Delaware Fiduciary Litigation Blog

This blog will summarize trusts and estates decisions by Delaware courts. Updates will appear frequently.

Posted October 18, 2024

Felicia Bey v. Karen Renee Leake, individually, and as Executrix of the Estate of Joseph Holder Bey, C.A. No. 2023-0233-SEM (October 8, 2024)

Posted September 11, 2024

IMO: The Estate of Lawrence E. Mergenthaler, et al., C.A. No. 2020-0804-MTZ (September 4, 2024)   

Posted March 19, 2024

Wanamaker v. Wanamaker, C.A. No. 2019-0920-LM (February 5, 2024)

Posted January 10, 2024

Lisa Anderson v. Randall Lee Hill, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0449-SEM (January 5, 2024)

Posted December 28, 2023

IMO the Estate of Anastasios G. Nastatos, ROW Folio No. 167885 AF-SEM (November 30, 2023)

Posted November 7, 2023

IMO The Estate of Thelma L. Taylor, row Folio No. 179101 DM-SEM (October 30, 2023)

Posted September 5, 2023

In re: Estate of John T. Landon, Jr., C.A. 5230-VCZ (August 28, 2023)

Posted July 21, 2023

In the Matter of Last Will and Testament and Codicil of Ann C Duff, Deceased, C.A. No. 2022-0803-BWD (June 30, 2023)

Posted May 22, 2023

IMO the Est. of George Wroten Cordray and Robert L. Lane, Admin. for the Estate of George Wroten Cordray, C.A. No. 2022-0614-SG (May 19, 2023)

Posted February 7, 2023

In the Matter of THE JEREMY PARADISE DYNASTY TRUST and THE ANDREW PARADISE DYNASTY TRUST, C.A. No. 2021-0354-KSJM (January 31, 2023)

          The Chancellor aptly summarized the factual history in this case as follows:

Posted January 3, 2023

In the Matter of the Lost Will of Elizabeth R. Clark, C.A. No. 2022-0181-SEM (December 30, 2022)

Posted December 15, 2022

Wells Lory Hillblom v. Wilmington Trust Company, C.A. No. 2021-1034-MTZ (December 6, 2022)

Posted December 1, 2022

Senior Partner, Inc. as Trustee of the Ardythe Hope Children's Hospital v. David L. Lee, C.A. No. 2020-0226- SEM (November 28, 2022)

Posted November 21, 2022

In the Matter of the Estate of John Joseph Fahey, ROW Folio No. 177536 LW (October 31, 2022)

Posted November 11, 2022

In the Matter of the Estate of Lawrence M. Sullivan, Sr., Deceased, C.A. No. 2020-0318-SEM (October 31, 2022)

Posted September 20, 2022

In the Matter of the Estate of Albert J. Vietri, C.A. No. 2020-0806-PWG (August 31, 2022)

Posted August 12, 2022

Cowan v. Furlow, C.A. No. 2018-0915-SEM; IMO Real Estate of Alvin David Smith, Jr., deceased, C.A. No. 2019-1038-SEM (May13, 2022)

Posted June 15, 2022

In the matter of the Estate of Wilbert Octavis Mable, Sr., C.A. No. 2020-0089-PWG (June 10, 2022)

Posted May 4, 2022

In the Matter of Rogers v. Wilmington Trust Company, No. 21-1473 (March 3, 2022)

Posted April 22, 2022

In the matter of the Estate of Ruby L. Wiggins, Register of Wills Folio No. 171196 (March 29, 2022)

Posted March 25, 2022

In the Matter of The Jeremy Paradise Dynasty Trust and The Andrew Paradise Dynasty Trust, C.A. No. 2021-0354-KSJM (March 22, 2022)

Posted December 28, 2021

In the Matter of the Real Estate of Alvin David Smith, Jr., C.A. No. 2019-1038-SEM (JRS) (December 3, 2021)

Posted December 1, 2021

In the Matter of The Jeremy Paradise Dynasty Trust and The Andrew Paradise Dynasty Trust, C.A. No. 2021-0354-KSJM (November 29, 2021)

