Opinion ID: 871210
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Nancy's Memorandum in Opposition

Text: In her Memorandum in Opposition to Geraldine's Rule 60 motion, Nancy, as Personal Representative of George's estate, asserted that (1) George and Sylvie were married on October 2, 1989 in Honolulu, Hawai`i; (2) a Dominican Republic court granted a divorce decree terminating George and Sylvie's marriage on February 7, 1995; (3) while residing in Hawai`i, George introduced Geraldine to Sylvie; (4) George and Geraldine's completed Marriage License Application indicated that George's former marriage ended in 1995 in the Dominican Republic; (5) Geraldine signed the Marriage License Application and swore under oath that the information contained therein was true and correct; (6) George and Geraldine participated in a ceremonial marriage on May 1, 1996; (7) at the time of the marriage ceremony, Geraldine had actual or constructive knowledge of the Dominican Decree and that it was obtained in the Dominican Republic; (8) Geraldine and George subsequently met with Sylvie and Felicia Dubie (Felicia) (daughter of George and Sylvie) in Ottawa in 1997 and in Disneyworld in 1998; (9) Geraldine became close with Felicia and established a QTIP trust naming the children of George and Sylvie as beneficiaries; (10) Geraldine filed for a divorce from George in November 2003; and (11) after entry of the 11/28/03 Decree, Geraldine continued to portray herself as married to George in order to protect her image, as well as the image of her company[.] [8] With regard to Rule 60(b)(4), Nancy argued that Geraldine's assertions concerning the invalidity of her marriage to George were without merit. Specifically, Nancy argued that the Dominican Decree was valid and that, in any event, Geraldine did not have standing to collaterally attack the Dominican Decree. Nancy further argued that Geraldine was estopped from challenging the validity of her marriage to George. With regard to Rule 60(b)(6), Nancy argued that Geraldine's allegations amount[ed] to a claim for relief based on `fraud[,]' and therefore fell under Rule 60(b)(3), rather than Rule 60(b)(6). Nancy further argued that Geraldine's motion was untimely because it was not filed within one year of the 11/28/03 Decree, as required for motions brought pursuant to Rule 60(b)(3).