Estate of: William F. Binnig ( 2016 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
ESTATE OF: WILLIAM F. BINNIG, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
DECEASED PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: KIMBERLY HENSEL
No. 1204 EDA 2015
Appeal from the Order Entered March 30, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Orphans' Court at No(s): 12 DE of 2013
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., LAZARUS, J., and STABILE, J.
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED APRIL 04, 2016
Kimberly Hensel appeals from the order1 entered in the Court of
Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Orphans’ Court Division, confirming
the account filed by William J. Binnig, Executor of the Will of William F.
Binnig, Deceased. After review, we affirm.
Decedent died on February 5, 2012, leaving a will dated October 28,
2005, which was duly probated. Letters Testamentary were issued to
Binnig, Decedent’s son, on February 15, 2012. Decedent was survived by
Binnig and three granddaughters, Barbara Dymowski, Debra Moshinski, and
Hensel, appellant herein. Decedent’s will provided that Binnig was to receive
half of his estate, with the other half to be divided equally among his three
granddaughters. On the same date he executed his will, Decedent had also
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1
While the notice of appeal in this matter states that this appeal is from the
“order” entered on March 30, 2015, we note that the appeal is actually taken
from an adjudication entered on that date.
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executed a durable power of attorney (“POA”) in which he named Binnig as
his agent.
At some point in 2011, Decedent’s physical and mental capacities
began to fail and, in July 2011, Binnig, as agent under the POA, began
paying the Decedent’s bills. On August 4, 2011, Binnig, his wife, Linda, and
Decedent’s three granddaughters met with Gerald Clarke, Esquire, to discuss
“advice and strategy concerning [Decedent’s] assets and the possibility of
the need for nursing home care in the near future.” Stipulation of the
Parties, at ¶ 2. The Decedent was not present at the meeting and was not
consulted regarding the issues discussed. As a result of the discussion with
Attorney Clarke, Binnig, again acting under the POA, transferred
approximately $373,000 from Decedent’s various accounts into a newly-
opened “Medicaid Planning account” at the Police and Fire Federal Credit
Union (“PFFCU”). The new account was titled solely in Binnig’s name.
Binnig also executed new beneficiary designations for the Decedent’s life
insurance and annuity policies, which had continued to list Decedent’s
deceased wife as primary beneficiary. Binnig changed the designations in
order “to have a living beneficiary.” N.T. Trial, 4/10/14, at 76.
Binnig filed two accounts before the Orphans’ Court, one in his
capacity as agent under the POA and another as executor of the Decedent’s
estate. Hensel filed objections to both accounts, which were consolidated for
trial on August 10, 2014. Hensel objected to, inter alia, asset transfers, gifts
and change of beneficiary designations made by Binnig.
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After trial, the Orphans’ Court issued adjudications with respect to
both accounts. In its adjudication of the agency account, the court
sustained objections regarding certain gifts made by Binnig to Decedent’s
family members; the changes made to Decedent’s beneficiary designations;
the “Medicaid planning” transfers made by Binnig to the PFFCU account; and
certain withdrawals made by Binnig from Decedent’s accounts after his
death. The court voided the “Medicaid planning” transfers and beneficiary
designations. No party appealed the agency adjudication.
In its adjudication of the executor’s account, the court, inter alia,
overruled Hensel’s objection to Binnig’s failure to account for the proceeds of
Decedent’s life insurance and annuity policies; found that one IRA and the
savings account under PFFCU account number ****3301 were held in trust
for Binnig and, thus, were non-probate assets; concluded that all funds held
in Decedent’s Wells Fargo account were owned jointly by Decedent and
Binnig and, as such, were non-probate assets; and declined to award Hensel
attorney’s fees.
Hensel filed a timely appeal to the adjudication of the executor’s
account, followed by a court-ordered statement of errors complained of on
appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). The Orphans’ Court issued its Rule
1925(a) opinion on September 9, 2015.
