Title: Michael R. Pilkington v. Karen A. Pilkington
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 18S02-1708-PL-554
State: Indiana
Issuer: Indiana Supreme Court
Date: August 30, 2017

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT 
 
 
 
 
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE 
Thomas M. Beeman 
 
 
 
 
 
Donald K. McClellan 
Alexander M. Beeman 
 
 
 
 
 
McClellan & McClellan 
Beeman Law  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Muncie, Indiana  
 
 
 
Anderson, Indiana 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
In the 
Indiana Supreme Court  
_________________________________ 
 
No. 18S02-1708-PL-554 
 
MICHAEL R. PILKINGTON,  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appellant (Plaintiff below), 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    v. 
 
KAREN A. PILKINGTON,   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appellee (Defendant below).  
 
 
_________________________________ 
 
Appeal from the Delaware Circuit Court, No. 18C05-1510-PL-24 
The Honorable Thomas A. Cannon, Jr. 
_________________________________ 
 
On Petition to Transfer from the Indiana Court of Appeals, No. 18A02-1605-PL-1086  
_________________________________ 
 
August 30, 2017 
 
Per Curiam. 
 
Michael Pilkington filed a complaint against his stepmother, Karen Pilkington, alleging 
she violated her duties as the trustee of a trust created by Michael’s deceased father.  The trust 
contained the father’s interest in multiple limited liability companies (“LLCs”).  Karen contends 
Michael has no interest in the trust because he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and, at the trustee’s 
FILED
C L E R K
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
Aug 30 2017, 3:19 pm
 
2 
 
request, sold Karen his interest in the LLCs.  Michael contends he sold Karen only his present 
ownership interest in the LLCs, not his remainder interest in the trust.       
 
Karen filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, 
arguing the bankruptcy court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine what interest Michael sold.  
The trial court dismissed Michael’s complaint with prejudice.  The Court of Appeals reversed and 
remanded, holding the trial court has subject matter jurisdiction to determine what interest Michael 
sold to Karen in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. Pilkington v. Pilkington, 71 N.E.3d 865 
(Ind. Ct. App. 2017).   
 
We agree with Senior Judge Shepard’s analysis and the result reached by the Court of 
Appeals.  Accordingly, we grant transfer, adopt and incorporate by reference the Court of Appeals 
opinion in accordance with Indiana Appellate Rule 58(A)(1), reverse the trial court, and remand. 
 
All Justices concur.