The estate was closed on the grounds that there was not a request for hearing – AGAIN and AGAIN  HOPPE LIES       The Court HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY MISINFORMED BY Mr. White that no notice of hearing on objections to the Petition for Discharge was served within the time prescribed by Fla. Prob. R. 5.401 (d).

RULE 5.401. RULE 5.401. OBJECTIONS TO PETITION FOR DISCHARGE OR FINAL ACCOUNTING

24.               If in an alternative honest and fair universe the Personal Representative of the deceased and the attorney for the estate after they were notified of objections THEY would set a hearing. Instead this gang of thieves waited 90 days and come to court with dirty hands and say “too bad the time ran out” and we get to keep the stolen property and our hundreds of thousands in fees paid to pervert Melanie’s intent and NOT taking care of their duties but seeing that the brothers Peter and John were illegally disinherited. The Judge as always over the last four years, just signs orders written by Mr. Hoppe without hearing or giving any consideration of the other side.

Filed at the time http://www.wiredbrain.net/probateclose.htm

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA     PROBATE DIVISION

IN RE: ESTATE OF File No. 2004-CP-0770 MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM Division A Deceased.

NOTICE OF FINAL ACCOUNTING AND PETITION FOR DISCHARGE

FINAL ACCOUNTING OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

PETITION FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE’S FEE

MADE 6/26/2007

Here comes Peter Pflaum, PRO SE a beneficiary respondent with objections to the Petition for Discharge, to the Final Accounting, to the compensation paid or proposed to be paid, or to the proposed distribution of assets, and will serve a copy thereof on Petitioner’s attorney, whose name and address are set forth below, and on all other interested persons.  THIS objection is in writing and states with particularity the item or items to which the objections are directed and states the grounds on which the objections are based.  A notice of hearing on the objections is served with the of filing the objections. There ARE no CONDITIONS set forth in the Petition for Discharge and judgment for the petitioner may OBJECT

Thomas Pflaum clearly has a conflict of interests as big as all outdoors. He can not fairly administer the estate while at the same time claiming the whole amount. He is attacking the other beneficiaries while he is required to look after their interests.

Thomas (PR) and Leanne Pflaum have failed to protect the estate, in fact, have stolen all the assets. Melanie Pflaum’s long time residence in Javea, Spain, is part of the estate.  She lived in her home there since 1969. The home could have been sold for cash THREE times since her death, but Thomas and Leanne blocked all sales each time.  The house (from recent descriptions from the neighbors to us personally) is in disrepair; some windows are boarded up and some are broken out - Squatters squat frequently. This is an abomination and an embarrassment to Peter and his family and to our country.

Thomas Pflaum and Leanne lied about where Melanie lived, (she had lived in Spain for 35 years, had many friends, paintings, property, and paid utilities and taxes in Spain), but Thomas and Leanne claimed she lived since 1989 in Micanopy where she had no friends, no property, had not even visited for many years; they used DPA (power of attorney) put their names on accounts that did not belong to them, lied to the IRS, (maybe under criminal audit) and hired two more lawyers to attack the other beneficiaries - Mr. White who claimed in 2004 to represent the estate but informed us on February 6, 2007, that he only represents Thomas as P.  R., and Mr. Hoppe who we have reason to believe has taken over the case.

Here comes Dr. Peter E. Pflaum with the claim that the court has no discretion in removing the Personal Representative (PR), Thomas Pflaum for a gross conflict of interest. He has not done anything to see that the Estate is managed according to law and everything to take it all for himself and his wife.  The bulk of the estate was in an account with Merrill Lynch. It is the duty of the PR to see this property of the deceased is included in the estate as it should be according to law. At the same time Thomas claims it as his property. IT is impossible that Thomas can act on both sides of this dispute and must be removed according to law. Holding or acquiring conflicting or adverse interests against the estate that will or may interfere with the administration of the estate as a whole disqualifies the PR

33.504 Failure to account for the sale of property or to produce and exhibit the assets of the estate when so required. (see below)

Thomas Pflaum signed a sworn statement notarized by Mr. White that Melanie Pflaum lived (resided, domiciled) in Alachua County at their home in Micanopy. In the case of IRS since 1989. The venue for probate is based on their sworn claim of residence, domicile or presence in the county. This is completely untrue.  They further argue that Melanie Pflaum was competent to sign and make an informed decision to agree to the JTWROS on the Merrill Lynch Client Relationship Agreement in November 2003 and to execute several powers of attorneys (POA).  [exhibit C in Sept until Nov. 2003 Thomas sends Melanie several POA which she signs, a copy of address and return envelope Thomas Pflaum, Attorney at law sends and provides, Peter is in Javea from late Aug to end of Oct 2003 and sees Melanie sign long detailed POA we have asked for in discovery, have subpoenaed from Thomas and Northern Trust ]

Thomas Pflaum must believe the POA Melanie signed and he submitted as evidence of her domicile was valid and signed when Melanie was competent.  If she was competent the POA was unnecessary if she was not competent then there should have been a conserver who would have had a clear duty to protect Melanie’s assets. Thomas Pflaum on the other hand believes that he has the legal right to take and hold all of the property resources including bank accounts, tax refunds and other property.

After Melanie died on March 5th 2004 he declared on March 27th that he and Leanne intended to take everything and abuse the legal process to keep it with a crack legal team. [exhibit E page 32] This is exactly what has happened with the guidance of Mr. White and the friendly help of a Judge that bent in their direction. Mr. Hoppe’s role is to run along the sidelines and throw sand in the face and try to trip the opposition. So far it has been working but a great expense, pain and suffering, waste of resources and abuse of the judicial process.

Northern Trust Checking Account Chicago - $11,689.00 (part of a trust account) set up by Melanie’s parents in 1964.
* CAM (CAJA) de Ahorros de Meditarraneo bank in Javea - $19,133.00
* Royal Bank of Scotland - Jersey GB - $30,573.00
* Income tax refund - $10,985.00
* Works of Art, page 10 - $19,230.00 (in Javea)

Total - $91,610.00
* Also, Bank of America - Tampa , FL 33622 -5118- approximately $5,500.00 (This is not on the tax return, but did exist). Account 00127844 4076 The Respondent used a POA (power of attorney) to close the account, pocket the money, change the address from Spain to Micanopy, then claim the account at his home as evidence that his mother lived in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pflaum, where in fact she had no property or even a room of her own. The evidence that Melanie Pflaum lived and was resident, domiciled in Spain not Florida, is beyond a reasonable doubt. NOTICE OF FINAL ACCOUNTING AND PETITION FOR DISCHARGE Over $400,000 has been spent on a estate they claim is of $100,00 value. DO YOU HAVE EYES, can you see, DO YOU HAVE EARS, can you hear, DO YOU HAVE A VOICE, can you speak? The Estate is close to two million dollars and includes a substantial property in Spain. June 22, 2007 a year late!

The property in question is in a Merrill Lynch account which was held jointly with rights of survivorship (JTWROS) and now claimed as the sole property of my brother Thomas Pflaum. (Was 2.5 million in 2000) JTWROS is not under some conditions a probate asset; the first and most important issue is to ask the court to rule that it is included in the estate for the reason of fraud given in this document. Probate has venue in Leon County Florida because the money is in Merrill Lynch (M/L) (Broker Robert Hayward of a Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship (JTWROS) account in Tallahassee , Leon County, Florida . It should have been Tenancy in Common (T/C) but Melanie signed this arrangement without any understanding of the difference we don’t know when or if it was changed and how it was done.  There is no evidence of gift tax consequences upon the creation of a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship (JTWROS).  Banking law does not apply to broker accounts- stocks and bonds.

In 1985 or 1986 after Irving Pflaum, Melanie’s husband of over 50 years and father of Peter and Thomas, died the initials JTWROS were added to the account. M/L has no record of this transaction. In 2003, Melanie is now 94 years old, Thomas sends to her in April and she signed in May a “Merrill Lynch Client Relationship Agreement.” [exhibit A] This document is of a legal size (or bigger) multi- page document with pages with several carbon copies of a form – self cc. Thomas and Leanne signed this document in November, of 2003, some six months after Melanie signed it. The first copy goes to M/L and ends up in storage in New Jersey ; the second copy goes to the financial advisor, Mr. Robert Hayward.; the third is kept by the client, Thomas and Leanne Pflaum.  After many requests, subpoenas, deposition, threats of contempt of court M/L has not provided readable copies of this document.

