Court Opinion

ID: 4387715
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-16 15:52:13.355065+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:35.726263
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                APRIL 16, 2019
                                                       In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                      WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                            DIVISION THREE

In the Matter of the Estate of:                )          No. 35579-9-III
                                               )          (consolidated w/
EDWARD AMOS COMENOUT, JR.,                     )          No. 35816-0-III)
                                               )
                     Deceased.                 )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                               )
                                               )

       PENNELL, A.C.J. — The estate of Edward Amos Comenout, Jr. appeals several

orders issued by the Spokane County Superior Court, sitting in probate. We affirm the

superior court’s order disbursing federal settlement funds directly to the estate’s heirs.

However, we remand for further findings regarding the request for interim payment of

attorney fees by the estate’s attorney/special administrator.
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

                                          FACTS

       Mr. Comenout died testate on June 4, 2010. He was unmarried, had no children,

was a resident of Pierce County, Washington, and was a member of the Quinault Indian

Nation. Mr. Comenout possessed an off-reservation public domain allotment, or trust

property, in Puyallup, Washington.

       Mr. Comenout’s last will and testament left all of his “Indian trust real property

in equal undivided shares as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, and income earned

by said property in equal shares” to his great-nephews: Richard Gardee, Christopher

Gardee, William Gardee, and Edward Comenout, III. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 217.

Mr. Comenout’s will also left “a [one-fifth] life estate in favor of Martina Ann Garrison,”

his great-niece. Id. Ms. Garrison died in September 2016. Mr. Comenout’s great-

nephews “are eligible to hold property in trust status.” Id.

       At the time of Mr. Comenout’s death, a class action lawsuit was pending in the

United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging the federal government

had mismanaged Indian trust funds and assets. See Cobell v. Salazar, 387 App. D.C. 339,

573 F.3d 808 (2009). Mr. Comenout never participated in the Cobell litigation or made

any claims for relief. Several months after Mr. Comenout’s death, the federal

government approved a nationwide settlement for Indian trust beneficiaries pursuant to

                                              2
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

the Cobell litigation. See CLAIMS RESOLUTION ACT OF 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-291,

124 Stat. 3064.

       On September 22, 2010, retired tribal judge Mary L. Pearson was named special

administrator of Mr. Comenout’s estate in the Spokane County probate. Judge Pearson

thereafter submitted a claim for the Cobell funds applicable to Mr. Comenout’s Indian

trust land.

       In December 2012, the United States Department of the Interior, through its

Bureau of Indian Affairs (the Department), probated Mr. Comenout’s Indian trust assets

via an “Order Approving Will And Decree Of Distribution.” CP at 215-17. This order

distributed Mr. Comenout’s Indian trust real property according to the terms of his will. 1

In addressing potential claims against Mr. Comenout’s estate, the order noted that the

only money in Mr. Comenout’s Individual Indian Money (IIM) account was $108.56 and

that “ ‘money generated after the decedent’s date of death belongs to the heirs or devisees

. . . [and money] that accrues after the date of the decedent’s death from trust or restricted

property is not available for payment of claims against the estate.’ 73 Fed. Reg. 67,263

(November 13, 2008); 43 C.F.R. §30.146.” Id. at 216 (alteration in original).

       1
        An inventory of the “trust or restricted property, real and personal,” in Mr.
Comenout’s possession at the time of his death was attached to the order, but that
inventory is not included in the record on appeal. CP at 215.

                                              3
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

       On September 19, 2014, almost two years after the Department’s decree of

distribution, a Cobell settlement check for $29,514.58 was issued to Mr. Comenout’s

estate in care of Judge Pearson as personal representative.

       Judge Pearson died in March 2015. Robert Kovacevich, the attorney for the estate,

was appointed as the successor special administrator. 2

       In April 2016, the Department issued an order for “Modification To Add And

Distribute Omitted Property” regarding Mr. Comenout’s estate. Id. at 219-20. The

modification order noted Mr. Comenout’s IIM account was part of the estate’s trust

assets. As such, the order distributed the IIM account balance in accordance with

Mr. Comenout’s will. In a footnote to its order, a probate judge for the Department

commented that the distribution did not include “funds from the Cobell Settlement.”

