Landmark Trust (USA), Inc. v. Goodhue

This dispute arose from the gift by Fred Holbrook, a noted Vermont apple orchardist, of his farm to plaintiffs Scott Farm, Inc., and Landmark Trust (USA), Inc., a land preservation organization. Defendants John Goodhue, a fourth cousin and guardian for Holbrook, and Mary Panzera, Holbrook’s sister, sought to challenge the transfer of Scott Farm to plaintiffs on the ground that Holbrook was not competent at the time of the transfer in June 1995. Plaintiffs brought a declaratory judgment action to determine the validity of the transfer. After a bench trial, the Windham Superior Court ruled that…