MacDonald v. Mauriello
MacDonald v. Mauriello
Concurring Opinion
Specially concurring.
I fully concur in the majority opinion but take this opportunity to expound on what I perceive to be an overused and overrated probate procedure — requesting and receiving court approval when it is not necessary or legally required. I suspect this superfluous procedure is used because it is viewed as a means of obtaining a harbor safe from criticism or consequence for the future actions so “authorized.” As this case demonstrates, this assumption is incorrect.
Pursuant to section 733.612, Florida Statutes (2002), the personal representative “acting reasonably for the benefit of the interested persons” may perform the “transactions authorized” “without court order.” If done, then the personal representative is entitled to the protection afforded by section 733.602(2). Obtaining court approval for actions already authorized by statute does not insulate the personal representative from personal liability, nor does it eliminate the requirements of section 733.612 that the personal representative act reasonably and for the benefit of the interested persons. Additionally, the unnecessary solicitation of court approval itself may arguably even be perceived as a dissipation of estate assets.
Opinion of the Court
Richard MacDonald, as personal representative of the estate of Peter Wejanow-ski, appeals an order of the probate court that effectively denies him an opportunity
Mr. Wejanowski and Ms. Stacy lived together unmarried for almost twenty years before their relationship began to deteriorate several months before their deaths. Mr. Wejanowski’s health was rapidly declining because he was suffering from end-stage cancer of the throat, Ms. Stacy was romantically involved with another man while living with Mr. Wejanow-ski, and acrimony permeated their relationship. On the day of his death, Mr. Wejanowski called his Mend Mr. MacDonald and requested that he visit him, which Mr. MacDonald did, accompanied by his girlfriend. After a short visit, Mr. Wejanowski excused himself and retired to another room. The couple then heard a gunshot. Responding to the sound, they discovered Mr. Wejanowski, who had committed suicide, lying next to the body of Ms. Stacy. She had been fatally shot four times and had sustained several superficial stab wounds.
Donna Mauriello, as personal representative of Ms. Stacy’s estate, filed a wrongful death suit against Mr. Wejanowski’s estate. Mr. MacDonald, as personal representative of the Wejanowski estate, hired one lawyer to handle probate matters and another to handle the civil litigation. Ms. Mauriello ultimately prevailed in the wrongful death suit, and Mr. MacDonald filed the first of his now-abated appeals, challenging that judgment for damages.
Requiring Mr. MacDonald to show a monetary benefit to the estate before he is entitled to reimbursement for appellate expenses narrows the definition of “benefit to the estate” to an unworkable level in this appellate context. An appellate attorney has an ethical duty not to prosecute a baseless or frivolous appeal. Payment of appellate fees and costs cannot be contingent upon prevailing on appeal because neither party can guarantee the outcome. The true benefit to an estate provided by an appellate attorney is the presentation of a good-faith appeal and its ultimate resolution. Our system affords litigants the right to resolve disputes with due process, safeguarded by appellate review of the trial court’s decisions. Cf. Brake v. Murphy, 693 So.2d 663 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997) (reversing an order that required the personal representative and her husband to post a bond in order to file further pleadings in a surcharge proceeding because the order violated the access to the courts provision and due process clause of the state constitution).
Because section 733.602(2), Florida Statutes (2002), removes liability for any act of administration if the act was authorized at the time, personal representatives often
We reverse the order of the trial court that precluded Mr. MacDonald from expending estate monies to prosecute the pending appeals. Should the trial court determine, upon proper motion and after full review of the completed appellate proceedings, that the appeals were not taken in good faith or were frivolous, it has other remedies available to it. See § 733.609.
Reversed.
. The two other abated appeals challenge an order of disbursement from the estate and an order denying attorney's fees.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.