In re Michael K. McShane
Mar 09, 2016OUTCOME: TC Law promptly and effectively enforced the judgment, resulting in the surviving spouse paying the full $500,000, plus the full amount of interest owed, to each nonprofit within one week of the California Supreme Court’s decision.
Surviving spouse filed a Petition for Determination of Entitlement to Estate Distribution. The Law Office of Tara L. Cooper (“TC Law”) jointly represented the four nonprofits named in Mr. McShane’s Wil ... l. The surviving spouse, who inherited over $6M from her late husband’s Estate, after only eleven months of marriage, challenged $500,000 in gifts that were to be divided among four nonprofit organizations. Despite all reasonable efforts to settle – both informally and through mediation – the surviving spouse demanded that the case be tried. TC Law took the case to trial, and the Court awarded the four nonprofits the full $500,000 requested, plus over $150,000 in interest. The surviving spouse appealed to the Second Appellate District, Division Five, and the Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the lower court’s decision. The surviving spouse next petitioned for review to the California Supreme Court, and was summarily denied relief.
