i s t r at i on u n der t h e “ cou n t y w h ere t h e i n t e s t a t e di

ed” pu r s u an t t o Sec ti on 525 of t h e C ode of

1942. M i

s s . C ode A nn § 9 1
- 7
- 6 3 ( 1 ) i s de ri v e d f r om Sec ti on 5 2 5 o f th e C o d e o f

1 9 4 2
. D a

y , a L o u i si a n a res i d e n t, a n d H a l l , a Mi ss i s s ip p i r e s id e n

t, w e re k i l l e d i n a t r a f f i c c o l l i s i o n c a us e d b y D a y i n Li nc o l n C o unt y. Id
. at 6 5 7
. H a l

l ’s p a re n ts pe ti ti on e d t h e Li n c ol n C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t s e e ki n g t h e a ppoi n t m e n t of a n a dm i n i s t r at or f or t h e e s t at e of

D a y i n orde r t o bri n g s u i t i n M i s s i s s i ppi
. Id
. at 6 5 8
. T

h is C o u r t h

e l d th at th e Li n col n C ou n t y C h an cer y C ou r t h ad j u ri s di ct i o n t o g r an t adm i n i s t r at i on on t h e es t ate of

D ay . Id . at 660. T h i s C ou r t h e l d: U n de r s a i d Sec ti on 525 of

t h e C o d e o f 1 942 j u r i s d i c t i on t o g r an t a dm i n i s t r at i on i s con f er r ed u po n t h e ch an cer y cou r t of t h e c o u n t y in w h ic h t h e decedent di ed
. T

h e s tatu te i s c l e a r an d u n am b i g u o u s a n d m u s t b e c o n s tru e d to m e a n w h at i t s a y s . A s i m i l a r s t at u t e i s n ot u n kn ow n t o ot h e r j u ri s di c ti on s . Id
. at 6 6 0
. (E

m p h a si s i n th e o ri g i n a l ). C l e a rl y , th e n Mi ss . C o d e A

n n . § 9 1
- 7
- 6 3 ( 1 ) i

s j u ri s di ct i on al in na t u

r e. S ect i on 91
- 7- 63 ( 1) au

t h or i z es t h r ee poss i bl e pl ace s t o o pen

an es t ate, t h os e be i n g ( 1) t h e c h a n c e r y c ou r t of t h e c ou nt y w h e r e t h e i n t e s t at e h a d a f i x e d pl a c e of21

res i d e n c e at t h e ti me o f d e ath; ( 2 ) i

f th e re w a s n

o f i x e d p l a c e o f res i d e n c e , th e n th e c h a n c e ry
c ou r t of t h e c ou n t y w h e r e ( a ) t h e i n t e s t at e di e d, or ( b) w h e r e h i s p e r s o na l pr ope r

t y or s om e par t m ay be. ¶ 34
. T

h e E s t ate ar

g u es t h at T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y di d n ot l ack j u ri s di ct i o n b e cau

s e B ol es w as
a res i den t i n t h at cou n t y pr i or t o en t er i n g t h e n u r s i n g h om e. I n I s s u e I I , B ol es w a s d e t e r m i

n ed t o b e a res i

den t of L ef l o r e C o un t y, t h

eref or e t h i s ar g u m en t i s wi t h ou t m er i t . T h e E s t ate ar

g u es t h at t h i s C ou r t ’ s h ol di n g i n H a l f o rd , 7 9 S o . 2 d

2 6 4 , c o n

tr a d i c ts t h e D e f e n d a n t s’ p o si

ti o n . In H a l f o rd , t h i s C o u r t af f i r m ed t h e ch an cel l o r ’ s deci si o n t o al l o w a t r an sf er o f a wi l l co n t est case t o t h e c ou n t y wi t h t h e pr ope r v e n u e . Id . at

269. T h e r e f or e , t h e E s t at e c on

t e n ds t ha t t he
c h a n c e ll o r i n th e c a se su

b ju d i c e c o rrec tl

y tr a n sf e rredth e E state f

ro m T a l l a h atch i e to L e f l o re C ou n t y . ¶ 35. H a l f o rd i s di st i n g u i sh ab l e f r o m t h e cas e b e f

o r e t h e C o u r t t o d ay . I m

p o r t an tl y , t h e i ssu e
o f ju ri s d i c ti o n w a s n o t ra i s e d o r c o n s i d e re d b y th i s C o u rt i n H a l f o rd
. L ate r, th

i s C o u rt i n D ay , pr e vi ou s l y di s c u s s e d a bov e , de t e r m i n e d t h at t h e l a n g u a g e of Sec ti on 525 of t h e M i s s . C ode of 1 9 4 2 , fr o m