Id. at 219.

       2
        Mr. Kovacevich was never named a personal representative of the estate.
On April 3, 2015, he was appointed solely as a special administrator under chapter
11.32 RCW. The powers of a special administrator are limited by statute and related
court orders. A special administrator is authorized to “collect all the goods, chattels,
money, effects, and debts of the deceased . . . and for that purpose may commence and
maintain suits as an administrator, and may also sell such perishable and other goods as
the court shall order sold, and make family allowances under the order of the court.”
RCW 11.32.030. A special administrator is only to be appointed as a temporary
measure, when there is a delay in granting letters testamentary or of administration.
RCW 11.32.010.

                                             4
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

       On March 13, 2017, Mr. Kovacevich, as attorney and special administrator for

the Comenout estate, filed a motion in Spokane County Superior Court for payment of

interim fees and costs. He requested $49,000.00 for his office and $5,006.80 for Judge

Pearson’s estate. Mr. Kovacevich’s motion identified the Cobell funds as estate assets.

Mr. Kovacevich represented to the superior court that the total funds available in Mr.

Comenout’s estate were $55,723.88. If Mr. Kovacevich’s fee request was granted, it

would leave a $1,717.08 balance in the estate.

       The Gardee heirs objected to Mr. Kovacevich’s requested disbursal and argued

that the Cobell settlement funds should not be part of Mr. Comenout’s estate. The heirs

argued that the Cobell settlement funds were designed to compensate Indian trust

beneficiaries for mismanagement by the Department of Indian trust income and assets;

and because Mr. Comeonout’s great-nephews were also enrolled tribal members, they

equally possessed an interest in the trust property and the funds should be disbursed to

them. On June 12, 2017, the Gardees then moved to disburse the Cobell funds, reiterating

their argument that the funds were not an asset of the Comenout estate and that they

should be disbursed in equal shares to the four heirs of the estate.

       On August 9, 2017, Mr. Kovacevich filed a motion for payment of additional fees,

specifically for his work from March through July 2017. On August 11, the superior

                                              5
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

court held a final hearing on Mr. Kovacevich’s first motion for payment of fees and the

Gardees’ motion for disbursal of the Cobell funds. In an order filed August 28, the court

granted the Gardees’ motion to disburse the Cobell funds and approved in full payment of

fees to Judge Pearson’s estate. However, the court only allowed $20,000.00 in fees to

Mr. Kovacevich. The court explained that it had “concerns about the reasonableness of

the hours billed and detailed in the records before the Court as to any amounts in excess

of $20,000.00.” CP at 349-50. Mr. Kovacevich filed a notice of appeal on behalf of the

Comenout estate in regard to this decision, specifically as to the disbursement of the

Cobell funds and the failure to grant payment for fees in excess of $20,000.00.

       After holding a hearing on Mr. Kovacevich’s second motion for interim fees, on

December 14, 2017, the superior court entered an order denying Mr. Kovacevich’s

request for additional fees and, by separate order, entered a stay on the matter of fees until

the appellate court addressed the appeal involving Mr. Kovacevich’s first fee application.

During the hearing, the court noted that it needed “to look at the totality of the estate and

all of its beneficiaries and the attorney’s fees do affect the estate at the end of the day

because they affect the degree of insolvency.” Report of Proceedings (Dec. 8, 2017) at

11. On behalf of the estate, Mr. Kovacevich also appealed these two additional orders.

Both appeals have been consolidated for review.

                                               6
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

                                        ANALYSIS

The Cobell settlement check

       The Comenout estate contends the superior court erred in distributing the Cobell

settlement funds to Mr. Comenout’s heirs because the settlement check was made

payable to the estate, and the Department had already held that the Cobell settlement

funds were not included within Mr. Comenout’s IIM account, which was distributed

to Mr. Comenout’s heirs.

