Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Heirs Cry Foul; Say Two Colorado Probate Lawyers Depleted Their Estates

Note: This article originally ran 1/26/14:

Four families with cases in Arapahoe County's probate court say that two attorneys involved in their estates should have disclosed a real estate investment they made together before charging the estates at least $400,000 in fees.

Colorado's disclosure requirements for attorneys generally do not extend to family members of clients, experts said. But the attorneys' joint investment concerned the district's chief judge enough that he issued an order in April that they could not be involved in the same estate cases without court approval.

Last week, the judge ordered one of the attorneys, court-appointed public administrator Tamra Palmer, to advise him of any cases since April in which she has participated with lawyer Jennifer Gormley. Palmer responded that there are four such cases but that she was appointed to each before the judge's April order.

Palmer and Gormley say they are precluded by confidentiality rules from discussing any probate cases. However, each has said they have no conflict of interest. Palmer has told the court the relationship did not influence her decisions and that she had no obligation to disclose her real estate investment with Gormley.

Cliff Battista, who was trustee of his father's estate, said Palmer testified to have him removed, then, on Gormley's recommendation, took his place as a court-appointed trustee. Both lawyers then billed the estate for their work on the case.

"I'm appalled that people have the audacity to do that to someone else," he said.

Full Article and Source:
Heirs Cry Foul, Say Two Probate Lawyers Depleted Their Estates

8 comments:

  1. Public and private predators paired up and on the prowl!

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  2. Public and private predators paired up and on the prowl!

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  3. I hope Colorado will be proactive in reform efforts.

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  4. Dirty tricksters with intent to deceive wonder why lawyers have a bad name?

    It's all about the $ for the majority of lawyers then add in the liars and crooks and yes yes yes there are some darned good lawyers who are honest.

    Tamra Palmer and Jennifer Gormley are bottom feeders who need to be disbarred and prevented from practicing law in any other state.

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  5. I used to think that women attorneys were, as a rule, more honest.

    Not any more -- it's all about money, money, money.

    If you can't see why this is a blatant conflict of interest, ladies, it's time to take down that shingle.

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  6. Gosh I hate to agree with you, Anonymous2, but you're so right.

    I used to think women lawyers were more honest too.

    I hope they are overall.

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  7. The chief District Court judge in Arapahoe County dismissed Tamra Palmer as public administrator after she was accused by four families of mishandling their estates with her business partner.

    See the Denver Post article:
    http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25088851/arapahoe-judge-dismisses-official-who-heirs-say-mishandled

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