w h i c h M i s s . C o d e A

n n . § 9 1
- 7
- 6 3 (1 ) i

s d e ri v e d a n d c o n ta i n e d a l m o s t i d e n t ic a l
s tatu to ry l a n g u a g e , i s ju ri s d i c ti o n a l. T h e re f o re , w e f i n d l i k e th e c o n te s te d d i v o rc e s tatu te , th e
e s t a t e s t at

u t e pr e s c ri bi n g w h e r e a n e s t at e m u s t be f i l e d g oe s t o s u bj e c t m at t e r j u ri s di c ti o n a nd
n ot m e r e v e n u e . See P r i ce v . Pr i ce , 3 2 S o . 2 d 1 24 . F ol l ow i n g t h e l og i c of t h e di v or ce s t at u t e, i f v e n u e i s n o t p ro p e r a s to a

n e s tate , th

e n th e a c ti o n s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d , n o t tra n s fe r r e d to t h e c or r e c t c ou n t y . S l au gh t er , 869 So. 2d at

391. ¶3 6
. A c c o rd i

n g l y , w e f i n d l i k e t h e d iv o r c e s tatu

te M i s s . C o d e A

n n . § 9 3
- 5
- 1 1 , th

e e s ta te
s t at u t e at i s s u e h e r e , M i s s . C ode A

n n . § 9 1
- 7
- 6 3 ( 1 ) , i

s a n e x c l u s i v e v e n u e s t at u t e , m aki n g i t22

ju ri s d i c ti o n a l in n a t u r e . P ri

c e p e ti ti o n e d to o p e n th e E s tate i n T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty . T h e f a c ts
s u r r ou n di n g B ol es ’ s deat h m et n on e of t h e requ i r em en t s f or f i l i n g a p e t i t i o n i

n T al l ah atch i e C o u n t y . B o l e s r esi

d ed , d i ed , an d h ad h er o n l y p o t en ti al asset , a l

aw su i t ag ai n st t h e n u r si n g f aci l i t y , i n L ef l or e C ou n t y . T h eref or e, T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y n ev er h ad su b j ect m at t er j ur i s d i c ti on i n t h e E s t ate an

d o pen i n g t h e E s t ate an

d app oi n ti n g P ri ce a s adm

i n i s t r at ri x w as
v oi d, n ot v oi dabl e. F u r t h er , t h e t r an s f er f rom T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y t o L ef l or e C ou n t y w as i m p ro p e r. T

h e tra n s f e r fr o m T a lla h

atc h i e C o u n ty to L e f l o re C o u n ty f a i l e d to c u re th e
u n derl y i n g j u ri s di ct i on a l pr ob l em wi t h t h i s cas e. T

h e T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y C h an cer y C ou r t h ad
n o s u b j e c t m at t e r j u ri s d i c ti o n t o e i t h e r o p e n a n e s t a t e o r a

p p o i n t P ri c e a s a d m

i n i s t r at ri x . Th e
c h a n c e l l o r sh o u l d h av e d i sm i ss e d , n o t t ran sf e rred , th e T a l l a h atch i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt
e s t at e c a s e , a

n d Pri c e s h ou l d h av e f i l e d a n e w pe ti ti on i n L e f l or e C ou n t y . B . W h e th e r th e a dm in is tr a tr ix ’s a c tio n s a r

e v o id . ¶ 37
. T h e E s t ate ar

g u es t h at P ri ce’ s act i on s as adm i n i s t r at ri x w ere v al i d an d s ho ul d b e u ph el d b y th i s C o u rt. E v e n i f th e a p p o i n tm e n t o f P ri c e a s a d mi

n i s tratri x w e re d e c l

a re d v o i d , th e E s ta te
a rg u e s th at P ri c e ’ s a c ts a s a d m

i n i s tratri x w o u l d n o t b e i n v a l i d
. T h e E s tate c o n

te n d s th at th e T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e r y C o u r t d i d n o t t r a n s f e r a “ n u ll

i ty ” s i n c e i t c l o s e d th e E s ta te . At th e sa m e ti m e , l e tte rs o f a d m i n i strati o n w e re i s s u e d in t h

e L e f l o re C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt

“ e f f e c ti v e l y o p e n i n g ” t h e E s t at e i

n L e f l o r e C o u n t y . T h e c h a n c e l l o r t h e n r ati f i e d P ri c e ’s
a c ti on s pe r f or m e d w h i l e u n de r t h e a u t h ori t y of t h e T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t .T h e E stat e r el

