Feud Over Parks Estate

**Meddle** · May-17-12, 10:16 AM

In a highly unusual move, a lawyer is suing a Wayne County probate judge and two court-appointed lawyers, accusing them of looting the estate of the late civil rights icon Rosa Parks.

Attorney Stephen G. Cohen said in court papers that Judge Freddie Burton Jr. conspired with probate lawyers John Chase Jr. and Melvin Jefferson Jr., enabling the pair to rack up more than $507,000 in mostly unnecessary legal fees that drained Parks' estate of its cash, leaving it $88,000 in debt.

http://www.freep.com/article/2012051...ks-estate-case

If true, the Judge and both lawyers need to be disbarred.

**corktownyuppie** · May-17-12, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

http://www.freep.com/article/2012051...ks-estate-case

If true, the Judge and both lawyers need to be disbarred.

I hope this isn't true. But if it is, dear God, is there no character left in our civic leaders? And if it isn't true, then I hope the suing attorney is sanctioned.

Buy American · May-17-12, 10:56 AM

Nothing is sacred in Detroit or Wayne County anymore. Where money is involved, these people consider it their own. No one has an ounce of integrity. There needs to be new faces in Detroit and Wayne County and it needs to be done fast.

**Zacha341** · May-17-12, 12:15 PM

There seems to be no cause, institution, local or federal system or institute or instrument of finance, or trust where someone is not 'syphoning' off some for themselves. In this case just taking all the money nearly! To jail they should go. Immediately. Along with the other piles.

**mwilbert** · May-17-12, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Buy American

Nothing is sacred in Detroit or Wayne County anymore. Where money is involved, these people consider it their own. No one has an ounce of integrity. There needs to be new faces in Detroit and Wayne County and it needs to be done fast.

I know nothing about this specific case, but inappropriate probate attorney fees are not an uncommon problem and one of the many reasons to consider doing some estate planning and putting assets where they don't have to go through the probate system.
In general you are in a better position to deal with these things when you are alive.