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| KEYSTONE QUARTERLY |
| AUGUST 2020 |
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Amid these challenging times, Keystone's adaptability is proving an asset to both Keystone's clients and attorneys. Even though we are categorized as an essential business, our physical office remains closed due to safety concerns. Nevertheless, our attorneys and staff are diligently working remotely to keep the firm at full functionality and provide our clients with the same high caliber of service to which they're accustomed.
In creating this latest edition of the Keystone Quarterly, we seek to provide an update about our remote work situation, announce our firm’s new awards and hires, and share some interesting developments and cases in the field of probate law. First, we delve into a very timely case involving Keystone’s use of a temporary conservatorship to potentially save a life during Covid-19. Next, we examine two published cases with significant implications in the field of probate: (1) a long-awaited California Supreme Court Barefoot decision determining the standing of disinherited beneficiaries to bring a trust contest in Probate Court and (2) the advantages and pitfalls of using a CCP 664.6 Motion to Enforce Settlement as a remedy for breaches of settlement agreements.
Keystone dedicates its practice to Probate, Trust and Estate litigation and administration, and is one of the largest firms in California exclusively devoted to this practice area. |
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Temporary Conservatorship Potentially Saves Mother's Life
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| Keystone's client was disheartened to learn her elderly mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease was being kept inside a home that had become a suspected hotbed of Covid-19 cases. Keystone acted quickly to help the client obtain a temporary conservatorship over her mother, making it possible for the client to move her mother into her own home. Keystone's swift handling of this case may very likely have saved the mother's life. |
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Barefoot Reversed, But Legal Standing Questions Left Unanswered
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| In October 2018, the California Court of Appeals issued its now infamous decision in Barefoot v. Jennings. It was a ruling that mystified the California trust and estate community and left many disinherited beneficiaries in an unenviable state of purgatory while waiting for the California Supreme Court to determine whether their trust contest cases could proceed and how. On January 23, 2020, the California Supreme Court issued its opinion giving clarity to the standing of disinherited trust beneficiaries, but leaving undetermined the standing of heirs to file trust contests in Probate Court. |
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Navigating the Pitfalls of a Motion to Enforce a Settlement Under CCP 664.6
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| The thought of engaging in further litigation after finally having reached a settlement agreement can be daunting for litigants. However, when there is a breach of settlement agreement terms, starting another lawsuit is not your only option. Motions to Enforce Settlement Agreements under California’s Code of Civil Procedure Section 664.6 serve as an equally effective and less time-consuming and costly option for enforcing settlement agreements that have been breached. |
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| ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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| Update: Keystone Will Continue to Work Remotely Until Further Notice |
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| Because Covid-19 persists as a substantial health risk, Keystone’s physical office will remain closed until it has been deemed safe for workplaces to reopen. Even though our attorneys and staff are not present in the office, they are conscientiously working remotely and are accessible via phone and email during our regular business hours. We are available to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. |
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Daily Journal Awards Partner Lindsey Munyer “Top 40 Under 40” Designation
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| Keystone would like to give a huge congratulations to Lindsey Munyer, a Partner at our firm, who was just named as a “Top 40 Under 40” lawyer by Daily Journal, a prominent California-based legal publication. This past year, Lindsey has helped litigate and reach favorable resolutions for several very high-profile cases, one of which was a published decision and one of which involved an estate valued at more than $50 million. |
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| Cameron Soliz Promoted to Legal Assistant Following Joy Cho’s Departure to Law School |
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| Keystone is excited to announce some personnel changes taking place within the firm. Joy Cho, who was previously one of our legal assistants, has left Keystone to attend law school. Our receptionist Cameron Soliz will be stepping into her role. |
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| Liz Baker, Daniel Matloubian and Aimee Kuvadia Join Keystone’s Growing Team |
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| Keystone is proud to welcome three new members to its growing team. Joining the firm as its newest associate attorneys are Liz Baker and Daniel Matloubian. Aimee Kuvadia joins as the firm’s marketing coordinator. |
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