PORTSMOUTH — Retired Judge Stephen Roberts was selected by the city’s Police Commission on Thursday to lead an investigation into a police officer’s disputed $2.7 million inheritance.
The investigation involves a 2012 will and trust for the late Geraldine Webber, who left police Sgt. Aaron Goodwin the majority of her estate including her riverfront home, stocks, bonds and a Cadillac. Multiple parties allege in the county probate court that Goodwin exerted undue influence over Webber, while she was impaired by dementia, to inherit her vast estate.
Roberts works at the Portsmouth law firm of Hoefle, Phoenix, Gromley & Roberts and from 1989 to 2011, served as a special justice with the Somersworth and Dover District Courts. From 2003 to 2011, he was one of two judges appointed to the Police Standards & Training Council. He also served on a committee established by the attorney general’s office to investigate the shootings of four Drug Task Force officers and the shooting death of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney.
Police Commission Chairman John Golumb said the investigation will not replace or interfere with a separate investigation being litigated in the county probate court.
Roberts accepted the appointment and said he expects to select two other members of the community to serve on the investigatory panel within two weeks. Roberts is also charged by the commission with exploring the possibility of including “a professional management group to assist with the investigation,” Golumb said.
“While the scope of the work will be determined once this group is put together, globally their task will be to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the relationship between Aaron Goodwin, Geraldine Webber and the Police Department and produce a final report suitable for distribution to the public,” the commission announced.
Roberts said he created an email account for the sole purpose of collecting information about the case and that he’s the only one with the password. It is not affiliated with the city of Portsmouth in any way, Roberts said.
The email address is webbergoodwininvestigation@gmail.com.
Webber’s 2009 will was written by Portsmouth attorney James Ritzo and did not name Goodwin as a beneficiary. Hampton attorney Gary Holmes wrote the 2012 will and trust that is being contested.
Depositions of lawyers who declined to rewrite Webber’s estate plans, of her banker and her accountant suggest she had dementia at the time she transferred everything to Goodwin, while she told people she loved him. She was in her 90s and he was in his 30s at the time, according to court records.
Rockingham County Probate Judge Mark Weaver has set an Oct. 15 deadline for parties objecting to her 2012 will and trust to file with the court a list of expert witnesses expected to be called during trial. The trial, expected to last five or more days, will commence after Feb. 1, according to court records.
Webber’s physician, Dr. Ira Schwartz, was scheduled to be deposed Thursday afternoon.
In a Feb. 17, 2014, deposition of attorney David Mulhern, who declined to change Webber’s will, Mulhern said he was contacted by Goodwin about changing Webber’s will and as part of an initial investigation, he called Schwartz to inquire about her competency. In response, Mulhern said, he received the following voicemail from Schwartz:
“I cannot attest to her competency. I can give you more details why, plus other information you may find relevant. There is no way in the world I am going to be able to say this eccentric woman is competent.”
Attribution:
Retired judge to investigate police officer’s $2.7M inheritance
Elizabeth Dinan
September 4, 2014
SeaCoastOnline.com
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20140904-NEWS-140909883
The investigation involves a 2012 will and trust for the late Geraldine Webber, who left police Sgt. Aaron Goodwin the majority of her estate including her riverfront home, stocks, bonds and a Cadillac. Multiple parties allege in the county probate court that Goodwin exerted undue influence over Webber, while she was impaired by dementia, to inherit her vast estate.
Roberts works at the Portsmouth law firm of Hoefle, Phoenix, Gromley & Roberts and from 1989 to 2011, served as a special justice with the Somersworth and Dover District Courts. From 2003 to 2011, he was one of two judges appointed to the Police Standards & Training Council. He also served on a committee established by the attorney general’s office to investigate the shootings of four Drug Task Force officers and the shooting death of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney.
Police Commission Chairman John Golumb said the investigation will not replace or interfere with a separate investigation being litigated in the county probate court.
Roberts accepted the appointment and said he expects to select two other members of the community to serve on the investigatory panel within two weeks. Roberts is also charged by the commission with exploring the possibility of including “a professional management group to assist with the investigation,” Golumb said.
“While the scope of the work will be determined once this group is put together, globally their task will be to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the relationship between Aaron Goodwin, Geraldine Webber and the Police Department and produce a final report suitable for distribution to the public,” the commission announced.
Roberts said he created an email account for the sole purpose of collecting information about the case and that he’s the only one with the password. It is not affiliated with the city of Portsmouth in any way, Roberts said.
The email address is webbergoodwininvestigation@gmail.com.
Webber’s 2009 will was written by Portsmouth attorney James Ritzo and did not name Goodwin as a beneficiary. Hampton attorney Gary Holmes wrote the 2012 will and trust that is being contested.
Depositions of lawyers who declined to rewrite Webber’s estate plans, of her banker and her accountant suggest she had dementia at the time she transferred everything to Goodwin, while she told people she loved him. She was in her 90s and he was in his 30s at the time, according to court records.
Rockingham County Probate Judge Mark Weaver has set an Oct. 15 deadline for parties objecting to her 2012 will and trust to file with the court a list of expert witnesses expected to be called during trial. The trial, expected to last five or more days, will commence after Feb. 1, according to court records.
Webber’s physician, Dr. Ira Schwartz, was scheduled to be deposed Thursday afternoon.
In a Feb. 17, 2014, deposition of attorney David Mulhern, who declined to change Webber’s will, Mulhern said he was contacted by Goodwin about changing Webber’s will and as part of an initial investigation, he called Schwartz to inquire about her competency. In response, Mulhern said, he received the following voicemail from Schwartz:
“I cannot attest to her competency. I can give you more details why, plus other information you may find relevant. There is no way in the world I am going to be able to say this eccentric woman is competent.”
Attribution:
Retired judge to investigate police officer’s $2.7M inheritance
Elizabeth Dinan
September 4, 2014
SeaCoastOnline.com
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20140904-NEWS-140909883
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting.
Your comment will be held for approval by the blog owner.