Howard Hughes Medical Institute v. Gavin

OPINION

By the Court,

Batjer, J.:

Howard R. Hughes, Jr., died on April 5, 1976. To date, no will executed by Hughes has been found. The appellant, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), seeks to establish the terms of a lost will leaving most of the Hughes estate to HHMI.

HHMI filed its petition to probate a lost or destroyed will of Howard Hughes on January 12, 1977. Respondent, the estate of one of Hughes’ next-of-kin, contested the probate. Following extensive discovery and will-search activities, respondent moved for summary judgment, which was granted on February 1, 1980.

As grounds for…