Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1993

In re the Estate of Barson

In re the Estate of Barson
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York · Decided December 6, 1993
199 A.D.2d 261; 605 N.Y.S.2d 947; 1993 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 11262
In re the Estate of Barson

Opinion of the Court

In two proceedings pursuant to SCPA 2110, the appeals are from (1) a decree of the *262Surrogate’s Court, Westchester County (Emanuelli, S.), dated February 15, 1991, which awarded $40,000 in legal fees, plus disbursements, to the Estate of Raphael L. Elias, and (2) a resettled decree of the same court, dated March 12,1991, which awarded $20,000 in legal fees, plus disbursements, to Shapiro & Schwartz.

Ordered that the decree and resettled decree are affirmed, with one bill of costs payable by the estate.

We find that the Surrogate’s Court did not err in finding that the first attorney to handle the estate, the late Raphael L. Elias, did not agree to provide services without compensation. In addition, the record supports the court’s determination that the firm of Shapiro & Schwartz, the successor firm, was retained by the estate, was not discharged by the letter from the executrix dated March 22, 1988, and was entitled to compensation for the services provided. Accordingly, the Surrogate’s Court did not err in awarding compensation to the Estate of Raphael L. Elias, and to the firm of Shapiro & Schwartz pursuant to SCPA 2110.

We decline to award sanctions in connection with the instant appeal. Thompson, J. P., Bracken, Balletta and Santucci, JJ., concur.

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