Johnson v. Johnson

Catherine and Edward Johnson established a trust naming themselves as trustees, providing that after Edward's death Catherine would continue receiving trust income with the remainder passing to Edward's son James Johnson (plaintiff) upon Catherine's death; the trust instrument purported to relieve the trustee of any duty to provide an accounting. After Edward's death, James requested an accounting from Catherine (defendant), who refused, and James petitioned the circuit court to compel one; the circuit court ordered Catherine to provide the accounting, and she appealed.