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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Krista--The court can order anybody involved to pay fees, including the PR personally. In your scenario I would argue that the PR has breached a fiduciary duty
of diligence, and should pay the attorney fees personally rather than the fees coming out of the estate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">In my pleadings I have usually frame the question for the court as: "Someone should pay my client's attorney fees under the statute. My client is an innocent
party who has been forced to bring legal action in order to enforce her rights, and it is not fair for her to have to pay fees to receive what is hers by right. The other beneficiaries of the estate have had no part in depriving my client of her rights, and
the residuary Estate should not be taxed with the fees. The PR, on the other hand, has breached her fiduciary duties to diligently settle this estate and pay the specific bequest as required under the Will that the PR has an affirmative duty to follow. Under
these circumstances, it would be unfair to my client not to award fees. The PR should pay my client's attorney fees."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";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>Krista MacLaren<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 25, 2016 1:06 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsba probate & trust<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] attorney fee award under 11.96A.150<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Listmates,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There is case law, which I believe is still good, that says it is inappropriate to assess fees against an estate when the litigation benefited only certain rival beneficiaries to the estate because it would unjustly penalize the beneficiaries
not involved in the litigation. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Does this mean that a petitioner who is the recipient of a specific bequest should not request attorney fees when she is having to bring an action against the estate to pay the specific bequest, because it would harm residual beneficiaries?
Or is it fine to make the request and force the respondent to say it is improper?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">thanks!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Krista J. MacLaren<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
Northgate Executive Center II<br>
9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 600<br>
Seattle, WA 98115<br>
(206)523-6116<br>
<a href="mailto:kjm.inc@mac.com">kjm.inc@mac.com</a><br>
<br>
Please note, as with most email providers, Mac does not encrypt email messages. Accordingly, the confidentiality of messages sent to this address cannot be assured. This e-mail is intended for viewing only by the individual or entity to whom its content is
addressed, and it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you received this email in error, please honor the privacy of the intended recipient: reply to the sender regarding the error and delete the message. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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