In Pense v. Bennett, the ward in a guardianship proceeding sued to invalidate the sale of real property from a trust created for his benefit to an affiliate of the trustee. No. 06-20-00030-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 8002 (Tex....more
It is not uncommon for beneficiaries to sue a trustee for actions that the beneficiaries had knowledge of but where they failed to object to that conduct for a period of time. In this circumstance, the trustee may want to...more
This presentation will cover Texas cases dealing with fiduciary issues over the survey period. Some of the issues involve the removal of a trustee, the resignation of a trustee, the production of confidential trust...more
12/1/2020
/ Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Beneficiaries ,
Client Communication ,
Confidential Information ,
Continuing Legal Education ,
Fiduciary ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Jury Trial ,
Liability ,
Modification ,
Removal ,
Resignation ,
Right to a Jury ,
Risk Management ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Trust Administration ,
Trust Protector Actions ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
Wealth Management ,
Webinars ,
Wills
In Benge v. Thomas, a settlor created a trust and appointed her daughter, Missi, as the trustee. No. 13-18-00619-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6888 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi August 27, 2020, no pet.)....more
11/19/2020
/ Appeals ,
Beneficiaries ,
Breach of Duty ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
General Partner ,
General Partnerships ,
Limited Partnerships ,
Standing ,
Summary Judgment ,
Trustees ,
Trusts
Beneficiaries often request that a trustee make them a loan from trust property. In an economic downturn, such requests are even more prevalent. As a general rule, a trustee should not want to make a loan to a beneficiary as...more
10/30/2020
/ Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Default ,
Economic Downturn ,
Estate Planning ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Loan Documentation ,
Loans ,
Risk Management ,
Trust Assets ,
Trustees ,
Trusts
In Duncan v. O’Shea, three co-trustees brought a declaratory judgment action against a fourth co-trustee, seeking a declaration that the sale of trust real property was valid over the objection of the fourth co-trustee. No....more
In Benge v. Roberts, a beneficiary sued co-trustees and sought to remove them for breaching duties by not considering claims against a former trustee. No. 03-19-00719-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6335 (Tex. App.—Austin August 12,...more
In Ruff v. Ruff, a beneficiary of a trust sued a former trustee, and that dispute was sent to arbitration. No. 05-18-00326-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6344 (Tex. App.—Dallas August 11, 2020, no pet. history)....more
A plaintiff in a trust or estate dispute often needs to seek a remedy before trial to protect it from immediate injury, to protect the assets made the basis of the suit, or to discover the real condition of the parties’...more
In In the Interest of M.G.G., an ex-husband was made a constructive trustee of stocks that he held in his retirement account for his ex-wife. No. 05-19-00777-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6291 (Tex. App.—Dallas August 10, 2020, no...more
In Ramirez v. Rodriguez, three co-trustees sued a fourth trustee to have him removed due to his hostile actions: he “has engaged in a pattern of creating hostility and friction that impedes and/or affects the operations of...more
In Hanschen v. Hanschen, a trustee challenged a default judgment. No. 05-19-01134-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4075 (Tex. App.—Dallas May 28, 2020, no pet. history). The family sued the trustee in his personal capacity and in his...more
In re Estate of Bryant, a couple set up three trusts for their three children, Bill, Leslie, and Jane. No. 07-18-00429-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 2131 (Tex. App.—Amarillo March 11, 2020, no pet. history). After the couple had...more
Beneficiaries often request that a trustee secure a loan from a third party. In an economic downturn, such requests are even more prevalent. As a general rule, a trustee should not want to do so as it should assume that the...more
This presentation will address beneficiaries requesting loans from trustees. There are multiple issues that arise regarding the trustee’s authority to do so under the trust’s language and statutory and common law, and the...more
4/8/2020
/ Beneficiaries ,
Continuing Legal Education ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Due Diligence ,
Duty of Confidentiality ,
Duty of Loyalty ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Financial Adviser ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Impartiality ,
Loan Documentation ,
Loans ,
Recessions ,
Risk Management ,
Statutory Trusts ,
Trust Administration ,
Trust Assets ,
Trustees ,
Webinars
David F. Johnson presented his paper “Trustee Quandary: Criminal Activity By a Beneficiary With or On Trust Property,” to the Tarrant County Probate Bar Association on March 5, 2020. The presentation dealt with a trustee...more
In Lavizadeh v. Moghadam, a trustee purchased real estate and then had a dispute with a guarantor. No. 05-18-00955-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 10835 (Tex. App.—Dallas December 13, 2019, no pet. history). The trial court ruled...more
In In re Troy S. Poe Trust, trustees of a trust that was embroiled in litigation filed suit to modify the trust to increase the number of trustees and change the method for trustees to vote on issues. No. 08-18-00074-CV, 2019...more
Areas of Discussion:
- In this Presentation, we will discuss the following:
- Duty of loyalty;
- Authority for trustee compensation;
- Factors for reasonable compensation;
- Other issues arising from trustee...more
9/27/2019
/ Asset Management ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Beneficiaries ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Duty of Loyalty ,
Duty to Disclose ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Reasonable Compensation ,
Settlors ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
TX Supreme Court
In Waldron v. Susan R. Winking Trust, a daughter was a beneficiary of a trust set up by her parents. No. 12-18-00026-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 5867 (Tex. App.—Tyler July 10, 2019, no pet. history)....more
In In re Amerisciences, a bankruptcy trustee sued a bankrupt company’s former officers for breach of fiduciary duty regarding the theft of trade secrets. No. 18-20394, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 20635 (5th Cir. July 11, 2019). ...more
8/26/2019
/ Appeals ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Breach of Duty ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Corporate Officers ,
Damages ,
Directors ,
Evidence ,
Tortious Interference ,
Trade Secrets ,
Trustees
In In re Ignacio G. & Myra A. Gonzales Trust, a couple formed a trust and named their daughter as the trustee. No. 06-19-00014-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 4648 (Tex. App.—Texarkana June 6, 2019, no pet. history)....more
In Godoy v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank sued a guarantor to recover on a deficiency following a foreclosure sale. No. 18-0071, 2019 Tex. LEXIS 443 (Tex. May 10, 2019)....more
With rising drug abuse issues, it is not uncommon for a beneficiary of a trust to commit criminal activities on or with trust property. This webinar will provide suggestions for trustees in this situation and address several...more
6/17/2019
/ Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Continuing Legal Education ,
Drug & Alcohol Abuse ,
Duty of Loyalty ,
Evidence ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Illegal Drugs ,
Property Damage ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
Webinars
In Ebert v. Dejoria (In re Latitude Sols., Inc.), a bankruptcy trustee sued a company’s former officers for breach of fiduciary duty. No. 18-10382, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 13060 (5th Cir. April 30, 2019)....more