Citizens National Bank v. Kids Hope United, Inc.

Chief Justice Fitzgerald and Justices Thomas, Kilbride, Garman, and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.

Justice Karmeier dissented, with opinion.

OPINION

Petitioner Citizens National Bank of Paris (the Bank), as trustee of two charitable trusts that benefitted the Edgar County Children’s Home (ECCH), petitioned the circuit court of Edgar County for instructions following the merger of ECCH with a similar charitable entity to form Kids Hope United — Hudelson Region (Kids Hope). In its petition, the Bank sought a determination that, as a result of the merger, the gifts to ECCH had lapsed.…