Court Opinion

ID: 9385576
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-07 14:06:20.641991+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:02.969987
License: Public Domain

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
04/07/2023 09:06 AM CDT

                                                       - 970 -
                               Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                                        313 Nebraska Reports
                                            IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                                               Cite as 313 Neb. 970

                           In re Estate of Dr. Wayne L. Ryan, deceased.
                            Constance Ryan, appellant, v. Steven Ryan,
                             Personal Representative of the Estate of
                              Dr. Wayne L. Ryan, deceased, appellee.
                                                  ___ N.W.2d ___

                                        Filed April 7, 2023.     No. S-22-252.

                 1. Judgments: Statutes: Appeal and Error. The interpretation of statutes
                    presents questions of law, and an appellate court reaches a conclusion
                    independent of that reached by the lower court.
                 2. Decedents’ Estates: Wills: Parties. The decision to dismiss a proceed-
                    ing to administer or probate an estate, including a will contest, is within
                    the discretion of the trial court; an abuse of discretion occurs when the
                    court does not protect the interests of all parties in the estate, whether
                    before the court in person or not.
                 3. Wills: Dismissal and Nonsuit. A will contest is an in rem proceeding
                    and is not an action for purposes of statutes governing civil volun-
                    tary dismissal.
                 4. Decedents’ Estates: Wills: Parties. Courts that exercise the power to
                    dismiss proceedings for the probate of a will must protect the interests
                    of all parties in the estate.
                 5. Dismissal and Nonsuit. Generally, under Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-601
                    (Reissue 2016) and 25-602 (Cum. Supp. 2022), a plaintiff has the
                    right to dismiss an action without prejudice before final submission of
                    the case, subject to compliance with conditions precedent as may be
                    imposed by the court.
                 6. ____. In those matters to which Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-601 (Reissue
                    2016) and 25-602 (Cum. Supp. 2022) apply, the statutory right to vol-
                    untary dismissal under §§ 25-601 and 25-602 is not a matter of judicial
                    grace or discretion, but neither is it absolute or without limitation.
                 7. Wills: Parties. Proceedings to probate a will are in rem, and every per-
                    son interested in the subject matter is a party whether named or not.
                                    - 971 -
           Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                    313 Nebraska Reports
                          IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                             Cite as 313 Neb. 970

 8. Wills: Dismissal and Nonsuit: Parties. Parties to a proceeding to pro-
    bate a will do not have the power to voluntarily dismiss because it is an
    in rem proceeding.
 9. Decedents’ Estates. Upon commencement of estate proceedings, the
    instant the petition is filed, the further operation or control of the mat-
    ter passes out of the hands of the petitioner and into the hands of
    the court.
10. Wills: Dismissal and Nonsuit: Parties: Jurisdiction: Presumptions.
    A party attempting to dismiss the operative pleadings to probate a will
    and any will contest, before action has been taken by the court, cannot
    deprive the court of its jurisdiction and its power. A party may cease
    to become an active participant by attempting to dismiss the petition,
    but the petition would be presumed filed for the benefit of all per-
    sons interested.
11. Wills: Dismissal and Nonsuit: Parties. A court carries a duty to protect
    all parties interested in a probate proceeding, whether such parties are
    before the court or not, but may dismiss proceedings to probate a will in
    its discretion.

   Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: Nathan
B. Cox, Judge. Reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
   Daniel J. Welch and Damien J. Wright, of Welch Law Firm,
P.C., for appellant.
   Marnie A. Jensen, David A. Lopez, and Kamron T.M. Hasan,
of Husch Blackwell, L.L.P., and John A. Svoboda, of Dvorak
Law Group, L.L.C., for appellee.
   Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, and Freudenberg,
JJ., and Kube, District Judge.
   Miller-Lerman, J.
                     NATURE OF CASE
   In this will contest, Constance Ryan, a daughter of the
decedent, appeals the order of the district court for Douglas
County that dismissed a petition filed by her sister, Stacy Ryan,
and Stacy’s children (collectively Stacy), which challenged
the validity of the 2015 will and codicil (2015 Will) of their
late father, Dr. Wayne L. Ryan. The 2015 Will was subject
                             - 972 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                     IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                        Cite as 313 Neb. 970

to informal probate. Stacy claimed that the 2015 Will was a
product of undue influence, was signed when Wayne lacked
sufficient legal capacity, or was not signed by Wayne. Stacy
claimed that a 2004 will and a 2006 codicil (2004 Will) consti-
tuted the effective last will and testament of Wayne. The chil-
dren of Wayne stood to benefit under the earlier testamentary
instruments. Constance appeared in this case as an interested
party. Certain original parties are no longer participating in
this proceeding.
   The order of dismissal was predicated on a “Joint Stipulation
for Dismissal With Prejudice” in which the estate and chil-
dren of Wayne, except Constance, represented that they had
resolved claims and defenses in this matter and sought dis-
missal with prejudice. Because the record does not show that
all interested parties were protected in this proceeding, we
determine that the district court abused its discretion when it
dismissed this matter. Accordingly, we reverse, and remand for
further proceedings.
                  STATEMENT OF FACTS
Parties.
   Wayne died on November 3, 2017, at the age of 90. His
children are Constance, Stacy, Timothy Ryan, Carol Ryan, and
Steven Ryan. On December 7, Steven filed an “Application
for Informal Probate of Will and Informal Appointment of
Personal Representative,” which sought to enter to probate the
2015 Will consisting of a “Last Will and Testament of Wayne
L. Ryan,” signed by Wayne on January 23, 2015, and a “First
Codicil to Last Will and Testament of Wayne L. Ryan,” signed
by Wayne on October 6, 2015. Under the 2015 Will, the sole
beneficiary of Wayne’s estate was the trustee of the Wayne L.
Ryan Revocable Trust, to be disposed of pursuant to the terms
of the trust.
   Wayne was the founder of Streck, Inc., a closely held
Nebraska corporation owned primarily by family members.
Constance is Streck’s current president and chief execu-
tive officer.
                              - 973 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                      IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                         Cite as 313 Neb. 970

Estate Proceedings.
   Stacy petitioned to set aside the informal probate of the
2015 Will and to contest its validity in Wayne’s estate proceed-
ings in the county court for Douglas County. Stacy claimed
that the effective last will and testament of Wayne was the will
executed on April 2, 2004, modified by a codicil thereto on
December 13, 2006. The children of Wayne stood to benefit
under the 2004 Will. Stacy claimed that the 2015 Will was the
product of undue influence, was signed when Wayne lacked
sufficient legal capacity, or was not signed by Wayne. She
alleged that beginning at least as early as 2012, Wayne had
dementia and experienced small strokes that continued until his
death. Stacy filed a notice to transfer her petition to set aside
the informal probate of the will and to contest the validity of
the will to the district court.
   Steven, as the appointed personal representative of the estate,
filed an answer generally denying allegations in the petition.
Constance filed an appearance as an interested party.
   In April 2020, Stacy unsuccessfully sought to consolidate
this will contest with a pending trust and tort contest that was
also docketed in the district court. See Ryan v. Ryan, ante p.
938, ___ N.W.2d ___ (2023). The parties filed a stipulation in
the trust and tort contest that discovery produced in that case
could be used in the will contest.
   On November 25, 2020, Steven filed a motion for summary
judgment. Stacy and Constance opposed the motion, and the
court admitted extensive evidence. The district court overruled
the motion for summary judgment because “genuine issues of
material fact do still remain with respect to a number of issues
in this matter including, but not limited to, [Wayne’s] testa-
mentary capacity in 2015, as well as whether he was unduly
influenced to execute the 2015 Will and Codicil.”
Agreement and Stipulation.
  On February 8, 2022, Stacy, Timothy, Carol, Steven,
and the estate filed a “Joint Stipulation for Dismissal With
                             - 974 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                     IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                        Cite as 313 Neb. 970

