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Estate of Thorne
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
Decision: 1997 ME 202
Docket: Pen-97-78
Argued: September 3, 1997
Decided: October 7, 1997
Panel: WATHEN, C.J., and ROBERTS, CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, and LIPEZ, JJ.
ESTATE OF JAMES A. THORNE
RUDMAN, J.
[¶1] The personal representative of the estate of Russell K. Crouse
(Crouse Estate) and Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS)
appeal from the judgment entered in the Penobscot County Probate Court
(Woodcock, J.) denying their joint motion for intervention and for
reconsideration of the order determining the heirs of James A. Thorne. The
Crouse Estate and CHCS contend that: (1) they are entitled to intervene,
pursuant to M.R. Prob. P. 24, in the probate proceeding to determine
James's heirs, or alternatively, they are entitled to participate in the
proceedings as "interested person[s]" as defined in 18-A M.R.S.A. § 1-
201(20) (1981); and (2) the Probate Court erred in denying their motion to
reconsider the court's determination of James's heirs. We affirm the
judgment of the Probate Court.
I.
[¶2] On June 7, 1995, James A. Thorne, a minor child, died in an
automobile accident intestate, unmarried, and without issue. James was a
passenger in a car driven by a CHCS employee, Russell K. Crouse, who was
also killed in the accident. James is survived by his biological parents,
Ronald Rodgerson and Lisa Thorne, by his brother Ronald Buchanan, and by
his half sister Candace Polchies.{1} Ronald Rodgerson's and Lisa Thorne's
parental rights as to James were terminated by order of the Maine District
Court on December 9, 1991.
[¶3] On October 12, 1995, Ronald Rodgerson, James's natural father
and the personal representative of the Estate of James Thorne, brought an
action in the Superior Court against the Crouse Estate and CHCS pursuant to
the wrongful death statute, 18-A M.R.S.A. § 2-804 (1981 & Supp. 1996). On
July 25, 1996, Scott Buchanan, adoptive father of James's brother, Ronald
Buchanan, filed a Petition for Complete Settlement of Estate in the
Penobscot County Probate Court, asking the Probate Court for an order
determining the heirs of James A. Thorne.
[¶4] On September 12, 1996, the Crouse Estate and CHCS moved the
Superior Court for partial summary judgment in the wrongful death action.
In this motion, the Crouse Estate and CHCS argued that James's biological
parents, Ronald Rodgerson and Lisa Thorne, were the legal "heirs" of the
estate and thus the only parties on whose behalf a wrongful death action
could be brought pursuant to 18-A M.R.S.A. § 2-804(b) (1981 & Supp.
1996).{2}
[¶5] By amended order dated October 17, 1996, the Probate Court
determined that the order terminating the parental rights of James's
natural parents acted to sever any inheritance rights they had in James's
estate. The Probate Court found that, for the purposes of intestate
succession, James died without surviving parents. Thus, pursuant to our
intestacy statute, 18-A M.R.S.A. § 2-102(3) (1981 & Supp. 1996), the
Probate Court found James's immediate heirs to be Ronald Buchanan and
Candace Polchies, his siblings. The Thorne Estate subsequently filed a
motion in the Superior Court opposing the Crouse Estate and CHCS's motion
for partial summary judgment, arguing that the Probate Court's
determination of heirs should control on whose behalf the wrongful death
action could be brought.{3}
[¶6] On October 24, 1996, the Crouse Estate and CHCS filed a motion
with the Probate Court seeking intervenor status in the probate proceedings
and reconsideration of the Probate Court's determination of James's heirs.
By order dated January 17, 1997, the Probate Court denied the motion.
This appeal followed.
II.
[¶7] Actions in the Probate Court are divided into civil proceedings
and probate proceedings. Civil proceedings are defined as "all proceedings
within the concurrent jurisdiction of the Probate Courts." M.R. Prob. P. 2(b).
Probate proceedings are defined as "all proceedings within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Probate Courts." M.R. Prob. P. 2(a). Rule 24 of the Maine
Rules of Probate Procedure provides that Rule 24 of the Maine Rules of Civil
Procedure governs a party seeking to intervene in civil proceedings. Our
first inquiry thus must be whether the determination of heirs is a probate or
a civil proceeding. If the determination of heirs falls within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Probate Court, it is a probate proceeding. Participation
would thus be limited to "interested person[s]" as defined by the Probate
Code and would not turn on the satisfaction of the elements necessary for
intervention pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 24.
[¶8] By statute, the Probate Court has "exclusive jurisdiction of
informal and formal proceedings to determine how decedents' estates . . .
are to be administered, expended and distributed." 18-A M.R.S.A. § 3-105
(1981). Such proceedings falling within the Probate Court's exclusive
jurisdiction include those concerning "subject matter relating to . . . estates
of decedents, including . . . determination of heirs . . . ." Plimpton v.
Gerrard, 668 A.2d 882, 887-88 (Me. 1995)(citing 18-A M.R.S.A. § 1-302
(1981)) (emphasis added). Because the determination of heirs falls within
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Probate Court and is thus a probate
proceeding pursuant to M.R. Prob. P. 2, Rule 24 of the Maine Rules of Civil
Procedure is inapplicable to such proceedings.
III.
[¶9] The Crouse Estate and CHCS fare no better in seeking to
participate in the probate proceedings as "interested person[s]."
Participation in a formal probate settlement of an estate is limited to
"interested person[s]." 18-A M.R.S.A. § 3-1001 (1981).{4} "Interested
person" is defined as
heirs, devisees, children, spouses, creditors, beneficiaries and
any others having a property right in or claim against a trust
estate or the estate of a decedent, ward or protected person
which may be affected by the proceeding. It also includes
persons having priority for appointment as personal
representative, and other fiduciaries representing interested
persons . . . The meaning as it relates to particular persons may
vary from time to time and must be determined according to the
particular purposes of, and matter involved in, any proceeding.
18-A M.R.S.A. § 1-201(20) (1981).
[¶10] The statutory definition of "interested person" does not
purport to provide an exhaustive list of recognized interests. It does,
however, limit participation in probate proceedings to persons having an
interest in the estate at issue. The last sentence of the statutory provision
does not broaden the definitional reach of "interested person". Rather it
allows the court to determine the sufficiency of a party's interest relative to
the particular probate proceeding. It is thus possible that one may be an
"interested person" for the purpose of one particular probate proceeding
but not another. See Estate of Davis, 268 Cal. Rptr. 384, 388 (Cal. Ct. App.
1990). An interested person, however, will always possess an interest in the
estate itself.
[¶11] The determination of James Thorne's heirs will affect on whose
behalf the wrongful death action may be brought and consequently may affect
the determination of damages in that action. The sole interest of the Crouse
Estate and CHCS in the determination of James Thorne's heirs is the
minimization of the extent of their potential liability in the wrongful death
action. They attempt to serve this interest by advocating the heirship rights
of the heirs most likely to recover the least amount of damages in the
wrongful death action. Their interest is not a "property right in or claim
against" James Thorne's estate. The Crouse Estate and CHCS fall outside
the scope of section 1-201 and lack standing as "interested parties" to
participate in the determination of James's heirs.
IV.
[¶12] The Crouse Estate and CHCS also attempt to challenge the
Probate Court's determination of heirs by moving the court for
reconsideration of its order determining James's heirs. Although the Maine
Rules of Civil Procedure do not specifically provide for a "Motion for
Reconsideration" to the Probate Court, we have previously held that such
motions should be treated as motions made to alter or to amend a judgment
pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 59(e).{5} Scott v. Lipman & Katz, P.A., 648 A.2d 969,
972 (Me. 1994); Anderson v. Willey, 514 A.2d 807, 809 (Me. 1986); Dongo
v. Banks, 399 A.2d 574, 575 (Me. 1979).
[¶13] Standing to move the court pursuant to Rule 59(e) is limited,
however, to formal parties to the action. M. R. Civ. P. 59(a){6}; see Most, 477
A.2d at 258 ("A party moving the court for Rule 59(e) relief must do so
within ten days of entry of judgment.") (emphasis added). Having been
denied intervenor status, neither the Crouse Estate nor CHCS are parties to
the Probate Court action. Consequently, they lack standing to move the
Probate Court for reconsideration of its order determining heirs of the
Thorne Estate.
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
Attorneys for appellants:
Bernard J. Kubetz, Esq.
Thad B. Zmistowski, Esq., (orally)
Eaton, Peabody, Bradford & Veague, P.A.
P O Box 1210
Bangor, ME 04402-1210
Attorneys for appellees:
Edward W. Gould, Esq., (orally)
Gross, Minsky, Mogul & Singal, P.A.
P O Box 917
Bangor, ME 04402-0917
(for Ronald Buchanan)
Scott W. Gardner, Esq., (orally)
Gardner, Gardner & Murphy
9 Beach Street
Saco, ME 04072
(for Lisa Thorne & Ronald Rogerson)
FOOTNOTES******************************** {1} The appellees in this action
are Ronald Buchanan and the personal representative of the Thorne Estate.
{2} When an action for wrongful death is brought, and the decedent leaves
no spouse or issue, the amount recovered in the action is divided amongst
the deceased's heirs, as determined by our intestacy laws. 18-A M.R.S.A.
§ 2-804 (1981 & Supp. 1996). Pursuant to our intestacy laws, when
one dies without a spouse or issue, the decedent's parents receive the intestate
estate. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 2-103 (1981). If there are no legal parents,
the decedent's siblings receive the estate. Id. {3} Although raised by the
Crouse Estate and CHCS on appeal, we do not reach the question whether the
Probate Court erred in holding that the termination of parental rights also
severs the inheritance rights of a parent in his or her child. {4} 18-A
M.R.S.A. § 3-1001 provides in relevant part: A personal representative
or any interested person may petition for an order of complete settlement
of the estate . . . After notice to all interested persons and hearing the
court may enter an order or orders, on appropriate conditions, determining
the persons entitled to distribution of the estate, and, as circumstances
require, approving settlement and directing or approving distribution of
the estate and discharging the personal representative from further claim
or demand of any interested person. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 3-1001 (1981) (emphasis
added). {5} Rule 59 of Maine Rules of Probate Procedure provides, "Rule
59 of the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure governs procedure in all formal
probate and civil proceedings in the Probate Courts." M.R. Prob. P.
59. {6} RULE 59. NEW TRIALS: AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS (a) Grounds. The justice
or judge before whom an action has been tried may on motion grant a new
trial to all or any of the parties and on all or part of the issues for
any of the reasons for which new trials have heretofore been granted in
actions at law or in suits in equity in the courts of this state. M.R. Civ.
P. 59 (emphasis added).
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