i es on t h e f o l l o wi n g Mi ssi ssi p p i cases: G i

g l i o v. Woo l l a rd , 1 2 6 Mi ss. 2 6 , 8 8 S o . 4 0 1 (1 9 2 1 ); G i l l v . Johnson , 2 0 6 M i

s s . 7 0 7 , 4 0 S o . 2 d

6 0 0 (1 9 4 9 ); B o

y d v . Sw i ng , 38 M i s s . 182 ( 1859) ; a

n d R agl an d v. G r

een , 2 2 Mi

ss . 1 9 4 (1 8 5 0 ). M.R
. C
. P
. 1 7 ( a) stat es: 3 E v e r y a c t io n s h a l l b e p r o s e c u

te d i n t h e n am e o f th e r e a l p a r ty i n i n te r e s t. An ex ecu t o r , ad m i n i st r at o r , g u ar d i an , b ai l ee, t r u stee, a p ar

t y wi t h w h o m o r i n w h o se n am e a c o nt r a c t h

as been m ade f or t h e ben ef i t of an ot h er , o r a par t y au t h or i z ed b y s tatu te m a y s u e i n h i s re p re s e n

tat iv e c a p a c i ty wi th o u t jo i n i n g wi th h i m th e pa r t y f or w h os e be n e f i t t h e a c ti on i s br ou g h t . N o a c ti

on s h a l l be di s m i s s e d on th e g r o u n d t h a t i

t i s n o t p ro s e c u

te d i n th e n am e o f th e re a l p a rty i n i n te re s t u n ti l a r e a s on a bl e ti m e h a s be e n a l l ow e d a f t e r obj e c ti on f o r rati f i c ati on of c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e a c ti o n b y , o r jo i n d e r o r s u b s ti tu ti o n o f , th e re a l p a rty i n in t e res t; a

n d su c h rati f i c ati o n , jo i n d e r o r su b sti tu ti o n sh a l l h av e th e sa m e e ffe c t a s i f th e a c ti o n h a d b e e n c o m m e n c e d i n th e n am e o f th e re a l p a rty i n i n te re s t. 23 ¶ 38. T

h e E s t at e r e l

i e s on a n u m be r o f M i s s i s s i

ppi c a s e s w h e r e t h i s C ou r t r ati f i e d t h e a c ti on s of a dm i n i s t r at or s a n d a dm i n i s t r at ri x e s . T h e D e f e n da n t s c on t e n d t ha t n on e of t h e c a s e s u

pon 2
w h i ch t h e E s t a t e rel

i es , con cer n f ai l ed j u ri s di ct i on . We ag

r ee. Al l of t h e E s t ate’ s cas es
con cer n t h e rat i f i cat i on of an adm ini s t r ator ’ s act

i on s w h en deal i n gs wi t h t h i rd p ar ti es . A s s u

ch , al l t h e E s t ate’ s cas es ar

e di s ti n g u i s h abl e f r om t h e j u ri s di ct i on al i s s u e bef or e t he C o ur t t od ay . ¶3 9
. T h e E s tate a l

s o a rg u e s th at M e t hodi s t H os p. of H a t t i e s b u r

g v . R i c har

ds on ( R i ch a r d son II

) , 909 So. 2d 1066 ( M i s s . 2005) , i

s c on t r ol l i n g a n d a l l ow s f or a r e a s on a bl e ti m e to su b sti tu te p u rsu a n t t o M. R
. C
. P
. 1 7
. In R i ch a rdso n II , t h i s C ou r t r ef eren ced 3 R i ch a rdso n v. M

et h o d i st H o spi t a l o f H a t t i esbu rg , 807 So. 2d 1244 ( M i s s . 2 0 0 2 ) ( R i c har ds on I ), i n w h i c h th i s C o u rt a f f i rm e d a c i rcu i t co u rt d e c i si o n to g ran t su m m a ry j u dg m en t i n f av or of h ospi t al on t h e i s s u e o f w r o ng f

ul d e a t h , y et al l ow ed a cl

ai m f or a s u r v i v al
a c ti on . R i ch a rdso n II

, 9 0 9 S o . 2 d

at 1 0 6 8
. O n

re m a n d , t h e c ir c u it c o u

rt g ran te d th e h os pi t a l ’ s s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t m oti on c l a i m i n g t h at t h e r e a l pa r t y i n i n t e r e s t , t he E s t at e of24

