HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-08 (2)George B. Faller, Jr., Esquire
I.D. No. 49813
No V. Otto, III, Es uire ZiQ~1 q ;~ ~ `°
a t i F~°~ 2~ 1.~3
I.D. No. 27763
MARTSON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS OTTO GILROY & FALLER Cl~..~ ~ -,~_
MARTSON LAW OFFICES
10 East High Street G~;=~ i ' r ;~T
Carlisle, PA 17013 `~~ ~ ~~~`,~
(717) 243-3341
Attorneys for Barbara McK. Mumma & Lisa M. Morgan
IN RE ESTATE OF IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
ROBERT M. MUMMA :CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Deceased NO. 21-86-398
ORPHAN'S COURT DIVISION
RESPONSE OF BARBARA McK. MUMMA AND LISA M. MORGAN TO
FURTHER MOTION OF ROBERT M. MUMMA, II FOR VACATION OF
APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY ANDREWS AS AUDITOR PURSUANT TO
ORPHANS' COURT ORDER OF OCTOBER 3. 2007
AND NOW, come Lisa Mumma Morgan and Barbara McK. Mumma as
Executrices of the Estate of Robert M. Mumma and Trustees under his will,
respond as follows to the Motion of Robert M. Mumma, II:
1. Admitted. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan admit that Mr. Mumma,
II, is currently acting pro se in that no counsel has entered an appearance on his
behalf. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan understand, however, that Mr. Mumma,
II, is being assisted by counsel with respect to these matters.
2. Denied. To the contrary, a disclaimer was filed in this matter on or
about January 6, 1987, whereby the Petitioner disclaimed any interest in the
above-captioned Estate. The Court has not issued a final ruling on the effect of
that disclaimer, as indicated in the Auditor's letter of September 26, 2005. By
way of further response, Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan incorporate by reference
their Response to Petition to Orphans' Court Division for the Entry of the Date of
the Deemed Denial of Exceptions Under Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rule
7.1(f) and New Matter.
~.:~
3. Denied. After reasonable investigation, Mrs. Mumma and Mrs.
Morgan are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
truth or falsity of this averment. They demand strict proof.
4. Denied. To the contrary, see the averments of Paragraph 2 above,
which are incorporated herein by reference.
5. Admitted.
6. Admitted.
7. Admitted. Robert M. Mumma, II, filed a motion to recuse the
Auditor and to appoint a new Auditor on or about January 31, 2005.
8. Admitted.
9. Admitted. After a hearing, Judge Oler issued numerous Orders on
March 11, 2005, relating to this case.
10. Admitted.
11. Admitted.
12. Admitted.
13. Admitted.
14. Admitted.
15. Admitted.
16. Admitted in part; denied in part. It is admitted that April 7, 2006
was approximately six months after October 7, 2005. Any inference related
thereto is denied as a conclusion of law to which no response is required.
17. Admitted.
18. Admitted. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan are not aware of any
subsequent motions for an extension of time filed by Attorney Andrews.
19. Admitted.
20. Admitted in part and denied in part. It is admitted that Petitioner's
averment contains an accurate quotation of Orphans' Court Rule 8.2. Any
inference or allegation related to Orphans' Court Rule 8.2 is denied as a
conclusion of law to which no response is required.
21. Admitted in part, denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit that Judge Oler has referred the issues raised in various Motions or
Petitions filed in the case to the Auditor for purposes of a recommended order
andlor interim report. Those orders are in writing and speak for themselves, and
Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny all characterizations thereof and all
remaining allegations of this paragraph.
22. Admitted in part, denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit that Judge Oler presided over a proceeding on October 3, 2007. Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny that the proceeding was a "hearing." On the
contrary, the October 3, 2007, proceeding was a Status Conference at which
Judge Oler issued a comprehensive Order setting deadlines for completion of
various aspects of these proceedings.
23. Admitted in part, denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit the Auditor's last "interim report" was dated December 30, 2005. Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny all remaining allegations of this paragraph as
argumentative and not requiring a response.
