Court Opinion

ID: 9897959
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-14 19:27:22.521234+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:49.662524
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

JEFFREY R. RADLIFF, Personal
Representative of the Estate of Eileen A.   No. 85041-5-I
Royster,
                      Respondent,           DIVISION ONE
             v.

PAUL SCHMIDT, Personal                      PUBLISHED OPINION
Representative of the Estate of Herbert
John Royster,
                      Appellant,

KARIM FANG, an individual; YASMINE
FARAG, an individual; MARY WENTZ,
an individual; TONI HAMERQUEST, an
individual; CAROL BERG, an individual;
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE;
CHARLES and LUANNE SUPER,
individuals; CONNIE WALLACE, an
individual; JOHN and JUDY SWENS,
individuals; SANDY NEWTON, an
individual; KRIS KURAHARA, an
individual; SUZI DESILVA, an individual;
BETTY and DARREL JOHNSON,
individuals; CATHY ERLAND, an
individual; TOM EDWARDS , an
individual; MADELINE MIKAYLA
ERICKSON, an individual; USS
EARNEST G. SMALL ASSN.; MARY
MARTHA ZEHAN, an individual; DANA
BENJAMIN, an individual; SHRINERS
HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN; OREGON
STATE POLICE OFFICERS ASSN.;
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION; HOOD RIVER VALLEY
CHRISTIAN CHURCH; JOY IN
NICARAGUA ; CAROL BUTLER, an
individual; CHARLES JAMES and
PATRICIA HOLLAND, individuals,
EDWARD ERLAND, an individual;
No. 85041-5-I/2

 BRITT and NOAH RICCI, individuals;
 DAILY WORD/GUIDEPOST; HUONG
 XUAN NGUYEN, an individual; AUDREY
 VEDAA, an individual; JEANNIE
 BENJAMIN, an individual; PAUL
 SCHMIDT, an individual; LARRY and
 DENISE YADON, individuals,

                          Defendants.

       DÍAZ, J. — Herbert Royster and Eileen Royster,1 who were husband and

wife, each executed wills in Oregon. After the Roysters moved to Washington,

they entered into a community property agreement (CPA) making all property

community property. The survivorship provisions in their wills, however, were

different than the survivorship provision in the CPA, in that the wills specified that

a spouse had to survive the other by four months to inherit, while the CPA specified

the survivor period was only 30 days. Herbert died 75 days after Eileen, which

appeared to mean that their son Jeffrey Radliff, under Herbert’s will, would inherit

almost nothing if the CPA controlled, but would inherit a significant portion of

Eileen’s estate if her will controlled. The trial court found an irreconcilable conflict

between the wills and CPA’s survivorship clauses, and ruled in favor of Radliff

based on extrinsic evidence.        Paul Schmidt, as personal representative of

Herbert’s estate, appealed.

       We hold that the documents may be construed to avoid conflict and, thus,

we reverse and remand this case to the trial court to enter judgment in favor of

Schmidt.

1 Because Herbert Royster and Eileen Royster share a surname, we refer to them

by their first names for clarity. No disrespect is intended.

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No. 85041-5-I/3

                         I.     FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       Radliff is the sole surviving son of Eileen, the step-son of Herbert, and the

personal representative of Eileen’s estate.

       In 2010, Eileen and Herbert each executed similar last will and testaments

(“will” or together “wills”) in Oregon. The wills provided for gifts of certain real and

personal property to family members, and dictated that the residue of each estate

would pass (at least in part) to their respective spouse if he or she survived them;

otherwise, the residue of both estates would pass (at least in part) to Radliff.

Similarly, the wills nominated the surviving spouse to act as personal

representative, and both named Radliff as the successor personal representative.

The survivorship provision of both wills set the survivorship period as four months.2

       After relocating to Washington at some point, on April 10, 2018, the couple

executed two sets of documents simultaneously: codicils on their wills and a CPA.

       Both codicils changed the governing law to Washington, but otherwise

provided that their wills would remain “in full force and effect.”