Prejudice.” The stipulation represented that “they have resolved
claims and defenses in this matter and seek the Court’s dis-
missal with prejudice of all claims and defenses stated or
that could have been stated in this case.” The impetus for the
stipulation was an agreement approved after court-ordered
mediation in the separate trust and tort case. Constance was
not a party to the agreement and objected to the stipulation
for dismissal of this will contest. The district court overruled
Constance’s motion and objection to the dismissal. On April 4,
the district court entered an order, inter alia, which dismissed
the case with prejudice “in accordance with the stipulation.”
Constance appeals.
                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
   Constance assigns, consolidated and restated, that for a vari-
ety of reasons, the district court erred when it dismissed this
will contest with prejudice.
                  STANDARDS OF REVIEW
   [1] The interpretation of statutes presents questions of law,
and an appellate court reaches a conclusion independent of
that reached by the lower court. See Mollring v. Nebraska
Dept. of Health & Human Servs., ante p. 251, 983 N.W.2d
536 (2023).
   [2] The decision to dismiss a proceeding to administer or
probate an estate, including a will contest, is within the dis-
cretion of the trial court; an abuse of discretion occurs when
the court does not protect the interests of all parties in the
estate, whether before the court in person or not. See, Hill v.
Humlicek, 156 Neb. 61, 54 N.W.2d 366 (1952); In re Estate of
Marsh, 145 Neb. 559, 17 N.W.2d 471 (1945).
                         ANALYSIS
   The “Joint Stipulation for Dismissal With Prejudice” con-
tained language to the effect that the parties thereto “have
resolved claims and defenses in this matter” and the par-
ties thereto “seek the Court’s dismissal.” We thus read the
                             - 975 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                     IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                        Cite as 313 Neb. 970

language of the stipulation and the record as a whole as
indicating that the parties to the stipulation consisting of the
estate and Wayne’s children, except Constance, had reached
a compromise and were seeking a voluntary dismissal of
this will contest. The record shows that Constance’s interests
will be impacted by dismissal. Constance contends that the
court erred when it dismissed this matter without follow-
ing the procedures in the Nebraska Probate Code relating to
compromise, see Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 30-24,123 and 30-24,124
(Reissue 2016), which correspond to Unif. Probate Code
§§ 3-1101 and 3-1102, 8 (part II) U.L.A. 417 (2013), respec-
tively. Constance also contends that the district court erred
when it endorsed a purported voluntary dismissal of this will
contest without protecting all interested parties. We find merit
to Constance’s arguments.

Probate Code Compromises.
   Sections 30-24,123 and 30-24,124 provide a procedure for
securing court approval of compromise agreements. Section
30-24,123 provides that to resolve
     any controversy as to admission to probate of any instru-
     ment offered for formal probate as the will of a decedent,
     the construction, validity, or effect of any probated will,
     the rights or interests in the estate of the decedent of any
     successor, or the administration of the estate . . . .
The policy reflected in these statutes is similar to the com-
mon law that allowed the court to review and approve family
agreements. See 31 Am. Jur. 2d Executors and Administrators
§ 38 (2022). The tension between family agreements and
the intent of the testator is discussed in a comment to the
Uniform Probate Code, which states: “The only reason for
approving a scheme of devolution which differs from that
framed by the testator or the statutes governing intestacy is
to prevent dissipation of the estate in wasteful litigation.”
Unif. Probate Code, supra, § 3-1102, Comment, 8 (part
II) U.L.A. at 419. In light of this tension, the compromise
                             - 976 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                     IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                        Cite as 313 Neb. 970

