Case Name: In the Matter of the Estate of Marguerite C. Porter, Also Known as Margaret Porter, Deceased. Peter D'Agostino et al., Appellants; Marilyn Ritchie, as Guardian of the Person and Property of Rita Mary Hughes, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2006-12-05
Citations: 35 A.D.3d 477
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Estate of Marguerite C. Porter, Also Known as Margaret Porter, Deceased. Peter D’Agostino et al., Appellants; Marilyn Ritchie, as Guardian of the Person and Property of Rita Mary Hughes, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 35
Pages: 477–477

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Estate of Marguerite C. Porter, Also Known as Margaret Porter, Deceased. Peter D’Agostino et al., Appellants; Marilyn Ritchie, as Guardian of the Person and Property of Rita Mary Hughes, Respondent.
[826 NYS2d 377]

Opinion:
In a contested probate proceeding, the petitioners appeal from an order of the Surrogate's Court, Richmond County (Fusco, S.), dated September 13, 2005, which denied their motion to disqualify the objectant's attorney.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs payable by the appellants personally.
Disqualification of the objectant's attorney for violation of the advocate-witness rule was properly denied in the absence of a showing that the testimony of the attorney would be necessary (see Code of Professional Responsibility DR 5-102 [22 NYCRR 1200.21]; S & S Hotel Ventures Ltd. Partnership v 777 S. H. Corp., 69 NY2d 437, 446 [1987]). Nor was disqualification warranted under Code of Professional Responsibility DR 7-104 (see 22 NYCRR 1200.35), as at the time the objectant's attorney spoke to the petitioners they were not represented by counsel. Miller, J.E, Ritter, Santucci and Lunn, JJ., concur.