       The CPA made all property then “owned or hereafter acquired by” the two

of them community property and stated that, upon the death of one spouse, all the

property would vest in the surviving spouse. The survivorship provision of the CPA

2 Specifically, paragraph 5.1 of each will stated, “If any beneficiary named or
described in this Will dies within four (4) months after my death, all the provisions
in this Will for the benefit of such deceased beneficiary shall lapse, and this Will
shall be construed as though he or she predeceased me.”

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No. 85041-5-I/4

set the survivorship period as 30 days.3

       The CPA also contains the following provision:
       4. DISCLAIMER. Upon the death of either Husband or Wife, the
          surviving spouse may disclaim any interest passing under this
          Agreement in whole or in part, and the interest disclaimed shall
          pass under the terms and conditions of any validly executed Will
          which the decedent may have executed or in default thereof,
          according to the laws of intestacy as governed by the statutes of
          the State of Washington then in effect.

       Eileen passed away on July 15, 2019. Shortly thereafter, Herbert executed

a new will to designate the residue of his estate to numerous individuals and

organizations, leaving only $1,000 of his estate to Radliff.

       Herbert passed away on September 28, 2019, 75 days after Eileen’s death,

which is more than 30 days but less than four months.

       In November 2019, Schmidt petitioned the court to admit Herbert’s revised

will to probate. Radliff petitioned under the Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution

Act (“TEDRA”), chapter 11.96A RCW, to resolve the alleged conflict between the

survivorship provisions of Eileen’s will and the survivorship provision in the CPA.

       On March 11, 2022, in a hearing on the petition, the trial judge heard oral

argument but took no testimony. In the hearing, Radliff stated, “there’s only one

issue the Court needs to resolve today, and that is whether there is a conflict

between the survivorship provision of Eileen’s will and a survivorship provision in

the community property agreement.”

3 Specifically, paragraph 8 of the CPA stated, “As used herein, the term ‘survivor,’

‘survive,’ or ‘survivorship’ shall mean living for a period of thirty (30) days following
the death of the first of the Husband and Wife to die.”

                                           4
No. 85041-5-I/5

       On April 20, 2022, the trial court found the conflict created a patent

ambiguity between the documents and required the admission of extrinsic

evidence to determine Eileen’s intent in signing each document. In a written order

following this hearing, the trial court ruled in favor of Radliff and awarded his

attorneys fees under RCW 11.96A.150(1) totaling $40,366.25, and costs in the

amount of $1,570.42.

       Schmidt timely appealed.

                                 II.    ANALYSIS

A. Whether an Ambiguity Exists Between the Wills and the CPA

       1. Law

       “The purpose of contract interpretation is to ascertain the intent of the

parties.” Kelley v. Tonda, 198 Wn. App. 303, 311, 393 P.3d 824 (2017). Our courts

follow the “objective manifestation theory” of contracts, wherein the parties’s intent

is determined by focusing on the objective manifestations of the agreement, rather

than on the unexpressed subjective intent of the parties. Hearst Commc’ns, Inc.

v. Seattle Times Co., 154 Wn.2d 493, 503, 115 P.3d 262 (2005). The ultimate goal

is to determine the parties’ intent at the time they executed the contract rather than

“the interpretations the parties are advocating at the time of the litigation.” Int’l

Marine Underwriters v. ABCD Marine, LLC, 179 Wn.2d 274, 282, 313 P.3d 395

(2013).

       “Clear and unambiguous contracts are enforced as written.” Grey v. Leach,

158 Wn. App. 837, 850, 244 P.3d 970 (2010). Ambiguity will not be read into a

contract where it can reasonably be avoided by reading the contract as a whole.

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No. 85041-5-I/6

Green River Valley Found., Inc. v. Foster, 78 Wn.2d 245, 249, 473 P.2d 844

(1970). “ ‘[I]f the policy language is clear and unambiguous, we must enforce it as

written; we may not modify it or create ambiguity where none exists.’ ” Lui v. Essex

Ins. Co., 185 Wn.2d 703, 712, 375 P.3d 596 (2016) (alteration in original) (quoting

Quadrant Corp. v. Am. States Ins. Co., 154 Wn.2d 165, 171, 110 P.3d 733 (2005)).

When contract provisions conflict, we will harmonize them to the extent possible.

Id. at 710. The courts give “words in a contract their ordinary, usual, and popular

meaning unless the entirety of the agreement clearly demonstrates a contrary

intent.” Hearst Commc’ns, 154 Wn.2d at 504.

       Language in a contract is ambiguous if it is susceptible to two different but

reasonable interpretations or where separate contractual provisions irreconcilably

conflict. Luna v. Gillingham, 57 Wn. App. 574, 579, 789 P.2d 801 (1990); Haney

v. State Farm Ins. Co., 52 Wn. App. 395, 397, 760 P.2d 950 (1988) (ambiguity

exists where separate contract clauses create an “inherent contradiction”). An

ambiguity is “patent” when it appears on the face of a document, whereas a “latent”

ambiguity is one that becomes apparent when the instrument’s provisions are

sought to be applied. See Carney v. Johnson, 70 Wn.2d 193, 195, 422 P.2d 486

(1967).

       A community property agreement is a contract subject to the general rules

of contract interpretation. In re Dunn’s Estate, 31 Wn.2d 512, 526, 197 P.2d 606

(1948). Similarly, as to wills, the “paramount duty of the court is to give effect to

the testator’s intent when the will was executed.” In re Estate of Little, 9 Wn. App.

                                         6
No. 85041-5-I/7

2d 262, 275, 444 P.3d 23 (2019). The court must determine the intent from the

language of the will as a whole. Little, 9 Wn. App. 2d at 275.

      We review the trial court’s conclusions of law pertaining to contract

interpretation de novo. Viking Bank v. Firgrove Commons 3, LLC, 183 Wn. App.

706, 712, 334 P.3d 116 (2014). The interpretation of a will is also a question of

law and reviewed de novo. Little, 9 Wn. App. 2d at 275. We review a document’s

purported ambiguity de novo as a question of law. In re 1934 Deed to Camp

Kilworth, 149 Wn. App. 82, 86, 201 P.3d 416 (2009).

      2. Discussion

             a. The Wahl Case

      Radliff relies heavily on our Supreme Court’s decision in In re Estates of

Wahl, 99 Wn.2d 828, 664 P.2d 1250 (1983). Radliff argues that, per Wahl, we

must read Eileen’s will and the CPA together and, when we do so, we should

discover that a patent ambiguity exists, which means we must resort to extrinsic

evidence to determine the intent of the documents.

      In Wahl, a married couple each executed a will to bequeath their respective

estate to the other spouse, provided that spouse survived the other by at least 90

days. Id. at 829. In the event either party did not survive the other, their estate

would go to different people. Id. Later, the couple executed a CPA, indicating that

title to all community property would immediately vest in the surviving spouse upon

the death of the other spouse. Id. On the same day, the couple also executed

codicils in which they expressly reaffirmed all the provisions of their respective

previous wills. Id. Several years later, the wife died first and the husband died

                                        7
No. 85041-5-I/8

fewer than 90 days later, which again was the period defined in the survivorship

provision in the wills. Id. at 829-30. The trial court granted summary judgment in

favor of the wife. Id. at 830. This court reversed, finding a question of fact as to

the intent of the decedents. Id.

       Our Supreme Court first reaffirmed the proposition that “[d]ocuments

executed together . . . are to be construed together.” Id. at 831 (citing Maxwell’s

Elec., Inc. v. Hegeman-Harris Co. of Canada, 18 Wn. App. 358, 367, 567 P.2d

1149 (1977), abrogated on other grounds by Crown Controls, Inc. v. Smiley, 110

Wn.2d 695, 700, 756 P.2d 717 (1988)). Our Supreme Court then stated that “the

inconsistency between the wills and the community property agreement creates

an ambiguity which requires the admission of extrinsic evidence to ascertain the

intent of the parties.” Id.

       Up to this point, this case appears on first blush to be on all fours with Wahl.

