H&W v. The Estate of Wiggins

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 39129
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF )
VIVIAN WIGGINS AND EMERSON D. )
WIGGINS, DECEASED. )
--------------------------------------------------------
)
STATE OF IDAHO, DEPARTMENT OF ) Boise, June 2013 Term
HEALTH & WELFARE, )
) 2013 Opinion No. 85
Petitioner-Appellant-Cross Respondent, )
) Filed: August 9, 2013
v. )
) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
LYNN WIGGINS, personal representative )
of THE ESTATE OF VIVIAN WIGGINS )
and EMERSON D. WIGGINS, )
)
Respondent-Cross Appellant. )
________________________________________
Appeal from the district court of the Third Judicial District of the
State of Idaho, Washington County. Hon. Linda Copple Trout, presiding,
The order of the district court is reversed and this case is remanded for
further action consistent with this Opinion. Costs on appeal are awarded
to Appellant.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, attorneys for
Appellant. W. Corey Cartwright argued.
R. Brad Masingill, Weiser, attorney for Respondent.
_____________________________
W. JONES, Justice
I. NATURE OF THE CASE
This is an appeal from an order disallowing the Idaho Department of Health and
Welfare’s (“the Department”) attempt to recover assets in a probate proceeding as authorized by
I.C. § 56-218. The Department seeks to recover assets of a deceased Medicaid recipient, Vivian
Wiggins (“Vivian”), from the estate of Vivian’s deceased spouse, Emerson Wiggins
(“Emerson”), for medical assistance payments made on Vivian’s behalf. The magistrate court
held that the Department could not reach the separate property of Emerson, a decision which was
affirmed by the district court. The Department appeals to this Court.
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II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Vivian and Emerson Wiggins were a married couple. Vivian passed away on January 30,
2009, and Emerson passed away on February 9, 2009. In June 2002, at the age of 90, Vivian was
admitted to a nursing home. On November 18, 2002, Vivian and Emerson applied for medical
assistance to help pay for Vivian’s medical care. They applied again on August 27, 2003. On
September 1, 2003, Vivian became eligible for Medicaid, and the Department paid at least
$272,134 for Vivian’s care. The Department received a voluntary payment of $7,460 in April of
2008.
On May 21, 2009, a joint probate estate for Vivian and Emerson (“the Estate”) was
opened. The inventory of the Estate showed assets of $78,659. The Department, on November
23, 2009, filed a claim against the Estate for medical assistance paid on Vivian’s behalf in the
amount of $264,674. On November 30, 2009, the personal representative of the Estate filed a
Notice of Disallowance of claim. The trial court heard the Department’s petition on February 3,
2010. In open court, the parties stipulated that the Department treated Vivian as though she had
entered into a Marriage Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) with Emerson for the purpose of
Medicaid eligibility. The admitted purpose of the MSA, though the document was never found,
was to transfer any assets over $3,000 that Vivian held as community property with Emerson to
Emerson as his separate property so Vivian would be eligible for Medicaid. The trial court found
that the assets of the Estate were Emerson’s separate property on the basis that the MSA
transmuted Vivian and Emerson’s community property except for $3,000 into the separate
property of Emerson. The trial court found that Emerson had no legal obligation to repay the
Department from his “separate property” for Vivian’s care. The trial court filed its decision on
March 30, 2010. On April 7, 2010, the Department filed its notice of Appeal to the district court.
On July 20, 2011, the district court entered its decision on appeal. The district court
affirmed the trial court. The district court held that the ultimate issue was whether I.C. § 56-218
and 42 U.S.C. § 1396p defined the Medicaid recipient’s estate to include the transmuted separate
property of a surviving spouse. The district court held that Idaho has not defined an individual’s
estate to include the separate property of a surviving spouse because Idaho permits the
transmutation of property for Medicaid eligibility and Idaho’s community property laws provide
that the separate property of a spouse is not subject to the debts of the community. Therefore, the
district court held that the Department was required to take action to void the MSA before it
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could seek to recover from Emerson’s separate property. The Department filed a notice of appeal
with this Court on August 25, 2011.
III. ISSUES ON APPEAL
1. Whether the district court erred when it concluded that I.C. § 56-218(1) and 42 U.S.C. §
1396p prohibited the Department from recovering from Vivian’s community property
when that property was transmuted to Emerson as separate property for purposes of
making Vivian eligible for Medicaid.
2. Whether the Estate is entitled to an award of attorney fees and costs below pursuant to
I.C. § 12-117 or I.C. § 12-121.
3. Whether the Estate is entitled to attorney fees on appeal pursuant to .C. § 12-117 or I.C. §
12-121.
IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The interpretation of a statute is a question of law over which this Court exercises free review.
Curlee v. Kootenai Cnty. Fire & Rescue, 148 Idaho 391, 398, 224 P.3d 458, 465 (2008).
V. ANALYSIS
A. The district court erred when it concluded that I.C. § 56-218(1) and 42 U.S.C. §
1396p did not permit the Department from recovering from Vivian’s community
property when that property was transmuted to Emerson as his separate
property for the purpose of making Vivian eligible for Medicaid without the
Department first setting aside the MSA.
The Department argues that I.C. § 56-218 permits it to recover from either the estate of
the Medicaid recipient or the estate of the recipient’s surviving spouse regardless of whether the
property is community or separate. The Department also argues that the district court erred when
it concluded that IDAPA 16.03.09.905.05—which specifically provides that an MSA will not
preclude recovery—was deleted in 2010 because this rule was not deleted, just renumbered. The
Department argues that permitting such recovery is consistent with federal law because 42
U.S.C. § 1396p(h)(1) expanded the scope of recovery by expanding the definition of “assets” to
include assets that were shifted away from the recipient spouse so said spouse could be eligible
for Medicaid.
The Estate argues that I.C. § 56-218 does not permit the recovery of separate property of
a recipient’s surviving spouse. The Estate acknowledges that I.C. § 56-218(1) permits recovery
against the recipient’s spouse but argues that the definition is lacking because it does not define
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what is included in the estate. The Estate contends that the legislature only contemplated
recovery against the community property of the recipient’s surviving spouse; particularly, the
Estate argues that there is no distinction between what was always the separate property of the
surviving spouse and what was once community property. Finally, the Estate argues that federal
law does not resolve this issue because it permits the States to expand the definition of what
constitutes an asset for purposes of recovery, but Idaho was not explicit in allowing recovery
against the surviving spouse’s separate property.
The magistrate court rejected the Department’s interpretation that all property transferred
to the spouse after the look-back period can be recovered. The magistrate court rejected the
Department’s argument that any arrangement or transfer occurring after the look-back date
constituted an asset provided for by statute. Finally, the magistrate court concluded that the
legislature intended to permit parties to use an MSA to “avoid repayment.” Since, those
agreements are not effective on death, they are not included within assets recoverable as defined
by statute.
On appeal to the district court, the district court ultimately concluded the issue was
whether the transmuted property was included in the “estate” under Idaho and federal law. The
district court noted that federal law permits States to broaden the “estate” for the purposes of
recovery to include assets in which the recipient had an interest at the time of death. The district
court likewise concluded that an “asset” likely includes property transmuted by an MSA.
However, the district court held that because Idaho Dep’t of Health & Welfare v. Jackman, 132
Idaho 213, 970 P.2d 6 (1998), does not directly address this issue, and because Idaho community
property laws provide that the separate property of a spouse is not subject to the community debt,
the Department should be required to void the MSA before seeking recovery from the separate
property of Emerson.
The interpretation of a statute is a question of law over which this Court exercises
free review. State v. Hart, 135 Idaho 827, 829, 25 P.3d 850, 852 (2001).
Interpretation of a statute begins with an examination of the statute’s literal
words. State v. Burnight, 132 Idaho 654, 659, 978 P.2d 214, 219 (1999). Where
the language of a statute is plain and unambiguous, courts give effect to the
statute as written, without engaging in statutory construction. State v. Rhode, 133
Idaho 459, 462, 988 P.2d 685, 688 (1999). Only where the language is ambiguous
will this Court look to rules of construction for guidance and consider the
reasonableness of proposed interpretations. Albee v. Judy, 136 Idaho 226, 231, 31
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P.3d 248, 253 (2001). Idaho Conservation League, Inc. v. Idaho State Dep’t of
Agric., 143 Idaho 366, 368, 146 P.3d 632, 634 (2006). “Moreover, unless a
contrary purpose is clearly indicated, ordinary words will be given their ordinary
meaning when construing a statute.” Corp. of Presiding Bishop of Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 123 Idaho at 415, 849 P.2d at 88 (citing Bunt v.
City of Garden City, 118 Idaho 427, 430, 797 P.2d 135, 138 (1990)). In
construing a statute, this Court will not deal in any subtle refinements of the
legislation, but will ascertain and give effect to the purpose and intent of the
legislature, based on the whole act and every word therein, lending substance and
meaning to the provisions. George W. Watkins Family v. Messenger, 118 Idaho
537, 539–40, 797 P.2d 1385, 1387–88 (1990).
Curlee v. Kootenai Cnty. Fire & Rescue, 148 Idaho 391, 398, 224 P.3d 458, 465 (2008).
The Medicaid program is a “cooperative endeavor [with the States] in which the Federal
Government provides financial assistance to participating States to aid them in furnishing health
care to needy persons.” Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297, 308 (1980). Under this program, States
make legislation and rules, which are submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human
Services for approval. 42. U.S.C. 1396a(a)–(b). The States receive federal payments for the
program, but such payments are conditioned on various federal rules governing when and to
what extent payments may be recovered from individuals. 42 U.S.C. § 1396p. With respect to
Medicaid, Congress did not intend to occupy the entire Medicaid field of law because federal law
calls for participation with States and the enacting of state law. Idaho Dep’t of Health & Welfare
v. McCormick, 153 Idaho 468, 472, 283 P.3d 785, 789 (2012).
1. Federal Medicaid Law
The federal provision governing Medicaid recovery is 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(b)(1), which
provides in relevant part:
[T]he State shall seek adjustment or recovery of any medical assistance correctly
paid on behalf of an individual under the State plan in the case of the following
individuals . . . . (B) In the case of an individual who was 55 years of age or older
when the individual received such medical assistance, the State shall seek
adjustment or recovery from the individual’s estate . . . .
Federal law defines the term “estate” as follows:
[T]he term “estate”, with respect to a deceased individual—(A) shall include all
real and personal property and other assets included within the individual’s estate,
as defined for purposes of State probate law; and (B) may include, at the option of
the State (and shall include, in the case of an individual to whom paragraph
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(1)(C)(i) applies), any other real and personal property and other assets in which
the individual had any legal title or interest at the time of death (to the extent of
such interest), including such assets conveyed to a survivor, heir, or assign of the
deceased individual through joint tenancy, tenancy in common, survivorship, life
estate, living trust, or other arrangement.
42 U.S.C. § 1396(p)(b)(4) (emphasis added). Federal law goes on to define “assets” in the
general definitions provisions on § 1396p as follows:
[T]he term “assets”, with respect to an individual, includes all income and
resources of the individual and of the individual’s spouse, including any income
or resources which the individual or such individual’s spouse is entitled to but
does not receive because of action—(A) by the individual or such individual’s
spouse . . . .
42 U.S.C. § 1396(p)(h)(1).
2. Idaho Medicaid Law
The Idaho counterpart of the federal Medicaid Law is I.C. § 56-218. Idaho Code § 56-
218(1) provides for the recovery of certain assistance provided by Medicaid:
Except where exempted or waived in accordance with federal law medical
assistance pursuant to this chapter paid on behalf of an individual who was fifty-
five (55) years of age or older when the individual received such assistance may
be recovered from the individual’s estate, and the estate of the spouse, if any, for
such aid paid to either or both . . . .
(Emphasis added). Idaho Code §56-218(4) defines “estate” as follows:
[T]he term “estate” shall include: (a) All real and personal property and other
assets included within the individual’s estate, as defined for purposes of state
probate law; and (b) Any other real and personal property and other assets in
which the individual had any legal title or interest at the time of death, to the
extent of such interest, including such assets conveyed to a survivor, heir or
assign, of the deceased individual through joint tenancy, tenancy in common,
survivorship, life estate, living trust, or other arrangement.
(Emphasis added). Idaho law grants the Department the authority to promulgate rules regarding
Medicaid benefits. I.C. § 56-202(b). The Department adopted the following regulation further
clarifying what assets are considered part of the estate for purposes of recovery:
Limits on the Department’s claim against the assets of a deceased participant or
spouse are subject to Section 56-218 and 56-218A, Idaho Code. A claim against
the estate of a spouse of a participant is limited to the value of the assets of the
estate that had been, at any time after October 1, 1993, community property, or
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the deceased’s participant’s share of the separate property, and jointly owned
property . . . .
IDAPA 16.03.09.905.01 (emphasis added). 1 The Department also enacted a regulation dealing
with the effect of an MSA. That regulation provides as follows:
A marriage settlement agreement or other such agreement which separate assets
for a married couple does not eliminate the debt against the estate of the deceased
participant or the spouse. Transfers under a marriage settlement agreement or
other such agreement may be voided if not for adequate consideration.
IDAPA 16.03.09.905.05 (emphasis added). 2 The Department’s rules have the same force and
effect as law. Mallonee v. State, 139 Idaho 615, 619, 84 P.3d 551, 555 (2004).
This Court has reviewed both the Idaho and federal Medicaid laws and held that while 42
U.S.C. § 1396p(b)(1) allows for recovery against only the individual’s estate, I.C. § 56-218(1)
permits recovery against both the individual’s estate and the estate of the surviving spouse; an
expanded scope of recovery that this Court has held is permitted by federal law. McCormick, 153
Idaho at 474, 283 P.3d at 791. This Court had the opportunity in McCormick to review IDAPA
16.03.09.905.01 and whether assets that were once community property but transmuted were
available for recovery. This Court held that
[i]n light of the ambiguously inclusive nature of 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(b)(4)(B) and
the plain definition of assets in 42 U.S.C. § 1396(h)(1), we cannot find that
federal law preempts the State from providing for recovery of assets from both
spouse’s estates under I.C. § 56-218(1), including assets that were community
property during the marriage.
McCormick, 153 Idaho at 477, 283 P.3d at 794 (emphasis added) (discussing specifically the fact
that IDAPA 16.03.09.905.01 permitted recovery against assets in which the recipient spouse no
longer held an interest at the time of his or her death and not finding this fact fatal to the effect of
said regulation). McCormick further affirms the dicta of Idaho Dep’t of Health & Welfare v.
Jackman, 132 Idaho 213, 970 P.2d 6 (1998), on which the district court declined to rely. In
Jackman, this Court held that the Department could not recover assets from the surviving
1
The district court on appeal found that this regulation was deleted in 2010. Prior to 2010, this regulation was in
effect but was coded as IDAPA 16.03.09.900.20. IDAPA 16.03.09.905.01 is currently in effect and uses the exact
same language as IDAPA 16.03.09.900.20.
2
The district court on appeal found that this regulation was deleted in 2010. Prior to 2010, this regulation was in
effect but was coded as IDAPA 16.03.09.900.24 IDAPA 16.03.09.905.05 is currently in effect and uses the exact
same language as IDAPA 16.03.09.900.24.
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spouse’s separate property where that property was once community property and was
transmuted into his separate property because the expanded definition of “other assets” in the
federal Medicaid law was not effective until October 1, 1993. Id. at 217, 970 P.2d at 10. The
district court did not have the benefit of McCormick when it rendered its decision in this matter
because McCormick was decided after the district court’s decision.
In Jackman, an MSA was signed between two spouses transmuting most of the wife’s
community property into the separate property of wife’s husband. The Department sought to
recover money from the estate of the husband who survived wife. This Court held that the
Department was unable to recover from the husband’s separate property because federal law, as
it existed in 1993, did not permit such recovery. Under federal law, as it then existed, assets
could be excluded from recovery if disposed of before August 10, 1993. The MSA was executed
before that date, and therefore the assets transmuted by the MSA were excluded. This Court
found that the 1993 amendment to the federal Medicaid law broadened the definition of assets,
but the broadened definition of assets was not applicable because the MSA was executed before
August 10, 1993. Therefore, the department was unable to recover from the transmuted separate
property of the husband. Id. at 215–17, 970 P.2d at 8–10. This Court did not find it necessary for
the Department to take action to void the MSA. See generally id.
3. The Department can recover from the community property transmuted to
Emerson’s “separate property.”
We hold that the Department can recover from Vivian’s community property that was
transmuted to Emerson’s separate property for purposes of Medicaid eligibility. It is undisputed
that in order for Vivian to become eligible for Medicaid she was required to transmute
community property into Emerson’s separate property. Idaho law specifically provides for the
use of an MSA so as to hasten the eligibility of a person to receive medical assistance. In order
for Vivian to become eligible, the parties entered an MSA. MSAs are recognized under Idaho
law. I.C. § 32-916 et seq. There is no dispute that the MSA had the effect of removing Vivian’s
community property from her estate for purposes of Medicaid eligibility, a transfer contemplated
and permitted by 42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(2)(B)(i). However, the issue is whether it had the effect of
removing the community property from the estate for purposes of recovery.
Idaho law clearly provides that the Department can recover from the estate of a surviving
spouse. Therefore, contrary to the Estate’s contention, it is not necessary for a surviving spouse
to agree to be bound by the Medicaid debt before the Department can recover. The issue
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becomes whether community property that is transmuted into the separate property of the
surviving spouse is considered part of the estate for purposes of recovery. We find that the
statute contemplates such recovery. Federal law has granted States the authority to broaden the
“estate” for purposes of recovering medical assistance. 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(B). The district court
suggests this broadening of the “estate” is limited to the property in which the recipient had an
interest at the time of death. However, Medicaid is a cooperative program between the federal
government and the States. This Court has held that federal law does not completely preempt
State law and occupy the field of Medicaid. McCormick, 153 Idaho at 471, 283 P.3d at 788.
Therefore, Idaho law is effective so long as it is consistent with the policy of federal law. Id.
Idaho has enacted laws regarding Medicaid and granted the Department the authority to
promulgate rules for Medicaid, which have the effect of law. I.C. § 56-202(b). To begin, Idaho
has likewise expanded the definition of “estate” to include any asset in which the recipient had a
legal interest at the time of his or her death. Federal law defines asset to include an item to which
the recipient would be entitled but for the actions of the recipient or the recipient’s spouse.
Though this is a broad definition of an asset, the State has clarified that such an asset includes
property that was transmuted for Medicaid eligibility, and it specifically provides for the
recovery of such assets transmuted by an MSA. 3
The district court further held that community property transmuted into community
property by an MSA so as to enable a person to qualify for Medicaid, is only recoverable if the
Department takes some action to void the MSA. In reaching this conclusion, the district court
relied on the language of the previously numbered IDAPA 16.03.09.900.24, which it believed to
have been deleted in 2010, which provides that “[t]ransfers under a marriage settlement
agreement or other such agreement may be voided if not for adequate consideration.” Because
the MSA is voidable and not void, the MSA is effective to transmute property and must be set
3
The Magistrate court found that the transmuted property was not this form of an asset because it was unlike
a joint tenancy, survivorship, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, life estate, or living trust where the property
transferred automatically at death. This distinction is erroneous because the statute does not articulate such a
limitation, and such interpretation disregards IDAPA 16.03.09.905.01.
