IN RE: the ESTATE OF David C. PETERS (2024)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the decree so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

Memorandum: Petitioner, Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church (Church), commenced this proceeding pursuant to SCPA 1420 (1) seeking construction of certain provisions of the last will and testament (will) of David C. Peters (decedent). Respondent, Coreen Thompson, Administrator C.T.A. of the estate of decedent (Coreen), opposed the petition. At the time of his death, decedent was the owner and operator of the Arrowhawk Smoke and Gas Shop (Arrowhawk). In his will, decedent devised the assets of Arrowhawk to his daughter Coreen and his brother, Thomas Peters (Thomas), “which assets shall be used by them in the continuing operating business pursuant to the separate Business Management Agreement” (Management Agreement). The will further provided that, in the event that Coreen and Thomas “do not agree and become party to the Management Agreement, their share (one or both) shall pass” pursuant to clause Sixth C. of the will. That clause provided, in relevant part, that “[i]n the event that the parties cannot agree on the ongoing business management pursuant to the [Management] Agreement, the underlying assets shall be sold to a qualified buyer (Native American) and the proceeds shall pass to the [Church].” In its petition, the Church sought a construction of the will to find that the contingent bequest to the Church had vested inasmuch as Coreen and Thomas had not reached an agreement regarding the ongoing operation of Arrowhawk.

Coreen moved to dismiss the petition. That motion was denied by Surrogate's Court (Mohun, A.S.). The Surrogate found a latent ambiguity in the will and determined to hold a hearing at which he would receive evidence and hear arguments for and against the construction of the will as urged by the Church. The parties, however, thereafter agreed that a hearing was not necessary and consented to submit the issue for determination on papers only. Surrogate's Court (Cianfrini, S.) thereafter issued a decree that, inter alia, denied the relief sought by the Church. The Church appeals.

Initially, the Church contends that the doctrine of the law of the case precluded the Surrogate from reversing the prior finding that the will contained a latent ambiguity. Even assuming, arguendo, that the Surrogate was bound by the law of the case doctrine, “this Court is not bound by the doctrine of law of the case, and may make its own determination” (Iskalo Elec. Tower LLC v. Stantec Consulting Servs., Inc., 219 A.D.3d 1157, 1158-1159, 194 N.Y.S.3d 875 [4th Dept. 2023]; see William Metrose Ltd. Bldr./Dev. v. Waste Mgt. of N.Y., LLC, 225 A.D.3d 1223, 1224, 207 N.Y.S.3d 317 [4th Dept. 2024]; Matter of Panella [appeal No. 2], 218 A.D.3d 1198, 1203, 194 N.Y.S.3d 626 [4th Dept. 2023]).

Contrary to the Church's further contention, it is not entitled to the relief sought in its petition. “[I]n construing a will, the intention of the testator must be [the] ‘absolute guide’ ” (Matter of Bieley, 91 N.Y.2d 520, 525, 673 N.Y.S.2d 38, 695 N.E.2d 1119 [1998]; see Matter of Carmer, 71 N.Y.2d 781, 785, 530 N.Y.S.2d 88, 525 N.E.2d 734 [1988]; Matter of Bonanno, 151 A.D.3d 718, 719, 55 N.Y.S.3d 437 [2d Dept. 2017]). In ascertaining decedent's intent, “ ‘a sympathetic reading of the will as an entirety’ is required” (Carmer, 71 N.Y.2d at 785, 530 N.Y.S.2d 88, 525 N.E.2d 734, quoting Matter of Fabbri, 2 N.Y.2d 236, 240, 159 N.Y.S.2d 184, 140 N.E.2d 269 [1957]). “[T]he best indicator of the testator's intent is found in the clear and unambiguous language of the will itself and, thus, where no ambiguity exists, [e]xtrinsic evidence is inadmissible to vary the terms of a will” (Matter of Scale, 38 A.D.3d 983, 985, 830 N.Y.S.2d 618 [3d Dept. 2007] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Estate of Anderson v. Bernstein, 184 A.D.3d 429, 429, 123 N.Y.S.3d 490 [1st Dept. 2020], lv denied 36 N.Y.3d 910, 2021 WL 1217086 [2021]). “If, on the other hand, a provision of the will is ambiguous, extrinsic evidence is properly considered in discerning the testator's true intent” (Matter of McCabe, 269 A.D.2d 727, 729, 703 N.Y.S.2d 559 [3d Dept. 2000]; see Matter of Schermerhorn, 31 N.Y.2d 739, 741, 338 N.Y.S.2d 111, 290 N.E.2d 149 [1972]).

Here, it is clear from the terms of the will that it was decedent's intent to give the assets of Arrowhawk to Coreen and Thomas, to be used by them in the continued operation of the business. Shortly after decedent's death, Coreen and Thomas each signed an “Adherence Agreement” in which they agreed to adhere to and be bound by the Management Agreement. By entering into the adherence agreements, Coreen and Thomas agreed on the ongoing business management of Arrowhawk pursuant to the Management Agreement; their rights to the assets of Arrowhawk then vested, and the Church's contingent interest was extinguished. The Surrogate thus properly denied the construction of the will sought by the Church (see generally Matter of Lynch, 113 A.D.3d 616, 618, 977 N.Y.S.2d 908 [2d Dept. 2014]).