In both cases, the parties executed wills with survivorship provisions that are

different than later executed CPAs. In both cases, the spouses executed codicils

to their wills that made clear they did not wish to disturb the remaining portions of

their wills. Furthermore, in both cases, one spouse died before the expiration of

the survivorship provision in the wills after the death of the other. In both cases,

those different terms would appear to have a material impact on who would inherit.

       However, there are two key distinguishing features between this case and

Wahl. First, in Wahl, the procedural posture is different than that presented here.

Our Supreme Court there was considering whether the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment and, specifically, whether there was “a question of fact as to

                                          8
No. 85041-5-I/9

whether the Wahls were mistaken as to the effect of the language of the community

property agreement.” Id. at 831. After reviewing the evidence before the trial court,

our Supreme Court held that there was “enough evidence in the record for a trier

of fact to conclude Neal and Rose Wahl were mutually mistaken as to their rights

to inherit under their wills and codicils, as they were not advised of the legal effect

of the community property agreement executed the same day.” Id. at 832. That

was its central holding. Thus, the Court “affirm[ed] the Court of Appeals’ reversal

of the trial court’s summary judgment and remand[ed] for determination of all

questions of fact, and application of the law in accordance with the provisions of

[its] opinion.” Id.

       In other words, the Wahl court did not rule that the differing survivorship

provisions in the CPA and the wills create an ambiguity as a matter of law. Instead,

the Court was singularly focused on whether there was “no genuine issue as to

any material fact” as to the parties’s intent, and specifically whether they were

mistaken, when they executed those two competing documents. CR 56(c). Thus,

Wahl does not stand for the proposition that, where any two documents executed

together contain different survivorship provisions, a patent ambiguity has been

created as a matter of law. That was simply not before the Court.

       As such, we will continue to work through our general rules of contract

interpretation, including that an ambiguity should not be read into a contract where

it can reasonably be avoided by reading the contract(s) as a whole. Green River,

78 Wn.2d at 249.

                                          9
No. 85041-5-I/10

       That principle leads us to the second distinguishing factor, which relates to

a provision not found, or at least not discussed, in Wahl.

              b. The Disclaimer Provision4

       Here, unlike Wahl, the CPA has a disclaimer provision that states that, upon

the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse may disclaim any interest passing

under the CPA and “the interest disclaimed shall pass under the terms and

conditions of any validly executed Will which the decedent may have executed.”

In other words, the surviving spouse (i.e., one who survives the other by at least

30 days) may unilaterally reject the benefit of the CPA, at which time the will of the

decedent spouse will kick in, including its four-month survivorship provision.

       When read in this way, no inherent conflict exists between the survivorship

provision of the CPA and the survivorship provision of the wills.          Under the

disclaimer provision, each survivorship provision applies to a different set of facts,

depending on whether the surviving spouse decides to accept the benefits of the

CPA or disclaim those benefits and let the will control.

       This holding is consistent with case law interpreting the community property

agreement statute, RCW 26.16.120, which “enables husbands and wives to enter

into community property agreements concerning the status and disposition of their

4 Schmidt attempts to harmonize the survivorship provisions by applying the 30-

day survivorship provisions to Herbert’s will and the four-month survivorship
provisions to any and all potential beneficiaries in Eileen’s will. This approach
ignores the fact that Herbert is a beneficiary in Eileen’s Will because he will inherit
the residue of her estate if he survives her. The distinction collapses under its own
weight.

                                          10
No. 85041-5-I/11

property to take effect upon the death of either.” In re Wittman’s Estate, 58 Wn.2d

841, 843, 365 P.2d 17 (1961). Our Supreme Court held that:
       [S]uch enforceable contracts are not wills and are not governed by
       the laws relating to wills. They are completely executed when one
       of the parties to the recorded contract dies. Title to the community
       property, thereupon, vests as the sole and separate property of the
       survivor. Unless such a recorded contract is rescinded by the
       parties, it constitutes a conveyance by the decedent to a surviving
       spouse.      The property covered by it cannot be devised or
       bequeathed by will by either spouse while it remains in effect.

Wittman, 58 Wn.2d at 843-44; see also In re Estate of Catto, 88 Wn. App. 522,

527, 944 P.2d 1052 (1997) (same). While the sequencing of wills and CPA may

be inverse in those matters, our interpretation of this CPA and will does not disturb

those essential holdings.

       In short, we conclude that no patent or irreconcilable ambiguity exists

between the survivorship provisions of the CPA and the wills, when both are read

through the disclaimer provision in the CPA. Hearst Commc’ns, 154 Wn.2d at 503;

Green River, 78 Wn. 2d at 249.

       Finally, this interpretation of the CPA and the wills has the benefit of

adhering to another general rule of contract interpretation, namely, that

“[i]nterpretations giving lawful effect to all the provisions in a contract are favored

over those that render some of the language meaningless or ineffective.” Grey,

158 Wn. App. at 850. Each of the interpretations provided by the parties rendered

one of the survivorship provisions or the disclaimer provision meaningless. Such

interpretations are unsatisfying and ultimately to be avoided if possible.

                                          11
No. 85041-5-I/12

B. Attorneys Fees

       1. Additional Factual Background

       At the initial hearing on Radliff’s TEDRA petition,5 the trial judge stated that

the matter was
       [v]ery complex. Well, we have Ping-Pong. These are the kind of
       cases where there’s a Ping-Pong. If you go one direction, then it
       goes the other way. So you can go either — just depends on the
       direction of the ambiguity, whether ambiguity exists.

       And, in assessing whether an ambiguity existed between the CPA and the

wills, the trial court laid out the fact pattern of this case in a way that made it appear

very similar to that in Wahl. That was quite understandable. After giving the parties

the opportunity to mediate the matter further, the court then reviewed the extrinsic

evidence it found pertinent in finding for Radliff.

       In its order awarding attorneys fees, the trial court further found that the

litigation conferred a substantial benefit on the Estate of Eileen Royster. Finally,

in calculating the attorneys fees award, the court used the lodestar method.

       2. Law

       TEDRA grants trial courts remarkably broad discretion to award any party

its reasonable attorney fees or costs. See RCW 11.96A.150(1). Fees may be

awarded to any party “in such amount and in such manner as the court determines

to be equitable.” Id. In exercising its discretion, the court “may consider any and

5 An initial hearing on a TEDRA petition “must be a hearing on the merits to resolve

all issues of fact and all issues of law” unless “requested otherwise by a party in a
petition or answer.” RCW 11.96A.100(8). Here, there was no request in the
petition(s) or answer for the initial hearing to be anything other than a hearing on
the merits.

                                           12
No. 85041-5-I/13

all factors that it deems to be relevant and appropriate, which factors may but need

not include whether the litigation benefits the estate or trust involved.”           Id.

(emphasis added). The court may also consider whether the litigation presents

novel or unique questions or issues of first impression. In re Estate of Stover, 178

Wn. App. 550, 564, 315 P.3d 579 (2013).

      The trial court’s award of attorney fees under RCW 11.96A.150 is reviewed

for abuse of discretion. In re Guardianship of Matthews, 156 Wn. App. 201, 212,

232 P.3d 1140 (2010).

        3. Discussion

      We hold that the court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the litigation

benefitted the Eileen’s estate (even if it is no longer the prevailing party) or by

awarding Radliff his attorneys fees in this matter. The matter certainly brought

unique questions of law, which benefitted not just Eileen’s estate, but the parties

to the extent the full airing of the intent of the decedent’s was fully explored,

litigated, and resolved in one action. See RCW 11.96A.150(1)

      Finally, as the prevailing party in the appeal, we also award Schmidt his

reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in bringing this appeal. See Stover,

178 Wn. App. at 564; RAP 18.1.

                               III.   CONCLUSION

      We reverse and remand this case to the trial court to enter judgment in favor

of Schmidt, while affirming the attorney fees and costs awarded by the trial court

to Radliff, which will be paid by the Estate of Herbert Royster. We further award

reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred on this appeal to Schmidt, which shall

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No. 85041-5-I/14

be paid by the Estate of Eileen Royster. Under RAP 18.1(f), the commissioner or

clerk will determine the amount of the award, and will notify the parties of the

award, after the parties follow the procedure laid out therein.

WE CONCUR:

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