Representative Matters

Breach of Fiduciary Duty Cases:

In Re: Estate of Mildred Vrana, Deceased, In the County Court of Jim Wells County, Texas.  Prosecuted claims on behalf of estate beneficiaries against Independent Executor.  Succeeded in removing Independent Executor.

In Re: Estate of William H. Bruyere, Plaintiffs William R. Bruyere and Robert T. Bruyere v. Defendant Elizabeth M. Bruyere, Harris County Probate Court No. 2, Texas.  Prosecuted breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with inheritance rights, conversion, undue influence case.

Anne M. Preston Cummins, Individually, and as Trustee of the Anne M. Preston Cummins Revocable Trust v. Preston Interests, Ltd., et al, In the 391st District Court of Tom Green County, Texas.  Prosecution of breach of fiduciary duty claims against limited partners.

Robyn M. Rogers v. Kanaly Trust Company, Harris County, Probate Court No. 2, Texas.  Prosecution of numerous breach of fiduciary duty claims involving a $165 million trust.

Angelica Fuentes v. Marco Delgado, et al, In the 80th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.  Prosecute claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty on behalf of client against her former attorney, Mr. Delgado and his firm.

Elizabeth Hammons Davis v. Tom Sawyer, Individually and In His Capacities as Independent Executor of the Estate of Pryor Hammons, Deceased and et al, In the 154th Judicial District in Lamb County, Texas.  Prosecution of breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with inheritance rights case.

In Re: Estate of Aileen Copley Townes, Deceased, John Charles Townes IV, et al v. Donna Lou Townes, Harris County Probate Court No. 1, Texas.  Prosecution of breach of fiduciary duty proceeding.

Will Contests:

Luise Maudr v. K. Graham and James M. Skelton Jr., Harris County Probate Court No. 1, Texas:  Defense of will contest, breach of fiduciary duty proceeding.

Estate of Doris DeMontrond v. George A. DeMontrond III, Harris County Probate Court No. 2, Texas:  Defense of will contest proceeding.

Trust Disputes:

Amegy Bank, National Association as Purported Co-Trustee of the Harry Shattuck Cramer Life Insurance Trust v. Mary Anne Cramer, et al, In the 189th District Court of Harris County, Texas.  Prosecution and defense of suit on behalf of Amegy Bank as Successor Trustee.

In the Matter of the Marriage of Leticia B. Loya and Miguel Angel Loya and in the Interest of Michael Alexander Loya, Paul Andrew Loya and Daniela Helene Loya, In the 257th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.  Appointed Attorney Ad Litem/Guardian Ad Litem to represent minor trust beneficiaries in suit to rescind/reform a trust valued in excess of $100 million.

In Re: Gwenn A. Lindsey Living Trust, Ardath Albizo, Individually And As Trustee Of The Ardath Lindsey Albizo Trust Created Under Gwenn A. Lindsey Living Trust, Counter-Petitioner And Third-Party Plaintiff v. Janet Lindsey Dabaghi, et al, In The District Court of Travis County, Texas.  Prosecution of breach of fiduciary duty claims on behalf of beneficiary against Trustee, Trust Protector and Independent Executor.

Judicial Modifications/Reformations of Trust:

Charles L. Stephens III, as next friend of Watt Pendleton Stephens, et al v. Watt Pendleton Stephens, individually and as beneficiary of the Watt Pendleton Stephens Trust, et al, Tarrant County, Texas.  Judicial modification of trust.

Daniel F. Madeley, et al v. Mary Ann Madeley Metcalf, et al, Montgomery County, Texas.  Judicial termination of trust.

Morgan Keegan Trust Company F.S.B. v. Joan Davis Cone, as primary beneficiary of the Sadie Waldman Weintraub Trust, et al, In the 11th Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas.  Judicial modification of trust.

Contested Guardianships:

In Re: Temporary Guardianship of the Person and Estate of Ruth Brouse Bauer, Harris County, Texas, Probate Court No. 3.  Contested guardianship proceeding.

In Re: Estate of Karl Heinz Goedereis, Deceased, Harris County, Texas.  Contested temporary guardianship.

In Re: Guardianship of Mary S. Snodgrass, Harris County, Texas, Probate Court No. 1.  Served as Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem for Mrs. Snodgrass in a contested guardianship proceeding.

Guardianship of Charles Clay Montandon, an Incapacitated Person, Harris County, Texas, Probate Court No. 2.  Contested guardianship proceeding.

Dependent Administrations:

In Re: Estate of Andrew Thomas Eisenman, Deceased, Harris County, Texas, Probate Court No. 2.  Represented Dependent Administrator in administration of son's estate.

Estate of Antonio Pacifico, Deceased, Harris County, Texas, Probate Court No. 2.  Represent Dependent Administrator in complex estate administration.

Publications and Speeches

"Taking Stock – A Guide to Probate and Guardianship Inventories," presentation South Texas College of Law, Wills and Probate Institute, Houston, Texas, September 24, 2009. 

"Get it in Writing: HIPAA Makes it Vital to Get Documents Signed Early," Houston Business Journal, October 3, 2008.

"Proper Planning Can Reduce Stress," Well Being Journal, September/October 2008.

"Help! I Need Somebody and Not Just Anybody – From Application to Appointment: An Overview of the Process to Appoint Temporary and Permanent Guardians," presentation South Texas College of Law, Guardian and Ad Litem Certification Course, Houston, Texas, September 5, 2007.

"Abuses of Powers of Attorney, or Why Guardianships Can Be Good," presentation South Texas College of Law, Wills and Probate Institute, Houston, Texas, September 11-12, 2003.