ÿWPCñ /# ¢UN­ %û 0(b)w@14q…” 0Jœ 0Tæ 0^: 0h˜ 0r 0|r 0†î 0t 1u 0dyU>ÝB) AQD Æ• 0D[ 0@Ÿ 0Dß DC# D/f B• B² D3Ï AM U*O 'y v~  vÓ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MSÈðððÈð0nLhÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡- ù- Ÿ6E 6¡6©¢6š£6D¤6D¥6¦6Ó€°6³6ê‚_#3|x³62 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó7Border 1dd(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd!#%Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌJune€12,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€ö"XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò ò›Þ ÞÌIN€RE:€ESTATE€OF€WILLIAM€F.€à à€)ÌBURTON,€JR.,€Deceased,à àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àDavidson€ProbateÌœBOBBI›€BURTON€MILLER,€Executrix,à à€)à àNo.€€79822Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà àAppellant,à àà àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àAppeal€No.ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à€)à à01A01„9708„PB„00434ÌÙ€!ÙœßR€*,%A1-j|k,` ç `€€@ÿRß›à àà àà àà àà àà à€)ÌPAUL€T.€HOUSCH,€ADMINISTRATORà à€)ÌC.T.A.,€D.B.N.,à àà àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà àAppellee/Cross€Appellant.à àà à€)ÌÌÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€PROBATE€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌÓ  ÓHONORABLE€WALTER€KURTZ,€JUDGE€(Designated)ÌÓ  Óó óÌÌCharles€A.€Trost,€#4079ÌJoseph€A.€Woodruff,€#12869ÌMichael€G.€Stewart,€#16920ÌWALLER,€LANSDEN,€DORTCH€&€DAVISÌ511€Union€Street,€Suite€2100ÌNashville,€TN€37219ÌATTORNEYS€FOR€APPELLANTÌÌÌFrankie€E.€Wade,€#6163ÌHILL€AND€BORENÌ1269€North€Highland€AvenueÌP.O.€Box€3539ÌJackson,€TN€38303„3539ÌATTORNEY€FOR€APPELLEE/CROSS€APPELLANTÌÌÌÓ  Óò òAFFIRMED€IN€PART,ÌREMANDED€IN€PART.ó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌWALTER€W.€BUSSART,€JUDGEÌÌò òIN€RE:€ESTATE€OF€WILLIAM€F.€à à€)ÌBURTON,€JR.,€Deceased,à àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àDavidson€ProbateÌœBOBBI›€BURTON€MILLER,€Executrix,à à€)à àNo.€€79822Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà àAppellant,à àà àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àAppeal€No.ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à€)à à01A01„9708„PB„00434Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)ÌPAUL€T.€HOUSCH,€ADMINISTRATORà à€)ÌC.T.A.,€D.B.N.,à àà àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà àAppellee/Cross€Appellant.à àà à€)Ìó óÌÌÌà@ àòòò òÔ€„ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€XÔó óóóÌÓ  ÓÓÓÌà àThis€appeal€involves€an€interlocutory€order€of€the€Probate€Court€surcharging€theÏexecutrix,€œBobbi›€Burton€Miller,€for€misfeasance€to€the€extent€of€$150,179.23€plus€prejudgmentÏinterest.€€The€executrix€resigned,€and€an€administrator,€C.T.A.,€D.B.N.€(with€will€annexed,Ïfor€further€administration)€represented€the€estate€in€Probate€Court€and€this€Court.Ìà àà àThe€executrix„appellant€€has€filed€the€following€issues:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓI.à àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€refused€toÏenforce€a€consent€decree€approving€a€family€settlementÏagreement€despite€the€fact€that€appellees€had€not€allegedÏmuch€less€put€forward€proof€of,€fraud€in€the€procurement€ofÏthat€agreement.ÌÌII.à àWhether€the€appellees,€having€reaped€hundreds€ofÏthousands€of€dollars€in€benefits€pursuant€to€a€familyÍsettlement€agreement,€are€estopped€from€challenging€thatÏagreementððs€validity?