Court Opinion

ID: 9742046
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:05:48.202021+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:28.092476
License: Public Domain

SACKETT, Judge
(dissenting).
I disagree with the majority that the will of Frances Wagner disposed of a recovery for her wrongful death. I find there was no provision in Frances’ will for the distribution of a wrongful death claim.
The trial court correctly summarized the facts and the issue:
[Frances’] will was executed on November 3rd, 1978. She died on December 3rd, 1986. From the events leading to her death a wrongful death action was pursued on behalf of the Estate. A trial was conducted. After paying attorney fees and costs, a net deposit was made in the Estate’s account for the sum of $30,307.36. It is this amount which is in dispute. The Estate claims that paragraph 11(g) is a “residuary” clause, bequeathing the wrongful death receipts to Marguerite and Roy Williams. The Objectors claim that there is no residuary clause and that a fair reading of the will would lead to the conclusion that Testator died partially intestate as far as the proceeds from the wrongful death action are concerned.
The trial court found paragraph II to dispose of the residuary of Frances’ estate. Paragraph II provided as follows:
After the payment of all such debts and funeral expenses, the remainder of my property shall pass as follows:
a. To SHARON K. WILLIAMS, I give, devise and bequeath my Diamond Ring to be hers absolutely and in fee simple.
b. To PATRICIA TAYLOR, I give, devise and bequeath my Cameo Watch to be hers absolutely and in fee simple.
c. To SHARON K. WILLIAMS and PATRICIA TAYLOR, I give, devise and bequeath all my stocks and certificates to be theirs absolutely and in fee simple, share and share alike.
d. To FRANK ALBERT WAGNER, I give, devise and bequeath the sum of $1,000.00 to be his absolutely and in fee simple.
e. To VERNA JAEGGI, I give, devise and bequeath the sum of $600.00 to be hers absolutely and in fee simple.
f. To RENE ENFIELD, FRANK ALLEN WAGNER, JEFF WAGNER, CHRISTINA WAGNER, MILLISA WAGNER and MICHELLE WAGNER, I give, devise and bequeath the sum of $1.00 to each to be theirs absolutely and in fee simple. (
g. To MARGUERITE WILLIAMS and ROY WILLIAMS, I give, devise and bequeath my real property located at 1035 West 6th Street, Davenport, Iowa and legally described as the West 49 feet of the North 90 feet of Lot 14, Mitchell’s Addition to the Town (now City) of Davenport, Iowa, with the contents therein including all personal items, as well as any money left in the bank, to be theirs absolutely and in fee simple, share and share alike.
Should they predecease me or in case of common catastrophe, it is then my desire that said bequest be given to Sharon K. Williams and Patricia Taylor to be theirs absolutely and in fee simple, share and share alike. (Emphasis supplied.)
When Frances made her will, she had no reason to know a wrongful death claim would have been an asset of her estate. In her will, the items she contemplated having were specifically given.
Where the testator, intentionally or otherwise, has failed to provide in his or her will for the disposition of all of his or her property ... or has failed to provide for a contingency which has actually occurred, such as a lapse of a legacy or devise ... the court cannot place a construction on the will not warranted by its language, but the testator must be held to have died intestate as to such property. Bankers Trust Co. v. Allen, 257 Iowa 938, 946, 135 N.W.2d 607, 612 (1965).
The presumption that testator intends to dispose of the entire estate does not permit courts to rewrite into the will a provision *716omitted therefrom, and the presumption is of no greater force than the rule that heirs are not to be disinherited except by express words or necessary implication. Bankers Trust, 257 Iowa at 947, 135 N.W.2d at 612.
There is no clear provision made for any residuary. Furthermore, the following language of the will causes me to disagree with the majority that the language can be construed to include a residuary clause.
1. In the will, personal items are included in contents of house. Thus excluding by terms of will personal items not in house.
2. The words “personal items” rather than “personal property” is used.
3. The will uses the language money left in bank is given, as well as other personal items. Thus showing money in bank was not considered a “personal item” by the decedent negating the contention by the use of the words “personal items” she included residuary.
Frances Wagner did not by clear language, dispose of the wrongful death proceeds received by the estate. The will has no residuary clause and no class of property described in the will would include wrongful death proceeds that might be collected by the estate after decedent’s death.
I would reverse.