Such an interpretation also disregards the use of “other arrangement.” If “other arrangement” is limited to a
situation where the interest is transferred automatically at death, then other arrangement will lack any meaning and
is contrary to this Court’s rules of construction. Finally, the magistrate court’s distinction is erroneous because not
all of the transfers listed in the statute are effectuated upon death. With respect to a living trust, a living trust is
created immediately, and the legal title passes immediately to the trust. Estate of Hull v. Williams, 126 Idaho 437,
443, 885 P.2d 1153, 1159 (Ct. App. 1994). At the time of death, no legal interest passes at death.
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aside to recover from the estate, the district court concluded. We conclude that such an approach
is inconsistent with the policy of Medicaid.
The policy of permitting the transmutation of community property into the separate
property of the surviving spouse is to enable the Medicaid recipient to receive the medical
assistance he or she needs, and to leave the surviving spouse assets for his or her support. Indeed,
this Court has clarified that Medicaid is not meant to serve only the indigent but those whose
resources are insufficient to pay for medical services. Stafford v. Idaho Dep’t of Health &
Welfare, 145 Idaho 530, 534, 181 P.3d 456, 460 (2008). However, the legislature clearly did not
intend for persons to be able to transfer all property from their estate without consideration
because it included a look-back provision in the Idaho Medicaid statute. I.C. § 56-218(2). 4
Finally, such a transaction is clearly contemplated by federal law: “An individual shall not be
ineligible for medical assistance . . . to the extent that . . . the assets [ ] were transferred to the
individual’s spouse or to another for the sole benefit of the individual’s spouse.” 42 U.S.C.
1396p(c)(2)(B)(i).
The district court relied on the language of the look-back statute to require that the
Department take action to set aside the MSA; however, it was not required to take such action
because the Idaho statute broadly defines assets and the Idaho regulation clarified that this
includes transmuted property. Also, the district court’s requirement that the MSA be set aside to
recover is inconsistent with IDAPA 16.03.09.905.05, which provides that an MSA cannot be
used to avoid a debt of the estate. Therefore, requiring an action to set aside the MSA is
inconsistent with federal law and not supported by Idaho law. Thus, the Department is able to
recover and is not required to seek additional action first.
4. Recovery is not inconsistent with Idaho’s community property laws.
Both the district and magistrate courts found that there was a tension between Idaho’s
Medicaid recovery statutes and Idaho’s community property laws. The district court held that
there is no indication that the legislature intended to sweepingly alter community property laws
in Idaho and that such laws are clear that the separate property of a spouse is not liable for the
debt of the other spouse.
4
I.C. § 56-218(2) provides that “[t]ransfers of real or personal property, on or after the look-back dates . . . without
adequate consideration are voidable and may be set aside by an action in the district court.”
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Idaho Code section 32-912 provides in part that “any community obligation incurred by
either the husband or the wife without the consent in writing of the other shall not obligate the
separate property of the spouse who did not so consent.” This provision was added to the statute
in 1974. Ch. 194, § 2, 1974 Idaho Sess. Laws 1502, 1502.
Idaho Code section 56-218 was enacted in 1988. Ch. 49, § 1, 1988 Idaho Sess. Laws 73,
73. It provided that in certain circumstances medical assistance paid on behalf of an individual
who left no estate could be recovered from the estate of that individual’s surviving spouse. The
relevant portion of the statute stated that medical assistance paid on behalf of an individual “may
be recovered from the estate, or if there be no estate the estate of the surviving spouse, if any,
shall be charged for such aid paid to either or both.” 5 By definition, the medical assistance was
recoverable from the separate property of the recipient’s surviving spouse because it could only
be recovered from the surviving spouse’s estate if the recipient left no estate. If the recipient left
no estate, all of the surviving spouse’s estate would be separate property.