ÌÌIII.à àWhether€it€was€error,€absent€a€finding€of€fraud€orÏgross€abuse€of€discretion€for€the€trial€court€to€substitute€itsÏopinion€of€what€distributions€were€ð ðnecessaryðð€for€that€of€aÏtrustee€expressly€granted€full€discretion€in€such€matters€byÏdecedentððs€will?ÌÌIV.à àWhether€the€trial€court,€having€declared€in€a€finalÏorder€that€$4,500€per€month€distributions€to€the€beneficiariesÏby€the€successor€fiduciary€were€appropriate,€was€precludedÏby€collateral€estoppel€from€subsequently€taking€precisely€theÏopposite€position€with€respect€to€appellant?ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌÌà àThe€administrator„appellee€has€stated€the€issues€as€follows:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓA.à àThe€release€and€hold€harmless€provisions€of€theÏà àsettlement€agreement€are€not€enforceable€by€BobbiÏà àBurton€Miller,€executrix€in€this€Probate€CourtÏà àaccounting€procedure.ÌÌà à1.à àThe€Probate€Courtððs€Decree€does€not€absolveÏà àà àMs.€Miller€from€accounting€for€herÏà àà àadministration€of€the€Estate€or€the€liability€forÏà àà àany€surcharge€thereon.ÌÌà à2.à àThe€Trial€Courtððs€reasons€for€not€enforcingÏthe€à àà àrelease€and€hold€harmless€provisions€of€theÏà àà àsettlement€agreement€are€valid.ÌÌà àà àa.à àThe€settlement€agreement€specificallyÏà àà àà àstates€that€Mrs.€Miller€ð ðshall€settle€herÏà àà àà àaccountsðð€and€thus,€this€reference€toÏà àà àà àher€settlement€of€her€accounts€isÏà àà àà àinconsistent€with€an€interpretation€thatÏà àà àà àthe€release€is€a€waiver€of€theÏà àà àà àrequirement€for€her€to€settle€herÏà àà àà àaccounts.ÌÌà àà àb.à àThe€order€which€approves€theÏà àà àà àsettlement€specifically€approves€theÏà àà àà àmonetary€settlement€but€€does€notÏà àà àà àmention€the€release.ÌÌà àà àc.à àThe€release€is€signed€by€Mrs.€MillerÏin€à àà àà àher€capacity€as€executrix€and€trusteeÏà àà àà àreleasing€herself.€€Such€a€release€isÏà àà àà àineffective€and€will€not€be€given€forceÏà àà àà àand€effect€by€this€Court.ÌÌà àà àd.à àThe€release€is€also€not€signed€by€anyÏà àà àà àrepresentative€of€the€contingentÏà àà àà àbeneficiaries.ÌÌà àB.à àThe€doctrine€of€estoppel€is€not€applicable€inÏà àà àthe€account€of€Bobbi€Burton€Miller.ÌÌà àC.à àThe€Trial€Courtððs€finding€that€Ms.€MillerÏà àà àabused€her€discretion€is€correct.ÌÌà àD.à àThe€doctrine€of€collateral€estoppel€is€notÏà àà àapplicable€and€does€not€preclude€the€TrialÏà àà àCourtððs€findings€in€this€accounting.ÌÌIV€(B).à àAPPELLEE/CROSS„APPELLANTððSÏà àà àADDITIONAL€ISSUESÌÌà àA.à àThe€Trial€Court€should€have€surchargedÏBobbi€à àà àBurton€Miller€for€loss€to€the€value€of€theÏà àà àproperty€of€the€estate€caused€by€theÏrefinancing€à àà àand€sale€of€the€Rivergate€Inn.ÌÌà à€B.à àThe€Trial€Court€should€not€have€approved€theÏà àà àimproper€and€excessive€attorneyððs€fees.ÌÌà àC.à àThe€Trial€Court€committed€reversible€errorÏà àà àwhen€it€approved€additional€disbursementsÏby€à àà àBobbi€Burton€Miller€as€charges€against€theÏà àà àestate€and€refused€to€surcharge€her€for€them.ÌÌà àà à1.à àDistributions€made€to€Bobbi€BurtonÏà àà àà àMiller€under€the€terms€of€the€will€areÏà àà àà ànot€proper€charges€against€the€estate.ÌÌà àà à2.à àThe€tax€penalties€and€interest€paid€byÏà àà àà àBobbi€Burton€Miller€are€not€properÏà àà àà àcharges€against€the€estate.ÌÌà àà àÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓà àWilliam€F.