# Angel M Mohr v. Star A Johnston

> Indiana Court of Appeals · July 9, 2025

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11092483

## Case

- **Court:** Indiana Court of Appeals
- **Decided:** July 9, 2025
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

IN THE

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of the Revocable Trust of John R. Mohr and
Maxine Mohr Dated June 5, 2003 and Restated Dated
December 23, 2021
and
FILED
In the Matter of the Estate of John R. Mohr; Jul 09 2025, 9:18 am

Angel M. Mohr, CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Appellant and Tax Court

v.

Star A. Johnston,
Appellee

July 9, 2025
Court of Appeals Case No.
25A-TR-59
Appeal from the Allen Superior Court
The Honorable Phillip E. Houk, Magistrate

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 1 of 19
Trial Court Cause Nos.
02D02-2307-ES-19
02D03-2308-TR-9

Opinion by Judge Tavitas
Chief Judge Altice and Judge Brown concur.

Tavitas, Judge.

Case Summary
[1] This consolidated appeal involves a dispute between two sisters—Angel Mohr

and Star Johnston—who were named as co-personal representatives and co-

trustees of their father’s estate. The sisters have been embroiled in conflict for

many years. After their father’s death, the conflict resulted in numerous filings

regarding their father’s will and trust. Mohr appeals the trial court’s grant of

summary judgment to Johnston and the trial court’s denial of Mohr’s cross

motion for summary judgment in actions involving the supervised Estate of

John R. Mohr (“Father”) and the Revocable Trust of John R. Mohr and

Maxine Mohr (“Mother”). Mohr argues that Johnston’s legal actions triggered

the no contest provision in Father’s will. We conclude, however, that the no

contest provision was not triggered, and the trial court did not err by granting

Johnston’s motion for summary judgment or by denying Mohr’s cross motion

for summary judgment. Accordingly, we affirm.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 2 of 19
Issue
[2] Mohr raises two issues, which we consolidate and restate as whether the trial

court erred by granting Johnston’s motion for summary judgment and denying

Mohr’s cross motion for summary judgment. The central issue presented here

is whether Johnston’s legal actions triggered the no contest provision of

Father’s will.

Facts
Revocable Trust Provisions

[3] Father and Mother (collectively “Parents”) had two children—Johnston and

Mohr (collectively, “Daughters”)—who are now adults. Parents executed a

Revocable Trust dated June 5, 2003. Mother died in October 2020, and Father

restated the Revocable Trust on December 23, 2021. Father also amended the

Revocable Trust on February 9, 2022. The Revocable Trust named Daughters

as beneficiaries and successor co-trustees of the Revocable Trust.

Will Provisions

[4] At some point, Father met with his attorneys at Beers Mallers, LLP (“Beers

Mallers”), to discuss his estate planning. On December 23, 2021, Father

executed his Last Will and Testament (“Will”). The Will contained a pour-

over provision, which distributed all of Father’s probate estate to the Revocable

Trust. Daughters were named as residuary beneficiaries of the Estate and joint

personal representatives. The Will also contained the following provision:

Section 7.04 Contest Provision
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 3 of 19
If any person directly or indirectly attempts to oppose the validity
of my Will or my Revocable Living Trust, including any
amendments to my trust, or commences, continues, or prosecutes
any legal proceedings to set my Will or Revocable Living Trust
aside, then that person will forfeit his or her share, will cease to
have any right or interest in my property, and will be considered
to have predeceased me for the purposes of my Will.

Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 30. 1 Beers Mallers kept possession of Father’s

original Will.

Estate Proceedings

[5] Father died on June 1, 2023. On June 29, 2023, Daughters met with Attorney

Heidi Adair of Beers Mallers. Mohr asked that Daughters be placed in different

rooms because of their “volatile relationship.” Id. at 210. According to

Attorney Adair, she would not have discussed the no contest clauses with

Daughters at that time. Both Johnston and Mohr asked for the original Will.

Because Beers Mallers could not give both Daughters the original, it retained

the original Will.

1
The Revocable Trust also provided:

Section 14.03 Contest Provision
If any person attempts to contest or oppose the validity of this trust or any amendment to this
trust, or commences, continues, or prosecutes any legal proceedings to set this trust aside, then
that person will forfeit his or her share, cease to have any right or interest in the trust property,
and will be considered to have predeceased the last of us to die for purposes of this instrument.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 98. Mohr, however, makes no argument regarding this provision.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 4 of 19
[6] On July 5, 2023, Johnston filed a petition for the appointment of a personal

representative and for supervised administration for Father’s estate in Cause

No. 02D02-2307-ES-19 (“Cause No. ES-19”). Johnston sought to be appointed

as the sole personal representative; alleged that Father died intestate; and

alleged that she had “been unable to locate an original Last Will and Testament

of the Decedent.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 26. The trial court issued an

order appointing Johnston as personal representative.

[7] On July 13, 2023, Beers Mallers filed a petition for probate of Father’s Will

without administration in Cause No. 02D03-2307-EM-202 (“Cause No. EM-

202”).

[8] On July 19, 2023, Mohr filed a petition in Cause No. ES-19 to add herself as co-

personal representative pursuant to the Will, and in September 2023, Mohr filed

a motion to consolidate Cause No. EM-202 and Cause No. ES-19. The motion

also requested the removal of Johnston as personal representative due to her

alleged misrepresentations in her initial petition, actions that caused the Estate

to incur costs, and a pattern of behavior to exclude Mohr. Mohr requested that

she or a neutral third-party be appointed as successor personal representative.

Further, Mohr requested that Johnston be sanctioned, that the Will’s no contest

provisions be enforced against Johnston, and that Johnston forfeit her share of

Father’s Estate.

[9] Johnston responded to Mohr’s petition on October 13, 2023, and consented to

the consolidation of the two estate actions. Johnston disputed Mohr’s claims

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 5 of 19
about her alleged misrepresentations, argued that she had not violated her

duties as personal representative, and contended that Mohr was not qualified to

serve as successor personal representative. Finally, Johnston argued that she

had taken no actions to contest the Will and, in the event her legal action was

considered a will contest, such was supported by good cause.

[10] After a case management conference was held, on October 17, 2023, the trial

court found “the level of distrust and acrimony between [the parties] is such

that neither party is appropriate to serve as Personal Representative.”

Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 11. The trial court removed Johnston as the

personal representative and appointed a neutral third-party—Nathan

Williams—to serve as successor personal representative.

Revocable Trust Proceedings

[11] On August 28, 2023, Johnston filed a petition to docket the Revocable Trust in

Cause No. 02D03-2308-TR-9 (“Cause No. TR-9”) and a petition to remove

Mohr as trustee, to assess damages for breach of trust, and to require Mohr to

file an accounting. Johnston alleged that Mohr breached her duties as a trustee

by: (1) failing to preserve property of the Revocable Trust; (2) failing to keep

Johnston informed about the administration of the Revocable Trust; (3)

intercepting Parents’ mail and failing to disclose the contents to Johnston; (4)

damaging property of the Revocable Trust; and (5) wrongfully obtaining

possession of Revocable Trust property.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 6 of 19
[12] Mohr also responded to Johnston’s petition to remove her as a trustee and

argued that Johnston had, in fact, breached her fiduciary duty as a trustee.

Mohr requested that the trial court remove Johnston as trustee or, alternatively,

appoint an independent successor trustee. Finally, Mohr argued that

Johnston’s actions triggered the no contest provision of the Revocable Trust,

and Johnston should “take nothing by way of the Trust.” Id. at 8.

Consolidated Proceedings

[13] On October 13, 2023, Mohr filed a motion to consolidate Cause No. TR-9 and

Cause No. EM-202 into Cause No. ES-19. On November 7, 2023, the trial

court issued an order granting Mohr’s motion to consolidate and appointed

Williams as successor trustee.

[14] On June 27, 2024, Johnston filed a motion for summary judgment regarding

the no contest provision. Johnston argued that: (1) she had taken no action to

contest the validity of the Will or Revocable Trust; (2) she opened the Estate

claiming Father was intestate on the advice of her counsel; (3) the Will’s no

contest provision is inapplicable because Johnston will receive property through

the Trust rather than the Will; (4) Johnston’s request to remove Mohr as co-

trustee did not attempt to invalidate the Revocable Trust; and (5) Johnston had

not violated an express no contest provision and, even if she did, she did so in

good faith.