       We disagree with the estate’s analysis. Neither the wording of the distribution

check nor the 2016 modification order control the nature of the Cobell funds. Going to

the first issue, the fact that the check was made payable to Mr. Comenout’s estate, rather

than the individual heirs, appears to have been due to the fact that it was the estate’s

special administrator, Judge Pearson, who submitted the claim for the funds. Judge

Pearson did not have the power to dictate the character of the funds simply because she

submitted a claim for disbursement prior to submission of any individual claims by Mr.

Comenout’s heirs. With respect to the second issue, the 2016 modification order cannot

fairly be read as determining whether the Cobell check should be classified as property of

the estate or of the individual heirs. The modification order only purported to clarify the

distribution of funds that existed in Mr. Comenout’s IIM account at the time of the 2012

                                              7
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

distribution order. At the time of the 2012 order, the Cobell funds had not yet been

awarded. Thus, it would have been inappropriate for the modification order to address

those funds.

       Rather than look to the payee noted on the Cobell check or the 2016 modification

order, our assessment of the nature of the Cobell funds is determined by the terms of the

2012 distribution decree and governing law.

       The Department’s 2012 distribution decree stated, “money generated after the

decedent’s date of death belongs to the heirs . . . [and money] that accrues after the

date of the decedent’s death from trust or restricted property is not available for payment

of claims against the estate.” CP at 216 (alteration in original) (quoting INDIAN TRUST

MANAGEMENT REFORM, 73 Fed. Reg. 67,263 (Nov. 13, 2008); see also 43 C.F.R. §§

30.101, .102, .146, .147; 25 C.F.R. § 15.10.

       Based on the terms of the 2012 distribution decree and the applicable law, the

Cobell funds were generated after Mr. Comenout’s death and, therefore, belong to the

heirs of his estate. Prior to Mr. Comenout’s death, the Cobell settlement had not been

finalized. Mr. Comenout was not a named plaintiff in the Cobell case and he never made

a claim for damages. It was only after Mr. Comenout died that his Indian trust property

became eligible for Cobell funds. Given these circumstances, the Cobell money

                                               8
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

constituted funds that accrued after Mr. Comenout’s death. First-Citizens Bank & Trust

Co. v. Harrison, 181 Wn. App. 595, 603, 326 P.3d 808 (2014) (The term “accrue” is

synonymous with “paid” or “distributed.”); see also RCW 11.44.015 (The property

of the decedent’s estate is limited to property owned by the decedent as of the date of

death.). As such, the Cobell funds belonged to Mr. Comenout’s heirs, not the estate.

       The superior court properly granted the motion to distribute or disburse the Cobell

settlement funds to Mr. Comenout’s heirs. Because the Cobell funds belong to the

estate’s heirs, the money cannot be used to pay for claims against the estate, including

claims lodged for estate administration or other legal fees.

Mr. Kovacevich’s initial fee application

       Mr. Kovacevich, as special administrator for the Comenout estate, claims the

superior court erroneously reduced his request for interim attorney/administration fees

and costs.

       Generally, a reviewing court will not interfere with an award of attorney fees in

probate matters unless there are facts and conditions showing a clear abuse of discretion.

In re Estate of Larson, 103 Wn.2d 517, 521, 694 P.2d 1051 (1985); In re Estate of Black,

116 Wn. App. 476, 489, 66 P.3d 670 (2003). When evaluating attorney fee requests in

probate proceedings, a trial court shall consider:

                                              9
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

       “[T]he amount and nature of the services rendered, the time required in
       performing them, the diligence with which they have been executed, the
       value of the estate, the novelty and difficulty of the legal questions
       involved, the skill and training required in handling them, the good faith in
       which the various legal steps in connection with the administration were
       taken, and all other matters which would aid the court in arriving at a fair
       and just allowance.”

