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In The News
February 18, 2021

Judge Dismisses Fiduciary Duty and Breach of Trust Claims in Estate Litigation

Authors and Contacts

Meaghan T. Feenan (Lambert)

Julian B. Modesti

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A State Supreme Court Justice in Watertown has dismissed the material causes of action against our client in a estate-related dispute. The case centered on interpretations of the will of a business owner who died in 1998. The business owner’s three daughters alleged that the fiduciary, the trustee of the testamentary trust, breached his fiduciary duty and violated the terms of the trust in the way he distributed rental income collected on the trust assets. Justice James P. McClusky in Jefferson County disagreed, holding that the fiduciary’s interpretations of the terms of the trust were accurate and the statute of limitations barred some of the beneficiaries’ other claims. Judge McClusky granted the fiduciary’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing the breach of fiduciary and breach of trust causes of action. The fiduciary was represented by partner Julian Modesti of the Harris Beach Syracuse office and associate Meaghan Feenan of our Capital Region offices.

Authors and Contacts

Meaghan Feenan

Meaghan T. Feenan (Lambert)

Member

Partner Julian B. Modesti

Julian B. Modesti

Member

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Trusts and Estates
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News

Judge Dismisses Fiduciary Duty and Breach of Trust Claims in Estate Litigation

Capabilities
People
Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law
In The News
February 18, 2021

Judge Dismisses Fiduciary Duty and Breach of Trust Claims in Estate Litigation

News

A State Supreme Court Justice in Watertown has dismissed the material causes of action against our client in a estate-related dispute. The case centered on interpretations of the will of a business owner who died in 1998. The business owner’s three daughters alleged that the fiduciary, the trustee of the testamentary trust, breached his fiduciary duty and violated the terms of the trust in the way he distributed rental income collected on the trust assets. Justice James P. McClusky in Jefferson County disagreed, holding that the fiduciary’s interpretations of the terms of the trust were accurate and the statute of limitations barred some of the beneficiaries’ other claims. Judge McClusky granted the fiduciary’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing the breach of fiduciary and breach of trust causes of action. The fiduciary was represented by partner Julian Modesti of the Harris Beach Syracuse office and associate Meaghan Feenan of our Capital Region offices.

Authors

Meaghan T. Feenan (Lambert)

Member
(518) 701-2742
mfeenan@harrisbeachmurtha.com

Julian B. Modesti

Member
(315) 214-2004
jmodesti@harrisbeachmurtha.com
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. © 2026 Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC
Content current as of September 5, 2026 4:23 am