Ciampa v. Bank of America

This case requires us to review the propriety of the allocation of a sixty-six percent share of an individual retirement account (IRA) of the decedent, Priscilla Cotgageorge (Priscilla). Following her death, that share was to be paid to a named contingent beneficiary whose identity cannot be ascertained. Both Priscilla’s daughter, the plaintiff Jamie Ciampa (Jamie), and her stepson, the defendant J. Edward Cotgageorge (Edward), claim to be that contingent beneficiary and, consequently, to be entitled to that share. After a trial, a judge of the Probate and Family Court awarded the sixty-six…