Opinion ID: 1277322
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: count ii: kollman estate

Text: Count II involved the estate of Walter Kollman and Widtfeldt's representation of its personal representatives. Widtfeldt entered into an agreement with the personal representatives for attorney fees in the amount of 5 percent of the estate, with a like percentage designated for the services of each personal representative. An inheritance tax worksheet was eventually presented to and signed by the personal representatives, setting forth a gross estate of $1,419,994.70, attorney fees of $100,999.74 (which was roughly 7 percent of the assets), and personal representatives' fees in the amount of $201,999.47. This sheet was presented to the county attorney, who informed Widtfeldt that he would not approve the worksheet and that Widtfeldt would have to obtain court approval for any such fees. The worksheet was never filed with the court. Widtfeldt claimed that the reason he never filed this first worksheet was because it contained errors. He explained that there were mathematical errors, on which he did not elaborate. In addition, Widtfeldt testified that tempers were fairly high. A litigator had been hired through him for the estate to handle litigation with certain heirs, and Widtfeldt explained that he thought that he was going to have to pay the litigator's expenses out of his own fees because the fees were being informally contested by one of the personal representatives. Subsequently, Widtfeldt drafted or filed several different and conflicting motions for approval of his fees, ranging from 2 to 5 percent of the estate. Ultimately, the county court, noting that normal fees for estate actions in that area were 1 percent, awarded a 2-percent fee to Widtfeldt and ordered that any excess fees be refunded. Widtfeldt, pursuant to such order, refunded $28,398 of previously paid fees. The aforementioned litigator testified at the disciplinary hearing that a reasonable rate was between 2 to 3 percent. The misrepresentation allegations of count II related to alleged false statements to the county court in Widtfeldt's pleadings regarding the scheduling of hearings. The Counsel for Discipline however, eventually conceded that Widtfeldt's testimony established that the misrepresentations were unintentional and were a result of administrative error. The referee found with regard to the false pleadings allegation that the evidence failed to establish any violation. However, the referee found that Widtfeldt had violated DR 2-106(A) by charging, albeit without successfully collecting, an excessive fee.