Butler v. Cafferty

Summary

The Vermont Superior Court ruled on cross-motions for summary judgment in an eviction action concerning the interpretation of a prenuptial agreement. The court held that the agreement granted Edward Cafferty the exclusive right to continue living in the Charlotte, Vermont residence after his wife’s death, but did not require him to live there alone. Cafferty’s motion for summary judgment was granted, Butler’s motion was denied, and the eviction claim was rejected.

Holdings

1. Paragraph 16 is unambiguous and grants Cafferty the exclusive right to continue living in the Charlotte Residence, including the power to exclude Butler, the Trust, and other heirs or beneficiaries who might assert a superior right; it does not require Cafferty to live alone.
2. Cafferty did not breach the prenuptial agreement by having a guest at the Charlotte Residence, and Butler was not entitled to evict him on that basis.
3. Summary judgment was proper for Cafferty because the material facts were undisputed and the dispute concerned the legal interpretation of the prenuptial agreement.

Questions Presented

1. Whether paragraph 16 of the prenuptial agreement, providing that Cafferty may continue to live in the Charlotte Residence exclusively after Krasnow's death, required Cafferty to live there alone.
2. Whether Cafferty breached the prenuptial agreement by having a guest reside with him and therefore could be evicted.
3. Whether summary judgment was appropriate where the material facts were undisputed and the parties disputed only the interpretation of the agreement.

Disposition

other