Opinion
2012-10-16
In re Alvin ROSENTHAL, et al., The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, et al., Proposed Interveners–Appellants, David Panzirer, et al., Respondents–Respondents.
McDermott Will & Emery LLP, New York (Henry Christensen III of counsel), for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, appellant. Arnold & Porter LLP, New York (Charles G. Berry of counsel), for The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie's Fund, appellants.
McDermott Will & Emery LLP, New York (Henry Christensen III of counsel), for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, appellant. Arnold & Porter LLP, New York (Charles G. Berry of counsel), for The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie's Fund, appellants.
Ronald S. Rolfe, New York, for David Panzirer, Walter Panzirer, Sandor Frankel and John Codey, respondents.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York (Leslie B. Dubeck of counsel), for Attorney General, respondent.
TOM, J.P., MAZZARELLI, ANDRIAS, DeGRASSE, ROMÁN, JJ.
Order, Surrogate's Court, New York County (Nora Anderson, S.), entered April 15, 2011, which, insofar as appealed from, denied the motion by The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie's Fund, and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (collectively, movants) to intervene in the Surrogate's Court proceeding, for a construction under SCPA 1420 and 2101, and to vacate a prior Surrogate's Court order entered February 19, 2009, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
There is no merit to movants' assertion that the Surrogate lacked the jurisdiction to decide the trustees' petition in the proceeding underlying this application. On the contrary, the Surrogate's Court's jurisdiction encompasses all matters that affect the affairs of a decedent (Matter of Piccione, 57 N.Y.2d 278, 287, 456 N.Y.S.2d 669, 442 N.E.2d 1180 [1982] ). Thus, there is no basis to vacate the order underlying movants' application.
Turning to the merits of the application, we find that Surrogate's Court acted well within its discretion to deny movants' motion to intervene under either CPLR 1012 or 1013 ( see Matter of Pace–O–Matic, Inc. v. New York State Liq. Auth., 72 A.D.3d 1144, 898 N.Y.S.2d 295 [3d Dept.2010];see also State of New York v. Philip Morris Inc., 269 A.D.2d 268, 702 N.Y.S.2d 829 [1st Dept.2000] ).
First, with respect to a trust, under EPTL 8–1.1(f), only the Attorney General may enforce the trust provisions insofar as the beneficiaries are concerned ( see Alco Gravure, Inc. v. Knapp Found., 64 N.Y.2d 458, 465–66, 490 N.Y.S.2d 116, 479 N.E.2d 752 [1985];see also Board of Educ. of Mamaroneck Union Free School Dist. v. Attorney General of State of N.Y., 25 A.D.3d 637, 638–39, 811 N.Y.S.2d 685 [2d Dept.2006], lv. denied7 N.Y.3d 807, 822 N.Y.S.2d 479, 855 N.E.2d 795 [2006] ). This status is conferred upon the Attorney General even if, as here, his position does not necessarily comport with that of the charitable entities (Matter of Notkin, 45 A.D.2d 849, 850, 358 N.Y.S.2d 491 [2d Dept.1974]; see also Matter of May, 213 A.D.2d 838, 839–840, 623 N.Y.S.2d 650 [3d Dept.1995], lv. dismissed85 N.Y.2d 1032, 631 N.Y.S.2d 290, 655 N.E.2d 403 [1995] ). Second, movants cannot fulfill the requirement under CPLR 1012 that the judgment may adversely affect their interests (Matter of Rapoport, 91 A.D.3d 509, 937 N.Y.S.2d 27 [1st Dept.2012]; see also Matter of Vaughn, 267 A.D.2d 763, 763–764, 700 N.Y.S.2d 271 [3rd Dept.1999] ). As a result, movants lack standing to intervene. Nor do movants fall within an exception to the general standing rule, as they are not within a class of potential beneficiaries that is “sharply defined and limited in number” ( Alco Gravure, 64 N.Y.2d at 465, 490 N.Y.S.2d 116, 479 N.E.2d 752, citing Restatement [Second] of Trusts § 391, Comment c [1959] ). For both these reasons, movants lack standing to intervene.
In light of our conclusions, we need not address the parties' remaining contentions.