Piper Rudnick LLP v. Hartz

This is the latest chapter in the dispute between the late Sigmund Stanley Hartz’s beneficiaries and his personal representative. Previously, the personal representative successfully defended against the beneficiaries’ attempt to remove and surcharge him. In this case, we must decide, pursuant to Md.Code (1974, 2001 Repl.Vol., 2004 Cum.Supp.), § 7-603 of the Estates and Trusts Article, 1 whether the personal representative is entitled to pay counsel fees incurred in that defense from the corpus of the estate. We shall answer this question affirmatively and reverse.

I

Appellants Brian Goldman,…