McCurdy v Office of the Public Guardian [2014] GUSC 32 (20 November 2014)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GUAM

IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP
OF LUCY PEARL ULLOA,
Petitioner-Appellant,

VIVIAN U. MCCURDY and ALVIN. J. ULLOA,

Petitioner-Appellees,

and

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN,
Respondent-Appellee.

OPINION

Filed: November 20, 2014

Cite as: 2014 Guam 32

Supreme Court Case No. CVA13-008
(consolidated with CVA13-022)
Superior Court Case No. SP0168-05

Appeal from the Superior Court of Guam
Argued and submitted on May 12, 2014
Hagåtña, Guam

Appearing for Petitioner-Appellant: Curtis C. Van de veld, Esq. The Van de veld Law Offices, P.C. Restored Historic Dungca House, 2nd Fl. 123 Hernan Cortes Ave. Hagåtña, GU 96910	Appearing for Plaintiff-Appellee: Marcelene C. Santos, Esq. Office of the Public Guardian 210 W O’Brien Dr. Hagåtña, GU 96910
	Appearing For Petitioner-Appellee: Jacqueline Taitano Terlaje, Esq. Law Office of Jacqueline Taitano Terlaje, P.C. Nanbo Guåhan 250 Bldg., Ste. 204 Hagåtña GU 96910

BEFORE: ROBERT J. TORRES, Chief Justice; F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO, Associate Justice; ALBERTO E. TOLENTINO, Justice Pro Tempore.[1]

TORRES, C.J.:

[1] This is a consolidated case addressing the appeals of Petitioner-Appellant Lucy Pearl Ulloa (“Lucy”) and Petitioner-Appellees Vivian U. McCurdy (“Vivian”) and Alvin J. Ulloa. Lucy appealed from the trial court’s March 5, 2013 decision and order denying her petition to terminate the guardianship of Respondent-Appellee Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”). Lucy objected to the appointment of the OPG as the legal guardian of her estate, claiming that the court erred in appointing and subsequently retaining the OPG without an adequate showing of her incompetence. In addition, Lucy argued that the appointment of the OPG violated her due process rights. Lucy died while the appeal was pending.

[2]