On appeal, Hensel raises the following claims for our review:
1. Whether the [Orphans’ Court] committed an error in its
conclusion that the PFFCU account number ****3301 was a
multiple-party trust account pursuant to 20 Pa.C.S.A. [§] 6301,
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et seq[.,] and that the funds transferred by [Binnig] from the
account before and after Decedent’s death belong to [Binnig] as
opposed to the Estate?
2. Whether the [Orphans’ Court] committed an error in its
conclusion that the funds removed from the Wells Fargo Bank
account [with a number ending in 3692] in the amount of
$97,267.00 before the death of Decedent devolved to [Binnig]?
3. Whether the [Orphans’ Court] committed an error in its
failure to surcharge [Binnig] for the value of Decedent’s life
insurance policies in the amount of $11,000.00?
4. Whether the [Orphans’ Court] committed an error in its
conclusion that attorney’s fees to [Hensel were] not warranted
because the efforts of counsel for [Hensel] did not add new
[assets] or additional funds to the estate?
5. Whether the [Orphans’ Court’s] award of executor’s
commission and additional fees was excessive under
Pennsylvania case law?
Brief of Appellant, at 5-6.
Before addressing Hensel’s claims, we must set forth the applicable
standard of review.
Our standard of review of an [O]rphans’ [C]ourt’s decision is
deferential. When reviewing an [O]rphans’ [C]ourt decree, this
Court must determine whether the record is free from legal error
and whether the [O]rphans’ [C]ourt’s findings are supported by
the record. Because the [O]rphans’ [C]ourt sits as the finder of
fact, it determines the credibility of the witnesses and, on
review, this Court will not reverse its credibility determinations
absent an abuse of discretion. However, this Court is not bound
to give the same deference to the [O]rphans’ [C]ourt[’s]
conclusions of law. Where the rules of law on which the
[O]rphans’ [C]ourt relied are palpably wrong or clearly
inapplicable, we will reverse the court’s decree. Moreover, we
point out that an abuse of discretion is not merely an error of
judgment. However, if in reaching a conclusion, the court
overrides or misapplies the law, or the judgment exercised is
shown by the record to be manifestly unreasonable or the
product of partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill will, discretion has
been abused.
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Estate of Sachetti, 128 A.3d 273, 281-82 (Pa. Super. 2015) (internal
citations omitted).
Hensel first asserts that the Orphans’ Court erred in concluding that
PFFCU account number ****3301 was a multiple-party trust account
pursuant to 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 6301, et seq., and that, therefore, the funds
Binnig transferred from that account to the Medicaid planning account
belong to Binnig rather than the Estate after the Medicaid planning transfers
were voided. In support of this claim, Hensel argues that the evidence cited
by the court in support of its conclusion, “Exhibit R-1,” a bank statement
dated February 28, 2011, on which appears the designation “ITF William J.
Binnig,” is insufficient to prove that account ****3301 was, in fact, a trust
account. Rather, Hensel asserts that Binnig should have been required to
produce “a signature card, account access agreement, a deposit agreement
or any reliable evidence which proved that [account ****3301] was a multi-
party trust account.” Brief of Appellant, at 14. This claim is unavailing.
We note that Hensel does not challenge Exhibit R-1’s authenticity.
Rather, she believes that Binnig was required to provide more “reliable”
evidence of the PFFCU account’s ownership. However, Hensel fails to
provide us with citation to pertinent authority setting forth purported
standards of “reliability” necessary to prove ownership of a bank account.
Although she cites to three cases allegedly supporting her claim that proof in
the form of a signature card or deposit agreement is required, those cases
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do not actually address evidentiary burdens related to the type or quantum
of proof necessary to prove ownership of a bank account.
