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Conflict of Laws Keyed to Brilmayer
Treinies v. Sunshine Mining Co.
Citation:
308 U.S. 66 (1939)Facts
Plaintiff, Sunshine Mining Co. (“Sunshine”), was a Washington corporation. In 1922, Amelia Pelkes died testate in Washington, leaving her husband, John, and a child from her previous marriage, Kathrine Mason, as the beneficiaries of her will. Part of Amelia’s community estate included 30,598 shares of Sunshine stock. The stock was considered valueless and not inventoried or appraised. In accordance with Amelia’s will, three-fourths of the stocks were supposed to be distributed to John and one-fourth to Kathrine. However, John and Kathrine chose to divide the stocks in accordance with their wishes. John argued that Kathrine released all of the interest in the shares of stock. Katherine, on the other hand, claimed that John was supposed to hold one-half of the amount owned in trust for her.
In 1934, Kathrine brought suit in Idaho state court against John, his assignor, Evelyn H. Treinies, and Sunshine, alleging that she was the owner of 15,299 shares of the stock. After an appeal to the Supreme Court of Idaho, the District Court of Shoshone County found that the stock and dividends belonged to Kathrine.
Prior to the entry of the Idaho district court’s first decree, Kathrine filed a petition in the Superior Court of Spokane County in Washington during the probate proceedings of Amelia’s will to remove the executor, John, for failure to file his report of distribution and for dissipation of the Sunshine stock. After John cross-claimed the stock, Katherine applied to the Supreme Court of Washington to determine the controversy over the stock. The Supreme Court of Washington refused. In 1935, the Superior Court upheld in full John’s ownership of the stock.
In 1936, John and Evelyn filed suit in Washington state court against Kathrine alleging that they were the owners of the stock and that the Idaho decree was invalid for lack of jurisdiction. They also asked that Sunshine be compelled to recognize their ownership in the stock. In response, given the inconsistent judgments regarding ownership of the stocks rendered by the Washington and Idaho courts, Sunshine filed a bill of interpleader against the Defendants, Evelyn H. Treinies and Katherine Mason.
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