In July and August 2005 we subpoenaed the documents and went to deposition in Tallahassee that established the account which existed at the time of Melanie’s death (the one set up in November 2003 that added Leanne) If Thomas and Leanne argue that the JTWROS was long standing (it appears to be added to the account about the time of father’s death in 1985) they have to overcome the fact there is no record that could show how it was set up and if any of the legal requirements to override a last will and testament were followed.  Mr. Hayward testified that it was for convenience only (clearly if Melanie was injured or sick and needed emergency funds, Thomas would be in a position to help after the death of his father). Thomas NEVER made a single transaction on the account from 1985 to 2003. (Phone call to Mr. Hayward) It had no joint function except in case of emergency and there was no emergency until late in 2003.

The records provided by M/L could not be read – were poor fax copies reduced more that 100% and repeated requests (starting at the deposition on Aug 2nd 2005) to provide legible copies got no response.  Finally in Sept 2005, Peter Pflaum called to local M/L office and asked for the form that arrived the next day. We could see that the JTWROS box WAS NOT CHECKED on either copy though you can’t read the text, you can clearly see if a box is checked.  JTWROS was not applied for but granted regardless – on this Thomas took 1.4 million of money not belonging to him. This is called in common language theft and the method fraud. [exhibit A]

The case presented by Peter Pflaum is sufficient evidence to show that two or more people are involved in a joint enterprise.  The complaint shows there was a gross negligent damage to the plaintiffs by any one of the enterprisers, and therefore the enterprise will be liable for all the damages to the party.  The court finds there were joint adventures that created several joint and several liabilities. The result of this enterprise was to deny the plaintiff the just results of his inheritance from the estate of his mother, Melanie Pflaum. THE LAW

The taking of 1.4 million from Merrill Lynch was illegal in allowing or creating a nothing more than a clerical error Thomas Pflaum and Robert Hayward arranged to make Melanie Pflaum’s account to appear with the label JTWROS and changed to the names on the account to Thomas and Leanne Pflaum. This allowed Thomas and Leanne to claim the whole amount (1.4 million) based on the label alone.  There has been sufficient evidence that this transaction was done incorrectly with great carelessness and indifference to the necessary formalities so as to be in fact null and void. Thomas Pflaum failed to check the box to even apply for JTWROS; they had Melanie Pflaum sign in May when they submitted the agreement in November 2003 in a careless manner, forging her address as in Micanopy. These actions caused great harm, great legal costs, great pain and suffering, all started by either a plot to defraud or gross neglect and incompetence.  Merrill Lynch response to subpoena and disposition was misleading and incomplete in that they never provided the critical document “Merrill Lynch Client Relationship Agreement” in a form that could be read.

 

Petitioner, THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM, as Personal Representative of this estate, alleges:

1. Petitioner was appointed Personal Representative of this estate by order of this Court dated June 9, 2004. Letters of administration were issued on June 9. 2004.

2. Petitioner has furnished services to the estate. The nature and extent of those services will be detailed in an affidavit in advance of a hearing on this petition.

3. Peter Pflaum objects to a result of the malpractice and terrible performance of the duties described, Petitioner is not entitled to reasonable compensation, and Petitioner believes that it is a totally unreasonable compensation is in the amount of $200,000.

4. Inasmuch as the probate assets were insufficient to pay any personal representative’s fees, all the impact of personal representative’s fees will be borne by Thomas M. Pflaum, who does not object to this petition. If there had been additional probate assets, the impact of personal representative’s fees would be borne by the residuary beneficiaries named below.

THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM     17306 S.W. 10th Terrace Micanopy, FL 32667

JOHN H. PFLAUM   2400 E Bradford Ave, Apt 905 Milwaukee, WI 53211-4172

PETER PFLAUM   P. O. Box 2176 New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

3. The requests that an order be entered authorizing and directing the payment of the sum of $200,000 to Petitioner for services rendered by the Petitioner as Personal Representative of the estate be denied.

NOTICE OF FINAL ACCOUNTING AND PETITION FOR DISCHARGE

FINAL ACCOUNTING OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

March 5, 2004 through February 27, 2007

The Petitioner objects to this accounting in every detail – mainly the estate is $100.00 is absurd. $400,000 has been spent on a estate of no value. DO YOU HAVE EYES, can you see, DO YOU HAVE EARS, can you hear, DO YOU HAVE A VOICE, can you speak? The Estate is close to two million dollars and includes a substantial property in Spain.

The notice does NOT TELL THE TRUTH or acquaint all interested persons with the transactions that have occurred during the period covered by the accounting and the assets that remain on hand. It consists of a SUMMARY sheet and Schedule A showing all Receipts, Schedule B showing all Disbursements, Schedule C showing all Distributions, Schedule D showing all Capital Transactions and Adjustments (the effect of which are also reflected in other schedules, if appropriate), and Schedule E showing assets on hand at the end of the accounting period. It is a tissue of lies.

It is important that this accounting be carefully examined. Requests for additional information and any questions should be addressed to the personal representative or the attorneys for the personal representative, the names and addresses of whom are set forth below.

When under penalties of perjury, the undersigned personal representative commits perjury when he declares that I have read and examined this accounting and that the facts and figures set forth in the Summary and the attached Schedules are true, to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that it is a complete report of all cash and property transactions and of all receipts and disbursements by me as personal representative of the estate of MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM, deceased, from March 5, 2004, through February 27, 2007.

Florida Statues: Title XLII ESTATES AND TRUSTS Chapter 733 PROBATE CODE: ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES 732.6005 Rules of construction and intention 733.504 Removal of personal representative; causes for removal.  -A personal representative may be removed and the letters revoked for any of the following causes, and the removal shall be in addition to any penalties prescribed by law:  (9) Holding or acquiring conflicting or adverse interests against the estate that will or may interfere with the administration of the estate as a whole 733.609 Improper exercise of power; breach of fiduciary duty

RE: ESTATE OF LETTIE V. COMBEE, Deceased. LINDA RAE FARMER, et al.  , Petitioners, vs. IRMA A.  WALKER , et al.  , Petitioners. [May 28, 1992}1

Chase Fed. In a subsequent Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Sullivan, 127 So. 2d 112 ( Fla.  1960)

Survivorship Rights in Joint Accounts, 24 U.  Fla.  L. Rev. 476 (1972).

Richard e. Warner, Joint Accounts and Decedent’s Estates—An Update, Fla.  B.  J.  , July/Aug. 1987, at 45

Estate of Gainer, 466 So. 2d 1055 ( Fla.  1 9 8 5 ) Estate of Gainer, 579 So. 2d 739 ( Fla.  1st DCA 1 9 9 1 )

Meinhard v. Salmon, 249 N.  Y. 458, 464 (1928)

Fla.  R. App. P. 9.  040©; People Against Tax Revenue Mismanagement v. Reynolds, 571 So. 2d 493 ( Fla.  1 st DCA 1990).

Davison v. Feurerherd, 391 So.  2d 799 ( Fla.  Dist.  Ct.  App. 1980); Allen v. Leybourne, 190 So.  2d 825 ( Fla.  Dist.  Ct.  App. 1966).

Harvard v. Singletary, 733 So. 2d 1020 ( Fla.  1999)

Forms of Pleading. Pleadings shall be signed by the attorney of record, (OR PRO SE) and by the pleader when required by these rules. All technical forms of pleadings are abolished. No defect of form impairs substantial rights, and no defect in the statement of jurisdictional facts actually existing renders any proceeding void.

1DCA On the court’s own MOTIONS , the complaint/petition filed June 13, 2006 is hereby treated as a petition for writ of prohibition. See Fla.  R. App. P. 9.  040©; People Against Tax Revenue Mismanagement v. Revnolds, 571 So. 2d 493 ( Fla.  1st DCA 1990).

PROHIBITION, WRIT OF - The name of a writ issued by a superior court, directed to the judge and parties of a suit in an inferior court, commanding them to cease from the prosecution of the same, upon a suggestion that the cause originally, or some collateral matter arising therein, does not belong to that jurisdiction, but to the cognizance of some other court.


The writ of prohibition may also be issued when, having jurisdiction, the court has attempted to proceed by rules differing from those which ought to be observed, or when, by the exercise of its jurisdiction, the inferior court would defeat a legal right.
see
writofprohibition.htm

Last year the 1DCA 6618 (FSC05-2330) suggested to the 8th Circuit that they should be able to settle the case - After more than a year nothing has been settled. The District Court of Appeal sent to the 8th Circuit a mandate:

YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED that further proceedings, if required, be had in accordance with said opinion, the rules of Court, and the laws of the State of Florida
WITNESS the Honorable CHARLES J. KAHN, JR.  , Chief Judge of the District Court of Appeal of Florida , First District, and the Seal of said Court done at Tallahassee , Florida , on this 12th day of May 2006.


The FSC (FSC05-2330) said last year ”The petition for writ of mandamus is hereby transferred, pursuant to Harvard v. Singletary, 733 So. 2d 1020 ( Fla.  1999), to the First District Court of Appeal. The transfer of this case should not be construed as an adjudication or comment on the merits of the petition, nor as a determination that the transferee court has jurisdiction or that the petition has been properly denominated as a petition for writ of mandamus. The transferee court should not interpret the transfer of this case as an indication that it must or should reach the merits of the petition. The transferee court shall treat the petition as if it had been originally filed there on the date it was filed in this Court. Any determination concerning whether a filing fee shall be applicable to this case shall be made by the transferee court. Any and all pending Motions in this case are hereby deferred to the transferee court.  “

Petitioner PETITIONS AND MOTIONS FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF and MOTIONS FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT OF $861,000 FOR THE Petitioner FROM THE Petitioners The Petitioners report on the PROCESS IN THE LOWER COURTS: the course of the proceedings, and the disposition in the lower tribunal.

Bar v.  Segal Case on all fours with names and dates changed:

Before Referee - Circuit Court Judge Philip Bloom SUPREME COURT THE FLORIDA BAR, Complainant, vs. DIANE S.  SEGAL, Petitioner

SUPREME COURT CASE NO. 83,352

REPORT OF THE REFEREE The Petitioner was charged with Violation of Rule 4-3.  3(a)(l) in that a lawyer shall not knowingly make a false statement of material fact to a tribunal; and Violation of Rule 4-3.  3(d) in that in an ex parte proceeding a lawyer shall inform the tribunal of all material facts known to the lawyer that will enable the tribunal to make an informed decision, whether or not the facts are adverse.

The context of the charges is that Petitioner as an attorney, thereafter ex-parte, that an estate in which Petitioners are a principal beneficiary and personal representative.

In conclusion, this Bar matter came about as a result of the Petitioners obsessive, personal vendetta. The Estate of Melanie Pflaum was not a difficult Estate to administer; Mrs. Melanie Pflaum’s Last Will & Testament was clear, simple, and straightforward.  However, Mr. Thomas Pflaum, personal representative, refused to carry out the testator’s intent and refused to comply with the explicit provisions of a Will he himself had drafted at his law firm (Paul and Thomson) in Miami in 1978.  Specifically, the Petitioner, Mr. Thomas Pflaum refused to distribute any income or property to his brothers, the beneficiaries named in the Will, during a 3-year period; he refused to cause the Estate and Trust taxes to be honestly paid; he refused to cooperate regarding all routine administrative matters.

Mr. Thomas and Leanne Pflaum’s actions forced the Petitioner as to seek his removal as personal representative in 2005 inasmuch as it was apparent that he would not receive any income or property distributions as long as Thomas was involved. It was Mr. Thomas Pflaum who chose to turn Peter’s resistance into a prolonged litigation.

Thomas could have made distributions or he could have resigned and the matter would have ended there, but he didn’t. Mr. Thomas Pflaum engaged Mr. White and Mr. Hoppe and the protracted litigation and pleadings began. The only possible explanation for Mr. and Mrs.. Thomas Pflaum’s behavior is obsessive greed on the part of the Petitioners and, subsequently, their attorneys, Mr. White and Mr. Hoppe” (at p 1)

The conflicts of Interests led to violations by the Petitioners of Rules 4-8.  4©, (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice) and 4-8.  4(d), (conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation).

It is now absurd for the Petitioner to charge the Petitioner with causing delay. The whole effort of the Petitioner has been delay and harassment.  The cases listed in the appendix are all inactive and demonstrate a desperate effort to find some court somewhere that will actually hear the case on its’ merits and apply the facts and the law in a reasonable and fair manner. There is one best way to know who is wrong and who is right in this dispute and that is to actually hear the case. The trial judge has not, the 1DCA has not, nor has any other court. The facts and the law cry out for justice!

The Uniform Probate Code the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the American Bar Association approved the Uniform Probate Code (UPC) in 1969. This was intended to facilitate uniformity in probate codes throughout the United States.

In the face of widespread criticism of the present American probate institution, the adoption of a uniform, and in most cases, less expensive system of settling a decedent’s estate is deemed desirable. The UPC is based on the major premise that the probate court’s appropriate role is to be available to assist in the settlement of an estate when assistance is requested or required rather than to impose its unsolicited supervision to enforce every detailed formality upon completely non-contentious Probate Takes Time- It can take up to two years. The beneficiaries generally get nothing in the intervening period unless the judge Okays an allowance for the family.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT. INTRODUCTION 

There is a lot more to this case than serious and grave faults of procedures – The Petitioner and his family are being injured every day by the lack of a family allowance of $2000 a month they received for decades. They have been damaged for over three years by this unfair legal process and the acts of the Petitioner, Thomas Pflaum Esq., (the greedy brother), Leanne Pflaum, (who put her name on the money that is not hers) Mr. White (Thomas’ probate lawyer who has not done his duty) and Mr.  Hoppe (Thomas’ attack lawyer who is paid to harass the Petitioner and his family). This joint enterprise has over the last three years systematically refused to carry out the testator’s intent and abused the legal system for unjustifiable and illegal financial gain. The Petitioners have completely failed in their responsibilities to the law, the Florida bar, their profession, the administration of justice, Thomas’s mother, the deceased, and his brothers, the beneficiaries.  The Petitioners knows what they should have done but have chosen to instead to be dishonest and take all  the money that testator’s intended to equally divide between her children.  Mr. White writes:

“Second, please be clear in understanding that I represent the personal representative of the estate.  I do not represent Tom individually, which is a large part of the reason Tom retained Mr. Hoppe in connection with the Florida Bar complaint you filed against him. In my capacity as the attorney for the personal representative,

(Mr. White wrote in 10/12/2004)  it is my responsibility to guide the personal representative in making sure that all of the estate’s obligations are discharged, in particular that all estate taxes that may be due are paid, that all estate assets are marshaled and properly accounted for, and that proper distribution is made to the beneficiaries as required by the will which has been admitted to probate in Florida. I intend to fulfill that responsibility. However, I do not represent Tom, any more than I represent either of you.  ”

IF only he had done what he knew and said he was expected to do and is required to do by law, then many years of pain, suffering, legal waste; would have been avoided and we all would not be where we are today. In reality Mr. White only represents Thomas and Leanne in their nefarious schemes and only attacks the other beneficiaries, he is says he is required to protect. Since he days he is my representative and attorney I can claim malpractice and fraud since he has clearly been dishonest in supporting my claims.

The core of Peter’s argument is that Thomas’s strategy is to avoid a final judgment and just keep the money by fraud, making appeal difficult. Peter, therefore appeals on the grounds of lack of judgments rather than appeal any final judgments, since there are none. Peter argues that no court at anytime has heard the case on its merits and no judge has made any judgment on the money issues in dispute.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS

The FSC may review any order or judgment of a trial court certified by the district court of appeal in which an appeal is pending to be of great public importance, or to have a great effect on the proper administration of justice throughout the state, and certified to require immediate resolution by the supreme court. The court may issue writs of prohibition to courts and all writs necessary to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction.

The case for jurisdiction is protecting the integrity of the Judicial System in the State of Florida . The issue of public policy is the ability of the courts to fairly adjudicate probate in accordance with the law and the rules. The Petitioner has been denied his inheritance for over three years. The review of the record will show a pattern of abuse and harassment over years. The system of justice must do better in providing a fair and timely resolution of what is in this case, not a complex problem.

“Justice delayed is justice denied”. The Petitioner appealed the lower courts denial of his claims as beneficiary to his mother’s estate.  The Petitioner is being denied justice by the lack of any hearing on the merits of the case, a chance to present the facts and the law about the dispute to an impartial court.  Over the last three years, there has been a complete lack of any meaningful judicial decisions on the critical issues. The lower courts have made no substantial decisions. The Petitioner claims this is equal to having his complaints dismissed without a hearing. For years the Petitioners and the trial courts have refused to respond to the Petitioner’s pleas, petitions, and Motions and have not presented any affirmative replies or actions to settle the dispute or move the courts to make any findings on the issues in dispute.  There is no sign that there will ever be a final judgment in the trial court or in 1DCA. There has been no progress in making an inventory of the estate.  The Petitioners have shown a clear intent to obtain by fraud all the property in the estate by perverting the course of justice.

The case is not fundamentally about who did what to whom in the process of litigation, or the faults of the Petitioner in seeking justice, but only the failure of the personal representative (PR), because of greed and a gross conflict of interests, to faithfully carry out the wishes of the deceased. who in not being represented to see the testator’s intent is honored since the PR refuses to comply with the explicit provisions of her Will.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT

The history of the law, civil courts and judicial administrative code was largely based on inheritance. From ancient Babylon , through Greek and Roman law, ecclesiastical or Church Law, and the British Common Law the legal transfer of property after death was a major part of the legal system and a foundation of organized society. Transfer of property took up a major part of the pillars of American common law. This case is about the wishes of the departed, Melanie Lowenthal Pflaum and the ability of the judicial system in the State of Florida to respect the ancient tradition of passing property from generation to generation.

All the issues raised in the Petitioner’s response are only blue smoke and mirrors trying to hide the basic reality, i.e. the Petitioner and his wife taking all three shares of the estate for themselves. The Petitioners have actively prevented the lower court from making a final judgment, which would be subject to appeal. The case should have been closed in the fall of 2005 or assigned to a impartial PR. The Petitioner, positive in the belief in his cause, the facts and the law, became aware of this “in his face” strategy of the Petitioner to delay, harassment, threats and use sanctions to advance his intention of never coming to a final judgment. The tactics of the Petitioners have the clear intent of taking property and using legal tricks to keep what does not belong to them. The Petitioner has appealed and looked for Justice PRO SE to the best of his ability. The Petitioner had no choice to seeking appeals or cases in other jurisdictions since there was no chance of a fair hearing in the lower court in Alachua County.  The order in the appendix forbids the Petitioner from exercising his civil rights to justice. ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS  FOR SANCTIONS in appendix.

The Petitioner and his attorneys have taken the low road of attacking the Petitioner.  It’s the old adage that in any argument if the facts are on your side you argue the facts, if the law is on your side, you argue the law. If neither the law nor facts are on your side, you blame the Petitioner. It’s very easy to do and the best part is you actually get some people to believe you. It can even hide your own crimes and incompetence.

CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

The counter claim include false arrest in the case of the report to DCF which was raised as part of this case IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA STATE OF FLORIDA -vs- PETER EDWARD PFLAUM PRO SE Division: 3 Judge: GLANT, DAVID A State Filed Case Number: 01-2005-CF-002238-A A pretrial Intervention was wrongly used here as blackmail against the Petitioner, when it was offered by the State Attorney (Mr. Colaw) acting for the Petitioner offering to drop criminal charges in exchange for a default judgment in their favor in the probate case.

They have not made any respond in an adversarial probate case: Peter Pflaum, Petitioner v. Thomas Pflaum, Petitioner, and Personal Representative; in violation of the rules of civil procedures: . After three years, the material issues of this case have never been heard or decided ON ITS MERITS by any court at any time.

And Petitioners have refused for three years to make any affirmative case on the legal and factual ground for their stated belief thet the whole of the Estate belongs to Thomas and Leanne.  Since they don’t have a legitimate case in law and the facts are painfully simple and clearly against them, they attack the Petitioner.   [1]The central issue is a monumental act of betrayal where Thomas, acting as the PR for his deceased mother and with responsibilities for the other beneficiaries who are his brothers, announced in an e-mail days after Melanie’s death, that he and his wife, Leanne, (a Petitioner) also an attorney, were taking everything in Melanie’s estate for themselves. Thomas stated in the same e-mail that they were hiring “really mean lawyers” to support the illegal ownership of the entire estate and to attack his brothers.  The Petitioner is clearly in a really big conflict of interest.

RULE 5.020. PLEADINGS; VERIFICATION;   Forms of Pleading. Pleadings shall be signed by the attorney of record, (OR PRO SE) and by the pleader when required by these rules. All technical forms of pleadings are abolished. No defect of form impairs substantial rights, and no defect in the statement of jurisdictional facts actually existing renders any proceeding void. 
The Petitioner moves the records be included as correspondence because almost everything put in evidence is in the record and does not need to be copied.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true copy of the foregoing was furnished by U.S. Mail this Friday, December 07, 2007 to Richard M. White, Jr., White and Crouch, P.A., 5303 SW 91st Drive, Suite 200, Gainesville, FL 32608 Signed ________________________________________date____________

Certificate of Compliance This brief was prepared in Times New Roman 14-point font

Signed ______________________________________________________

 

 


Dr. Peter E. Pflaum, Appellant/Petitioner v. Thomas and Leanne Pflaum, Appellee/Petitioners

CASE NO: SC07-655 Supreme Court of Florida

Lower Tribunal No.  1 D06-6618   (Trial court No: 2004-CP-0770)

(Trial court in Gainesville, Alachua County, Probate of MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM)

PETITIONER’S REPLY TO THE PETITIONER RESPONSE BRIEF ON

DISCRETIONARY  JURISDICTION


APPENDIX ONE: Specifics- The Petitioner has done (and not done and left undone) the facts and the law.

 

 

Dr. Peter E.  Pflaum, PRO SE
  225 Robinson Road

  New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
  386 428 9609

·        APPENDIX ONE: Specifics- The Petitioner has done (and not done and left undone) the facts and the law.

 

The Petitioners not replied to several years of interrogatives, discovery, petitions to coerce answers or petitions and Motions to have the PR removed for cause, (gross conflict of interest) and the Petitioner has:

733.609 Improper exercise of power; breach of fiduciary duty.-
(1) A personal representative’s fiduciary duty is the same as the fiduciary duty of a trustee of an express trust, and a personal representative is liable to interested persons for damage or loss resulting from the breach of this duty. In all actions for breach of fiduciary duty or challenging the exercise of or failure to exercise a personal representative’s powers, the court shall award taxable costs as in chancery actions, including attorney’s fees.

·        Motions denied for the Judge to recuse himself, based on gross prejudice for the Petitioners and bias against the Petitioner,

       Motions ignored for an inventory, for sale of real estate, for a progress report, required by law in violation of RULE 5.150. ORDER REQUIRING ACCOUNTING

·        Accountings Required by Statute. When any personal representative or guardian fails to file an accounting or return required by statute or rule, the court on its own Motions or on the petition of an interested person shall order the personal representative or guardian to file the accounting or return within 15 days from the service on the personal representative or guardian of the order, or show cause why he or she should not be compelled to do so.

·        Petitioner is In violation of RULE 5.160. PRODUCTION OF ASSETS On the petition of an interested person, or on its own Motions, the court may require any personal representative or guardian to produce satisfactory evidence that the assets of the estate are in the possession or under the control of the personal representative or guardian and may order production of the assets in the manner and for the purposes directed by the court.

·        Motions ignored to enforce time limits (two years by law) and come to judgment and (g) a statement of the approximate value and nature of the assets; in violation of RULE 5.340. INVENTORY

·        Contents and Filing. Unless an inventory has been previously filed, the personal representative shall file an inventory of the estate within 60 days after issuance of letters.  (Mr. White files $100.00 for Petitioner)

·        The inventory did not contain notice of the beneficiaries’ rights under subdivision (e), list the estate with reasonable detail and include for each listed item (excluding real property appearing to be protected homestead property) its estimated fair market value at the date of the decedent’s death. Real property appearing to be protected homestead property shall be listed and so designated. (b) Extension. On petition the time for filing the inventory may be extended by the court for cause shown without notice, except that the personal representative shall serve copies of the petition and order on the persons described in subdivision.

·        Motions denied for summary judgment, and accounting and violation of RULE 5.346. FIDUCIARY ACCOUNTING (a) Contents. A fiduciary accounting shall include:

·        All cash and property transactions since the date of the last accounting or, if none, from the commencement of administration, and

·        a schedule of assets at the end of the accounting period.

·        Accounting Standards. The following standards are required for the accounting of all transactions occurring on or after January 1, 1994: (1) Accountings shall be stated in a manner that is understandable to persons who are not familiar with practices and terminology peculiar to the administration of estates and trusts.

(2) The accounting shall begin with a concise summary of its purpose and content.

(3) The accounting shall contain sufficient information to put interested persons on notice as to all significant transactions affecting administration during the accounting period.

(4) The accounting shall contain 2 values in the schedule of assets at the end of the accounting period, the asset acquisition value or carrying value, and estimated current value.

·        pleas to stop ex parte case management meeting have had no response,

·        Motions ignored for rehearing and appeal of venue, and a claim of perjury in the affidavit of domicile of the deceased in violation of  RULE 5.200. PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATION

·        The petition for administration shall be verified by the Petitioner and shall contain:

(b) The name, last known address, social security number, date and place of death of the decedent, and state and county of the decedent’s domicile;

© so far as is known, the names and addresses of the surviving spouse, if any, and the beneficiaries and their relationship to the decedent and the date of birth of any who are minors;

(d) A statement showing venue;

(e) The priority, under the code, of the person whose appointment as the personal representative is sought and a statement that the person is qualified to serve under the laws of Florida;

(f) a statement whether domiciliary or principal proceedings are pending in another state or country, if known, and the name and address of the foreign personal representative and the court issuing letters; RULE 5.200. PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATION

(g) a statement of the approximate value and nature of the assets;

I CRITICAL FLAWS IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS (HARASSMENT and JUDICIAL ABUSE) PROCESS IN THE LOWER COURTS: the course of the proceedings, and the disposition in the lower tribunal. The judge in the probate case made it clear to all, in September 2005, that the law or the facts did not apply in his court. He ordered in the face of all reality that Petitioner Thomas Pflaum had no conflict of interest and Melanie did live in Micanopy.  The court allowed attacks on the Petitioner include a civil suit for defamation and extortion, and having the Petitioner arrested on felony charges resulting from Thomas’s false sworn police statement…………………………

II Petitioner count ARGUMENT_2:___COUNT_2 CLAIMS OF BASIC RIGHTS
 “Justice delayed is justice denied”. The Petitioner appealed the lower courts denial of his claims as beneficiary to his mother’s estate. The Petitioner is being denied justice by the lack of any hearing on the merits of the case, a chance to present the facts and the law about the dispute. Over the last three years, there has been a complete lack of any meaningful judicial decisions on the critical issues. The lower courts have made no substantial decisions. The Petitioner claims this is equal to having his complaints dismissed without a hearing……………..…

III CONFLICT OF INTERESTS The Personal Representative. (PR) Thomas is who also a beneficiary and Leanne Pflaum have failed to protect the estate and in fact have stolen all the assets. The cause of the litigation is the failure of the personal representative (PR), because of greed and a gross conflict of interests, to faithfully carry out the wishes of the deceased who cannot represent herself.

IV  ARGUMENT_4:_TORTIOUS_INTERFERENCE WITH INHERITANCE
The central issue is a monumental act of betrayal where Thomas, acting as the PR for his deceased mother and with responsibilities for the other beneficiaries who are his brothers, announced in an e-mail days after Melanie’s death, that he and his wife, Leanne, (a Petitioner) also an attorney, were taking everything in Melanie’s estate for themselves. The grounds for tortious interference with inheritance include the lack of possibility when a probate proceeding does not have the potential to provide full redress of any damages suffered by a Petitioner

V ILLEGAL USE OF JTWROS IN MERRILL LYNCH ACCOUNT The trial court has not reviewed or acted on uncontested evidence submitted proving the Petitioner used a friendship with Mr. Hayward, the financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, (M/L) to falsely put the Petitioners name on 1.5 million of estate assets. M/L was guilty of gross neglect of duty in putting the JTWROS falsely on the account

Were The Courts, Merrill Lynch and or Thomas doing their General fiduciary duties?  Benjamin Cardozo, while sitting on the Court of Appeals of New York made perhaps the most famous description of fiduciary duties in Meinhard v. Salmon, 249 N.  Y. 458, 464 (1928):
Many forms of conduct permissible in a workaday world for those acting at arm’s length, are forbidden to those bound by fiduciary ties. A trustee is held to something stricter than the morals of the market place.  Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor the most sensitive, is then the standard of behavior. In its essence this case makes a distinction between form and substance. Generally, the law recognizes three major
fiduciary duties:
1. duty of loyalty, i.  e.  a fiduciary must not place his own interests ahead of the departed and the beneficiary’s interest;
2.  duty of care, i.  e.  a fiduciary must exercise an amount of care appropriate to manage the beneficiary’s interest; and
3.  duty of disclosure, i.  e.  a fiduciary must disclose certain information to the beneficiary. 
Fiduciary law is particularly relevant to the law of trusts, partnerships, agency, and corporate officers and directors. Fiduciary duties are always particularized to the actual relationships they occur in, and often they can be modified (or even waived) by contract.

CIVIL CASE

CASE ONE) PROBATE

The Petitioner (Dr. Peter Pflaum ) focuses on what has and has not happened in the probate court (IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2004-CP-0770 Division A RE: ESTATE OF MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM Deceased: Honorable Toby S. Monaco ) since March, 2004. Referred to as PROBATE Case # 2004CP770 Div. A
PETER E.  PFLAUM, Petitioner
vs, THOMAS PFLAUM, as Personal Representative of Melanie Sophia Pflaum, deceased, Petitioner
ORDER GRANTING MOTIONS  FOR SANCTIONS
The following is just wrong. The Petitioner is innocent of the charges and never had a hearing. There is no record of violations and the forgery charge is based on only one side of the case. This order is an extreme example of the bias of the trial court.

1.     This cause came before the Court on the personal representative’s MOTIONS  for sanctions, including dismissal of claims. Upon review of the evidence proffered, and after a review of the court file, including the submissions of Peter Pflaum therein, the Court finds that said Peter Pflaum has engaged in a protracted pattern of willful, deliberate, persistent and contumacious disregard and violation of court orders and intentional abuse of the judicial process. In addition, said Peter Pflaum has willfully attempted to perpetrate a fraud upon the Court and upon the parties to this case by proffering as real a forged document containing a purported signature of the deceased which is, in fact, a signature which was traced from another document containing the deceased’s signature.  Such conduct cannot and will not be tolerated. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED
1. The subject MOTIONS  for sanctions is hereby granted as more specifically set forth below.
2. Peter Pflaum shall pay all mediator fees, legal fees and other costs in connection with the scheduling, preparation for, and appearance at mediations arranged pursuant to court order and which he failed to attend in person, and those costs and fees incurred in attempts to address his failure to attend. The amount will be set after further hearing.
3. All claims, Illations, and other pleadings or papers filed herein by said Peter Pflaum are hereby considered stricken and of no force or effect.
4. Except appropriate appellate filings pertaining to this order, no further pleadings, Motions or papers may be filed herein by said Peter Pflaum pro see Any further actions by said Peter Pflaum herein, including the filing of any papers whatsoever, shall only be taken by an attorney authorized to practice law in Florida. Should said Peter Pflaum violate the provisions of this order, he shall be assessed a fine of $300 per violation which shall be taxed upon MOTIONS  of any party or by the court’s own initiative.  Continued violations may be punishable by contempt and may result in incarceration 
Leanne Pflaum pending review by the 1DCA case Appellant / Petitioner(s),
Dr. Peter E. Pflaum v. Thomas and Leanne Pflaum

CASE NO.: 1 DO6-6618
The appeal of this case is part of an ongoing enterprise to deprive the defendant, Peter Pflaum and John Pflaum of their share of their mother’s estate.  Thomas and Leanne Pflaum should not be allowed to benefit from their improper legal maneuvers or Peter and Mary Anne suffer more from this abuse.

Peter claims that the Trial Court has failed to inventory and distribute the property of his mother’s estate since June, 2004. Peter claims that his brother, Thomas Pflaum and sister-in-law Leanne Pflaum, of Micanopy, Florida, Thomas, an attorney, who was appointed Personal Representative (PR) in Melanie’s estate, announced in March, 2004, and over the last three years has carried out their intentions to take the entire estate by abusing the legal system.

The heart of Peter’s case is that Thomas, Leanne and his legal team (Mr. White, for the PR and Mr. Hoppe as a personal attorney) are abusing the legal process by endless delays, diversions including a civil case for defamation and extortion.

CASE TWO:  DEFAMATION and EXTORTION


b. The conditions where the defendants were denied the basic rights to defend themselves was dated Jan 30th received on Feb 1st says THIS MATTER came before the Court on January 23, 2007, for pretrial conference.  Bill Hoppe, Esq., appeared as attorney for plaintiffs Thomas M. Pflaum and Leanne J. Pflaum. Defendant John Pflaum appeared by telephone pro se.  Defendants Peter Pflaum and Mary Anne Pflaum failed to appear. The Court finds that this case is ready for jury trial as previously scheduled to commence on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007, AT 9:00 A.M. at the Alachua County Family/Civil Justice Center, 201 e.  University Ave.  , Gainesville , Florida . It is hereby:

(IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 8™ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ALACHUA COUNTY , FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2005-CA-2363 DIV. K THOMAS M. PFLAUM and LEANNE J. PFLAUM, Petitioners, vs. PETER PFLAUM, MARY ANNE PFLAUM, and JOHN PFLAUM, Petitioners) went to trial February 5th and 6th 2007, without any judgment by the court as of Friday, June 15, 2007. Referred to as Civil Case;  Mr. Hoppe has filed this completely worthless suits designed only to harass Peter and his wife Mary Anne that the court should not have allowed in the same COURT AT THE SAME TIME. He has continually lied to the court on matters of great importance with the clear intent to subvert justice.

2.     ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows: (without the trouble of hearing the case from both sides) done Jan 30th and received Feb 1st TALK ABOUT EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW?
a. Counsel and all pro se parties shall appear in person on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007, AT 9:00 A.M. ready to commence trial. Two (2) days have been reserved. The parties shall contact the undersigned’s judicial assistant on the Friday before trial to verify who the presiding judge will be and in which courtroom the trial will take place.
b. The matters for jury trial include:
i. Plaintiff’s claim for defamation against all defendants;
ii. Plaintiffs claim for civil extortion against all defendants. Plaintiffs’ claims against the defendants are not only for their individual acts, but also as joint venturers. Plaintiffs have withdrawn any claim for lost wages or inability to earn money in the future and seek only recovery for intangible losses herein. The cross claim and counterclaim filed by Defendant John Pflaum is hereby stricken, said Defendant not having obtained leave of court to file same.
c. As to Defendants
Peter Pflaum and Mary Anne Pflaum, the Court has entered a default judgment against said Defendants on the defamation and civil extortion claim. Thus, as to said Defendants, their liability having been established, the trial will proceed on the issue of damages only. This was based on sanctions not a hearing of the facts. (Sanctions were based on events more than a year old and clearly set up to sandbag the defendants. ALL NOT TRUE and not based on any hearing of the facts)


d. Without objection, there shall be six (6) peremptory challenges per side.  The six challenges for the Plaintiffs shall be exercised jointly, and each peremptory challenges for the Defendants may be exercised jointly or, at their discretion, maybe exercised separately by dividing the total number of Defendant’s challenges equally. In the event that the Defendants all fail lo appear for trial, Plaintiffs shall have three peremptory challenges. In the event that only one Defendant appears for trial, the parties shall have three peremptory challenges per side.  In the event that only two Defendants appear for trial, there will be six (6) peremptory challenges per side which may be exercised jointly or separately (divided equally).
e.  The Defendants having failed to comply (not true but papers filed were ignored) with this Court’s order requiring pretrial exhibit lists and witness lists, the Defendants shall not be permitted to call any witness or use any exhibit other than those listed on Plaintiffs witness and exhibit lists.
f. The Defendants having failed to comply with this Court’s pretrial order regarding submission of jury instructions, no jury instructions will be used other than those proposed by Plaintiff, subject to the Court’s ruling on objections, if any, to said instructions.

3.     TRIAL ON FEBRUARY 5 AND 6 2007 WITHOUT JUDGMENT
The process has not been even close to fair and equal. The court has shown a clear preference and favor for Thomas and his team and strong prejudice against Peter. The Judge should have rescued himself more than a year ago.

4.     As to Defendants Peter Pflaum and Mary Anne Pflaum, the Court has (improperly) entered a default judgment against said Defendants on the defamation and civil extortion claim The appeal will revisit the judgment based on lack of due process and denial of basic civil rights. The defendants claim they were denied due process because of an improper default judgment where they were found guilty before the trial began. They could not submit evidence or witnesses. The summary judgment was improper because the defendants were denied basic due

Further harassment is a worthless criminal case

CASE THREE: CRIMINAL FALSE REPORT TO DCF

(STATE OF FLORIDA -vs- PETER EDWARD PFLAUM Division: 3 Judge: GLANT, DAVID A. for making an alleged false report to Department of Children and Families (DCF) State Filed Case Number: 01-2005-CF-002238-A) which is still in case management after an alleged incident of two years ago. Referred to as Criminal Case after two years still in case management

CASE FOUR: (and five) False arrest and Negligence

SEVENTH CIRCUIT: Judge Robert K. Rouse, Jr. Division 02 101 N. Alabama Ave. DeLand , FL   32724 CASE NO.  2006 20441-CINS False arrest, harassments, and lack of due process, and tortious interference with inheritance PETER E PFLAUM v. THOMAS PFLAUM, ET AL  Case Number:  2006 20441 CINS Category:  Other Negligence  Case Type:  Circuit Civil  Filing Date:  11/15/2006 Case Status:  Open  Related Cases:  NO Venue Information - 02 - Robert K. Rouse, Jr. Processing Location:  New Smyrna Beach Annex  Court Location:  New Smyrna Beach Annex  Disposition Information - Pending Disposition Date:   Jury Trial:  YES Case Style:  PETER E PFLAUM v. THOMAS PFLAUM, ET AL

Case Number:  2005 20356 CINS Category:  Other Circuit Civil  Case Type:  Circuit Civil  Filing Date:  10/19/2005 Case Status:  Closed  Related Cases:  NO Venue Information - 02 - Robert K. Rouse, Jr. Processing Location:  New Smyrna Beach Annex  Court Location:  New Smyrna Beach Annex  Disposition closed Information - Other Disposition Date: 04/06/2006 Jury Trial:  NO dismissed on jurisdiction

APPEAL to 5th DCA withdrawn  Fifth district court of Appeals Case Number 5D06-787 Fifth District Court of Appeals The Clerk of the Court 300 South Beach Street Daytona Beach, FL., 32114

CASE SIX:  THE CLERK OF THE COURT FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL Mr. Jon S. Wheeler 301 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Tallahassee, FL  32399-1850 Peter E.  Pflaum, Pro Se Appellant/Petitioner v. Thomas and Leanne Pflaum, Appellee/Petitioners Case No.  1 DCA06-6618 (Trial court No  : 2004-CP-0770 Defamation Lower Tribunal No.  1 D06-6618) Former CASE NO. 1DCA06-3240, 1D06-2762, and  1DCA05-5830, DCA05-5212, 2005-CA-2363

CASE SEVEN:  CASE NO: SC07-655 Supreme Court of Florida 500 South Duval Street Tallahassee , Florida 32399  Peter E.  Pflaum Pro Se Appellant/Petitioner v.  Thomas and Leanne Pflaum, Appellee/Petitioners Lower Tribunal No. 1 D06-6618 (FSC05-2330)

CASE EIGHT: (and nine) dismissed;

Arthur B. Briskman United States Bankruptcy Judge The Central District of Florida, Bankruptcy filed Feb. 28th 2006 dismiss for lack of credit counseling

Case Number 6:06-bk-00358-ABB Bankruptcy Trustee Gene T. Chambers Post Office Box 533987 Orlando, FL 32853  Telephone number: 407-872-7575

Federal court central district of Florida (Orlando) because of international jurisdiction letter sent Feb 26th 2006 Case Number 6:06-cv-244-Orl-28KRS Case 6:06-cv-00244-JA-KRS  filed 3/24/2006 George C. Young U.S. Courthouse & Federal Building 80 North Hughey Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801 407-835-4200 John Antoon II Judge The Honorable Patricia C. Fawsett Chief United States District Judge Sheryl L. Loesch Clerk of Court

SUMMARY

Here comes the PETITIONER, Dr. Peter E.  Pflaum PhD (PRO SE) at the age of 70 years, a retired professor of Public Administration and government. The Petitioner has never before been involved in litigation and has been PRO SE from necessity only.  Melanie Pflaum, her son Peter and his wife Mary Anne trusted Thomas, as a son, a brother, and as an attorney to do the right thing as administrator of  the estate. He was completely trusted by his mother to carry out her wishes when she died. It came as a great shock, after months of taking care of his 94 year old dying mother, Peter returned from Spain in March of 2004 (Melanie) to be informed (March 27, 2004) by his brother (Thomas) and his sister-in-law, Leanne (both attorneys) that the Petitioners were going to take for themselves, everything in the estate. They said they would “play for the whole deck” and hire at great expense “really mean lawyers” to attack Petitioner’s rights to an equal share of the property their mother left to her three sons in her will. This is exactly what has happened, Thomas and Leanne have kept two million in assets, and three years later no progress has been made in the probate of the estate.

 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY,
FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF File No. 2004-CP-0770 MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM Division A Deceased.

PETITION FOR PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE'S FEE

Petitioner, THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM, as Personal Representative of this estate, al lieges:

1. Petitioner was appointed Personal Representative of this estate by order of this Court dated June 9, 2004. Letters of administration were issued on June 9. 2004.

2. Petitioner has furnished services to the estate. The nature and extent of those services will be detailed in an affidavit in advance of a hearing on this petition.

3. As a result of the performance of the duties described, petitioner is entitled to reasonable compensation, and petitioner believes that a reasonable compensation is in the amount of $200,000.

4. Inasmuch as the probate assets were insufficient to pay any personal representative's fees, all the impact of personal representative's fees will be borne by Thomas M. Pflaum, who does not object to this petition. If there had been additional probate assets, the impact of personal representative's fees would be borne by the residuary beneficiaries named below.

THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM     17306 S.W. 10th Terrace  Micanopy, FE 32667

JOHN H. PFLAUM        2400 E Bradford Ave, Apt 905 Milwaukee, WI 53211-4172

PETER PFLAUM          P. O. Box 2176 New Smyrna Beach, FE 32170

3. Petitioner requests that an order be entered authorizing and directing the payment of the sum of $200,000 to petitioner for services rendered by the petitioner as Personal Representative of the estate.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY,
FLORIDA   PROBATE DIVISION

FileNo.2004-CP-0770 Division A  IN RE: ESTATE OF MELAN1E SOPHIA PFLAUM Deceased.

 

NOTICE OF FINAL ACCOUNTING AND PETITION FOR DISCHARGE

TO:   THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM JOHN H. PFLAUM PETER PFLAUM

17306 S.W. 10th Terrace Micanopy, FL 32667

2400 E Bradford Ave, Apt 905 Milwaukee, WI 53211-4172

P.O. Box 2176

New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Final Accounting and a Petition for Discharge have been filed in this Court by THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM, the Personal Representative of the estate of MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM, deceased, true copies of which accompany this notice. You are required to file with the clerk of the above Court not later than 30 days after the date of service of this notice upon you any objections to the Petition for Discharge, to the Final Accounting, to the compensation paid or proposed to be paid, or to the proposed distribution of assets, and to serve a copy thereof on petitioner's attorney, whose name and address are set forth below, and on all other interested persons. Any objections must be in writing and must state with particularity the item or items to which the objections are directed and must state the grounds on which the objections are based. If a notice of hearing on the objections is not served within 90 days of filing the objections, the objections shall be deemed abandoned and the Personal Representative may distribute the estate according to the plan set forth in the Petition for Discharge and judgment may be entered in due course upon the petition.

Form No. HA-5.0410 Effective January 1,2006

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY,
FLORIDA         PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF FileNo.2004-CP-0770 MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM Division A Deceased.

PETITION FOR DISCHARGE

(Single personal representative)

Petitioner, THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM, as Personal Representative of the above estate, alleges:

1. The decedent, MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM, a resident of Alachua County, Florida, died on March 5, 2004, and Letters of Administration were issued to petitioner on June 9, 2004.

2. Petitioner files herewith either a Final Accounting containing a complete report of all cash and property transactions and of all receipts and disbursements since the commencement of administration of this estate, or since the date of the last accounting filed herein, if any, or waivers signed by all interested persons, other than petitioner, waiving the filing of a final accounting.

3. Petitioner has fully administered this estate by making payment, settlement, or other disposition of all claims and debts that were presented, and by paying or making provision for the payment of all taxes and expenses of administration.

4. Petitioner has filed all required estate tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and with the Department of Revenue of the State of Florida, and has obtained and filed with this Court evidence of the satisfaction of this estate's obligations for both federal and Florida estate taxes, if any.

5. The amount of compensation paid or to be paid to the Personal Representative, attorneys, accountants, appraisers, or other agents employed by the Personal Representative, and the manner of determining that compensation, is set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

6. Petitioner has made or proposes to make distribution of the assets of this estate as reflected in the plan of distribution set forth in the schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B.

7. Petitioner has filed receipts signed by Larissa Ellen Pilaum and Melanie Ann Pflaum acknowledging receipt of the decedent's tangible personal property. The only remaining persons, other than the petitioner, having an interest in this proceeding and their respective addresses are:

Form No. PA-5.0400 infective January 1, 2006

Beneficiaries Address  

JOHN II. PFLAUM 2266 N. Prospect Avenue, Suite 200 Milwaukee, WT 53202

PETER PFLAUM  P. O.Box2176 New Smyrna Beach, PL 32170

8. Any objections to the Petition for Discharge, the Final Accounting, the compensation paid or proposed to be paid, or the proposed distribution of assets, must be filed and served within 30 days from the date of service of the last of the Petition for Discharge or Final Accounting. Within 90 days after filing of the objection, a notice of hearing thereon must be served, or the objection is abandoned.

9. Objections, if any, shall be in writing and shall state with particularity the item or items to which the objection is directed and the grounds on which the objection is based.

Petitioner requests that, after satisfactory proof has been presented that distribution has been made in accordance with the schedule of distribution and that claims of creditors have been paid or otherwise disposed of, an order be entered discharging petitioner as Personal Representative of this estate and releasing the surety on any bond which petitioner may have posted in this proceeding from any further liability on it.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing, and the facts alleged are true, to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed on June

2007.

 

 

Richard M. Wfiite, Jr. Attorney for Petitioner

Florida Bar No. 203300 White & Crouch, P.A. 5303 S.W. 91st Drive, Suite 200

Gainesville, FL 32608 Telephone: (352) 372-1011; fax 372-1023

THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM Petitioner

Form No. PA-5.0400 Effective January 1, 2006  

Payee

White & Crouch, PA Kevin Mangum Thomas M. Pflaum Purvis Gray & Co. Language Services, Inc. Don Quinn, Inc.. Claus Kellenberger Ty Tyson Alejandro Koch

Exhibit A—Schedule of Fees

Nature of Service      Paid to Date

Legal fees'       $173,145.98

Legal fees        $    3,875.00

Personal Rep. Fees   $ 16,860.00

Accounting Fees       $ 30,000.00

Translation services  $       525.00

Handwriting analysis  $    1,625.00

Legal fees        $    3,300.00

Appraisal fees  $       100.00

Appraisal fees  $       612.00

Additional Proposed  $12,554.02

$0 $183,140.00

$0 $0 $0

'$300.00 per hour for Mr. White; $75-150/hour for staff.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

File No. 2004-CP-0770 Division A

IN RC: ESTATE OF MELANIR SOPHIA PFLAUM Deceased.

FINAL ACCOUNTING OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

March 5, 2004 through February 27, 2007

The purpose of this accounting is to acquaint all interested persons with the transactions that have occurred during the period covered by the accounting and the assets that remain on hand. It consists of a SUMMARY sheet and Schedule A showing all Receipts, Schedule B showing all Disbursements, Schedule C showing all Distributions, Schedule D showing all Capital Transactions and Adjustments (the effect of which are also reflected in other schedules, if appropriate), and Schedule E showing assets on hand at the end of the accounting period.

It is important that this accounting be carefully examined. Requests for additional information and any questions should be addressed to the personal representative or the attorneys for the personal representative, the names and addresses of whom are set forth below.

Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned personal representative declares that I have read and examined this accounting and that the facts and figures set forth in the Summary and the attached Schedules are true, to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that it is a complete report of all cash and property transactions and of all receipts and disbursements by me as personal representative of the estate of MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM, deceased, from March 5, 2004, through February 27, 2007.

THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM 17306 S.W. 10th Terrace Micanopy, FL 32667

Form No. PA-5.0340 Effective January 1, 2006

 

 

FINAL ACCOUNTING OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE From March 5, 2004 through February 27, 2007

SUMMARY

Income

Totals 100.00

Starting Balance

Assets per Inventory or on Hand 0

at Close of Last Accounting Period 0

Receipts Schedule A: II.

0.00     $0.00  

III.    Disbursements Schedule B:

0.00     $

IV.    Distributions Schedule C:

100.00

0.00     $

V.     Capital Transactions and Adjustments Schedule D:      Net Gain or (Loss)

0.00     S

VI.   Assets on Hand at Close of Accounting Period Schedule E:       Cash and Other Assets

 

Note:    Refer to Florida Probate Rule 5.330(b), 5.345, 5.346 aid 5.400.

Also see Accountings, Chapter 12 of Practice Under Florida Probate Code, 2002.

Entries on Summary are to be taken from totals on Schedules A, B, C, D and E.

The Summary and Schedules A, B, C. D and E are to constitute Ihe full accounting. K very transaction occurring during the accounting period should be reflected on the Schedules.

All purchases and sales, all adjustments to the inventory or carrying value of any asset, and any other changes in the assets (such as stock splits) should be described on Schedule D.

The amount in the "Total" column for Hem VI must agree with the total inventory or adjusted carrying value of all assets on hand al the close of the accounting period on Schedule H.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA                  PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF FileNo.2004-CP-0770 MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM Division A Deceased.

PETITION FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES

Petitioner, RICHARD M. WHITE, JR., alleges:

1. Petitioner is sole shareholder in the professional association of White & Crouch, P. A. Petitioner is a board certified attorney in the area of wills, trusts, and estates.

2.  The decedent, Melanie Sophia Pflaum, a resident of Alachua County, Florida, died on March 5. 2004, owning property subject to probate in this state.

3. On or about March 25, 2004, petitioner was contacted, and subsequently retained, by Thomas Martin Pflaum, a son of the decedent and named personal representative, to represent him

as personal representative in connection with the administration of the decedent's estate. Thomas Martin Pflaum was appointed personal representative of the estate on June 9, 2004.

4. Petitioner was employed by and rendered ordinary and usual services to the personal representative, Thomas Martin Pflaum, in the administration of this estate. Petitioner has also provided extraordinary services to this estate, which Petitioner will detail in an affidavit in advance of a hearing on this petition.

5. Petitioner's time records indicate that the undersigned spent 542 hours on the file up to and including services rendered through March 23, 2007. In addition, Petitioner's staff has expended over 150 hours of time on the file. Petitioner believes a fee of not less than $185,700 is appropriate for this work.

6.         All of the services were necessary to the proper administration of the estate.

7. Petitioner has expended professional time for the preparation and filing of this petition and will expend further professional time and costs in this proceeding.

8. Inasmuch as the probate assets were insufficient to pay any legal fees, all the impact of legal fees will be borne by Thomas M. Pflaum, who does not object to this petition. If there had been additional probate assets, the impact of legal fees would be borne by the residuary beneficiaries named below. Because the legal fees are being paid by Thomas M. Pflaum, individually, if assets come into the estate in the future, the legal fees should be appropriately borne by the residuary beneficiaries and paid from such estate assets.

9.         The only persons other than petitioner having an interest in this proceeding and their respective addresses are:

Thomas Martin Pflaum, Personal Representative and residuary beneficiary 17306 S.W. 10th Terrace Micanopy, FL 32667 Peter Pflaum, residuary beneficiary 225 Robinson Road New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 John H. Pflaum, residuary beneficiary 2266 N. Prospect Avenue, Suite 200 Milwaukee, WI 53202

WHEREFORE, Petitioner prays for entry of an order awarding attorney's fees to Petitioner for services rendered on behalf of the estate.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing, and the facts alleged are true, to the best of my knowledge and belief.

I hereby certify that a copy of this Petition for Attorney's Fees was sent to the following interested parties:

THOMAS MARTIN PFLAUM     17306 S.W. 10th Terrace

Micanopy, FL 32667

JOHN H. PFLAUM PETER PFLAUM

BILL HOPPE, ESQ. by U. S. mail on   June 22, 2007

2400 E Bradford Ave, Apt 905 Milwaukee, WI 53211-4172

P.O. Box 2176 New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

2313NW7 Road Gainesville, FL 32607

June 22, 2007.

Richard M. White, Jr., Petitioner

Florida Bar No. 203300

White & Crouch, P.A.

5303 S.W. 91st Drive, Suite 200

Gainesville, FL 32608

Telephone: (352) 372-1011; 372-1023

 

 



[1] To quote the Last Will of MELANIE SOPHIA PFLAUM who died (Aged 94) March 5th 2004, in her long term home in Javea Spain Article 4
I give all the residue of my estate, real and Personal, of whatever nature and wherever located, which Peter own at the time of my death, including the proceeds of insurance on my life which may be payable to my estate and Peter hereby exercise any and all powers of appointment which Peter has under any trust or otherwise and direct all property subject thereto shall also be disposed, to my husband Irving Peter Pflaum, if he survives me, and if not in equal shares to my sons Thomas Martin Pflaum, Peter Edward Pflaum and John Herbert Pflaum, per stirpes.  -Page 2 to Page 3 [1]

Melanie’s estate was in an uncontested formal will and testament, drafted in Miami (1978) by the firm. which was the employer of the Petitioner at the time. (by Franklin G. Burt Firm: by Jordan Burt LLP who was at Paul and Thomson in 1978), signed and notarized at the American Council in Barcelona, Spain. The WILL required her property to be divided in equal shares among her three sons, John, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a retired PhD clinical psychologist, born in Majorca, Spain, 1934; Peter, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a retired professor of government, born in Barcelona, Spain, 1936; and Thomas, a lawyer in private practice in his house in Micanopy, Alachua County, Florida, born in Evanston, Illinois, 1950, who was appointed Personal Representative (PR). The estate came from Melanie’s parents and from her grandparents and, if not perverted would be in the fourth and fifth generation. The estate paid for higher education including the law degree Thomas has abused to violate more than a century of legal and family tradition. After three years, the material issues of this case have never been heard or decided ON ITS MERITS by any court at any time.