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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Wow, Paul--tough one. I haven't encountered the scenario but I'd start research with the commentary on RPC 1.14 (client with diminished capacity) and whether it's possible to disclose information to protect the
<u>client's estate planning interests</u>. I would argue that a client's EP interests is a "financial interest" coming to harm by these facts. You know what client wanted, and daughter's actions are essentially self-serving and so she has burden to demonstrate
how/why they were actually for mom's best interests, and not really to thwart her EP intent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I know that many duties to our clients continue past their deaths, but not sure about anything under RPC 1.14. Hard to argue that a deceased client that
<i>was</i> of diminished capacity before, is about to come to financial harm--but then again, the client had future desires for what happens to their financial assets after death, and the wrongful acts occurred during the client's diminished capacity, so maybe
that qualifies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">To the extent you are relieved from RPC 1.6 confidentiality by your duties under RPC 1.14(c), I think you might be able to report financial abuse during client's life, as a crime. I am pretty sure those cases
can be pursued even after death. Alternatively, I think you could disclose information to the PR, as it's the PR's responsibility to pursue claims that the deceased would have had during life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">All of that is dependent on making darn sure of your scope of discretionary disclosure of confidential information under RPC 1.14(c).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Beware one potential trap--I assume the daughter doesn't consider you her attorney as well. If she communicated to you something in confidence, evaluate your potential exposure to an argument from her that she
"thought he was <i>my</i> attorney."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul Neumiller<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 05, 2015 3:11 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] What is Attorney Here?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates, Happy Sunny Friday Afternoon. I prepared a Will for a woman several years ago. She became mentally disabled. Daughter was agent under DPOA. Assume the following is true. Daughter knew that she was receiving only a small
portion of inheritance under Mother’s Will. Daughter either transferred all of assets using her DPOA or had mother transfer (while disabled) all of the accounts into “transfer upon death” accounts so that Daughter now informs me that all funds now belong
to her (including the house where the Daughter has lived for past five years while mother was alive but in a home, because Daughter had mother sign a quitclaim deed to both of them with JTWRS.) The facility where Mother was living had to remove the telephone
from the mother’s room because the mother was calling the police every night because she thought there were Indians in the basement and trying to gain access to her room through the heating vents. Assume no question that Mother was mentally disabled all during
this period.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These actions effectively cut several non-profits and a step-sister out of the Will.
<u>Estate is worth over $2 mil</u>. The elected Personal Representative is a distant family friend who didn’t even know she was elected to be the PR and she is not inheriting under the Will. I have possession of the original Will, the PR has attempted to
contact me, and I know that, at least, we need to file the original Will with court within 20 days of death.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What are my duties here, if any? I truly feel that Daughter has breached her fiduciary duty under the DPOA and stealing from the estate but my client is dead. Am I allowed to contact the non-profits? Am I allowed to contact the WA Attorney
General’s office (I vaguely remember that the AG is supposed to protect non-profits.) Am I allowed to contact the step-sister? I do not want to represent the PR.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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