Opinion ID: 1947144
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Laura Coleman Matter

Text: As a result of the illness and subsequent death of an older attorney, Mason fell heir, so to speak, to representation of Laura Coleman, then ninety years of age. The older attorney had earlier prepared a power of attorney from Mrs. Coleman to Delphine Smallwood, a cousin who resided in Baltimore City. At Mason's request the cousin signed blank checks and blank savings account withdrawal slips. Without the knowledge of Mrs. Smallwood, more than $40,000 was withdrawn during the year 1977 from the joint savings account of Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Smallwood. Mason executed a note dated June 23, 1977, in the amount of $30,000, payable twelve months after date, to Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Smallwood for that much of this sum. He claimed Mrs. Coleman agreed to lend him this amount. The trial judge so found. The note became a part of Mrs. Coleman's estate. Mrs. Coleman died October 31, 1977. Letters testamentary were granted to Mason on February 27, 1978. On April 7, 1978, one day after the checking account for the estate of Mrs. Coleman was opened, Mason drew himself a check in the amount of $2,000 as an advance on his commissions as executor. On June 5, 1979, the Orphans' Court of Talbot County passed an order directing Mason to file an inventory and an administration account by June 12, 1979, or appear before the court on that date to show cause why the account and the inventory should not be stated and filed as required by law. As a matter of fact, the docket entry in the office of the Register of Wills for Talbot County reflecting that order shows that it was the first entry subsequent to February 27, 1978, when the information report was filed. Mrs. Smallwood was the sole beneficiary under the will of Mrs. Coleman. Mason drew a check to Mrs. Smallwood on July 1, 1979, in the amount of $30,000. The check was on the account of The South Lane Corporation at Maryland National Bank. South Lane's address, as shown on the check, was identical to that of Mason's office. He wrote Mrs. Smallwood a letter on July 2, 1979, requesting that she not deposit the check [she was] holding until the [sic] 18 July 1979, since that was when they were settling up at the bank. Mrs. Smallwood took the check to a branch of Maryland National Bank in Baltimore City. She was informed that there was but $4,000 in the account upon which the check was drawn. Ultimately she received a certified check from Mason's wife for the $30,000.