Opinion ID: 1314187
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Sufficient Evidence Was Presented at Trial to Support County Court's Finding of Donative Intent.

Text: [6,7] One of the essential elements of a gift is the intention to make it. Masonic Temple Craft v. Stamm, 152 Neb. 604, 42 N.W.2d 178 (1950). A clear and unmistakable intention on the part of the donor to make a gift of his or her property is an essential element of the gift, and this contention must be inconsistent with any other theory. Id. The personal representative argues that Carter did not present clear evidence at trial to show that Lamplaugh intended to make a gift of $80,000 to Carter. Carter argues that the county court's finding of donative intent was supported by competent evidence, and based on the evidence offered at trial and the applicable standard of review, we agree. At trial, Carter testified that on many occasions, Lamplaugh expressed a desire that Carter have all his money upon his death. Carter testified that Lamplaugh gave her money as gifts, paid her sick leave, paid for her car tags, and expressed his desire to take care of her. Carter testified that she and Lamplaugh discussed the purchase of the liquor store on multiple occasions and that Lamplaugh offered to assist her with the investment. Carter described the usual process in which she would assist Lamplaugh in paying his billsfilling out the checks according to his instructions for him to then review and sign, one at a time. Carter testified that the same process was used at the time Lamplaugh signed the $80,000 check at issue. She testified that after spending the day cleaning and doing laundry at Lamplaugh's residence on June 9, 2002, Lamplaugh told her that she needed to slow down and take time and get that  that liquor store bought. Carter testified that Lamplaugh instructed her to write to pay bills on the memo line of the check, explaining that it was not his family's business how he spent his money. Further, Carter testified that Lamplaugh did not mention anything about repayment terms and that she understood the check to be a gift from him. At the end of the evening, Carter placed the check in her purse and went home, after making arrangements to stop at Lamplaugh's residence the following morning. Debby Baker, Carter's close friend and former employer, also testified at trial. Baker testified that due to Carter's multiple jobs and hectic schedule, Baker served as an answering service for Carter and kept track of her whereabouts in case anyone needed to reach her. Baker testified that she spoke to Lamplaugh on the telephone on multiple occasions while Carter was working for him. Baker explained that on the day before Lamplaugh's death, she called Lamplaugh's residence to speak to Carter. Lamplaugh answered the telephone, explained that Carter was busy cleaning, and expressed to Baker his desire to give Carter a check for $80,000. Lamplaugh told Baker that he hoped owning her own business would allow Carter to spend more time assisting him. Baker testified that Lamplaugh had also expressed his intent to give Carter the check on a prior occasion. Finally, the deposition of Janet Spencer, a former business development officer and personal banker at the Bank, was received into evidence at trial. Spencer testified that she first met Lamplaugh when he came to the Bank, along with Carter, to open a personal checking account. Spencer was already acquainted with Carter at that time, having served as her banker. In discussing with Lamplaugh the ways in which to title the new account, Spencer testified that Lamplaugh wanted Carter on the account. Spencer testified that when Carter discouraged the idea, Lamplaugh told Spencer that he wanted Carter to have all of his money and that, although he kept asking her to marry him, she repeatedly declined. Carter acknowledged Lamplaugh's marriage proposals during her testimony but described Lamplaugh's substantial role in her life as more like a father-daughter relationship. In her deposition, Spencer stated that, ultimately, Lamplaugh agreed to place his sister on the account. Spencer testified about other occasions in which Lamplaugh would visit the Bank. During such visits, Lamplaugh was very vocal about his appreciation for Carter and the assistance she provided to him and, on approximately six occasions, expressed his desire that Carter have his money upon his death. The evidence offered by Carter is sufficient to support the county court's conclusion that Lamplaugh intended the check to be a gift to Carter, and the estate offered no contradictory evidence. When considering the evidence in the light most favorable to Carter, the county court's factual finding of donative intent on the part of Lamplaugh is neither arbitrary nor unreasonable and is supported by competent evidence. The personal representative's first assignment of error is without merit.