€Burton,€Jr.€was€a€Nashville€lawyer€who€had€retired€from€active€practiceÏwhen€he€prepared€and€executed€his€will€on€August€24,€1986.€€He€willed€his€entire€estate€to€hisÍwife,€œBobbi›€Burton,€(who€remarried€after€his€death€and€became€œBobbi›€Burton€Miller)€in€trustÏwith€detailed€instructions€for€administering€the€trust.€€The€purpose€of€the€trust€was€stated€asÏfollows:ÌÒ  ÒÒ ¸ ÒÓÓà àTHE€Trustee€shall€use€the€assets€ofÏthe€Trust€in€order€of€preferences€as€follows:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÌÒ  ÒÒ ¸ Òà à(a)à àòòProvide€for€the€normalÏnecessities€and€support€of€my€wife€and€eachÏof€my€three€childrenóó,€includes€a€collegeÏeducation€if€advisable,€until€that€child€reachesÏthe€age€of€twenty„three€years€in€so€far€as€myÏwife€is€concerned,€she€shall€receive€one„fourth€(1/4)€of€the€net€income€of€my€estateÏfrom€the€date€of€my€death.€ÌÌà à(b)à àUpon€the€youngest€of€myÏthree€children€reaching€the€age€of€twenty„three€years€the€Trustee€shall€pay€one„third€ofÏthe€net€income€available€after€the€provisionÏfor€my€wife€to€each€of€my€three€children€forÏand€during€each€of€their€natural€lives€òòand€toÏtheir€issue€for€a€period€of€twenty„one€yearsÏthereafteróó,€at€which€time€one„third€of€the€trustÏshall€terminate€and€be€distributed€to€the€heirs„at„law€of€said€deceased€child€living€at€thatÏtime.ÌÌà àAt€any€time€that€any€one€of€myÏchildren€shall€be€deceased€without€leavingÏissue€surviving,€or€the€blood€line€of€oneÏshould€become€extinct,€then,€in€that€event,Ïthat€share€shall€be€paid€to€the€other€of€myÏchildren€or€their€issue€per€stirpes€and€to€myÏwife€in€equal€share.€€(Emphasis€supplied.)ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àIt€is€clear€from€the€emphasized€portion€of€the€above€that€the€unused€portion€of€the€trustÏproperty€at€the€death€of€each€child€was€vested€as€a€remainder€in€the€ð ðissue,ðð€that€is,€child€orÏchildren€of€each€of€testatorððs€children,€i.e.,€the€grandchild€or€grandchildren€of€the€testator.€€ÌÌà àThe€following€grandchildren€have€been€born:€William€F.€Burton,€IV,€born€October€10,Ï1987;€and€two€unnamed€grandchildren€described€in€the€record€as€ð ðyoung.ððÌÌà àAlthough€not€pertinent€to€the€issues€on€appeal,€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Burton€had€executed€aÏpre„nuptial€agreement€prior€to€their€marriage.€€Mrs.€Burton€Miller€denies€the€validity€of€theÏagreement,€but€this€issue€is€not€involved€in€this€appeal.ÌÌà àFor€whatever€reason,€in€making€his€will,€Mr.€Burton€did€not€see€fit€to€take€advantage€ofÏthe€well€known€ð ðspousal€deductionðð€whereby€any€testamentary€gift€to€the€spouse€of€the€testatorÏis€exempt€from€death€taxes€up€to€one„half€of€the€estate.ÌÌà àBecause€of€the€size€of€Mr.€Burtonððs€estate,€it€became€evident€that€it€would€benefit€allÏbeneficiaries€of€the€will€if€Mrs.€Burton€Miller€would€dissent€from€the€will€and€claim€herÏstatutory€share€of€the€estate€as€provided€by€TCA€ðððð€31„4„101€et€seq.ÌÌà àOn€August€21,€1989,€the€Probate€Court€entered€an€order€approving€an€agreementÏexecuted€by€the€executrix€and€the€adult€beneficiaries€of€the€will.€€The€unborn€vestedÏremaindermen€were€not€parties€to€this€agreement€and€order.€€A€copy€of€said€order€and€attachedÏagreement€is€appended€to€this€opinion€as€Exhibit€A.ÌÌà àPursuant€to€the€agreement,€the€executrix€resigned€and€the€Probate€Court€appointedÏSovran€Bank€(now€NationsBank),€as€administrator€C.T.A.,€D.B.N.