Larson, 103 Wn.2d at 522 (quoting In re Estate of Peterson, 12 Wn.2d 686, 728,

123 P.2d 733 (1942)). “When a probate attorney elects to base his [or her] fees primarily

on the number of hours worked multiplied by an hourly rate, . . . fiduciary obligations

dictate that he [or she] charge the estate only for those hours which are reasonably

necessary in probating the estate.” Larson, 103 Wn.2d at 531.

       The six and one-half years of billing records submitted with Mr. Kovacevich’s

initial interim fee application document over $117,000 in fees and costs, of which the fees

attributed to Mr. Kovacevich (approximately 460 hours of work totaling over $102,000) 3

are prominent. The time entries begin on July 16, 2010, with work related to a failed

Pierce County probate, and end on February 28, 2017. Mr. Kovacevich worked solely in

his capacity as attorney for the Comenout estate from the onset of billing until April 3,

2015, when he was appointed successor special administrator of the estate. According to

       3
        According to the billing records, Mr. Kovacevich wrote off nearly 80 hours of
additional time, totaling approximately $18,000, during the fee application period.

                                             10
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

the interim billing records, in his nearly two years after becoming special administrator,

Mr. Kovacevich billed over 180 hours totaling approximately $41,000 (he wrote off an

additional 43.5 hours totaling nearly $10,000 during this time period). The billing entries

submitted by Mr. Kovacevich appear to encompass subject matter outside the Spokane

County probate.

       In its order partially granting Mr. Kovacevich’s request for $49,000 in fees and

costs, the court explained that it had “concerns about the reasonableness of the hours

billed and detailed in the records before the Court as to any amounts in excess of

$20,000.” CP at 349-50. There is nothing else in the record on appeal providing further

reasoning for the superior court’s denial of Mr. Kovacevich’s request for payment of the

additional $29,000 in fees. 4

       The current record is insufficient to enable meaningful review of the superior

court’s fee decision. We therefore remand this matter for entry of findings of fact and

conclusions of law on the issue of fees. 5 In assessing Mr. Kovacevich’s fee request on

       4
         We also note that the Comenout estate has not designated the entire report of
proceedings applicable to Mr. Kovacevich’s initial request for interim fees.
       5
         Given our disposition of this appeal, it appears that there may be no additional
funds available in the estate to pay fees. Should all interested parties agree that further
proceedings would not be warranted on remand, they may agree to reinstitution of the
existing attorney fee award.

                                              11
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

remand, the superior court should consider not only the reasonableness of the rate and

time charged, but also whether the matters billed by Mr. Kovacevich and his staff were

relevant to Mr. Kovacevich’s representation of the estate in Spokane County Superior

Court or to his role as special administrator. Having reviewed the billing records

ourselves, we believe the superior court may wish to require Mr. Kovacevich to prepare

his best estimate of the total attorney fees and costs attributable to each of the matters

pursued or defended as special administrator along with a summary of the results

obtained, as an aid in determining the reasonableness of fees. On remand, the court may

also consider Mr. Kovacevich’s request for fees generated after the initial $20,000 award.

                                   APPELLATE FEES

       Under RCW 11.96A.150, we have discretionary authority to award attorney fees

from estate assets. Although they did not request attorney fees from the superior court,

the Gardee heirs have requested fees on appeal. In reviewing the Gardees’ request, we

note that the estate is insolvent, there are numerous outstanding creditors, and probate has

not yet been closed. In addition, the matters on appeal are not fairly characterized as

frivolous. Given these circumstances, we decline to award fees against the estate.

                                              12
Nos. 35579-9-III; 35816-0-III
In re Estate of Comenout

                                      CONCLUSION

       We affirm the order disbursing the Cobell settlement funds to Mr. Comenout's

heirs. We remand on the issue of Mr. Kovacevich's initial interim attorney fee request.

Unless all interested parties agree otherwise, the superior court shall enter written

findings of fact and conclusions of law to support any fee award. The superior court may

also consider additional requests for fees and costs as necessary for the finalization of

probate.

       A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to

RCW 2.06.040.
                                               Q_
                                           Pennell, A.CJ.

WE CONCUR:

Siddoway, J.                •

                                             13