Case Information
*1 140 N ev ., A d va n ce O p i n i on S I
I N T H E S U P R E M E C OU R T O F T H E S T A TE O F N E VADA N o . 85946 T HO M A S L A B S , LL C , AN A R I Z ONA L I M I TE D L I A B I L I T Y C O M P ANY , A pp e ll a n t ,
F I LE D v s . A M B E R M A R I E DUK E S , B Y AND
A U G 2 2 202 T H R OUGH T H E SP E C I A L AD M I N I S T R A T O R O F H E R E S T A TE ,
H A E L I R T C L E R . O F U P R e s pond e n t . BY C I E F D EP U T Y C L E R K A pp ea l fr o m a d i s t r i c t c ou r t o r d e r d e ny i ng a m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e a p a r t y a nd d i s m i ss i ng c l a i m s pu r s u a n t t o
N RC P 25 ( a )( 1 ) . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t C ou r t , C l a r k C oun t y ; N a n c y L . A ll f , J udg e .
R eve rs e d and r e r nand e d . G i bb s G i d e n L o c h e r T u r n e r S e n e t & W itt b r od t LL P a nd D a n i e l M . H a n s e n , L a s V e g a s , f o r A pp e ll a n t . T h e L a w O ff i ce s o f P a t r i c k D r i s c o ll , LL C , a nd P a t r i c k R . D r i s c o ll , J r ., H e nd e r s on , f o r R e s pond e n t . B E F O R E T H E S U P R E M E C OU R T , H E R NDON , LEE , a n d B ELL , JJ .
O P I N I O N B y t h e C ou r t , B ELL , J . : T h i s op i n i on c l a r i f i e s du t i e s a r i s i ng w h e n a p a r t y d i e s d u r i n g liti g a ti o n . A f t e r t h e d e a t h o f a p a r t y , t h e d e c e d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y — t y p i c a l l y i n S U P R E M E C O UR T O F N EV ADA ( [0] [1] [1] [1] [0] [7] A a l e f t > *2 the best position to identify a successor or representative—bears the burden to ensure litigation continues. The decedent's attorney has a responsibility under NRS 7.075 to file a notice of death and serve the notice on the other parties in the case. Under NRCP 25(a), service of the notice of death also must be made on the decedent's successors or representatives. Full compliance with NRCP 25(a) starts a 180-day deadline to substitute in the proper party. Regardless, under NRS 7.075, the decedent's attorney also has a responsibility to substitute a proper party within 90 days of the client's death.
Below, Amber Dukes's counsel filed a notice of Dukes's death but failed to serve the notice on any nonparty successors or representatives, so the 180-day deadline under NRCP 25 never started. Counsel additionally failed to identify and substitute the appropriate proper party as required by NRS 7.075. Despite these issues, the district court granted a motion to dismiss the case against Dukes. We reverse the district court's order and remand for the district court to substitute a special administrator for Dukes so the case may be adjudicated on the merits.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Dukes owned a veterinary supply company that bought and resold products from Thomas Labs, LLC. Thomas Labs sued Dukes and her company for money owed on products delivered. After litigation began, Dukes and her boyfriend, Jason Hilliard, executed "The Hilliard-Dukes Revocable Living Trust." The Trust held Dukes's property. Both Dukes and Hilliard served as trustees.
Several years into the litigation, Dukes died. Dukes's counsel filed a notice of death on the record on January 12, 2021. Counsel served the other parties to the case through the district court's electronic system but never took any action to identify, notice, or serve any executor, personal
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 2 *3 r e p r e s e n t a ti v e , o r n e x t o f k i n f o r D uk e s . C oun s e l a l s o t ook no ac ti on t o s ub s tit u t e a no t h e r p a r t y i n p l ace o f D uk e s .
O n M a r c h 12 , 2021 , T ho m a s L a b s m ov e d t o s ub s tit u t e t h e T r u s t a nd H illi a r d , a s t r u s t ee , f o r D uk e s . T ho m a s L a b s s e r v e d t h e m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e on D uk e s ' s c oun s e l a nd H illi a r d . N e it h e r c oun s e l , H illi a r d , no r t h e T r u s t oppo s e d T ho m a s L a b s ' s m o ti on . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t g r a n t e d t h e unoppo s e d m o ti on a nd s ub s tit u t e d t h e T r u s t a nd H illi a r d f o r D uk e s . T ho m a s L a b s t h e n s e r v e d d i s c ov e r y r e qu e s t s on t h e T r u s t a nd H illi a r d a nd t h e ca s e p r o cee d e d .