Vi v i a n W h e e l e s s , w a s no t a pa

r t y t o t h e a c ti on s a s a n e s t at e h a d n e v e r be e n ope n e d. Id . T

h r ee d a y s a f ter th e c i rcu i t co u rt d e c i si o n , R i c h a rd so n f i l e d a p e t it io ni

n th e L am a r C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C ou r t t o ope n a n e s t at e f or W h e e l e s s a nd t o a

ppoi n t R i c h a rds on a s a dm i n i s t r at ri x . Id
. T h e r e a f t e r , R i c h a rds on f i l e d a n am e n de d c om pl a i nt w i t h t h

e c i r c u i t c ou r t . Id
. at 1 0 6 8
- 6 9
. Th

e h os pi t a l f i l e d a m o t i o n f o r s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t , w h i c h w a s t h e i s s u e t h i s C ou r t a ddr e s s e d on i n t er l ocu t or y appeal i n R i c har ds on I I . T h e h os pi t a l ’ s m oti on f or s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t c l a i m e d, i n pa r t , t h at t h e E s t at e of

W h e e l e s s w a s a

s t r a n g e r t o t h e l i ti g ati on . Id
. at 1 0 6 9
. T

h i s C o u rt h e l d t h at p ur s ua nt t o M .R .C .P. 17, “ t h e r e a l pa r t y i n i n t e r e s t j oi n e d t h e s u i t wi t h i n a r e a s on a bl e ti m e a f t e r obj e c ti on .” Id . at

10 73 . T

h eref or e, t h e E s t ate as s er

t s t h at l i ke R i ch a rdso n II

, th e L e f l o re C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt E s tate o f

E v a B o l e s w a s s u

b s ti tu te d a s th

e re a l p a rty i n i n te re s t. ¶40
. T h e D ef en d an t s di st i n g u i sh R i ch a rdso n II f

ro m th e c a se to d a

y . T h e D e f e n d a n t s a ss e rt t h at t h e u n derl y i n g di f f eren ce i n R i ch a rdso n II w as t

h at t h i s C o u r t d i d n o t h av e t o ad dr ess
w h e t h e r t h e p l

a i n ti f f w a s th e p ro p e r p a

rty o r w h e th e r th e c a s e w a s p ro p e rl

y f i l e d
. H e re , th

e D e f e n d a n ts a rg u e th at t h e a p p o i n t me n t o f th e a d m i n i stratri x a n d th e o p e n i n g o f th e E state w e re
v o i d a b i n i ti o , th e re f o re , a s a m atte r o f l a w P ri c e h a d n o a u th o r it y t o file t h

e w ro n g f u l d e ath
a c t i o n in L e f

l o r e C ou n t y C i r cu i t C ou r t i n 20 02 . I n

addi ti on , t h e D ef en dan t s cl ai m t h at t h e real pa r t y i n i n t e r e s t i s t he E s t at e of

E v a B ol e s , h ow e v e r , t h e E s t at e i s n u l l a n d v oi d s i n c e i t i s v oi d
a b i n i ti o . A s f o r M. R
. C
. P
. 1 7 , th

e D e f e n d a n ts a rg u e th at su b st it u t in g th e E state i n to th e L e f l o re C ou n t y C i r c u i t C ou r t a c t i on i s n ot pe r m i s s i bl e b e c a us e t h

e a c ti on w a s i n i ti a l l y br ou g h t be on e25

l ack i n g cap aci t y t o b r in g t h e s u i t , u

n l i k e t h e p l ai n ti f f s i n R i ch a rdso n II. C o n s e qu e n tl y , th e D ef en dan t s m ai n t ai n t h at s u bst i t u ti on can n ot cu r e t h e def i ci en ci es i n t h e ca s e. ¶ 41. R i ch a rdso n II i

s d i sti n g u i sh a b le f ro m th e c a se su b ju d i c e . In R i ch a rdso n II

, t h ere w as
n ev er an i s s u e of w h et h er t h e Wh eel es s es t ate was f

i l ed i n t h e w r on g c o un t y. I n

i ti al l y , R i c ha r d s on

, t h e dau g h t er an d an h ei r , f i l ed a w r on g f u l deat h cl ai m i n di v i du al l y an d o n beh al f
o f h er si b l i n gs w i t h n o separate w

r o n g f u l d eat h cl ai m o n b eh al f o f t h e E stat e o f

Wh eel ess. R i ch a rdso n II

, 9 0 9 S o . 2 d

at 1 0 6 7
. N o e s tate w a s o p e n at th e ti m e th at R i c h a rd s o n f il e d th e l a w s u i t . Id
. W h e n

th i s C o u rt f o u n d th at th e re wa s a s u rv i v a l c l a i m , th e h o s p i ta l c h a l l e n g e d th e
r u l i n g on r em an d ass er ti n g t h at t h e real par t y i n i n t eres t , Whe e l e s s ’ s es t ate, w as n ev er op en ed by R i c h a rds on . Id
. a t 1 0 6 8
. A f t e r ope n i n g a n e s t at e , t h e c i r c u i t c ou r t pe r m i t t e d R i c h a rds on t o am e n d t h e c o m p l a i n t i n t h e p e n d i n g a c ti o n t o a d d W h e e l e s s ’s e s ta te . Id
. at

1 0 6 8
- 6 9
. Th

i s C ou r t f ou nd t ha t R

i ch ardson pr op er l y r at i f i ed an d j oi n ed t h e ac ti on by am en di n g t h e com pl ai n t
wi t h i n a r e a s on a bl e ti m e . Id . at 1070. ¶ 42. I n c on t r a s t t o R i ch a rdso n II

, t h e E s t at e f

i l e d t h e i n i ti a l e s t a t e m a t t e r i

n t h e w r on g
c h a n c e r y c ou r t , t h e r e f or e , t h e T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y C ha nc e r

y C ou r t E s t at e w a s v

oi d a b i n i ti o. I n ke e pi n g wi t h t h i s l og i c a n d t h e f a c t t h at t h e E s t at e w a s vo i

d, Pri c e h a d n o a u t h ori t y t o f i l e th e l a w s u i t i n L e f l o re C o u n ty . P ri c e a l s o w a s n o t a w r o n

g f u l d e ath b e n e f i c i a ry p u rs u a n t to
s ta tu t e . T

h e f a c t t h at t h e T a l l a h at c h i e C o u n t y C h a n c e r y C o u r t l at e r t r a n s f e r r e d t h e c a s e to L ef l o r e C ou n t y i s of n o con s equ en ce a n d can n ot r at i f y t h e L ef l or e C ou n t y E s t ate n or t h e f i l i n g
o f th e c i rc u i t c o u r t a c t i

o n . P ri c e n e v e r h a d th e a u th o ri ty to f i l e th e l a w s u i t i n L e f l o re C o u n ty
on beh al f of t h e v oi d T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y E s t ate. T

h er e f o r e , no act

u al or l eg i ti m ate E s t ate ev

er26

ex i s t ed an d accordi n g l y t h ere w as n

ev er a l eg i ti m ate pl ai n ti f f i n t h e Lef l or e C ou n t y C i r cu i t C o u r t acti o n . We f

i n d t h at t h e acti o n w as f i l ed b y a v o i d estat e t

h r o u g h an ad m i n i st r at o r w h o se
a ppoi n t m e n t a l s o w a s v oi d. I V . C i r

c u it C ou r t s u m m ar y j u dgm e n t ¶ 4 3
. T h e L e f

l o re C o u n t y

C i r c u i t C o u r t d e n i e d t h e D e f e n d a n t s ’ m o ti o n f o r s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t w h i c h c h a l l e n g e d P ri c e ’s a u t h o r it y t o m

a i n tai n th e w ro n g f u l d e ath l a w su i t i n L e f l o re C o u n ty . T h e tri a l c o u rt s i m p l y d e n i e d th e m o ti o n wi th o u t f u rth e r e x p l a n a t io n . T h e D e f e n d a n ts
a rg u e th at t h e L e f l o re C o u n ty C i rcu i t C o u rt e rred b y d e n y i n g th e ir m o ti o n f o r su m m a ry j u dg m e n t be c a u s e a s a m at t e r of l a w , Pri c e h a d n o a u t h ori t y or c a pa c i t y t o f

i l e t he w

r on g f u l de at h s u i t i n L e f l or e C ou n t y . ¶44
. T h i s C o u r t s e t f

o r t h t h e stan d ar d o f r ev i ew i n su m m ar y j u d g m en t cases i n C i t i f i nanci al R e t ai l Ser v i c e sv . H ooks , 9 2 2 S o . 2 d