24. Admitted in part, denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit that the last pre-hearing conference held by the Auditor occurred on
October 19, 2006. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny the remaining
allegations of this paragraph as argumentative and not requiring a response.
25. Admitted in part; denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit that the Auditor made several attempts by letters in January and February,
2008 to schedule apre-hearing conference. However, the Auditor's letter of
February 11, 2008, indicates that it is Mr. Mumma, II, who advised he was not
available for apre-hearing conference that was originally scheduled, and agreed
to by counsel, for February 29, 2008. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny the
remaining allegations of this paragraph as argumentative and not requiring a
response.
26. Denied. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan are without knowledge or
information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of this
paragraph, which therefore are deemed to be denied. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs.
Morgan are not aware of any actions the Auditor has taken since February, 2008
to schedule apre-hearing conference in this case.
27. Admitted.
28. Admitted in part, denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit that Judge Oler has issued Orders referring issues to the Auditor for
purposes of a recommended Order and/or interim report, and that the Auditor
has not issued any recommended Orders or interim reports since at least
January, 2008. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny the remaining allegations of
this paragraph as argumentative and not requiring a response. They also deny
any implication that the Court set forth deadlines or time periods for the Auditar to
decide any matters that have been referred to him.
29. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations. By way of further
response, this paragraph is legally insufficient as either a statement of basis or a
request for any relief.
30. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations.
31. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations.
32. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations.
33. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations.
34. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations. By way of further
response, this paragraph is legally insufficient as either a statement of basis or a
request for any relief.
35. Denied. No response to this paragraph is necessary, and Mrs.
Mumma and Mrs. Morgan therefore deny its allegations. By way of further
response, Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan incorporate by reference all prior
ti
statements, motions, responses and briefing on the subject of Mr. Mumma, II's
requests for removal of Attorney Andrews as Auditor.
36. Admitted in part, denied in part. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan
admit that Mr. Mumma, I1, did not seek concurrence of counsel prior to filing the
instant motion. Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan deny the remaining allegations of
this paragraph.
37. Admitted. Judge Oler has previously decided motions and petitions
filed in these proceedings.
WHEREFORE, Mrs. Mumma and Mrs. Morgan respectfully request that
Mr. Mumma, II,'s Further Motion for Vacation of Appointment of Attorney Taylor
Andrews as Auditor Pursuant to Orphans' Court Order of October 3, 2007, be
denied.
MARTSON LAW OFFICES
By
George alter, Jr., Esquire
I.D. No. 49813
No V. Otto, II1, Esquire
I.D. No. 27763
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717} 243-3341
Date: August 13, 2008 Attorneys for Barbara McK. Mumma &
Lisa M. Morgan
F~.'.FILES~Clients~.Mumma 5844,7 (estate) 8?47 (Kvn)\5844.LMumma Estate\5844-L398,certservice
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Tricia D. Eckenroad, an authorized agent of Martson Law Offices, hereby certify that a copy
of the foregoing Response of Barbara Mck. Mumma and Lisa M. Morgan to Further Motion of Robert
M. Mumma, II for Vacation of Appointment of AttorneyAndrews as Auditor Pursuant to Orphans' Court
Order of October 3, 2007, was served this date by depositing same in the Post Office at Carlisle, PA, first
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Mr. Robert M. Mumma, II
Box 58
Bowmansdale, PA 17008
Mr. Robert M. Mumma, II
6880 S.E. Harbor Circle
Stuart, FL 34996-1968
Mr. Robert M. Mumma, II
840 Market Street
Suite 164
Lemoyne, PA 17043
Ralph A. Jacobs, Esquire
JACOBS & SINGER, LLC
1515 Market Street
Suite 705
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(Attorney for Barbara Mann Mumma}
Brady L. Green, Esquire
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1701 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921
(Attorney for Estate and Executrixes)
Taylor P. Andrews, Esquire
ANDREWS & JOHNSON
78 West Pomfret Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(Court-Appointed Auditor)
MAR ON L W OFFICES
BY - - - ~~~~-r~~
TIt-icia D.-E~kenroad ~
_ 10 East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 243-3341
Dated: August 13, 2008