Court Opinion

ID: 9699964
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 21:01:11.693335+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:01.434025
License: Public Domain

Sullivan, J.
(concurring in result). I agree with the result reached in the majority opinion but would not rest it on the doctrine of probable intent. To me, a proper construction of the written wills against the background of the undisputed facts and circumstances, leads me to the firm conclusion that the intent of the common disaster clause as it appears in each will was to divide each residuary estate equally between the two families. In other words, Rose Siegel and Ida Engle are mentioned as class or family representatives rather than individually.
Since Albert and Judith each intended and understood that the clause, as written, effected such a result, no change was made in the wills even though Rose died in 1967, some six years prior to the September 1973 tragedy. Therefore, construing the wills as written, I agree that the judgment of the Appellate Division should be reversed and that the residuary estates of Albert and Judith should be distributed one-half to Ida Engle and the other divided equally between Leo H. Siegel and Judith Siegel Baron.