7 7 8 , 7 7 9 (Mi

ss . 2 0 0 6 ): T h i s C ou r t appl i es a de n ov o stan dar d o f r ev i ew on app e a l f r om a den i al of s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t by t h e t ri a l c ou r t . S a u c i e r

e x r e l . S a u c i e r v . B i l o x i R e g 'l M ed . C t r. , 7 0 8 S o . 2 d 1351, 1354 ( M i s s . 1998)
. Se e al

s o J en k i n s v. O h i o C

a s. I ns . C o. , 7 9 4 S o . 2 d

2 2 8 , 2 3 2 (M i

s s . 2 0 0 1 ); R u ssell

v . O rr , 700 So. 2d 619, 6 2 2 (M i s s . 1 9 9 7 ); R i c hm ond v. B e n c h m a r k C ons t r . C or p. , 692 So. 2d 60, 61 (M i s s . 1 9 9 7 ); N

or t her n E l e c . C o . v . P h i l l i

ps , 6 6 0 S o . 2 d

1 2 7 8 , 1 2 8 1 ( Mi

ss. 1 9 9 5 ). R u l e 56( c) of

t h e M i s s i s s i pp i R u l es of C i vi l P r ocedu

r e pr ov i des t h at su m m ar y j u d g m e n t s h a l l b e g r an t ed b y a co u r t i f “ t h e p l ead i n gs, d ep o si

ti o n s, a n s w e r s t o i

n t e r r og at ori e s a n d a dm i s s i on s on f i l e , t og e t h e r wi t h a f f i dav i t s , i f a n y , sh o w th at t h e re i s n o g e n u i n e i ss u e a s to a

n y m at e r ia l fa c t A ”

M .R .C.P. 5 6 (c ); s ee S au ci er , 7 0 8 So. 2d at 1354. T

h e m ov i n g pa r t y h a s t h e bu rde n of de m on s t r a t i n g t h e r e i s n o g e n u i n e i s s u e of m at e ri a l f a c t w h i l e t h e n on - m ov i n g pa r t y s h ou l d be g i v e n t h e b e n e f i t of e v e r y r e a s on a bl e dou bt
. T ucke r v . H i nds C o u n ty , 558 So. 2d 869, 872 ( M i s s . 1990)
. S

e e al s o He i g l e v

. H e ig le , 771 So. 2 d 3 4 1 , 3 4 5 (M i

s s . 2 0 0 0 ). A fa c t is ma t e r ia l i f i t “ te n d s to re s o l

v e a n y o f th e i s s u es pr op er

l y r ai s ed by t h e par ti es .” Pa lm er v. A n d e r s o n In f i rm a ry B e n e v o l e n t

A ss 'n , 6 5 6 S o . 2 d

7 9 0 , 7 9 4 (Mi

ss . 1 9 9 5 ).27 “ I f , i n t h i s v i e w , t h e r e i s n o g e n u i n e i s s u e of m at e ri a l f a c t a n d, t h e m ov ing pa r t y i s e n ti tl e d t o j u dg m e n t a s a m at t e r of l a w , s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t s h ou l d f or t h wi t h be e n t e r e d i n h i s f av or . O t h e r wi s e , t h e m oti on s h ou l d be de n

i e d.” W ill ia m s o n e

x r e l. W ill ia m s o n v

. K e ith , 7 8 6 S o . 2 d 3 9 0 , 3 9 3 (Mi ss . 2 0 0 1 ).
“ I s s u es of f act s u f f i ci en t t o r equ i r e den i al of a m o t i on f or s u m m ar y j u dg m en t o b v i o u s l y a re p re s e n t w h e re o n e p a rty s we a rs to o n e v e rs i o n o f th e m atte r in i s s u e a n d a n ot h e r s a y s t h e oppos i t e .” T u cker , 558 So. 2d at

872. O f i m por t a n c e h e r e i s t h e l a n g u a g e of t h e r u l e a u t h ori z i n g s u m m a r y j u dgm e nt ‘ w h ere t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e of m at e r i a l f a c t .’ T h e pr es en ce of f act i s s u es in t h e r e c ord doe s n

ot pe r s e e n ti tl e a pa r t y t o av oi d s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t . T he c o u rt m u st b e c o n v i n c e d th at t h e f a c tu a l i ss u e i s a m ateri a l o n e , o n e t h a t ma t ters i n an ou t com e det er m i n at i v e s en s e. . . t h e ex i s t en ce of a hu nd r ed con

t es t ed i s s u es o f f a ct wi l l n ot t h w ar t s u m m ar y j u dg m en t w h ere t h ere i s n o g en u i n e di s pu t e r e ga r d ing t

h e m at e ri a l i s s u e s of f a c t . Si m m ons v

. T hom ps on M ac h. of M i ss ., I n c. , 6 3 1 S o . 2 d

7 9 8 , 8 0 1 (M i

s s . 1 9 9 4 )(c i

ti n g S h a w v . B u r c h f ie ld , 481 S o . 2 d 2 4 7 , 2 5 2 ( Mi

ss. 1 9 8 5 ) )
. T

h e ev i d en c e m u s t b e v i ew ed i n t h e l i g h t m o st f av or a bl e t o t h e n on - m ov i n g pa r t y . See R u ss e ll , 7 0 0 S o . 2 d at 6 2 2 ; R i c hm ond, 6 9 2 S o . 2 d

at 6 1 ; N or t her n E l e c . C o. , 6 6 0 S o . 2 d at 1 2 8 1 ; Si m m ons , 631 So. 2 d at 8 0 2 ; T u cker , 558 So. 2d at

