U.S. Bank, National Association
v.
Jeffrey S. Bittner, Individually and as Trustee of the Joan Y. Bittner Marital Trust and Midwestone Bank, as Conservator of the Joan Y. Bittner Marital Trust
Jeffrey Bittner, son of decedent Richard Bittner, appeals from the declaratory judgment awarding his mother the full amount of the decedent’s IRA funds rather than placing those funds in a trust, arguing the court erred by excluding extrinsic evidence allegedly showing his father’s intent.
Resister
U.S. Bank, National Association
Applicant
Jeffrey S. Bittner, Individually and as Trustee of the Joan Y. Bittner Marital Trust and Midwestone Bank, as Conservator of the Joan Y. Bittner Marital Trust
Attorneys for the Resister
Lynn W. Hartman
Nicholas D.K. Petersen
Attorneys for the Applicant
Jeffrey S. Bittner
M. Leanne Tyler
Timothy J. Krumm
Danica L. Bird
Supreme Court
Oral Argument Schedule
Non-Oral
Jan 18, 2023 1:30 PM
Briefs
Supreme Court Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Date Amended:
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Thomas Reidel, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Tabor, P.J., Badding, J., and Blane, S.J. Opinion by Blane, S.J. (12 pages)
A son challenges the district court’s grant of declaratory judgment to U.S. Bank, the trustee of his father’s individual retirement account, finding his father left the asset to his mother. OPINION HOLDS: Because we find the district court read the clear and unambiguous language of the IRA agreement and beneficiary designation correctly, we affirm.