Hawes v. Emory University

Pope, Judge.

In this dispute over the use of an endowment fund, we granted interlocutory review of the trial court’s grant of defendant Emory University’s motion for summary judgment.

In 1974 and 1975, plaintiff Grace Steell Hawes made two “transfers” to Emory University, totaling nearly $65,000. Emory was to use the money to create the Ellington Charles Hawes Endowment Fund. The Fund would provide scholarships to needy students meeting certain criteria.

A letter from Dr. Sanford Atwood, president of Emory University, to Hawes details the parties’ understanding of the operation of the Fund. All…