The Smile of the Child v. The Estate of Matoula Papadopouli

Syllabus

The plaintiff, To Hamogelo Toy Paidiou, a/k/a The Smile of the Child, appealed from a Superior Court judgment affirming an \order of the Middletown Probate Court regarding the Estate of Matoula Papadopouli and denying the appeal of [the plaintiff].\ On appeal before the Supreme Court, the plaintiff asserted that the Superior Court trial justice erred in (1) determining that a true conflict exists between Rhode Island and Greek law (2) applying Rhode Island law rather than Greek law (3) allowing the payment of fees and costs incurred in a foreign will dispute as administrative costs payable from assets of the estate and (4) determining that Rhode Island law does not allow for disgorgement. After concluding that a true conflict existed between Rhode Island law and Greek law, the Supreme Court determined that Rhode Island law bore the most significant relationship to the probate court dispute. The Supreme Court further held that the Superior Court judgment was consistent with Rhode Island law because it was supported by competent evidence in the record. Accordingly, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.