<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap: break-word;-webkit-nbsp-mode: space;-webkit-line-break: after-white-space'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal> Three cases provide a good starting point on this issue. <i>See Burmeister v. State Farm</i>, 70 Wn. App. 532, <i>reversed on other grounds</i>, 124 Wn. 2d 282; <i>Estate of Kvande v. Olsen</i>, 74 Wn. App. 65, <i>review denied</i>, 124 Wn. 2d 1021; and <i>Estate of Niehenke</i>, 117 Wn. 2d 681. If the litigation affects the interests of unrepresented parties, the court can deny fees. If all interested persons are represented, the court may award fees. However “[<i>w</i>]<i>here both sides to a contest over distribution advance reasonable and good faith arguments, the trial court may properly assess attorneys’ fees against the estate rather than against the parties personally</i>.” <i>Estate of Kvande v. Olsen</i>, 74 Wn. App. 71.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris Constantine<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Of Counsel, Inc. PS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>P. O. Box 7125<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tacoma WA 98417-0125<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(253) 752-7850<o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><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></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Listmates,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><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></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><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></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>thanks!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><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></div></div></body></html>