Ueda v Bank of Guam [2005] GUSC 23; 2005 Guam 23 (23 November 2005)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GUAM

SHIOICHI UEDA, Individually and as
Special Administrator of the Estate of
RITA UEDA SINGEO, Deceased,
MARIA UEDA,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v.

BANK OF GUAM, SALVADOR S.
UEDA, SHIRLEY ANN UEDA,
Defendants-Appellees.

Supreme Court Case No.: CVA04-022
Superior Court Case No.: CV1308-99

OPINION

Filed: November 23, 2005

Cite as: 2005 Guam 23

Appeal from the Superior Court of Guam
Submitted on August 17, 2005
Hagåtña, Guam

For Plaintiff-Appellants: Richard A. Pipes, Esq. Law Offices of Richard A. Pipes BankPacific Bldg., Ste. 201 825 S. Marine Dr. Tamuning, Guam 96911

For Defendant-Appellees: Daniel J. Berman, Esq. Berman, O’Connor, Mann & Shklov Ste. 503 Bank of Guam Bldg. 111 Chalan Santo Papa Hagåtña, Guam 96910

BEFORE: ROBERT J. TORRES, JR., Presiding Justice;^[1] MIGUEL S. DEMAPAN, Justice Pro Tempore, RICHARD H. BENSON, Justice Pro Tempore.

TORRES, J.:

[1] Plaintiff-Appellants Shioichi Ueda and Maria Ueda (“Uedas”) appeal from a Judgment and grant of summary judgment by the Superior Court of Guam. Specifically, the Uedas argue that (1) the trial court erred in: (1) granting summary judgment to Defendant-Appellee, Bank of Guam, and denying their motion for partial summary judgment on the declaratory relief claim, (2) qualifying Mr. Ron Ramos as an expert witness at trial; and (3) finding that the fair rental value of the subject property is $700.00 per month. We reject these arguments and affirm.

I.

[2] Shioichi Ueda and Maria Ueda executed a deed conveying Lot No. 1-R1, Block No. 3, Tract No. 115, Mangilao, Guam (“Mangilao lot”) to their children, Salvador Ueda and Rita Ueda, as joint tenants. The deed (“Gift Deed”), recorded with the Office of the Recorder, Department of Land Management, contained a clause which reads in pertinent part: