Peter Karoly estate now in judge's hands

Peter Karoly estate now in judge's hands


By Pamela Lehman, Of The Morning Call
12:49 PM EST, December 16, 2011


After more than four months of testimony, a Northampton County civil trial ended Thursday and the judge will now decide what happens to prominent Lehigh Valley attorney Peter Karoly's multimillion-dollar estate.

Retired Judge Isaac Garb asked attorneys to present legal arguments to him in 90 days before he issues his judgment on which of two wills submitted for Karoly and his wife, Lauren Angstadt, is legitimate. Karoly and Angstadt died in a 2007 plane crash in Massachusetts.

Karoly's sisters charge that another brother — the once equally prominent but now jailed John Karoly Jr. — fraudulently created 2006 wills for the couple. That conclusion was also reached by a 2008 federal grand jury that indicted him, his older son J.P. Karoly and John Shane, a doctor who did consulting work for Peter Karoly, on forgery charges.

As attorneys jostled to submit hundreds of pieces of evidence Thursday, there was a last-minute objection by Marc Weinstein, the attorney representing Karoly's sisters.

Philip Lauer, who represents supporters of the 2006 wills, asked Weinstein to agree to the submission of the documents. Weinstein objected and said those "purported wills" had not been authenticated.

Garb said the 2006 wills were the "centerpiece of the whole proceedings" and if they weren't submitted, "we might as well just go home."

"Isn't that what this whole thing is about?" Garb asked Weinstein. "The persons whose wills they aren't can't possibly authenticate them."


Garb said experts including handwriting experts and forensic chemists testified about the documents and ordered that the wills be entered into the case.

Other than to note, "it's been a long case," Weinstein declined to comment. Robert Goldman, who also represents the supporters of the 2006 wills, declined to comment.

John Karoly Jr., now a disbarred attorney, is serving 61/2 years in federal prison for failing to pay taxes on more than $5 million of income and other charges. He renounced his interest in the estate under a plea bargain, in which federal prosecutors withdrew all charges related to the will, including those against Shane and J.P. Karoly.

John Karoly Jr.'s younger son, Joshua Karoly, is among relatives seeking to have the 2006 wills upheld. The sisters — Kim Luciano, Joanne Billman and Candice Pamerleau — back a will from 1985.

Please read complete article at link below:


http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-karoly-disputed-will-closings-20111216,0,3351258.story


Editor's note: In regards to the Estate of Alice R. Gore, deceased, a disabled 99 year old  ward of the Probate Court of Cook County, Judge Kawamoto's courtroom.  Alice signed a will in 2002 in the presence of her attorney and others that selects her daughter as executor of the will.  In open court and documented on the court record,  Alice's disabled granddaughter's attorney cited law validating the will and promoting its value.  Alice was expected to die in 2002 and lived until 2011. During this 9 year period, criminal behavior on the part of certain court officers, that included, but was not necessarily limited to forgery and perjury occurred. Now since there is little or no money left in the estate, the very same people who promoted the will are in fear of it. The daughter can now request that records of the mishandling of Alice's estate can now be brought forward.  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com

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