Here, the Orphans’ Court made a factual determination that the PFFCU
account statement was sufficient to prove that the funds contained therein
were held in trust for Binnig. With regard to such determinations, “[w]e will
not disturb the trial court’s findings absent a manifest error; we may modify
the decree only if the findings upon which the decree rests are unsupported
by the evidence or . . . a capricious disbelief of competent evidence.” In re
Estate of Eastman, 760 A.2d 16, 18 (Pa. Super. 2000). Because the
Orphans’ Court’s finding is supported by the record, and Hensel presented
no evidence to rebut Binnig’s claim of ownership other than her own belief
as to what Decedent would have intended, we will not disturb the court’s
finding.
Hensel also claims that the Orphans’ Court erred by admitting Exhibit
R-1 into evidence because Binnig violated the court’s pre-trial orders by
failing to identify any witnesses or documents he planned to introduce at
trial. However, Hensel cites no authority in support of this claim. An
appellant waives an issue on appeal where she fails to a present claim with
citations to relevant authority or to develop the issue in meaningful fashion
capable of review. Green Acres Rehab. & Nursing Ctr. v. Sullivan, 113
A.3d 1261, 1267 n.4 (Pa. Super. 2015), citing Commonwealth v.
Johnson, 985 A.2d 915 (Pa. 2009). Because Hensel has failed to develop
this argument, it is waived.
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Hensel also asserts that, even if Exhibit R-1 was sufficient to establish
that account ****3301 was a trust account, the court was still incorrect in
awarding the funds from the void Medicaid planning transfer to Binnig
because the funds were not “remaining on deposit” at the time of Decedent’s
death as required under section 6304(b) of the Multiple Party Accounts Act
(“MPAA”). Hensel further asserts that the cases relied upon by the Orphans’
Court, which support the conclusion that funds transferred from a joint
account may retain survivorship characteristics under certain circumstances,
are inapposite to the instant matter because the account in question was not
joint, but rather “in trust for” Binnig.
In its adjudication, the Orphans’ Court specifically found that Binnig’s
actions in transferring funds from joint and trust accounts into the Medicaid
planning account were improper, as they were not authorized by the POA.2
Because Binnig lacked authority to make the transfers, the court declared
them to be void, meaning they had “no legal effect.” Black’s Law Dictionary
(10th ed. 2014). As such, the result of the court’s action was to return the
funds to the status quo ante, as if the transfers never occurred. Thus,
Hensel’s argument that the funds were not “remaining on deposit” at the
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2
Because Hensel did not appeal the adjudication of the agency account, the
record in the principal’s estate case-type was not forwarded to this court.
Consequently, we do not have access to a copy of the POA document and
cannot confirm the correctness of the Orphans’ Court’s ruling as to the
powers conferred by the POA. In any event, no party challenged this ruling
and, as such, it is the law of the case.
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time of Decedent’s death is unavailing, as the court’s ruling constructively
returned the funds to their original state. Accordingly, she is entitled to no
relief on this claim.
Next, Hensel claims that the Orphans’ Court erred in concluding that
the funds removed from the Wells Fargo Bank account ending in 3692
(“Wells Fargo account”) in the amount of $97,267.00 before the death of
Decedent devolved to Binnig. Prior to trial, the parties stipulated that the
Wells Fargo account had been owned jointly by Binnig and the Decedent.
They also stipulated that, as part of the Medicaid planning strategy agreed to
by the parties, Binnig transferred the sum of $97,267 from the Wells Fargo
account to the Medicaid planning account, titled solely in Binnig’s name, at
PFFCU. Hensel argues that the joint tenancy of the original account was
severed when Binnig, having transferred the funds to another account,
exercised bad faith by using the money for his own purposes.
The Orphans’ Court found that, although Binnig removed the funds
from the joint account, the joint tenancy was not severed because he used
the funds for the benefit of the Decedent in good faith. We agree.
Generally, the creation of a joint bank account, with the right of
survivorship, raises the presumption of a valid inter vivos gift. Estate of
Allen, 412 A.2d 833, 837 (Pa. 1980), citing Dzierski Estate, 296 A.2d 716(Pa. 1972). As a result, the burden of proof shifts to the contesting party to
demonstrate the absence of a gift by clear, precise and convincing evidence.
