The October 29, 2008 edition of Trust & Estates contains this article: A Final Win for the Lawyer of Erin Brockovich Fame.
Edward Masry was the California trial lawyer who with the help of an assistant named Erin Brockovich brought a class action lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Company for groundwater contamination which caused wide-spread illness
See our prior blog post on the issue of whether an inconsistent will can overcome the presumption that a joint account passes to the surviving joint owner. (You may be surprised at what the Superior Court said.)
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has granted the petition for Allowance of Appeal from the Order of the Superior Court
Billy Hamilton channels Ambrose Bierce, who gave us The Devil’s Dictionary and such classics definitions as:
Conceit, n. Self-respect in one whom we dislike.
Hand, n. A singular instrument worn at the end of the human arm and commonly thrust into somebody’s pocket.
Tarif, n. A scale of taxes
"Negative inheritance," a term coined by Laurence Kotlikoff, a professor at Boston University, describes the situation when the costs to children of caring for aging relatives outstrip any gifts or bequests they might receive in return.
A large portion of baby boomers find themselves becoming the caregivers for their parents. Many of these caregivers want
You will enjoy this post at David Giacalone’s f/k/a about Frank Duci’s will:
(source: Schenectady Gazette) 
There are good reasons and bad reasons for setting up a funded revocable living trust (RLT) – here is one of the better reasons: FDIC insurance has been increased and now covers each beneficiary’s interest in an RLT up to $250,000 each.
See the FDIC website explanation here.
The legislation authorizing the increase in
"It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good "
–old proverb
The current low valuation levels in the financial markets present some unique opportunities for estate tax and income tax planning. Low values give the opportunity for transferring assets on very advantageous terms, freezing low values, and recognizing losses for income tax planning.
Here is a list
"Hell hath no fury like a white knight spurned."
– Jonathan D. Glater writing for the Wall Street Journal.
Wachovia had a "silent run" losing scads of big depositors. Citigroup came to the rescue – loaning them cash. With FDIC guidance, Citigroup stepped in to prevent Wachovia from collapsing on Monday September
The Toronto Sun reports that Heath Ledger’s 2-year-old daughter, Matilda, will inherit his entire estate. Apparently, the family "gave" all the money to Matilda. Heath’s estate is estimated at $16.3 million.
See the my earlier post, The Joker, describing the issues in Ledger’s estate. His will, executed two years before the birth of his daughter
William F. Buckley, the conservative columnist who died in February 27, 2008, had one son, Christopher Buckley. Christopher has two children, Caitlin and William, with his now-estranged wife, Lucy. Christopher had an affair with book publicist Irina Woelfle and together they had a son, Jonathan, now age 8.
William F. Buckley’s will contained this provision: "I intentionally