Congratulations to Santa Fe partners, Caren Friedman, Justin Kaufman, and Roz Bienvenu, who successfully convinced the New Mexico Court of Appeals to affirm the judgment in this probate case involving a dispute over the decedent’s property. At the heart of the dispute was the Estate’s claim of a valid contract that allegedly distributed valuable water rights appurtenant to land near Truchas in Northern New Mexico. The Court of Appeals agreed with DP&S that the district court never adjudicated a supposed claim of promissory estoppel, and the Estate failed to preserve an argument about enforcement of the contract. The Court of Appeals also agreed with arguments advanced by DP&S concerning ownership of the decedent’s personal property, which included antiques and farm and ranch equipment. You can read the Memorandum Opinion here.