[15] On August 15, 2024, Mohr filed a response and cross motion for summary

judgment. Mohr argued that Johnston opposed the validity of the Will by

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 7 of 19
declaring that Father died intestate and that Johnston’s actions “frustrated

Decedent’s intent to have Co-Personal Representative[s] and Co-Trustees.”

Appellant’s App. Vol. IX p. 237. Mohr, thus, argued that the no contest

provisions were triggered by Johnston’s actions.

[16] The trial court issued an order granting Johnston’s motion for summary

judgment and denying Mohr’s cross motion for summary judgment on

December 11, 2024. The trial court found:

1. Mohr alleges that by stating that the Decedent was “intestate”
in the Petition To Appoint Personal Representative, Johnston
violated the “no contest” provision of the Decedent’s estate plan.

2. Johnston in fact became the duly appointed Personal
Representative of [Father]’s estate. The Petition To Appoint
Personal Representative that was presented to the Court did in
fact allege that the Decedent was intestate. The record
establishes that Johnston did have some reason to believe that a
Will existed, but efforts to obtain the original Will document had
not been successful.

The statement that the Decedent was “intestate” in the Petition
to Appoint Personal Representative was made upon advice of
counsel and was consistent with the policies and procedures of
the Allen Superior Court when the Petitioner does not have the
original Will in their possession.

In fact, until such time as the Will document was produced by a
third party and ordered spread of record by the Court, 12 days
after the opening of the estate and 47 days after [Father] passed
away, the decedent was intestate.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 8 of 19
3. After the death of her father, Johnston never filed any action
to contest the validity of the Will or of the Trust.

4. Johnston’s Petition For Court To Remove Individual Trustee
To Assess Damages For Breach Of Trust And To Require
Trustee To File an Accounting, filed August 28, 2023, was done
so consistent with her fiduciary duty as a Co-Trustee.

5. The designated evidence paints a clear picture of two
beneficiaries who do not get along, but it does not support the
contention that Johnston took any steps that would result in
anything other than a distribution of [Father]’s assets consistent
with the provisions of his estate plan.

Therefore, the Court GRANTS Johnston’s Motion For
Summary Judgment and DENIES Mohr’s Cross Motion For
Summary Judgment. The Petition to Enforce the “no contest”
clause is DENIED, as is the request for sanctions.

Appellant’s App. Vol. XI pp. 60-61. Mohr filed notices of appeal regarding the

trial court’s order in Cause No. ES-19 and Cause No. TR-9, and this Court

consolidated the two appeals.

Discussion and Decision
[17] Mohr argues that the trial court erred by granting Johnston’s motion for

summary judgment and denying Mohr’s cross motion for summary judgment.

“We review summary judgment decisions de novo, and Trial Rule 56(C)

supplies the framework.” Cave Quarries, Inc. v. Warex LLC, 240 N.E.3d 681, 684

(Ind. 2024). “The moving party is entitled to summary judgment only if the

evidence it designates in support of its motion ‘shows that there is no genuine

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 9 of 19
issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment

as a matter of law.’” Id. at 684-85 (quoting Ind. Trial Rule 56(C)). The purpose

of summary judgment is to withdraw issues from the jury only when there are

no genuine factual issues for the jury to decide. Id. at 685. “Summary

judgment is available when the nonmovant cannot prove its claim based on the

undisputed evidence[.]” Id.

[18] The summary judgment movant has the burden of making a prima facie showing

that there is no issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law. Burton v. Benner, 140 N.E.3d 848, 851 (Ind. 2020). The burden

then shifts to the non-moving party, which must then show the existence of a

genuine issue of material fact. Id. On appellate review, we resolve “[a]ny

doubt as to any facts or inferences to be drawn therefrom . . . in favor of the

non-moving party.” Id.

[19] “We limit our review to the materials designated at the trial level.” Gunderson

v. State, Ind. Dep’t of Nat. Res., 90 N.E.3d 1171, 1175 (Ind. 2018). Because the

trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions thereon, we also reiterate

that findings of fact and conclusions thereon entered by the trial court aid our

review, but they do not bind us. In re Supervised Estate of Kent, 99 N.E.3d 634,

637 (Ind. 2018). Finally, our standard of review or analysis is not altered by the

parties’ filing of cross motions for summary judgment—we simply “consider

each motion separately to determine whether the moving party is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law.” Erie Indemnity Co. v. Estate of Harris, 99 N.E.3d

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 10 of 19
625, 629 (Ind. 2018) (quoting SCI Propane, LLC v. Frederick, 39 N.E.3d 675, 677

(Ind. 2015)).

[20] Both motions for summary judgment here concern whether Johnston’s conduct

violated the no contest provisions of the Will. Mohr argues that she was

entitled to summary judgment because Johnston violated the no contest

provisions of the Will by: (1) filing a petition for the appointment of a personal

representative and for supervised administration of Father’s estate; (2) seeking

appointment as sole personal representative; (3) alleging that Father died

intestate; and (4) alleging that she had “been unable to locate an original Last

Will and Testament of the Decedent.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 26. Mohr

argues that, “[b]y misrepresenting that [Father] died intestate, Johnston directly

attempted to set aside all terms of the Will and disinherit the Trust.”

Appellant’s Br. p. 24. Mohr also argues that Johnston’s conduct frustrated the

intent of the Will because Father intended Mohr and Johnston to be co-

personal representatives 2 and intended that his estate pass to the Revocable

Trust. Finally, Mohr argues that Johnston used her powers as personal

representative to immediately begin investigating Mohr, 3 which frustrated

Father’s intent to avoid conflict over his estate. Alternatively, Mohr argues that

2
We note that Mohr also filed motions to remove Johnston as personal representative and as co-trustee.
Under Mohr’s logic, the no contest provision would also apply to her.
3
Johnston used her powers as personal representative to investigate claims that: (1) Mohr misused her status
as Father’s attorney-in-fact during his lifetime; and (2) Father obtained a loan on behalf of Mohr.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 11 of 19
genuine issues of material fact exist, which precluded the trial court from

granting Johnston’s motion for summary judgment.

[21] Mohr’s arguments require that we interpret the Will and the relevant statutory

provisions. “When examining a will, the main purpose is to determine and

carry out the testator’s intent.” In re Est. of Pfeiffer, 452 N.E.2d 448, 451 (Ind.

Ct. App. 1983). “If the language of the will is unambiguous and clearly

expresses the testator’s intent, the language must govern.” Id. Similarly, in

interpreting the relevant statutes, “our goal is to ‘determine and give effect to

the intent of the legislature.’” Finnegan v. State, 240 N.E.3d 1265, 1269 (Ind.

2024) (quoting ESPN, Inc. v. Univ. of Notre Dame Police Dep’t, 62 N.E.3d 1192,

1196 (Ind. 2016)). “We start with the statute’s text and afford ‘its words their

plain meaning and consider the structure of the statute as a whole.’” Id.

(quoting ESPN, 62 N.E.3d at 1195). We are mindful of what a statute says and

does not say. Id.

[22] The Will here provided:

Section 7.04 Contest Provision

If any person directly or indirectly attempts to oppose the
validity of my Will or my Revocable Living Trust, including
any amendments to my trust, or commences, continues, or
prosecutes any legal proceedings to set my Will or Revocable
Living Trust aside, then that person will forfeit his or her share,
will cease to have any right or interest in my property, and will be
considered to have predeceased me for the purposes of my Will.

Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 30 (emphasis added).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 12 of 19
[23] The probate code defines a “no contest provision” as:

a provision of a will that, if given effect, would reduce or
eliminate the interest of a beneficiary of the will who, directly or
indirectly, initiates or otherwise pursues:

(A) an action to contest the admissibility or validity of the will;

(B) an action to set aside a term of the will; or

(C) any other act to frustrate or defeat the testator’s intent as
expressed in the terms of the will.

Ind. Code § 29-1-1-3(25). 4 Indiana Code Section 29-1-6-2 governs no contest

provisions in a will 5 and provides:

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a no contest provision
is enforceable according to the express terms of the no contest
provision.