ÌÌà àOn€September€12,€1991,€the€Probate€Court€accepted€the€resignation€of€the€Bank€andÏappointed€Paul€Housch€as€substitute€administrator€C.T.A.€€€The€Bank€or€Mr.€Housch€hasÏmanaged€the€affairs€of€the€estate€since€February€27,€1990.ÌÌà àThe€principal€asset€of€the€estate€was€a€motel€which€produced€a€substantial€income.€€TheÏexecutrix€sold€the€motel€on€credit€and€collected€installments€of€the€sale€price€in€lieu€of€rent.€ÏBoth€rent€and€installments€were€divided€among€the€beneficiaries€of€the€will€by€the€executrix.ÌÌÌà àAfter€the€Bank€assumed€management€of€the€estate,€the€purchasers€defaulted€and€theÏBank€foreclosed,€resulting€in€a€sharp€reduction€in€cash€flow€to€the€beneficiaries€of€the€will.ÌÌà àOn€April€26,€1994,€the€administratrix€filed€her€ð ðAmended€and€Restated€FinalÏSettlement.ððÌÌà àOn€May€24,€1996,€Paul€Housch,€administrator,€filed€his€exceptions€to€the€settlement€ofÏthe€executrix.€à àÌÌà àOn€April€9,€1997,€the€Probate€Court€entered€its€final€judgment€upon€the€exceptionsÏconcluding€as€follows:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓ2.à àBobbi€Burton€Miller€shall€pay€to€the€Estate€ofÏà àWilliam€F.€Burton,€Jr.,€the€sum€of€two€hundred€andÏà àthirteen€thousand,€four€hundred€and€ninety„eightÏà àdollars€and€seventy„three€cents€($213,498.73)€whichÏà àsum€represents€the€surcharge€of€one€hundred€andÏfifty€à àthousand,€one€hundred€and€seventy„nine€dollars€andÏà àtwenty„three€cents€($150,179.23)€and€interest€ofÏsixty„à àthree€thousand,€three€hundred€nineteen€dollars€andÍà àfifty€cents€($63,319.50)€computed€at€six€percentÏ(6%)€à àfrom€March€1,€1990€through€March€10,€1997.ÌÌ3.à àPursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€47„14„121,€122,€the€entire€sumÏà àof€two€hundred€and€thirteen€thousand,€four€hundredÏà àand€ninety„eight€dollars€and€seventy„three€centsÏà à($213,498.73€shall€bear€interest€at€the€post€judgmentÏà àinterest€rate€of€ten€percent€(10%)€from€March€10,Ïà à1997,€the€date€of€entry€of€the€courtððs€verdict€asÏà àevidenced€by€the€Memorandum€and€OrderÏà àincorporated€herein;€said€interest€to€be€calculated€atÏà àthe€rate€of€$58.49€per€day.ÌÌ4.à àNo€distributions€shall€be€made€to€any€beneficiaryÏà àwithout€the€express€order€of€this€court.ÌÌ5.à àThe€Court€has€now€disposed€of€all€issues€related€toÏà àthis€accounting€and€this€judgment€is€to€be€consideredÏà àfinal€pursuant€to€Rule€54.02,€Tennessee€Rules€ofÏCivil€à àProcedure.ÌÌ6.à àThe€court€costs€are€taxed€equally€to€Bobbie€BurtonÏà àMiller€and€the€Estate€of€William€F.€Burton,€Jr.ÌÌ7.à àFor€all€of€the€above,€execution€may€issue.ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àAt€no€time€during€proceedings€in€the€Trial€Court€or€this€Court€have€the€minor€residualÏbeneficiaries€of€the€testamentary€trust€been€joined€or€represented€in€this€proceeding€except€asÏthe€administrator€CTA€has€called€attention€to€their€interest.ÌÌà àOn€appeal,€the€executrix€asserts:ÌÒ  ÒÒ ¸ ÒÓÓò ò1.à àThe€Probate€Courtððs€Decree€IsÏA€à àFinal€Order€Which€AbsolvesÏMrs.€à àMiller€Of€All€Liability€ForÏActions€à àShe€Took€As€Executrix.ó óÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà àIn€refusing€to€enforce€the€Consent€Decree€carefullyÏnegotiated€by€Ms.€Miller€and€all€of€the€Adult€Beneficiaries,Ïthe€Trial€Court€impermissibly€reopened€a€final€judgment€ofÏthe€Probate€Court€and€in€so€doing€denied€Ms.