Posted September 20, 2021

IMO The Estate of Meredith L. Sullivan, CA No. 2018-0741-PWG (September 16, 2021)

Posted September 10, 2021

In the Matter of The Jeremy Paradise Dynast Trust and The Andrew Paradise Dynasty Trust, Cons. C.A. No. 2021-03540 KSJM (August 17, 2021)

Posted August 23, 2021

In the Matter of Trusts F/B/O Marie C. Thomas Under Agreement of Charles D. Thomas Dated December17, 1986, as Amended, C.A. No. 2020-0698-MTZ (August 2, 2021)

Posted April 9, 2021

Amy Knapp Rumford v. Leslie Gay Knapp Marini, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0563-PWG (April 5, 2021)

Posted April 7, 2021

Christopher J. Tigani, Sr., et al. v. Robert F. Tigani, Sr. and N.K.S. Distributors, Inc., C.A. No. 2017-0786-KSJM (March 30, 2021)

Posted March 26, 2021

IMO The Jeannette T. McDowell Trust U/A 5/1/1996, C.A. No. 2019-0515-PWG (March 8, 2021)

Posted January 28, 2021

John G. Lenoir, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Catherine E. Lenoir v. Frances Heinig, C.A. No. 2020-0036-PWG (January 12, 2021)

Posted June 19, 2020

IMO the Estate of Evelynn Chambers, Register of Wills Folio No. 168119 (June 12, 2020)

Posted June 19, 2020

Jerita Hill, et al. v. Judy L. Myers, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0160-SEM (June 15, 2020)

Posted May 1, 2020

R. Michael DeGroat, et al., v. Lucinda A. Papa, et al., C.A. No. 12738-VCZ

Posted April 16, 2020

Dewey v. Arce, C.A. No. 2019-0533-PWG (April 8, 2020)

Posted April 8, 2020

Kimberlyn Ray, et al., v. Edna A. Williams, C.A. No. 2017-0178-MTZ (March 31, 2020)

Posted February 11, 2020

Marie Ann Hurd v. Leonard Hurd, Jr., C.A. No. 4675-MG (January 31, 2020)

Posted December 18, 2019

Michael D. Chase v. Martha L. Chase and Clare L. Chase, C.A. No. 2019-0402-PWG (December 13, 2019)

Posted December 9, 2019

J.P. Morgan Trust Company of Delaware v. Hadley Fisher, et al., C.A. No 12894-VCL (December 5, 2019)

Posted October 16, 2019

In The Matter of the Last Will and Testament of Milton Ray Lomax, C.A. No. 2018-0434-PWG (October 8, 2019)

Posted September 4, 2019

IMO the Estate of Evelyn Chambers, C.A. No. 2018-0630-SEM (August 29, 2019)

Posted July 16, 2019

IMO the Estate of Helen L. Rose, Folio F01052012HLR-K (July 9, 2019)

Posted July 16, 2019

IMO the Estate of Margaret Elaine Clark, Row #163725 (July 9, 2019)

Posted July 9, 2019

IMO: H.M. Mosher Trust Dated January 14, 1938, C.A. No. 2017-0653 (October 29, 2018)

Posted November 1, 2018

Marc N. Arot v. Jacqueline A. Lanardi, et. al., C.A. No. 12915-VCZ (October 29, 2018)

Posted September 25, 2018

In re: The Trust FBO Samuel Frances DuPont Under Trust Agreement Dated August 4, 1936 (Power of Appointment Trust), C.A. No. 12904-MG (September 25, 2018)

Posted September 14, 2018

In re: The Matter of the Estate of Rita J. Francisco, deceased, C.A. No. 2017-0424-MTZ  (September 11, 2018)

Posted July 9, 2018

IMO Estate of Joan K. Lambeth; Jack Reedy v. Larry H. Kendall, C.A. No. 2017-0918-MTZ (July 2, 2018)

Posted June 19, 2018

Carol P. Wallace v. Diane Schrock, C.A. No. 13002-MZ (May 30, 2018)

Posted April 30, 2018

Ray Wayne Lynch v. Frank Barba, C.A. No. 12083-MG (April 3, 2018)

Posted April 3, 2018

Marie Ann Hurd v. Leonard Hurd, Jr., Individually and as a Trustee of the Marie Ann Hurd Trust, C.A. No. 4675-MG (March 26, 2018)

Posted March 5, 2018

Mario Alberto Lopez Garza, the Executor of the Estate of Hans Jorg Schneider Sauter v. Citigroup, Inc. (3rd Cir. Feb. 2, 2018)

Posted February 12, 2018

In Re: The Matter of the Estate of Kenneth R. Wolhar, C.A. No. 12860-MG (February 6, 2018)

Posted January 26, 2018

IMO Theodore Brans C.A. No.

Posted November 3, 2017

IMO the Will of Lillian P. Kessler C.A. No. 12852 (October 23, 2017)

Posted October 12, 2017

Douglas W. du Pont v. Wilmington Trust Company C.A. No. 12836-VCS (October 6, 2017)

Posted October 4, 2017

IMO the Estate of Richard L.

Posted September 22, 2017

IMO Last Will and Testament of Rachel D. Harley, deceased; Shirley Harley Brown v. Mary M. Harley, et. al. C.A.

Posted September 13, 2017

Estate of Burke v.

Posted July 31, 2017

IMO The Irene Eisenberg Trust U/A/D May 11, 2012 C.A. No.

Posted May 22, 2017

Mennen, et al. v. Fiduciary Trust International of Delaware, et al. (May 17, 2017)

Posted April 24, 2017

Charles F. Alexander v. Edwin J. Alexander, Edward L. Alexander, and William F. Alexander, C.A. No. 12587-MA (April 19, 2017)

Posted April 18, 2017

Frederick Conaway v. Baird, et al. File No. 359, 2016 (March 28, 2017)  

Posted April 17, 2017

       If you have been wondering why the blog has been less active recently, it is not because we have lost interest or care less about info

Posted September 23, 2016

Hurd v. Hurd, C.A. No. 4675-MA (September 20, 2016)

Posted August 16, 2016

Mario Alberto Lopez Garza, The Executor of the Estate of Hans Jorg Schneider Sauter v. Citigroup, Inc. C.A. No. 15-537-SLR (June 29, 2016)

Posted August 2, 2016

William V. Erhlich, Jr., Trustee of the William V. Ehrlich Trust U/W/D May 5, 1977, as Amended v. Jeffrey Ehrlich and Vinn, LLC C.A. No. 11364-MA (July 25, 2016)

Posted July 25, 2016

IMO Dougherty, Francis J. Sr. Estate C.A. No. 9496-JL (July 22, 2016)

This case concerns the estate of Francis Dougherty, Sr. and whether his daughter, Patricia unduly influenced him. Francis’s surviving wife, Elizabeth, contested that Patricia did.

Posted July 13, 2016

First State Fiduciaries LLC v. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Margaret E. Day and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC v. First State Fiduciaries, LLC & Margaret E. Day C.A. No. 9472-MA (July 11, 2016)

Posted April 12, 2016

In the Matter of the Last Will and Testament Of Edward B. Sandstrom, Deceased, C.A. No. 8948-MA

Posted February 25, 2016

IMO the Estate of James L. Simmons, Sr.; Simmons v. DeRamus, et al. C.A. No. 9965-ML (February 11, 2016)

Posted February 2, 2016

IMO: Raymond L. Hammond Irrevocable Trust Agreement and PNC Bank Delaware Trust Company, as Trustee, Dated October 5, 2007. C.A. No. 10463-ML (January 28, 2016)

Posted February 2, 2016

In re: Estate of Bennie Farren, C.A. No. 8714-MA & McGlaughlin v. Farren, C.A. No. 9385-MA (January 19, 2016)

Posted January 21, 2016

In August of 2015, Delaware adopted 12 Del.C.§ 1311. In so doing, Delaware joined Ohio, Alaska, Arkansas, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, and North Dakota as one of only a few states that offer testators the option of pre-mortem will validation.

Posted November 4, 2015

IMO: The Estate of James Vincent Tigani, Jr., deceased, and the J. Vincent Tigani Jr., a/k/a James Vincent Tigani, Jr. Revocable Trust, U/A dtd, April 10, 1995 C.A. No. 7339-ML (September 30, 2015)

Posted November 2, 2015

IMO the Last Will & Testament of Wilma B. Kittila, deceased C.A. No. 2084-ML (October 9, 2015)

Posted September 9, 2015

IMO The Hawk Mountain Trust CA #7334-VCP (September 8, 2015)

Posted August 19, 2015

Dorothy Blansfield v. Alumni Association of Arizona State University, Alumni Association of Temple University and Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, C.A. No. 9435-VCP (July 31, 2015)

Posted June 30, 2015

In Re: Estate of Bennie P. Farren C.A. No. 8714-MA (June 18, 2015)

Posted June 5, 2015

Margaret C. Ughetta v. Mary Harding Cist, Individually, as Executrix of Estate of John David Cist, and as Trustee of the Supp Trust Agreement of John David Cist. C.A. No. 7885-MA (May 29, 2015)

Posted May 6, 2015

IMO the Thomas Lawrence Reeves Irrevocable Trust Under Agreement Dated February 26, 1997 C.A. No. 8071-ML (April 29, 2015)

Posted April 29, 2015

Kathryn Mennen et al v. Wilmington Trust Company et al C.A. No. 8432 (Motion for Summary Judgment)(April 24, 2015)

Posted March 4, 2015

IMO the Trust Under the Will of Elizabeth Williams Vale for the Benefit of Frederic B. Asche, Jr. C.A. No. 7662-VCP (February 19, 2015)

Posted March 4, 2015

Robert E. Taglialatela, Jr. v. Phyllis T. Galvin, Trustee Irrevocable Trust of Robert E.

Posted February 19, 2015

IMO Last Will & Testament of Wilma B. Kittila, deceased C.A. No. 8024-ML (February 18, 2015)

Posted February 12, 2015

On February 12, 2015, the Delaware Supreme Court, by way of the two-paragraph order attached below, affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s June 2014 ruling dismissing a petitioner’s case as untimely based on notice given under Delaware’s pre-mortem validation statute.

Posted February 5, 2015

Geraldine Messick v. Estate of Ronald R. Messick, C.A. No. 6290-MA (February 3, 2015)

Posted January 13, 2015

IMO Last Will & Testament of Ethel Smith C.A. No. 8532-MA (January 8, 2015)

Posted December 15, 2014

Mennen v. Wilmington Trust Company, et al. C.A. No. 8432-ML (December 8, 2014) 

Posted December 10, 2014

Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company v. Carey C.A. No. 9274-MA (November 26, 2014)

Posted November 13, 2014

IMO the Estate of Zigfrids B. Blums, deceased C.A. No 7479-ML (November 12, 2014)

Posted October 6, 2014

IMO The Estate of Aldon S. Hall C.A. No. 8122-MA (October 2, 2014)

Posted September 18, 2014

IMO The Estate of Paulina duPont Dean C.A. No. 7430-ML (September 17, 2014)

Posted September 8, 2014

Richard A. McCloskey v. John A. McCloskey, et al. C.A. No. 6061-ML (September 3, 2014)

Posted August 20, 2014

Last week, Gov. Jack Markell signed into law the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets and Digital Accounts Act, which gives personal representatives, guardians, power of attorney, trustees, or any other fiduciary entrusted to exercise authority over digital assets or digital accounts access to transfer, copy, or destroy a digital asset or digital account.

Posted August 12, 2014

Hardy v. Hardy, et. al. C.A. No. 7531-VCP (July 29, 2014)

The Delaware Court of Chancery recently removed the trustees of a trust set up for the benefit of an individual who had received over $300,000 for the settlement of sex abuse case against the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. The trustees spent the majority of the settlement in only five months. The court awarded the beneficiary his attorneys’ fees and costs under the bad faith exception to the American Rule.

Posted August 11, 2014

IMO DANIEL KLOIBER DYNASTY TRUST U/A/D DECEMBER 20, 2002 C.A. No. 9685-VCL (August 1, 2014)

Posted June 9, 2014

IMO Restatement of Declaration of Trust Creating the Survivor's Trust Created Under the Ravet Family Trust C.A. No. 7743-VCG (June 4, 2014)

Posted May 21, 2014

Beverly McCarty and Ragen McCarty v. John M. McCarty, Jr. as an Executor of the Estate of Michael L.

Posted March 10, 2014

Charles B. Grace, Jr., v. Ashbridge LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, C.A. No. 8348-VCN (December 31, 2013)

Posted February 5, 2014

In the Matter of: Restatement of Declaration of Trust Creating the Survivor’s Trust Created Under the Ravet Family Trust Dated February 9, 2012, C.A. No. 7743-VCG (January 29, 2013)

Posted January 30, 2014

IMO the Restated Revocable Trust of Lawrence F. Conlin, deceased C.A. No. 8052-ML (January 21, 2014)

Posted January 30, 2014

In re: The Estate of Mary Elizabeth Hutton C.A. No. 6863-ML (January 24, 2014)

Posted December 17, 2013

Estate of Ralph A. Gallegan, C.A. No. 8552-MA (December 16, 2013)

Posted November 21, 2013

Nancy B. Minieri, et al. v. Diane E. Bennett, C.A. No. 4792-ML (November 13, 2013)

Posted November 4, 2013

IMO The Estate of Leonard Rich, KC-ROW #F03072007R (October 29, 2013)

Pursuant to Chancery Court Rule 144(a)(1), Master Pro Hac Vice Poppiti issued a report on exceptions to the final accounting, as filed collectively by four beneficiaries of the estate.

Posted October 7, 2013

Peierls Family Trusts Case Nos. 16810, 16811 & 16812 (October 4, 2013)

Posted September 23, 2013

Mennen v. Wilmington Trust, C.A. No. 8432-ML (September 18, 2013)

Posted September 23, 2013

Cecil W. Scott v. Roland E. Scott C.A. No. 6604-MA (September 13, 2013)

Posted September 6, 2013

IMO Estate of Robert N. Gardner C.A. No. 5506-MA (August 13, 2013)

Posted August 23, 2013

In the Matter of The Mary R. Latimer Trust U/A/D 12/3/1924 C.M. No. 17254-N-VCL (August 19, 2013)

Posted July 8, 2013

IMO Purported Codicil/Amendment to the LW&T of Lucia R. Sierra, C.A. No. 7769-ML (June 26, 2013)

Posted May 24, 2013

Danuta Saitis, executrix of the Estate of Stefan Szewczyk, deceased v. Elizabeth L. Malatesta, C.A. No. 7492-ML (May 13, 2013)

Posted May 23, 2013

Taglialatela v. Galvin, C.A. No. 5841-MA (May 14, 2013)

Posted May 13, 2013

In the matter of Trust Under the Will of Elizabeth Williams Vale for the Benefit of Frederic B. Asche, Jr., C.A. No. 7662-ML (April 29, 2013)

Posted May 1, 2013

In re the Adoption of C.A.H.W. File No. 95–05–03–A (March 28, 2013)

Posted April 26, 2013

Honaker v. The Estate of Dorothy T. Haas, C.A. No. 7966-VCG (April 11, 2013)

Posted April 22, 2013

IMO Trust for Grandchildren of Wilbert L. and Genevieve W. Gore dated April 14, 2972, C.A. No. 1165-VCN (April 1, 2013).

Posted March 18, 2013

IMO Trust for Grandchildren of Wilbert L. and Genevieve W. Gore, C.A. No. 1165-VCN (February 27, 2013).

At the conclusion of this litigation, the court ordered that all parties’ fees be paid by the trust.

Posted March 8, 2013

Davis v. Estate of Mary S. Perry, C.A. No. 2419-VCG (January 2, 2013).