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At an unspecified date in 1987, Mr. Ross (until his death in
1989) and Ms. Hurley began to misappropriate decedent’s funds. By
the date of decedent’s death in 1991, they had misappropriated
approximately $1.6 million. Mr. Ross and Ms. Hurley used these
funds to pay their personal expenses and to invest in business
ventures. They retained Eckell, Sparks to represent them in some
of these business ventures.
Decedent’s Will
In June 1989, Mr. Ross and Ms. Hurley engaged Eckell, Sparks
to draft a new will (the 1989 will) for decedent. Before this
time, Eckell, Sparks had not performed legal services for decedent.
Eckell, Sparks did not send decedent an “engagement letter”
acknowledging their representation of her or specifying the fee
arrangement. Nor did any attorney from Eckell, Sparks meet or
communicate with decedent. Rather, in preparing the 1989 will for
decedent, Joseph Monte of Eckell, Sparks used decedent’s prior will
(the old will), which was provided by Mr. Ross and Ms. Hurley, and
relied upon information provided by Mr. Ross and Ms. Hurley.
Decedent had a longtime companion, Edward H. Cloud, whom she
married on June 13, 1990. She also had one brother, Rolfe E.
Glover III, who had three children, Rolfe E. Glover IV, Gordon F.
Glover, and Katherine C. Glover. (Reference to Mr. Glover is to
Rolfe E. Glover IV, and reference to the Glovers is to the three
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Last modified: May 25, 2011