Beniger Estate, 296 A.2d 773, 776 (Pa. 1972). The fact that a joint tenant
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withdraws the money and places it in another account in his own name is
insufficient to sever the joint tenancy without more to justify a finding that
he was not acting for the mutual benefit of both joint tenants. Id. at 777.
Here, Binnig, Hensel and Decedent’s other granddaughters all agreed
that funds from certain of Decedent’s accounts would be withdrawn and re-
deposited in an account in Binnig’s sole name for purposes of Medicaid
planning. Although the Orphans’ Court ultimately concluded that Binnig
lacked authority to make those transfers, Hensel provided no proof that any
of the funds so transferred were used by Binnig to benefit himself.
Accordingly, either the funds were restored to their original status, see
discussion supra, at 7, or Binnig’s withdrawal of the funds did not sever
the joint tenancy As such, he is entitled to the proceeds remaining on
deposit in the Wells Fargo account at Decedent’s death, together with those
funds ordered by the court to be returned to the account as a result of the
court’s finding that the Medicaid planning transfers were void. See id.
Next, Hensel claims that the Orphans’ Court erred by failing to
surcharge Binnig for the value of Decedent’s life insurance and annuity
policies. Hensel asserts that, had Binnig not altered the beneficiary
designations, the proceeds of the policies would have been assets of the
Decedent’s estate and, thus, Binnig should be surcharged in the amount of
$11,000, the value of the policies. This claim is meritless.
Here, the original primary beneficiary of Decedent’s life insurance and
annuity policies was his wife, who predeceased him. Believing that it would
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be preferable to have a living person named as beneficiary, Binnig used his
purported authority under the POA to make himself the primary beneficiary.
However, the Orphans’ Court concluded that the POA did not grant Binnig
the authority to alter the beneficiary designation, and declared his action
void. Accordingly, the beneficiary designations for both policies reverted to
the original designations listed by the Decedent. In the case of the annuity
policy, Exhibit P-6 indicates that the proceeds are now payable outside of
the probate estate to Binnig (50%), Hensel (16.67%), Moshinski (16.67%)
and Dymowski (16.67%). Thus, the proceeds were not required to be listed
as an asset of the estate and no surcharge was appropriate.
With respect to Decedent’s life insurance policy, neither party
presented any evidence as to the identity of the beneficiary or beneficiaries
entitled to the policy proceeds once the court declared Binnig’s change of
beneficiary void. “In general, one who seeks to surcharge a trustee bears
the burden of proving that the trustee breached an applicable fiduciary
duty.” Estate of Stetson, 345 A.2d 679, 690 (Pa. 1975). Because Hensel
has not proven that the insurance proceeds are estate assets, she has failed
to demonstrate that Binnig’s actions amounted to a breach of fiduciary duty.
Accordingly, the court properly declined to impose a surcharge.
Hensel next asserts that the Orphans’ Court committed an error in
declining to award her attorney’s fees because the efforts of her counsel did
not result in additional assets or funds to the estate. We find this claim to
be without merit.
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We begin by noting:
Normally, the attorney’s fees for a party who files [objections] to
an account are not paid from the estate. However, this general
rule is subject to an exception where the estate is substantially
benefitted by the efforts of an [objectant’s] counsel, which have
resulted in an administrator being required to include in his
inventory of the estate valuable assets previously not included.
In that situation, it is within the discretion of the court to
compensate the [objectant’s] counsel fees out of estate funds.
In re Padezanin, 937 A.2d 475, 484 (Pa. Super. 2007) (internal citations
and punctuation omitted).
