Bonta' v. Burke

Opinion

RAYE, J.

The difficult question posed by this case is whether the State of California (State) has a claim for reimbursement of Medi-Cal expenses against the beneficiaries of real property conveyed to them by a recipient of health services who had retained a life estate in the property and the right to revoke their interest. The trial court granted the beneficiaries a summary judgment against the State, concluding that the property was not part of the decedent’s estate at the time of her death. We reverse.

Facts

In 1994 Lennie J. Smith executed a grant deed granting a fee simple interest…