agreement must be “approved in a formal proceeding in the
court” to become “binding on all the parties thereto including
those unborn, unascertained, or who could not be located.”
§ 30-24,123.
   Section 30-24,124 provides the procedure for a court to for-
mally review and approve a compromise proposal. The terms
of the compromise must be in a written agreement and any
interested person may submit the agreement to the court for
its approval. § 30-24,124(1) and (2). Under § 30-24,124(3),
in order to approve a compromise between the parties, the
court must find that (1) “the contest or controversy is in good
faith” and (2) “the effect of the agreement upon the interests
of persons represented by fiduciaries or other representatives
is just and reasonable.” The interpretation of statutes presents
questions of law, and an appellate court reaches a conclusion
independent of that reached by the lower court. See Mollring
v. Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Servs., ante p. 251,
983 N.W.2d 536 (2023). We agree with courts interpreting
identical statutes which have held that both parts of a two-
part test must be satisfied for a court to approve a compro-
mise. See, e.g., Wilson v. Dallas, 403 S.C. 411, 743 S.E.2d
746 (2013); Unif. Probate Code, supra, § 3-1102, comment,
8 (part II) U.L.A. 419. After notice to all interested persons
or their representatives, and upon making the required find-
ings, the court shall make an order approving the agreement.
See § 30-24,124(3).
   In the present case, there is no semblance of adherence to
the foregoing procedure under § 30-24,124(3). We make no
comment regarding whether and to what extent Constance
would be bound by a compromise properly approved to which
she was not a party or a compromise which impacted her
interests to which she was not a party. In the present case,
there is no record showing the district court reviewed the
agreement or made the statutory findings as to its propriety,
but nevertheless, it “dismissed with prejudice in accordance
with the stipulation.” Because the basis of the dismissal
                               - 977 -
          Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                   313 Nebraska Reports
                      IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                         Cite as 313 Neb. 970

was a compromise that had not been properly considered as
required by § 30-24,124(3), the dismissal of the will contest
by the district court based on the compromise was an abuse
of discretion.

Voluntary Dismissal of Action.
   [3,4] On appeal, it has been urged upon us, but not by
Constance, that Stacy, as the petitioner in the case below,
had the right to dismiss this will contest with prejudice under
the civil procedure provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-601
(Reissue 2016) and 25-602 (Cum. Supp. 2022). However, as
we explain below, under Nebraska law, a will contest is an in
rem proceeding and is not an action for purposes of statutes
governing civil voluntary dismissal. Courts that exercise the
power to dismiss proceedings for the probate of a will must
protect the interests of all parties in the estate. See In re Estate
of Marsh, 145 Neb. 559, 17 N.W.2d 471 (1945). In this case,
we determine on this record that the district court abused its
discretion when it dismissed all claims with prejudice with-
out ensuring that the interests of all interested parties would
be safeguarded.
   [5,6] As an initial matter, we address the assertion that
a voluntary dismissal by Stacy is subject to civil procedure
statutes §§ 25-601 and 25-602, which codify the ability of
a plaintiff to dismiss an action without prejudice. Generally,
under these statutes, a plaintiff has the right to dismiss an
action without prejudice before final submission of the case,
subject to compliance with conditions precedent as may be
imposed by the court. See Schaaf v. Schaaf, 312 Neb. 1,
978 N.W.2d 1 (2022). In those matters to which §§ 25-601
and 25-602 apply, the statutory right to voluntary dismissal
under §§ 25-601 and 25-602 is not a matter of judicial grace
or discretion, but neither is it absolute or without limitation.
See Schaaf v. Schaaf, supra. However, as discussed below,
these voluntary dismissal principles are not suited to a will
contest proceeding.
                             - 978 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                     IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                        Cite as 313 Neb. 970

   [7] It is well settled in Nebraska that proceedings to probate
a will are in rem, and every person interested in the subject
matter is a party whether named or not. In re Estate of Dickie,
261 Neb. 533, 623 N.W.2d 666 (2001); In re Estate of Emery,
258 Neb. 789, 606 N.W.2d 750 (2000); Clutter v. Merrick, 162
Neb. 825, 77 N.W.2d 572 (1956). See, similarly, In re Estate of
Brinkman, 308 Neb. 117, 953 N.W.2d 1 (2021) (stating inter-
ested parties to estate may appeal, whether they appeared in
lower court or not).
   [8-10] We have held that the parties to a proceeding to
probate a will do not have the power to dismiss because it is
an in rem proceeding. See Hill v. Humlicek, 156 Neb. 61, 54
N.W.2d 366 (1952); In re Estate of Marsh, supra. Upon com-
mencement of estate proceedings, “[t]he instant the petition is
filed the further operation or control of the matter passes out
of the hands of the petitioner and into the hands of the court.”
In re Estate of Glover, 104 Neb. 151, 158, 175 N.W. 1017,
1019-20 (1920). We have observed that “[w]here the court
is called upon to determine the probate of a will, it is acting
upon the res of the estate . . . .” In re Estate of Sweeney, 94
Neb. 834, 835, 144 N.W. 902, 902 (1913) (emphasis omit-
ted) (syllabus of the court). A party attempting to dismiss the
operative pleadings to probate a will and any will contest,
before action has been taken by the court, cannot deprive the
court of its jurisdiction and its power. See Hill v. Humlicek,
supra (citing In re Estate of Glover, supra). A party may
cease to become an active participant by attempting to dis-
miss the petition, but the petition would be presumed filed
for the benefit of all persons interested. See In re Estate of
Glover, supra.
   [11] A court carries a duty to protect all parties interested
in a probate proceeding, whether such parties are before the
court or not, but may dismiss proceedings to probate a will
in its discretion. See In re Estate of Marsh, 145 Neb. 559, 17
N.W.2d 471 (1945). When exercising the court’s power over
probate proceedings, “it is the duty of the court to protect
                              - 979 -
          Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                   313 Nebraska Reports
                      IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                         Cite as 313 Neb. 970

all parties to the proceeding, whether before the court in person
or not, and any failure to do so is subject to review.” Id. at 565,
17 N.W.2d at 475-76.
   The adoption of the Uniform Probate Code, which does not
supply a procedure for dismissal, leaves the above principles
of law intact. See, also, Mamoulian v. St. Louis University, 732
S.W.2d 512 (Mo. 1987) (holding that will contest may not be
voluntarily dismissed under Uniform Probate Code). In this
regard, we note that Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2203 (Reissue 2016)
provides that “[u]nless displaced by the particular provisions of
this code, the principles of law and equity supplement its pro-
visions.” Accordingly, we continue to adhere to the principles
just recited and apply them to this case.
   As noted, dismissal of a proceeding to probate an estate is
an abuse of discretion when it does not protect the interests
of all parties in the estate, whether before the court in person
or not. Constance was an “interested person” as a child of the
decedent, see Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2209(21) (Reissue 2016),
and a beneficiary under the 2004 Will if it was found to be
controlling. Stacy’s objection to the probate of the 2015 Will
is presumed to have been filed on behalf of all interested per-
sons. The district court made no rulings showing its consid-
eration of or its adherence to its duty to protect the interests
of all parties interested in the estate, and on the record pro-
vided, it did not inquire if the compromising parties resolved
the matter for their benefit to the exclusion of Constance,
who stood in the same position. See Mamoulian v. St. Louis
University, supra. Because the court had not determined the
validity of any of the testamentary instruments, the will con-
test should have remained pending even if some parties no
longer intended to participate in it. In this situation, Neb. Rev.
Stat. § 30-2429.01(4) (Cum. Supp. 2022) provides in part that
“[t]he district court may order such additional pleadings as
necessary and shall thereafter determine whether the decedent
left a valid will.” Because the district court abused its dis-
cretion when it dismissed the matter and the validity of the
                            - 980 -
         Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
                  313 Nebraska Reports
                    IN RE ESTATE OF RYAN
                       Cite as 313 Neb. 970

2015 Will has not been resolved, we reverse, and remand for
further proceedings.
                        CONCLUSION
   The district court abused its discretion when it dismissed
the will contest with prejudice. Accordingly, we reverse, and
remand for further proceedings.
                              Reversed and remanded for
                              further proceedings.
   Stacy, Funke, and Papik, JJ., not participating.