4
The trust statutes contain a similar definition.

“No contest provision” refers to a provision of a trust instrument that, if given effect, would
reduce or eliminate the interest of a beneficiary of the trust who, directly or indirectly, initiates
or otherwise pursues:
(A) an action to contest the validity of:
(i) the trust; or
(ii) the terms of the trust;
(B) an action to set aside or vary any term of the trust; or
(C) any other act to frustrate or defeat the settlor’s intent as expressed in the terms of the trust.
Ind. Code § 30-4-1-2(14).
5
Similarly, Indiana Code Section 30-4-2.1-3 governs no contest provisions in a trust.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 13 of 19
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the following proceedings:

(1) An action brought by a beneficiary if good cause is
found by a court.

(2) An action brought by an executor or other fiduciary of
a will that incorporates a no contest provision, unless the
executor or other fiduciary is a beneficiary against whom
the no contest provision is otherwise enforceable.

(3) An agreement, including a nonjudicial settlement
agreement, among beneficiaries and any other interested
persons to settle or resolve any other matter relating to a
will or estate.

(4) An action to determine whether a proposed or pending
motion or proceeding constitutes a contest.

(5) An action brought by or on behalf of a beneficiary to
seek a ruling regarding the construction or interpretation of
a will.

(6) An action or objection brought by a beneficiary, an
executor, or other fiduciary that seeks a ruling on proposed
distributions, fiduciary fees, or any other matter where a
court has discretion.

(7) An action brought by the attorney general . . . .

(emphasis added).

[24] Indiana Code Section 29-1-6-2(a), thus, requires that we enforce the Will’s no

contest provision according to its express language. Although Mohr argues, in

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 14 of 19
part, that Johnston’s actions “frustrated the intent” of Father’s Will, that

language comes from the statutory definition of a no contest provision. See Ind.

Code § 29-1-1-3(25). The actual provision at issue here, however, does not

contain that language, and thus, the no contest provision is not triggered by

actions that “frustrate the intent” of the Will. Rather, the no contest provision

at issue here requires that we determine whether Johnston “directly or

indirectly attempt[ed] to oppose the validity of [Father’s] Will or [Father’s]

Revocable Living Trust . . . or commence[d], continue[d], or prosecute[d] any

legal proceedings to set [Father’s] Will or Revocable Living Trust aside.”

Appellant’s App. III p. 30.

[25] The designated evidence shows that Johnston did not directly oppose the

validity of the Will or Revocable Trust or commence legal proceedings to set

aside the Will or Revocable Trust. See Ind. Code § 29-1-7-17 to -21 (discussing

will contests). A will contest requires proof of:

(1) the unsoundness of mind of the testator;

(2) the undue execution of the will;

(3) that the will was executed under duress or was obtained by
fraud; or

(4) any other valid objection to the will’s validity or the probate
of the will.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 15 of 19
Ind. Code § 29-1-7-17. Johnston did not challenge Father’s soundness of mind,

allege undue execution of the Will, allege duress or fraud in executing the Will,

or make any other objection to the Will’s validity. Thus, the issue is whether

the designated evidence shows that Johnston’s conduct “indirectly attempt[ed]”

to oppose the Will or Revocable Trust. Appellant’s App. III p. 30.

[26] Mohr points to several of Johnston’s legal actions, including: (1) seeking to be

appointed as sole personal representative; (2) alleging that Father died intestate;

and (3) alleging that Johnston had “been unable to locate an original Last Will

and Testament of the Decedent.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 26. The trial

court, however, concluded that Johnston did not take “any steps that would

result in anything other than a distribution of [Father’s] assets consistent with

the provisions of his estate plan.” Appellant’s App. Vol. XI p. 60. We agree.

[27] We note that, “when the original will cannot be located, it is not assumed to

have been lost; rather, it is presumed to have been destroyed with the intent to

revoke it.” Trowbridge v. Est. of Trowbridge, 150 N.E.3d 220, 225 (Ind. Ct. App.

2020). “A duplicate will does not survive revocation of the original.” Id.; see

also Est. of Fowler v. Perry, 681 N.E.2d 739, 742 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997) (“Indiana

attorneys often retain copies in their files of wills bearing original signatures and

[] it is not uncommon for such copies to be offered and admitted to probate

when there is no objection. However, in those cases where the original will

cannot be found and an objection to probate is raised, it is well settled that there

is a presumption that the will was destroyed with an intent to revoke.”), trans.

denied.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 16 of 19
[28] It is undisputed that Johnston did not have the original will in her possession

and, thus, could not seek to admit the original Will to probate. 6 Shortly after

Johnston’s petition was filed, Beers Mallers, which had possession of the

original Will, admitted the Will to probate. The trial court noted that, “until

such time as the Will document was produced by a third party and ordered

spread of record by the Court, 12 days after the opening of the estate and 47

days after John Mohr passed away, the decedent was intestate.” Appellant’s App.

Vol. XI p. 60. Thus, although Johnston’s petition could have been clearer

about the situation, we cannot say her claims were an “indirect[ ] attempt[]” to

oppose the Will or Revocable Trust. 7 Appellant’s App. III p. 30.

6
As personal representative, Johnston could then request that Beers Mallers deliver the Will to the court. See
Ind. Code § 29-1-7-3(a) (“After the death of a person, the person having custody of the decedent’s will: (1)
may; or (2) shall, upon written demand by the personal representative or upon court order; deliver the will to
the court which has jurisdiction of the administration of the decedent’s estate.”).
Mohr also contends that Johnston “was judicially estopped from changing her statements on [Father’s]
intestacy.” Appellant’s Br. p. 23. Johnston’s responses to requests for admission indicate that Johnston was
aware when she filed the petition that Father had executed a Will and that Beers Mallers was “in possession
of an Original Will.” Appellant’s App. Vol. V p. 6. Johnston, however, also denied that she knew the Will
was valid and had not been revoked. Johnston’s statements in her petition and answers to the requests for
admission do not necessarily conflict, and we do not find judicial estoppel applicable here.
7
Mohr also claims that Johnston’s allegation that Father was intestate was fraudulent and, thus, the no
contest provision was triggered. In support of this argument, Mohr cites Indiana Code Section 29-1-20-1(b),
which provides: “Any person who falsifies an affirmation or representation of fact shall be subject to the same
penalties as are prescribed by law for the making of a false affidavit.” Mohr also cites Indiana Code Section
29-1-1-24, which provides:
Whenever fraud has been perpetrated in connection with any proceeding or in any statement
filed under this probate code or if fraud is used to avoid or circumvent the provisions or
purposes of this probate code, any person injured thereby may obtain appropriate relief against
the perpetrator of the fraud including restitution from any person (other than a bona fide
purchaser) benefiting from the fraud, whether innocent or not.
These provisions, however, do not address no contest provisions, and “fraudulent” conduct does not
necessarily amount to an indirect attempt to oppose the Will or Revocable Trust. Accordingly, we do not
find Mohr’s argument persuasive.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 17 of 19
[29] Although Mohr vigorously asserts that Johnston’s conduct triggered the no

contest provisions, many of Mohr’s arguments are red herrings, and the

designated evidence simply does not support that assertion or create a genuine

issue of material fact. 8 Johnston’s efforts to open the Estate are just that and

nothing more. Mohr’s attempts to read more into Johnston’s actions are

unpersuasive and do not establish a genuine issue of material fact or

demonstrate that Mohr is entitled to summary judgment. Accordingly, we

conclude that the trial court properly granted Johnston’s motion for summary

judgment and denied Mohr’s cross motion for summary judgment. 9

Conclusion
[30] The trial court properly granted Johnston’s motion for summary judgment

regarding the no contest provision, and the trial court properly denied Mohr’s

cross motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, we affirm.

[31] Affirmed.

Altice, C.J., and Brown, J., concur.

8
We need not address Mohr’s advice-of-counsel argument because we conclude that Johnston’s actions did
not trigger the no contest provision.
9
Moreover, even if Johnston’s actions amounted to an indirect attempt to oppose the Will or Trust, a no
contest provision is inapplicable to “[a]n action brought by a beneficiary if good cause is found by a court.”
Ind. Code § 29-1-6-2(b)(1). The designated evidence demonstrates that Johnston, a residual beneficiary,
acted in good faith when she filed her petition to open the estate.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 18 of 19
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Andrea L. Ciobanu
Ciobanu Law, P.C.
Indianapolis, Indiana

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Jeffrey A. Clark
Madison M. Heiney
Garrett A. McNamee
Burt Blee Dixon Sutton & Bloom
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-TR-59 | July 9, 2025 Page 19 of 19

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11092483. Public record. Not legal advice.
