Jones Foster litigation shareholders Peter A. Sachs and Scott G. Hawkins and attorney Alexander L. Brams served as counsel for the personal representative in a will and trust contest in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
The personal representative’s siblings and beneficiaries of the decedent’s estate brought claims against the personal representative, alleging, inter alia, undue influence, conversion, and fraud and seeking an accounting, damages, revocation of the decedent’s will, and removal of the personal representative.
The case proceeded to a nine-day bench trial and the Court ruled in the personal representative’s favor on all counts, dismissing the fraud and conversion counts mid-trial, finding that the personal representative had not unduly influenced the decedent, and upholding the decedent’s estate plan.
Scott Hawkins, the firm’s vice chair, is a Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation attorney and a past president of The Florida Bar. He represents public and private companies in a variety of industries, including technology, medical, environmental, real estate, land use, insurance, and military. Scott focuses his practice in commercial litigation with an emphasis on intellectual property, trade secret disputes, trademark infringement, covenants not to compete, securities, real estate litigation, and claims arising under ERISA Plans. Additionally, Scott regularly serves as an attorney’s fees counsel and expert witness.
Peter Sachs is a Jones Foster board member and shareholder who represents individuals and institutions in the prosecution and defense of complex trust and estate, guardianship, and commercial litigation matters. He advises trust companies and banks regarding fiduciary duties as personal representatives and trustees under Florida law. Peter is double Board Certified by The Florida Bar in the areas of Civil Trial and Business Litigation. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Alex Brams is a member of Jones Foster’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Private Wealth, Trusts & Estates practice groups. He focuses his practice on the areas of probate, trust, guardianship, and fiduciary litigation, as well as commercial litigation, throughout Florida’s state and federal courts. Alex represents fiduciaries and individuals in all probate, trust, and guardianship settings, including will and trust contests, breach of trust actions, personal representative and trustee removal and accounting actions, will and trust reformation and modification proceedings, contested guardianships, exploitation, and tortious interference litigation.
Jones Foster is a commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. Established in 1924, the firm has served as an integral part of South Florida’s growth and prosperity for nearly a century. Through a relentless pursuit of excellence, Jones Foster delivers original legal solutions that help clients, colleagues, and the community to move forward. Notably, the majority of the firm’s Shareholders have received the designation of Board-Certified Specialist by The Florida Bar in their specific practice area. The firm’s attorneys focus their practice in Real Estate, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Private Wealth, Trusts & Estates, Corporate & Tax, and Land Use & Governmental. For more information, please visit www.jonesfoster.com.