A pp r ox i m a t e l y 300 d a y s a f t e r t h e i n iti a l no ti ce o f d ea t h , a d i ff e r e n t l a w f i r m f il e d D uk e s ' s w ill i n p r ob a t e c ou r t . T h e w ill a ppo i n t e d D uk e s ' s b r o t h e r L ynn H ill a s p e r s on a l r e p r e s e n t a ti v e . A f t e r t h e w ill w a s f il e d , D uk e s ' s c oun s e l i n t h e c i v i l ca s e m ov e d t o d i s m i ss T ho m a s L a b s ' s ca u s e s o f ac ti on a g a i n s t H illi a r d , t h e T r u s t , a nd D uk e s . C oun s e l c l a i m e d t h a t n e it h e r H illi a r d no r t h e T r u s t w e r e t h e p r op e r p e r s on a l r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s s o n e it h e r s hou l d h a v e b ee n s ub s tit u t e d f o r D uk e s . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r d i s m i ss i ng H illi a r d a nd t h e T r u s t , bu t t h e c ou r t r e t u r n e d D uk e s t o t h e s u it .
B e f o r e e n t r y o f t h e o r d e r d i s m i ss i ng H illi a r d a nd t h e T r u s t a s r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s , T ho m a s L a b s r eac h e d ou t t o t h e n a m e d p a r ti e s i n t h e w ill . A ll n a m e d p a r ti e s d i s c l a i m e d i n t e r e s t i n s e r v i ng a s D uk e s ' a d m i n i s t r a t o r a t t h e ti m e . T ho m a s L a b s t h e n p e titi on e d t h e p r ob a t e c ou r t f o r t h e a ppo i n t m e n t o f a s p ec i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r , S h a r a B e r r y , a p a r a l e g a l i n t h e l a w o ff i ce s r e p r e s e n ti ng T ho m a s L a b s . A f t e r t h e p r ob a t e c ou r t g r a n t e d t h e m o ti on , T ho m a s L a b s m ov e d i n t h e c i v il ca s e t o s ub s tit u t e t h e no w - a p p o i n t e d s p e c i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r a s t h e p r op e r p a r t y t o c o n t i n u e t h e liti g a ti on i n D uk e s ' s s t ea d . T w o d a y s b e f o r e t h e h ea r i ng on t h e m o ti on t o
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E VADA 3 [10] [1] [1] [94] [7] A o l *4 s ub s tit u t e , H ill c h a ll e ng e d B e rr y ' s a ppo i n t m e n t a s s p ec i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n p r ob a t e c ou r t a nd s ough t t o r e p l ace B e rr y . H ill w a s t h e n a ppo i n t e d a s s p ec i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r by t h e p r ob a t e c ou r t .
M ea n w h il e , i n t h e c i v il ca s e , D uk e s ' s c oun s e l r e s pond e d t o T ho m a s L a b s ' s a tt e m p t t o s ub s tit u t e i n t h e s p ec i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r by m ov i ng t o d i s m i ss t h e ca s e a g a i n s t D uk e s und e r N RC P 25 . C oun s e l c l a i m e d t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e f o r m ov i ng t o s ub s tit u t e a p e r s on a l r e p r e s e n t a ti v e h a d p a ss e d w it hou t a m o ti on f o r s ub s tit u ti on o f a p r op e r p a r t y . T ho m a s L a b s oppo s e d , a r gu i ng t h a t c oun s e l h a d f a il e d t o s e r v e t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h on n o np a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f D uk e s , m ea n i ng t h e 180 - d a y c l o c k n e v e r s t a r t e d a nd t h e n e w m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e w a s ti m e l y .
T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t d e n i e d T ho m a s L a b s ' s m o ti o n t o s ub s tit u t e a s un ti m e l y a nd g r a n t e d t h e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss und e r N RC P 25 . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t c on c l ud e d t h a t s e r v i ce o f t h e o r i g i n a l no ti ce o f d ea t h on t h e p a r ti e s , on l y , t r i gg e r e d t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e f o r m ov i ng t o s ub s tit u t e und e r N RC P 25 a nd t h e d ea d li n e h a d e l a p s e d . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t d ec i d e d a s a m a tt e r o f l a w t h a t D uk e s ' s c oun s e l w ou l d h a v e t o s e r v e a n o np a r t y s u cce ss o r o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e o f D uk e s on l y i f s u c h a p e r s on e x i s t e d w h e n t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h w a s f il e d . B eca u s e no c ou r t - a ppo i n t e d e x ec u t o r o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r e x i s t e d w h e n D uk e s ' s c oun s e l f il e d t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h , t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t f ound s e r v i ng t h e p a r ti e s a l on e t r i gg e r e d t h e 180 - d a y c l o c k . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t s u mm a r il y c on c l ud e d t h a t T ho m a s L a b s f a il e d t o d e m on s t r a t e e x c u s a b l e n e g l ec t , a nd t h e c ou r t d ec li n e d t o e n l a r g e t h e ti m e t o s ub s tit u t e . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t d i s m i ss e d a ll c l a i m s a g a i n s t D uk e s . T ho m a s L a b s a pp ea l s .
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DISCUSSION
*5 Thomas Labs argues that the district court improperly dismissed Thomas Labs's claims against Dukes and misinterpreted NRCP 25(a), as informed by NRS 7.075. This case turns on the legal interpretation of NRCP 25 and NRS 7.075. This court reviews legal interpretations by the district court de novo. See Gonor v. Dale, 134 Nev. 898, 899, 432 P.3d 723, 724 (2018). We first address the requirements for proper service of a notice of death under NRCP 25(a). We next turn to the interrelated statutory obligations of a decedent's attorney under NRS 7.075.
Under NRCP 25(a), when decedent's counsel files a notice of death, in addition to serving the parties, counsel must serve the notice on eligible nonparty successors or representatives to trigger the 180-day deadline for dismissal. Additionally, NRS 7.075 requires the decedent's counsel to file a motion to substitute a proper party for the deceased client within 90 days of the client's death. In this case, the 180-day NRCP 25(a) deadline was never triggered, and the district court erred by dismissing the case based on the running of that deadline. Because we reverse and remand on this issue, we need not reach Thomas Labs's other arguments concerning the amended notice of death or excusable neglect. When decedent's counsel files a notice of the decedent's death, NRCP 25(a) requires service on nonparty successors or representatives before the 180-day deadline begins to run
In Nevada generally, "no cause of action is lost by reason of the death of any person, but may be maintained by or against the person's executor or administrator." NRS 41.100. To preserve causes of action after the death of a party, NRCP 25(a) provides that any party or the decedent's successor or representative may move to substitute a "proper party" in the decedent's place. If substitution of the proper party is not sought within
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 5 ( 1947A *6 180 days of service of the notice of death, however, the case "must be dismissed." NRCP 25(a)(1). "A motion to substitute must be served on the parties as provided in Rule 5 and on nonparties as provided in Rule 4," and "[a] statement noting death must be served in the same manner." NRCP 25(a)(3).
NRCP 25 works in tandem with NRS 7.075, which governs counsel's duties upon the death of a client under representation in a pending action. See NRCP 25 advisory committee's note to 2019 amendment. Under the tandem operation of NRCP 25(a) and NRS 7.075, while anyone may file the notice of death and move for substitution within the 180-day deadline, the decedent's counsel bears ultimate responsibility to act and faces sanctions for failing to take action. See NRS 7.075 ("An attorney at law who represents any person who is a party to an action pending before any court shall . . . file a notice of death and a motion for substitution of a party with the court.").
The issue here is who must be served to trigger the 180-day period for requesting substitution under NRCP 25(a). This court has addressed the NRCP 25(a) service requirement in the past. In Gonor v. Dale, we concluded "a plain reading of NRCP 25(a)(1) requires that the [notice] of death . . . be served on parties and/or nonparties before the [time] period is triggered." 134 Nev. at 900, 432 P.3d at 725. Gonor followed Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals caselaw in holding that the 180-day deadline in NRCP 25(a)(1) "is triggered by two affirmative actions: (1) 'a party must formally suggest the death of the party upon the record,' and (2) 'the [noticing] party must serve other parties and nonparty successors or representatives of the deceased with a [notice] of death." Id. at 900-01, 432 P.3d at 725 (quoting Barlow v. Ground, 39 F.3d 231, 233 (9th Cir. 1994)).
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*7 A t t h e s a m e ti m e , a no ti ce o f d ea t h f il e d by a n oppo s i ng p a r t y , r a t h e r t h a n d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l , n ee d no t b e s e r v e d on d ec e d e n t ' s nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s t o t r i gg e r t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e . k i . a t 900 , 432 P . 3d a t 725 ( c iti ng M o s e l ey v . E i gh t h J ud . D i s t . C t ., 124 N e v . 6 54 , 660 - 61 , 188 P . 3d 1136 , 1141 ( 2008 )) . T h i s r e l a x e d s e r v i ce r e qu i r e m e n t f o r no ti ce s c o m i ng fr o m a n oppo s i ng p a r t y a vo i d s p l ac i ng t h e bu r d e n on a n oppo s i ng p a r t y o f h a v i ng t o s p ec u l a t e a s t o t h e i d e n tit y o f a d ece d e n t ' s s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s . M o s e l ey , 124 N e v . a t 661 , 188 P . 3d a t 1141 .
W e no w c l a r i f y t h a t w h e n a d ec e d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y no ti ce s t h e i r c li e n t ' s d ea t h , nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s m u s t b e s e r v e d t o s t a r t t h e 180 - d a y c l o c k f o r d i s m i ss a l . U n li k e a n op po s i ng p a r t y , a d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l t yp i ca ll y i s i n a n e x ce ll e n t po s iti on t o i d e n ti f y t h e d ece d e n t ' s s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s . If no c l ea r s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s e x i s t a t t h e ti m e o f a p a r t y ' s d ea t h , t h e d ece d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y — w ho b ea r s t h e u lti m a t e r e s pon s i b ilit y t o f il e a nd s e r v e t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h a nd e n s u r e a r e p r e s e n t a ti v e i s p r op e r l y s ub s tit u t e d — r n a y w o r k t h r ough p r ob a t e t o a ppo i n t a s p ec i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o s e r v e a s t h e d ece d e n t ' s r e p r e s e n t a ti v e a nd f ac ilit a t e p r op e r s e r v i ce . S ee N R S 139 . 040 ( 1 )( j ) ( a ll o w i ng " a ny p e r s on o r p e r s on s l e g a ll y qu a li f i e d " t o a d m i n i s t e r a n e s t a t e on ce a ll o t h e r p e r s on s w it h p r i o r it y h a v e d ec li n e d ) ; N RC P 25 ( a ) (r e qu i r i ng p a r ti c i p a ti on fr o m t h e d ece d e n t ' s " s u cce ss o r o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e " ) . A d ece d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y w ho f il e s t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h m u s t s e r v e t h e o t h e r p a r ti e s a nd a l s o nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f t h e d ecea s e d . U n til t h e s e s e r v i ce c ond iti on s a r e m e t , t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e do e s no t s t a r t .
T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t h e r e e rr on e ou s l y c on c l ud e d a d ece d e n t ' s a t t o r n e y w a s no t r e q u i r e d t o s e r v e n o n p a r t y s u cc e ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w it h t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h w h e n no c l ea r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e w a s kno w n a t t h e ti m e
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EV A D A 7 I [94] [7] A s ' [4] r a t c , [10] ) *8 t h e no ti ce w a s f il e d . I n d i s m i ss i ng t h e ca s e a g a i n s t D uk e s , t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t r e li e d h e a v il y on M c N a r n ee v . E i gh t h J ud i c i a l D i s t r i c t C ou r t . 135 N e v . 392 , 450 P . 3d 906 ( 2019 ) . M c N a m ee h e l d t h a t a no ti ce o f d ea t h n ee d no t i d e n ti f y t h e d ecea s e d ' s s u cce ss o r o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e on t h e f ace o f t h e no ti ce t o t r i gg e r t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e b eca u s e N RC P 25 ( a )( 1 ) d i d no t r e qu i r e t h e r e p r e s e n t a ti v e t o b e n a m e d i n t h e no t i ce . I d . a t 395 - 96 , 450 P . 3d a t 909 - 10 . T h e l og i c o f M c N a m ee do e s no t a ss i s t w h e n e x a m i n i ng t h e s e r v i ce r e qu i r e m e n t f o r nonp a r ti e s . W h il e no r u l e r e qu i r e s n a m i ng a s u cce ss o r i n a no ti ce o f d ea t h , t h e s e r v i ce o f nonp a r ti e s i s e xp li c itl y c on t e m p l a t e d by t h e t e x t o f t h e r u l e . S ee N RC P 25 ( a )( 3 ) ( " A m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e m u s t b e s e r v e d on t h e p a r ti e s a s p r ov i d e d i n R u l e 5 and on nonpa r ti e s a s p r ov i d e d i n R u l e 4 . A s t a t e m e n t no ti ng d e a t h m u s t b e s e r ve d i n t h e s a m e r nann e r . " ( e m ph a s e s a dd e d )) .
M c N a m ee a l s o d i d no t ov e rr u l e G ono r . W e r ea ff i r m t h e ho l d i ng s o f bo t h ca s e s . W h il e M c N a m ee f o c u s e s on t h e r e qu i r e m e n t s f o r t h e no ti ce it s e l f , t h e ca s e on l y b r i e f l y m e n ti on s s e r v i ce : " on ce t h e [ no ti ce ] o f d ea t h i s f il e d on t h e r ec o r d a nd s e r v e d upon t h e app r op r i a t e pa r ti e s , t h e d ea d li n e i n N RC P 25 ( a )( 1 ) f o r f ili ng a m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e i s t r i gg e r e d . " 135 N e v . a t 396 . 450 P . 3d a t 910 ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d ) . M c N a m ee n e v e r e xp l a i n s w h a t i s m ea n t by " t h e a pp r op r i a t e p a r ti e s , " bu t t h e a n a l y s i s fr o r n G ono r p r ov i d e s t h e a n s w e r . W h il e a no ti ce o f d ea t h n ee d no t i d e n ti f y t h e d ecea s e d ' s s u cce ss o r o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e on it s f ace t o b e s u ff i c i e n t p e r M c N a m ee , t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h f il e d by t h e d ece d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y m u s t s till b e s e r v e d on a nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e t o m ee t t h e s e r v i ce r e qu i r e m e n t o f N RC P 25 ( a )( 1 ) p e r G ono r .
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EV ADA 8 ( [0] ) [19] [47] A e , e W y t , *9 I n t h i s ca s e , t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e t o m ov e f o r s ub s tit u ti on n e v e r s t a r t e d . A f t e r f ili ng t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h , D uk e s ' s c oun s e l f a il e d t o s e r v e t h e nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f D uk e s i n o r d e r t o t r i gg e r t h e 180 - d a y d ea d li n e f o r d i s m i ss a l . G ono r , 134 N e v . a t 90 0 - 01 , 432 P . 3d a t 725 . C oun s e l f i l e d t h e no ti ce o f d ea t h t h r ough t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t ' s e -f ili ng s y s t e m , w h i c h e l ec t r on i ca ll y s e r v e d t h e o t h e r p a r ti e s t o t h e c a s e . C oun s e l n e v e r s e r v e d a ny s u cce s s o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s o f D uk e s . B eca u s e s e r v i ce on a r e p r e s e n t a ti v e o r s u cce ss o r i s r e qu i r e d by G ono r , t h e N RC P 25 ( a )( 1 ) 180 - d a y d ea d li n e n e v e r s t a r t e d , a nd t h e ca s e s hou l d no t h a v e b ee n d i s m i ss e d . T h e f a il u r e s o f d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l s hou l d no t p r ov i d e a t ac ti ca l a dv a n t a g e i n liti g a ti on b eca u s e , a s w e d i s c u ss n e x t , r e s pon s i b ilit y i n t h i s m a tt e r u lti m a t e l y r e s t s w it h d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l . N R S 7 . 075 r e qu i r e s d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l t o s ub s tit u t e an e li g i b l e pa r t y w it h i n 90 da y s
T h e bu r d e n o f s ub s tit u ti on a l s o r e s t s w it h t h e d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l und e r s t a t u t e . If a p a r t y t o a n ac ti on d i e s , t h e d ece d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y " s h a ll , w it h i n 90 d a y s a f t e r t h e d ea t h o f t h a t p e r s on , f il e a no ti ce o f d ea t h a nd a m o ti on f o r s ub s tit u ti on o f a p a r t y w it h t h e c ou r t a nd ca u s e a c opy o f t h a t no ti ce a nd m o ti on t o b e s e r v e d upon e v e r y o t h e r p a r t y t o t h e ac ti on . " N R S 7 . 075 . T h e c ou r t m a y i m po s e s a n c ti on s on a d ece d e n t ' s a t t o r n e y w ho f a il s t o m e e t t h i s ob l i g a t i on , i n c l ud i n g a tt o r n e y f ee s a n d c o s t s . I d . T h e s ub s tit u ti on r e qu i r e m e n t i m po s e d by N R S 7 . 075 op e r a t e s i n c on j un c ti on w it h t h e no ti ce a nd s e r v i ce r u l e s e s t a b li s h e d by N RC P 25 ( a ) . N RC P 25 a dv i s o r y c o mm itt ee ' s no t e t o 2019 a m e n d m e n t .
" W h e n a s t a t u t e ' s l a ngu a g e i s c l ea r a nd un a m b i guou s , it m u s t b e g i v e n it s p l a i n m ea n i ng , u n l e ss do i ng s o v i o l a t e s t h e s p i r it o f t h e ac t . " D . R , H o r t on , I n c . V . E i gh t h J ud . D i s t . C t ., 123 N e v . 468 , 476 , 168 P . 3d 731 , 737 ( 2007 ) ( i n t e r n a l quo t a ti on m a r k s o m itt e d ) . N R S 7 . 075 c l ea r l y a nd
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EV ADA 9 ( [0] ) [1947] A *10 un a m b i guou s l y r e qu i r e s d ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l t o m ov e t o s ub s tit u t e s o m e o n e w ho ca n c on ti nu e r e p r e s e n ti ng t h e i r c li e n t ' s i n t e r e s t s w it h i n 90 d a y s o f t h e c li e n t ' s d ea t h . N o t h i ng i n t h i s op i n i on , ho w e v e r , s hou l d b e t a k e n t o s ugg e s t t h i s r e s pon s i b ilit y p r ec l ud e s a ny o t h e r i nd i v i du a l fr o m ac ti ng t o s ub s tit u t e a p r op e r p a r t y f o r a d ece d e n t c on s i s t e n t w it h a pp li ca b l e l a w . If a no t h e r p a r t y o r t h e d ece d e n t ' s s u cce ss o r o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e ac t s f a s t e r a nd m ov e s t o s ub s tit u t e a p r op e r p a r t y w it h i n t ho s e 90 d a y s , t h e d ece d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y w ou l d b e r e li e v e d o f t h i s du t y .
H e r e , D uk e s ' s c oun s e l n e g l ec t e d h i s s t a t u t o r y ob li g a ti on s und e r N R S 7 . 075 . C oun s e l f a il e d t o f il e a m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e a p a r t y ca p a b l e o f r e p r e s e n ti ng h i s d ecea s e d c li e n t ' s i n t e r e s t w it h i n 90 d a y s o f h e r d ea t h . T ho m a s L a b s ' s m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e H illi a r d a nd t h e T r u s t d i d no t r e li e v e D uk e s ' s c oun s e l o f t h e s e s t a t u t o r y ob li g a ti on s b eca u s e H illi a r d a nd t h e T r u s t , a s a g r ee d by a ll c on ce r n e d , w e r e i m p r op e r p a r ti e s t o r e p r e s e n t D uk e s ' s i n t e r e s t . U lti m a t e r e s pon s i b ilit y t o e n s u r e t h a t a m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e a p a r t y ca p a b l e o f r e p r e s e n ti ng t h e d ece d e n t ' s i n t e r e s t r e m a i n s w it h t h e d ece d e n t ' s a tt o r n e y . B eca u s e 90 d a y s fr o m D uk e s ' s d ea t h p a ss e d a nd no m o ti on t o s ub s tit u t e a p r op e r p a r t y w a s b e f o r e t h e c ou r t , D uk e s ' s c oun s e l v i o l a t e d t h e c l ea r a nd un a m b i guou s r e qu i r e m e n t s o f N R S 7 . 075 .
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O NC L U S I O N D ece d e n t ' s c oun s e l f a il e d t o s e r v e nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s a f t e r f ili ng a no ti ce o f d ea t h . B eca u s e t h e nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s w e r e n e v e r s e r v e d , t h e N RC P 25 ( a ) d ea d li n e n e v e r s t a r t e d r unn i ng . T h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t e rr e d by d e t e r m i n i ng t h a t c oun s e l d i d no t n ee d t o s e r v e nonp a r t y s u cce ss o r s o r r e p r e s e n t a ti v e s a nd by d i s m i s s i n g t h e ca s e b e c a u s e n o p r op e r m o t i o n f o r s ub s tit u t i on h a d b e e n f i l e d w it h i n t h e 18 0 - d a y d ea d li n e und e r N RC P 25 ( e ) . A s a r e s u lt , w e r e v e r s e t h e
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EV ADA 10 ( [0] ) [1] [94] [7] A A s t *11 d i s t r i c t c ou r t ' s o r d e r d i s m i ss i ng t h e ca s e a nd r e m a nd f o r t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t t o s ub s tit u t e a s p ec i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r D uk e s s o t h e ca s e m a y b e a d j ud i ca t e d on t h e m e r it s .
J . B e ll W e c on c u r : H e r ndon
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EVA D A 11 [0] ) [1] [1] [9] , [1] [7] A