Court Opinion

ID: 9607778
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:01:59.191846+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:40.192916
License: Public Domain

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION AND PETITION FOR REHEARING
THOMAS, Chief Justice.
This case came on before the court pursuant to appellants Morrises’ Motion for Reconsideration and Petition for Rehearing, and the court having carefully considered the same, finds that the court’s original opinion affirmed the district court’s decision in all respects. This includes, of course, the following portion of the district court’s memorandum opinion regarding the extent of the Morrises’ option:
“EXTENT OF OPTION
“The defendants, John and Norma Morris, have additionally filed on November 22, 1985, a motion and/or petition for determining the extent of the exercised option granted John and Norma Morris by Item 4, paragraph 12(C) of the last will and testaments of John and Marie Bell. Morrises contend that the last wills and testaments of the Bells were finely-tuned instruments designed to favor the Morrises as beneficiaries, ensuring them that they would not be overburdened with debt in acquiring the Iron Mountain Ranch Properties. It will be the view of the Court that the motion of the Morrises should generally be denied; and the Court would further determine that the option granted to the Morrises extends- only to the land and personal property, including livestock owned and held by the John H. Bell Iron Mountain Ranch Company and contiguous real property or any real and personal property, including livestock, owned by Marie Bell used in connection with the livestock and ranching operation of the corporation. The Court has previously ruled with regard to the question of a binding agreement existing by and between John and Marie Bell. My way of listing assets that are subject to the sale provisions to Mr. and Mrs. Morris, Exhibit I to the first interim report reflects those items from the Marie J. Bell estate. See page 000334.
Finally, as to property covered by the option, the Court will adopt the position taken by Norwest Bank in its memorandum dated December 5, 1985. This disposition among other things avoids the requirement that separate hearings be conducted as to individual items and further recognizes the Court’s opinion concerning the issue of a binding agreement between John and Marie Bell.”
Specifically, the Morrises now contend that there is personal property and pro*82ceeds from the property remaining in the Bell Trust not disposed of by the majority opinion. In the court’s opinion, our rationale for affirming the trial court in its determination regarding the disposal of the real property under the Morrises’ option, is also applicable to the disposition of the personal property, and we so held by affirming the district court in all respects. Therefore, it is
ORDERED that the Motion for Reconsideration and Petition for Rehearing be, and it hereby is, denied.