872. T o av oi d s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t , t h e n on - m ov i n g pa r t y m u s t e s t a bl i s h a g en u i n e i s s u e of m ater i al f act wi t h i n t h e m ean s a l l o w a b l e u

n der t h e R u l e. R i c hm ond, 6 9 2 S o . 2 d

at 6 1 (c i ti n g L yl e v. M l ad i n i ch , 584 So. 2d 39 7 , 3 9 8 (M i s s . 1 9 9 1 ) )
. “

I f a n y t ri a b l e i s s u e s o f f a c t e x i s t , t h e l o w e r c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n to g r a n t s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t wi l l be r e v e r s e d. O t

h e r wi s e t h e de c i s i o n i s a f f i r m e d.” R i c hm ond, 692 So. 2d at 61. Mu ch o f t h e D ef en d an t s’ arg u m en t p ar al l el s t h e r eason i n g o n t h e sta n d i n g i ssu e p r ev i o u sl y
a d dres se d b y th i s C o u rt . T h e D e f e n d a n ts a ss e rt th at ( 1 ) P ri c e ’s a p p o in t me n t as a d m

i n i stratri x of t h e E s t ate was v

oi d ab i n i ti o, ( 2) t h ey r ai s ed t h e i s s u e o f c apaci

t y or au t h ori t y t o su e i n t h ei r
an s w er s pu r s u an t t o M.R .C .P . 9 , an

d ( 3) P ri c e f a i l ed t o p r ov

e t h at s h e h as capac i t y t o m ai n t ai n t h e acti o n b e c a u s e ( a) h

er ap p o i n t m en t i n T al l ah atch i e C o u n t y as adm i n i st r at ri x w as v o i d as a
m at t er of l aw f or l ack of s u bj ect m at t er j u ri s di ct i on , an d ( b ) P r i c e w a s a f

i r s t cou s i n on ce
r em ov ed of B ol es , t h eref or e, sh e was n ot a s t at u t or y w r on g f u l deat h b e ne f i ci ar y wi t h i n di v i du al
c a pa c i t y t o bri n g s u i t .B o l e s h a d n o l i v i n g h u s b a n d , c h i l dre n , o r p a re n ts. S h e o n l y h a d s e c o n d c o u s in s at th e 4 ti m e o f d e ath
. 28 ¶4 5
. In f a c t th e re a re n o s tatu to ry w ro n g fu l d e a t h b e n

e f i c i a ri e s o f B o l e s , th e E s tate i

s th e
on l y pl a i n ti f f . Fu r t h e r , t h e D e f e n da n t s a s s e r t t h at t h e E s t at e s u

bj e c t e d i t s e l f t o t h e j u ri s di c ti on
a n d su b se qu e n t s c r u t in

y o f L e f l o re C o u n ty b y f i l i n g th e l a w su i t. T h e D e f e n d a n ts a l so a ss e rt t h at i f t h e E s t at e i

s v oi d be c a u s e t h e T a l l a h at c h i e C o unt y

C h a n c e r y C ou r t l a c ke d j u ri s di c ti on t o o p en an estat e o r

ap p o i n t P ri ce as ad m

i n i st rat ri x, t h en t h er e i s n o p l ai n ti f f an d t h e l aw su i t
m u s t be di s m i s s e d. 4 ¶ 46. T h e E s t at e m

a i n t a i ns t ha t t

h e D e f e n da n t s c a n n ot c h a l l e n g e t h e c h a n c e r y c ou r t ’ s a c ti on s
r eg ardl es s of w h et h er t h ey as s er t t h e cl ai m i n ch an cer y or ci r cu i t cou r t as t h ey can n ot at t ack t h e creat i on of t h e E s t at e an d t h ey l ack s t an di n g . Mu ch of t h e E s t ate’ s ar

g u m e nt has bee n addr es s ed i

n t h e s t an di n g an d r es i den ce i s s u es abov e an d w i l l n ot be r ei t erated h ere. ¶4 7
. C o n s i