Here, Hensel’s sole argument in support of the award of counsel fees
stems from the Orphans’ Court’s surcharge of Binnig for the transfers to the
Medicaid planning account and gifts made to family members. However, this
surcharge was imposed in the court’s adjudication of Binnig’s agency
account, not the executor’s account. That adjudication is not before this
court, as neither party filed an appeal. If Hensel believed her efforts were
instrumental in restoring funds to the principal’s estate, she had the
opportunity to pursue them in that case. Having failed to do so, she has
waived any challenge to the actions taken, or not taken, by the court in the
agency adjudication. In any event, the vast majority of the funds
represented by the surcharge ultimately passed to Binnig, and not the
estate, by virtue of the court’s determination that the funds retained their
joint or “in trust for” status once the improper transfers were declared void.
Thus, Hensel’s actions in objecting to Binnig’s actions did not substantially
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benefit the estate. See id. Accordingly, she is not entitled to an award of
attorney’s fees and this claim is meritless.
Finally, Hensel claims that the Orphans’ Court’s award of executor’s
commission and additional fees was excessive under Pennsylvania case law.
For the following reasons, we disagree.
The executor of an estate is entitled to “such compensation . . . as
shall in the circumstances be reasonable and just[.]” 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 3537.
The basis for determining whether compensation is reasonable depends
upon the value of the services actually rendered. In re Estate of Geniviva,
675 A.2d 306, 312-13 (Pa. Super. 1996), citing In re Estate of Rees, 625
A.2d 1203 (Pa. Super. 1993). “[E]xecutors seeking compensation from an
estate have the burden of establishing facts which show the reasonableness
of their fees and entitlement to the compensation claimed.” Rees, 625 A.2d
at 1206. The determination of whether the executor’s fees are reasonable is
left to the sound discretion of the Orphans’ Court, and we will not disturb its
determination absent a clear error or an abuse of discretion. Id. “An abuse
of discretion may not be found merely because an appellate court might
have reached a different conclusion, but requires a result of manifest
unreasonableness, or partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will, or such lack of
support so as to be clearly erroneous.” Jacobs v. Chatwani, 922 A.2d 950,
960 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citation omitted).
Here, the Orphans’ Court stated that the fee awarded to Binnig, the
sum of $12,474.00, was approximately 4.5% of the “gross probate estate as
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listed in the Account.” Orphans’ Court Opinion, 9/9/15, at 16. The “gross
probate estate” set forth in the account is listed as $276,799.90, of which
$12,474.00 is, in fact, approximately 4.5%. However, in its adjudication,
the Court states that the estate received the gross sum of $553,425.50 from
the principal’s estate, and subtracted therefrom the assets determined to be
non-probate, to arrive at a gross probate receipt of $202,647.94.3 Of the
gross receipt as stated in the adjudication, the executor’s fee represents
6.15%.
Upon review of the record, and mindful of our deferential standard of
review, we can discern no abuse of discretion on the part of the Orphans’
Court in its award of the executor’s commission, plus reimbursement of
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3
It appears that the discrepancy between the gross receipts as stated by the
accountant and those stated by the court stems from the fact that
surcharges imposed in the agency account adjudication for the improper
transfers of joint and “in trust for” funds to the Medicaid planning account
should never have been added back into the balance on hand awarded in the
agency account adjudication, as the court ultimately determined that they
passed by operation of law to Binnig. The court should have addressed the
nature and disposition of those funds in the context of the agency account
adjudication, rather than making an inflated award to the decedent’s estate
and then disposing of the ownership issues in the context of the executor’s
accounting. This Court notes with disfavor the manner in which the
Orphans’ Court delayed disposition of issues that properly should have been
addressed in the agency account adjudication until the adjudication of the
executor’s account. In doing so, the court unnecessarily complicated
appellate review of a matter that should have been relatively
straightforward. For his part, Binnig could have “piggy-backed” his agency
account to the executor’s account pursuant to 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 3501.2, thus
alleviating much of the confusion caused by the piecemeal adjudication of
interrelated issues.
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$7,600.00 expended by Binnig in time and materials in connection with the
extensive renovation of the Decedent’s home in preparation for sale.
Jacobs, supra (“An abuse of discretion may not be found merely because
an appellate court might have reached a different conclusion[.]”)
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/4/2016
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