Opinion ID: 2343373
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: When the late Dr. Joseph Kimbrough established his estate plan in 1955, Washington University had a dental school and a Dental Alumni Development Fund that existed to benefit the school. His 1955 estate plan included a trust to provide benefits for his niece and nephews during their lifetimes after Dr. Kimbrough's death. The trust provided that, upon the death of the survivor of the niece and nephews, the trust estate would be paid over and distributed free of trust unto Washington University ... for the exclusive use and benefit of its Dental Alumni Development Fund. Dr. Kimbrough died in 1963. Washington University discontinued the Dental Alumni Development Fund in 1965, and the university closed its dental school in 1991. The fund no longer exists. The trust paid benefits to the niece and nephews until 2000, when the last of the three died. The death of the last survivor in 2000 was the event that triggered the clause that the trust estate be paid to Washington University for the exclusive use and benefit of the Dental Alumni Development Fund. Louise Obermeyer and Elizabeth Salmon, the great, great-nieces of Dr. Kimbrough, brought this action for declaratory judgment and construction of Dr. Kimbrough's inter vivos trust, which was valued at approximately $2.8 million in 2000. The circuit court held that Dr. Kimbrough established the trust with a general charitable intent and applied the cy pres doctrine, ruling in favor of Washington University, and directing that the university use the funds to support two dental-related professorships in the name of Dr. Kimbrough. The gift free from trust was an absolute gift to Washington University. The circuit court appropriately provided for the disposition of the trust estate. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.