€Miller€theÏbenefit€of€a€bargain€on€which€she€had€reasonably€staked€herÍfinancial€future.€€The€Beneficiaries,€represented€by€counselÏfrom€a€major€law€firm€of€their€choosing,€made€the€decisionÏto€enter€into€the€Family€Settlement€Agreement€with€Ms.ÏMiller€whereby€she€received€just€$515,000.00€of€EstateÏassets€in€lieu€of€a€disputed€statutory€one„third€interest€in€theÏEstate€worth€in€excess€of€One€Million€Three€HundredÏThousand€Dollars€($1,300,000.00).€€ÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àIt€was€in€exchange€for€all€of€these€benefits€that€theÏBeneficiaries,€having€opted€not€to€replace€Ms.€Miller€with€aÏprofessional€Administrator€when€she€sought€a€statutoryÏshare,€made€the€following€unambiguous€pledge:ÌÌÒ  ÒÒ m ÒThe€Beneficiaries,€for€themselves,€their€heirsÏand€assigns€of€the€Deceasedððs€Estate€herebyÏagree€to€hold€plaintiff€harmless€from€òòany€andÏall€liabilityóó€arising€out€of€or€in€connection€withÏher€services€as€Executrix€and/or€Trustee€underÏthe€terms€and€conditions€of€Deceasedððs€Will.€ÏThe€Beneficiaries€and€the€Estate€further€agreeÏto€release€plaintiff€from€any€and€all€claims€orÏcauses€of€action€which€they€may€have€orÏwhich€may€hereafter€arise€in€connection€withÏher€services€as€Executrix€and/or€as€Trustee€orÏfor€any€services€rendered€in€such€capacities.ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àThe€executrix€cites€òòThird€National€Bank€v.€Scribneróó,€212€Tenn.€400,€370€S.W.2d€482Ï(1963),€wherein€a€beneficiary€of€a€spendthrift€trust€joined€in€a€contract€with€the€trustee€toÏprovide€for€the€manner€of€administering€the€trust€property.€€The€contract€was€approved€by€aÏconsent€decree.€€The€trustee€filed€a€suit€for€interpretation€and€instructions,€especially€as€to€theÏsale€of€land€occupied€by€one€of€the€beneficiaries.€€Some€of€the€beneficiaries€demurred€to€theÏsuit€of€the€trustee,€and€the€Trial€Court€dismissed€the€suit€of€the€trustee.€€On€appeal,€theÏSupreme€affirmed,€holding€that€the€trustee€was€estopped€by€the€agreement€and€consent€decree.ÌÌà àThe€present€case€is€distinguishable€by€the€fact€that€this€is€not€a€suit€for€instructions,€butÏexceptions€by€a€successor/administrator/trustee€to€the€final€report€of€the€executrix/trustee€whoÍresigned.€€The€successor/trustee€should€not€be€bound€by€an€agreement€of€his€predecessor€toÏdissipate€the€fund€held€in€trust.ÌÌà àIn€the€cited€case,€the€trustee€had€made€no€unauthorized€distributions;€in€the€presentÏcase,€the€executrix/trustee€has€made€unauthorized,€excessive,€distributions€to€beneficiaries,Ïincluding€herself.€€Also,€in€the€present€case,€the€consent€decree€of€the€Probate€Court€was€not€aÏfinal€judgment€and€thereby€remained€subject€to€revision€by€the€Probate€Court€at€any€time€beforeÏentry€of€final€judgment€discharging€the€executrix.€€TRCP€Rule€54.02.ÌÌà àThe€executrix€cites€other€authorities€regarding€the€binding€effect€of€consent€decrees,Ïwhich€are€inapplicable€to€non„final€interlocutory€orders.€€Her€claim€of€estoppel€is€not€wellÏfounded€because€of€her€remedy€of€reclaiming€from€the€adult€children€the€excessive€paymentsÏmade€to€them,€and€the€need€to€preserve€the€interests€of€the€minor€and€unborn€grandchildren.€ÌÌà àThis€Court€agrees€with€the€Trial€Court€that€equity€and€the€stability€of€the€judicialÏprocess€require€that€the€executrix€properly€account€to€the€Court€for€all€property€coming€into€herÏcontrol€as€executrix€before€she€can€be€discharged.