In 1998, the statute was amended to remove the requirement that the recipient must have
left no estate before there could be recovery from the estate of the recipient’s surviving spouse.
After that amendment, the relevant portion of the statute stated that such assistance “may be
recovered from the individual’s estate, and the estate of the spouse, if any, for such aid paid to
either or both.” Ch. 9, § 1, 1998 Idaho Sess. Laws 106, 106. The 1998 amendment did not limit
the type of property in the estate of the spouse from which the assistance could be recovered, so
it could still be recovered from the spouse’s separate property.
5
The statute provided:
(1) Medical assistance pursuant to this chapter paid on behalf of an individual who was sixty-five
(65) years of age or older when the individual received such assistance may be recovered from the
estate, or if there be no estate the estate of the surviving spouse, if any, shall be charged for such
aid paid to either or both; provided, however, that claim for such medical assistance correctly paid
to the individual may be established against the estate, but there shall be no adjustment or recovery
thereof until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and only at a time when the individual
has no surviving child who is under twenty-one (21) years of age or is blind or permanently and
totally disabled. Transfers of real or personal property by recipients of such aid without adequate
consideration are voidable and may be set aside by an action in the district court.
Ch. 49, § 1, 1988 Idaho Sess. Laws 73, 73.
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From the date it was enacted, section 56-218 permitted recovery against the separate
property of the spouse of the recipient of the medical assistance. In 1995, subsection (4) was
added to section 56-281 to provide a definition for “estate.” Ch. 105, § 1, 1995 Idaho Sess. Laws
336, 337.
Thus, there is a conflict between Idaho Code section 32-912 and section 56-218. When
two statutes are in conflict, the one enacted later in time governs and the specific statute will
control over the general statute. Mickelsen v. City of Rexburg, 101 Idaho 305, 307, 612 P.2d 542,
544 (1980). Section 56-218 is both the later-enacted statute and the specific statute. It therefore
controls over the provision in section 32-912.
B. The magistrate court did not err when it declined to award attorney fees below.
The magistrate court declined to award attorney fees. The Estate argues that it was
entitled to attorney fees below pursuant to I.C. § 12-117 and I.C. § 12-121 because the
Department acted without a reasonable basis in fact or law. The Estate argues that the
Department unreasonably construed the Medicaid statutes and that the law clearly does not
contemplate recovery against a surviving spouse’s separate property.
The Department argues that the magistrate court was proper in not awarding attorney fees
below because even if the Department is found not to be able to recover against the separate
property of Emerson, it raised a good faith argument based on legal authority. If that authority is
non-binding dicta as the district court concluded, then the issue is one of first impression.
This Court reviews the denial of attorney fees below for an abuse of discretion. City of
Osburn v. Randel, 152 Idaho 906, 908, 277 P.3d 353, 355 (2012). Idaho Code § 12-117 provides
as follows:
Unless otherwise provided by statute, in any proceeding involving as adverse
parties a state agency or a political subdivision and a person, the state agency,
political subdivision or the court hearing the proceeding, including on appeal,
shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees, witness fees and other
reasonable expenses, if it finds that the nonprevailing party acted without a
reasonable basis in fact or law.
The Estate is not entitled to attorney fees below pursuant to I.C. § 12-117 because it is not the
prevailing party.
C. The Estate is not entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
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The Estate requests attorney fees on appeal pursuant to I.C. §§ 12-117 and 12-121.
Because the Estate is not the prevailing party, it is not entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
VI. CONCLUSION
The Department is permitted to seek recovery from Vivian’s community property that
was transmuted to Emerson as his separate property. The Estate was the only party to request
attorney fees below and on appeal; since however, the Estate is not the prevailing party, it is not
entitled to attorney fees below or on appeal. Costs on appeal are awarded to the Department as
the prevailing party.
Chief Justice BURDICK and Justices EISMANN, J. JONES and HORTON CONCUR.
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