Title: Matter of the Estate of Webb

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE 
ESTATE OF JOHN L. WEBB 
§  No. 393, 2011 
§ 
§  Court Below—Court of Chancery 
§  of the State of Delaware, 
§  in and for New Castle County 
§  Reg. Wills No. 147884 
 
Submitted:  August 15, 2011 
Decided:  October 12, 2011 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND, and RIDGELY, Justices. 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 12th day of October 2011, it appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
On August 1, 2011, the Court received a notice of interlocutory 
appeal filed by David O. Webb from a letter order issued by a Master in the 
Court of Chancery, dated June 29, 2011, holding that the appellant had a 
presumptive right to serve as the administrator of the estate of John L. 
Webb.  The Master remanded the matter to the Register of Wills to 
determine who would serve as administrator.  This Court issued a notice to 
appellant to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed for 
appellant’s attempt to appeal from an unappealable interlocutory order. 
(2) 
Appellant filed a response to the notice to show cause on 
August 15, 2011.  We find his response to no avail.  It is well-settled that 
this Court is without jurisdiction to hear an appeal directly from any action 
 
 
-2-
taken by a Master or Commissioner of a trial court.1 The appellant’s right to 
review of the Master’s order was to a judge in the Court of Chancery.2 
Having failed to pursue that remedy, appellant waived his right to any 
further review or appeal.3 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Supreme Court 
Rule 29(b), that the within appeal is DISMISSED. 
BY THE COURT: 
 
/s/ Myron T. Steele 
Chief Justice 
                                                 
1 See Johnson v. State, 884 A.2d 475,479 (Del. 2005). 
2 See Del. Ct. Ch. R. 144 (2011). 
3 Id. 144(a)(1).