ÌÌà àThe€executrix€asserts€that€the€will€conferred€upon€her€full€discretion€as€to€the€amount€ofÏpayments€to€be€made€to€herself€and€the€adult€children.€€This€Court€does€not€so€construe€theÏwill,€quoted€above,€which€uses€the€words,€ð ðnormal€necessities€and€supportðð.€€The€executrixÏnext€insists€that€the€Probate€Court€approved€her€disbursement€in€a€ð ðfinal€order.ðð€€The€consentÏdecree,€signed€only€by€the€adult€children€is€not€binding€upon€the€minor€grandchildren,€and€theÏliability€of€the€executrix€for€her€actions€remain€subject€to€the€judgment€of€the€Probate€Court.ÌÌà àThe€executrix€next€insists€that€this€Court€is€ð ðduty€bound€by€established€law€to€rejectÏeach€and€every€one€of€the€Trial€Courtððs€reasons€for€not€enforcing€that€decree.ðð€€This€CourtÏaccepts€as€valid€the€reasons€assigned€by€the€Trial€Court€in€its€final€judgment.ÌÌà àThe€memorandum€and€order€of€the€Trial€Judge€explains€the€amount€of€the€$213,498.73Ïjudgment€against€the€executrix€is€as€follows:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà à(1)à àThe€distribution€to€the€beneficiaries€by€theÏexecutrix€was€not€consistent€with€the€will€and/or€theÏexecutrixððs€fiduciary€duty€to€the€estate.ÌÌà à(2)à àThe€distributions€made€by€the€executrix€toÏherself€were€inconsistent€with€her€fiduciary€duty€to€theÏestate.ÌÌà à(3)à àThe€executrix€breached€her€fiduciary€duty€toÏthe€estate€in€her€management€and€sale€of€the€motel€whichÏwas€the€estateððs€major€asset,€as€well€as,€the€loss€of€certainÏestate€property.ÌÌà à(4)à àThe€executrix€breached€her€fiduciary€duty€toÏthe€estate€by€either€obligating€the€estate€or€approving€theÏfollowing€fees:ÌÌà àà à(a)à àattorney€feesà àÌà àà à(b)à àaccounting€feesÌà àÌà à(5)à àThe€late€payment€of€taxes€was€inconsistentÏwith€the€executrixððs€duty€to€the€estate.ÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àThe€Court€does€not€find€that€the€Johnson€default€wasÏso€predictable€that€she€should€be€responsible€for€all€theÏadvance€payments€to€the€beneficiaries€of€the€trust.€€She€hadÏreason€to€believe€that€the€assets€would€be€sufficient€to€makeÏthe€advance€consistent.ÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àDuring€the€period€of€time€that€Ms.€Miller€was€theÏexecutrix,€(less€than€three€years)€she€distributed€OneÏHundred€Thirty„Six€Thousand,€Three€Hundred€Sixty„EightÏDollars,€and€Sixteen€Cents€($136,368.16)€to€William€F.ÏBurton,€III,€One€Hundred€Twenty„Seven€Thousand,€NineÍHundred€Forty„Five€Dollars,€and€Thirty€Seven€CentsÏ($127,945.37)€to€Leigh€Burton,€and€One€Hundred€Thirty„Four€Thousand,€Two€Hundred€Eighty„Six€Dollars,€andÏThirty„Seven€Cents€($134,286.37)€to€Elizabeth€Burton€for€aÏtotal€distribution€to€the€three€adult€beneficiaries€of€FourÏHundred€Eighty„Two€Thousand,€Nine€Hundred€Forty„SixÏDollars,€and€Nine€Center€($482,946.90)€between€April,Ï1987€and€February,€1990€(34€months).ÌÓ  Ó€„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àOn€the€record€before€the€Court,€it€is€difficult€toÏdetermine€with€exactitude€the€amount€of€money€paid€beyondÏwhat€was€authorized€for€ð ðnecessities€and€supportðð€of€theÏbeneficiaries.€€The€payments€made€by€the€executrix€did,Ïhowever,€allow€the€beneficiaries€to€live€at€a€level€beyondÏwhat€they€lived€before€their€fatherððs€death€and€allowed€forÏextravagant€and€wasteful€spending.€€The€beneficiaries€wereÏgiven€money€to€purchase€houses,€expensive€vehicles,€andÏgiven€money€beyond€the€amount€requested€up€to€FiveÏThousand€Dollars€($5,000.00)€per€month.€€One€beneficiaryÏeven€bought€a€pickup€truck€for€her€boyfriend.€€The€record€isÏreplete€with€payments€for€expenditures€far€beyond€whatÏthese€children€needed€for€normal€necessities€and€support.€ÏThe€Court€feels€little€empathy€toward€the€beneficiary€whoÏwere€immature€and€greedy,€but€their€immaturity€and€greedÏwas€the€very€reason€that€the€deceased€set€up€a€trust.€€HeÏcertainly€had€the€expectation€that€his€decisions€about€theÏdistribution€of€monies€to€his€children€would€be€honored€asÏhe€requested.€€These€children€lived€better€after€his€death€thanÏbefore,€and€received€monies€beyond€what€they€could€haveÏexpected€from€their€father.€€The€Court€is€of€the€opinion€thatÏthe€executrix€should€be€surcharged€One€Hundred€TwentyÏThousand€Dollars€($120,000.00)€for€payments€made€to€theÏthree€adult€beneficiaries€over€and€above€what€wasÏappropriate€for€their€ð ðnecessities€and€support.ððÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àThe€administrator€takes€issue€with€the€executrixððsÏpurchase€of€a€new€automobile€for€Twenty€Thousand,€OneÏHundred€Seventy€Nine€Dollars,€and€Twenty€Three€CentsÏ($20,179.23),€as€well€as,€the€salary€out€of€the€motelÏoperating€account€totaling€Forty€Thousand,€Five€HundredÏDollars€($40,500.00)€before€the€motel€was€closed.€€TheÏCourt€agrees€that€the€settlement€agreement€does€not€makeÏexception€to€the€general€rule€that€one€dissenting€against€theÏwill€cannot€take€under€the€will.€€The€Court,€therefore,€findsÏthat€the€executrix€was€not€entitled€to€the€payment€for€the€carÏof€Twenty€Thousand,€One€Hundred€Seventy„Nine€Dollars,Ïand€Twenty€Three€Cents€($20,179.23).€€She€is€to€repay€thisÏamount.€€Her€salary€paid€as€an€employee€of€the€motel€out€ofÍthe€motel€operating€account€was€reasonable€and€wasÏauthorized€as€part€of€her€entitlement€to€continue€operating€theÏmotel.ÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àThe€fees€paid€to€Mr.€Mondelli€and€to€Mr.€Paulus€andÏDearborn€and€Ewing€present€the€most€difficulty€related€to€theÏfees.€€(Payments€to€Mondelli€were€$14,361.25€and€DearbornÏand€Ewing€$48,345.99).€€The€executrix€bears€the€burden€ofÏproof€as€to€these€fees,€and€the€Court€finds€that€the€executrixÏhas€failed€to€convince€the€Court€that€all€these€fees€wereÏnecessary€and€proper€for€the€administration€of€the€estate.€ÏBoth€Mr.€Mondelli€and€Mr.€Paulus€were€beset€by€conflictsÏof€interest€(previously€noted)€and€the€executrix€has€failed€toÏconvince€this€Court€that€all€fees€were€for€the€benefit€of€theÏestate.€€Mr.€Paulus€spent€time€engaged€in€advising€theÏbeneficiaries,€and€Mr.€Mondelli€spent€time€advising€Ms.ÏBurton€Miller€in€her€individual€capacity€as€she€prepared€toÏclaim€her€elective€share€and€dispute€the€prenuptial€agreement.€ÏThe€Court€therefore€disallows€$2,000.00€of€the€Mondelli€feeÏand€$8,000.00€of€the€Paulus€and€Dearborn€and€Ewing€fee.€ÏIn€all€other€respects,€these€attorney€fees€are€approved.ÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà àFor€the€reasons€stated€above,€the€Court€finds€that€theÏexecutrix€is€to€restore€to€the€estate€and€is€surcharged€theÏamount€of€$150,179.23€for€improper€distribution€to€theÏbeneficiaries€and€improper€distribution€to€herself€as€well€asÏexcessive€payment€of€attorney€fees.€€The€Court€furtherÏorders€that€interest€be€assessed€on€this€amount€at€six€percentÏ(6%)€per€annum€from€March€1,€1990€to€the€present.€€òòSeeóóÏPritchard€ðð€862.€€Ms.€Wade€will€compute€this€amount€andÏsubmit€an€appropriate€order.ÌÌÌà àÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓà àIn€support€of€her€fourth€issue€(above)€the€executrix€states€that€the€beneficiaries€shouldÏnot€be€allowed€to€recover€from€her€the€excessive€benefits€they€received€from€her.€€The€presentÏappeal€relates€to€the€efforts€of€the€present€administrator€CTA€to€require€the€executrix€to€accountÏfor€funds€and€property€coming€into€her€hands€as€such.€€This€includes€her€reimbursement€of€theÏestate€of€funds€wrongfully€expended€by€her.€€Whatever€rights€she€may€have€in€respect€toÏrefunds€from€the€adult€heirs€must€be€determined€and€enforced€hereafter.ÌÌà àThe€executrix€next€insists€that€the€excessive€payments€made€by€her€to€the€adult€heirsÏwere€within€the€bounds€of€her€discretion.€€This€Court€disagrees.€€The€record€contains€ampleÏevidence€of€payments€to€the€adult€heirs€which€were€clearly€œviolated€the€express›€limitations€ofÏthe€œwill€and€trust.›ÌÌà àFinally,€the€executrix€alleges€that€the€Trial€Court€charged€her€with€expenditures€theÏexact€amount€of€which€were€approved€when€made€by€her€immediate€successor,€Sovran€Bank.€ÏOn€May€15,€1995,€the€Probate€Judge€entered€a€ð ðMemorandum€and€Order,ðð€on€page€8€of€which€Ïis€the€following:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà àThe€distribution€to€the€beneficiaries€by€theÏbank/administrator€was€òònotóó€consistent€with€the€will€and/orÏthe€bankððs€fiduciary€duty€to€the€estate.ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àOn€page€15€of€the€memo/order,€the€Court€stated:ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà àThe€Court,€with€some€reservation,€will€give€the€bankÏthe€benefit€of€the€doubt€and€find€that€it€would€have€beenÏreasonable€to€continue€payments€sufficient€to€pay€the€adultÏbeneficiaries€income€for€education€and€minimum€necessities,Ïbut€no€more.€€The€bank€will€restore€to€the€estate€and€isÏsurcharged€the€amount€of€One€Hundred€Eighty€ThousandÏDollars€($180,000.00).ÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àEven€if€a€court€errs€in€a€finding€as€to€the€acts€of€one€party€during€one€period€of€time,€itÏis€not€thereby€estopped€from€a€making€a€more€correct€finding€in€respect€to€another€party€duringÏa€different€period€of€time.€€The€holding€as€to€the€bank€is€not€before€this€Court€in€this€appeal.€ÏœAfter€appealing€from€the€judgment,€the€bank€made€a€compromise€settlement€which€may€or€mayÏnot€be€a€credit€against€the€surcharge€of€the€executrix.€€The›€holding€of€the€Probate€Court€inÏrespect€to€the€executrix,€which€is€before€this€Court,€is€approved.ÌÌà àIssues€first€stated€by€the€administrator/appellee€as€A,€B,€C€and€D,€quoted€above,€areÏsimply€a€restatement€€of€the€appellantððs€issues€in€reverse.€€The€above€discussion€of€appellantððsÏissues€is€deemed€a€sufficient€response€to€those€issues.€€However,€as€cross„appellant,€theÏadministrator€presented€four€additional€issues€which€must€be€discussed.ÌÌà àApparently,€relying€upon€the€agreements€of€the€adult€heirs€to€waive€any€negligence€onÏher€part€(which€defense€this€Court€has€rejected),€the€reply€brief€of€the€executrix€has€notÏaddressed€issues€A,€B,€C€and€D€presented€by€the€administrator€as€cross„appellant€relating€to€theÏmismanagement€of€the€estate€by€the€executrix.ÌÌà àThe€first€of€said€issues€charges€mismanagement€by€the€refinancing€and€sale€of€theