Today’s Greenwich Post reports that a one million dollar settlement negoiated with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines  by Jennifer Hagel Smith has been upheld by Connecticut Probate Judge David Hopper. You may remember that Ms. Hagel Smith’s husband George Smith IV mysteriously disappeared from the cruise ship Brilliance of the Seas on the couple’s honeymoon cruise in the Aegean Sea in July 2005.
Continue Reading Probate Court Upholds Wrongful Death Settlement Between Widow And Cruise Line

It seems that old rock stars have the most interesting estates.The International Herald Tribune has reported that Ike Turner’s ex-wife Jeannette Bazzell Turner has filed a claim against his estate stemming from his purported failure to pay her her share of community property after their 1995 divorce in California.
Continue Reading Ex-Wife Files Claim Against Ike Turner’s Estate

The Star, a newspaper in Sheffield, England has provided us with a  glimpse into sixteenth century rural English life with this account taken from an extremely rare probate proceeding in 1549 England. It is worth a few moments to read it.

The New York Times reported today that Heath Ledger’s will made no provisions either for his young daughter, or for  her mother and former girlfriend  Michelle Williams. Instead, the actor left his entire estate to his parents and sisters back in his native Australia. Continue Reading Heath Ledger’s Will Fails To Provide For His Child

Newsday reported on February 25th that the strange case of socialite Brooke Astor who passed away last year at the age of 105 has gotten even stranger. It seems that Romanian Prince Paul has tried on at least two occasions to get Ms. Astor’s former maid Lia Opris to meet with attorneys for Francis X Morrissey, the attorney who is facing felony charges for allegedly taking part in a scheme to forge Ms. Astor’s signature to revisions to her Will. Ms. Opris was reportedly a witness to the signing of the will revisions. So far, she has refused to meet with Thomas Puccio, the lawyer defending Morrissey. The one thing certain about this bizarre case is that we have yet to see the last weird twist and turn.
Continue Reading Romanian Prince Attempts To Help Attorney In Brooke Astor Case

Today’s New York Times brings us  depressing news of yet another attorney fallen from grace for not being able to keep her hands off of the property of an elderly person over whom she had been appointed guardian. The Appellate Division has suspended Emani Taylor for allegedly converting the property of retired Supreme Court Justice John L. Phillips after saying that she had failed to cooperate with the court’s investigation into her actions.Continue Reading Lawyer Suspended For Irregularities In Guardianship Of Retired Judge

The hits just keep coming for Francis X. Morrissey, the former attorney of the late Brooke Astor who died last August at the age of 105. Today’s New York Times reports that Mr. Morrissey represented a veritable Who’s Who of New York’s elderly and wealthy. What is somewhat odd –but unfortunately understandable under the circumstances–…

Today’s New York Times business section tells us of  the mysterious death in Florida of 44 year old hedge fund manager Seth Tobias this past September 4th. From all appearances, he had suffered a fatal heart attack and was found in his swimming pool. Initially, there were no suspicions raised by the death of this…