d e ri n g a l l o f th e c a s e l a w m e n ti o n e d i n b o th p a rti e s b ri e f s a n d d i s c u s s e d i n d e t a il in th e a b o v e i ss u e s, w e f i n d th e tr i a l c o u rt e rredb y

n o t g ran ti n g th e D e f e n d a n ts’ m o ti o n fo r
s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t. T h e D e f e n d a n ts c h a l l e n g e d P ri c e ’s a u th o ri ty a n d c a p a c i ty to m a i n ta i n th e
w r on g f u l deat h act i on base d u po n t h e openi ng o f t he E s t ate an d app oi n t m en t of P ri ce a s
a dm i n i s t r at ri x a s be i n g vo i d a b i n i ti o. I n t h e i r a n s we r s , t h e D e f e n da n t s r a i s e d t h e i s s u e of
c a p a c i ty o f P ri c e to m a i n ta i n th e a c ti o n . In th e i r mo t i o n f o r s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t, th e D e f e n da n t s h a d a de at h c e r t i f i c at e t h at s h ow e d t h at B ol e s di e d i n L e f l or e C ou n t y . G r e e n w ood H eal t h w as l ocat ed i n L ef l or e C ou n t y . A n af f i dav i t b y D um as , v

i ce- pr es i den t of op erat i on s at M a ri n e r, s t a t e d t h a t B o l

e s w a s a re s i d e n t o f G re e n w o o d H e a l th f ro m J u n e 1 9 9 6 u n ti l h e r d e ath
on J a n u a r y 25, 2001. Du

m a s a l s o s t at e d t

h at B ol e s ’ s pl a c e of r e s i de n c e w a s G

r e e n w ood29

H e a l th , sh e rec e i v e d m a i l a n d M e d i

c a i d /Me d i c a re b e n e f i ts at t h e n u rsi n g f a c i l i ty i n L e f l o re C o u n ty . T h e E s tate p ro v

i d e d n o e v i d e n c e th at B o l e s ’s w a s a

re s i d e n t o f T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty . ¶4 8
. W e f

i n d th at t h e tr i a l c o u rt e rredb y

d e n y i n g th e D e fe n d a

n ts’ m o ti o n f o r su m m a ry j u dg m en t . T h e T al l ah atch i e C ou n t y C h an cer y C ou r t h ad n o j ur i s di ct i on t o o pen an es t ate an

d
a p p o i n t P ri c e a s a d m

i n i stratri x . A s s u

c h , P ri c e d i d n o t h av e th e c a p a c i ty o r au t h o ri ty to b ri n g t h e w r on g f u l de at h s u i t i n t h e C i r c u i t C ou r t of L e f l or e C ou n t y a s a n a dm i n i s t r at ri x of t h e v oi d E stat e. A cco r d in g l

y , t h e L ef l o r e C o u n t y C i r cu i t C o u r t er r ed b y d en y i n g t h e D ef en d an t s’
m o ti o n f o r s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t. C ON C L U S I ON ¶ 49. F o r t h

e f or e g oi n g r e a s on s , t h e T a l l a h at c h i e C ou n t y C h a n c e r y C ou r t de c i s i on t o d e ny t h e D e f e n da n t s ’ m oti on t o re n de r t h e a ppoi n t m e nt of Pri c e , a s a dm

i n i s t r at ri x of t h e E s t at e , i

s
re v e rs e d
. T h e T a l la h a t c h ie C o u

n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt tra n s f e r o f th e E s tate to L e f

l o re C o u n ty al s o i s r ev er s ed. I n

addi ti on , t h e Le f l o r e C o un t y

C i r cu i t C ou r t ’ s den i al of s u m m ar y j u dg m en t i s r e v e r s e d, a n d j u dg m e n t i s re n de r e d i n f av or of t h e D e f e n da n t s a s t h e E s t at e ope n

e d in t he T a l l a h atc h i e C o u n ty C h a n c e ry C o u rt w a s v o id a b in iti

o , a n d th e re f o re , P ri c e l a c k e d c a p a c i ty
a s a pr ope r pl a i n ti f f t o bri n g t h e l a w s u i t i n t h e L e f l or e C ou n t y C i r c u i t C ou r t . ¶ 50. RE V E RS E D A

ND RE NDE RE D. S M I T H , C . J . , W

A L L E R , P . J . , A

ND C A RL S O N, J . , C O NC U

R. C O B B , P . J . , A

ND D I C K I N SO N A

N D R A N D O L PH , J J. , C O N C U

R I N R E SU

L T O N LY . D I A Z A N D GR A V E S, JJ., D I SSE N T

W I T H O U T SE P A R A T EW R I T T E N O P

I N I O N .