Case Name: In the Matter of the Estate of Benjamin Hawker, Deceased
Court: New York Surrogate's Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1927-07-12
Citations: 130 Misc. 319
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Estate of Benjamin Hawker, Deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 130
Pages: 319–320

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Estate of Benjamin Hawker, Deceased.
Surrogate’s Court, New York County,
July 12, 1927.
John D. Armstrong, for the petitioner.
William L. Stout, for the cotrustee.

Opinion:
O'Brien, S.
The application to remove the cotrustee and to have the petitioner declared the sole trustee of the above-entitled estate is denied. From the papers submitted it appears that none of the grounds specified in section 99 of the Surrogate's Court Act for the removal of a trustee has been shown. (Matter of Jung, 205 App. Div. 37; Matter of Shenk, 125 Misc. 386.) The mere failure of the cotrustee to join in the deed of conveyance of the real property in question, or to actively perform the duties of trustee, does not constitute ground for removal.
It would seem that the proper remedy of the petitioner, in view of the claim of the cotrustee that the proposed price for the property in question is inadequate, is to procure an order requiring the cotrustee to show cause why he should not join in the conveyance of the property. Upon the return of such order the surrogate, upon the proofs submitted, can determine the question of the fair consideration of the real property and the appropriate order to be made with respect thereto.
Submit order on notice accordingly.