Opinion ID: 1847774
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: district court's orders and judgment

Text: The court rejected Charles' claim that the plaintiffs lacked standing. It concluded that heirs can maintain an action to recover an estate's assets. But it dismissed the plaintiffs' request for a constructive trust on property conveyed to the trust. It also dismissed their request to set aside conveyances to the trust and the conveyances from the trust to Charles. The court concluded that these requests were a challenge to the trust's validity, which challenge was time barred. Later, however, the court reversed its decision and allowed the plaintiffs to seek a constructive trust and to set aside the deed. Dolores died before trial, but the court admitted her deposition testimony. After a consolidated trial, the court issued an order, detailing many transactions that were made in violation of Charles' fiduciary duties while attorney in fact or trustee. The court ordered him to pay the conservator, Schneider, $14,528.58 for the fraudulent transfers Charles had made while attorney in fact. The court further ordered him to pay Leona's estate $18,138.57 for fraudulent transfers made while he was trustee. It also awarded prejudgment interest. Regarding the constructive trust, the court found that Dolores and the conservator had proved that Charles had obtained some of Leona's personal property from the auction through constructive fraud. It also found that Charles had violated his fiduciary duties by purchasing a truck with trust assets. The court ordered Charles to return those assets to the estate. But it concluded that real estate that Leona transferred to the trust was not obtained by fraud, misrepresentation, or abuse of a confidential relationship. Regarding the 2004 will, the court found the plaintiffs had failed to show that the deed and will were the result of undue influence or that Leona lacked testamentary capacity. The court found that Leona had validly executed the deed and will. It transferred the probate action back to county court for further proceedings. It then allowed Dolores' son, John Nowak, to represent her interests and substituted him as a party. Finally, it overruled the plaintiffs' motion for a new trial in both cases.