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In Cherubini v. Goodsell, Case No. 10-P-1245, 2011 Mass. App. Unpub. LEXIS 827 (June 24, 2011), a decision issued pursuant to Rule 1:28, the Appeals Court addressed the anti-lapse statute, G.L. c. 191, § 22, and its effect on purported assignments of interests in an estate.
Donald Goodsell predeceased Dominic Cherubini. One of Donald's children, Edward Goodsell, argued that the portion of Dominic's estate that would have passed to Donald should go directly to Edward rather than to all of Donald's children by right of representation, because Donald's other children had assigned their interests in Donald's estate to Edward. The probate court disagreed, instructing the executor of Dominic's estate to make distributions to all of Donald's children by right of representation.
The Appeals Court affirmed, explaining that the anti-lapse statute operates to require the distribution of Donald's share of Dominic's estate directly to Donald's surviving issue. In other words, Donald's share would not pass through his estate, meaning that any assignment of interest in Donald's estate would have no effect. The Appeals Court also rejected Edward's argument that the assignment agreements were intended to include Donald's share in Dominic's estate, because Edward did not meet his high burden of proving mutual mistake, and found that the assignment agreements unambiguously pertained to Donald's estate exclusively.
On January 13, Darian Butcher will moderate and Alisa Hacker will speak at the Boston Bar Association webinar, "Breach of Fiduciary Duty Litigation: Superior Court Versus Probate & Family Court."
Margaret Meehan, Tiana Gianopulos and Alexis Gettier collaborated on an article, "New Direction: The Connecticut Uniform Directed Trust Act" for the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal.
Mark Romance authored an article, "Five Tips for Representing a Non-Party Served with a Document Subpoena: Welcome to the Party?," published by the American Bar Association Section of Litigation.
Mark A. Romance authored an article, "Five Tips for an Effective Mediation Statement," which was published by the American Bar Association, Section of Litigation.
Adam Myron, senior counsel resident in Day Pitney's West Palm Beach office, is running for judge in south Florida.
Darian Butcher and Alisa Hacker were appointed to the Boston Bar Association Virtual Hearing Resource Guides Probate Team.
Day Pitney's Michael Napoleone has been appointed to the Palm Beach County League of Cities board of directors.
Margaret Meehan, Tiana Gianopulos and Alexis Gettier collaborated on an article, "New Direction: The Connecticut Uniform Directed Trust Act" for the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal.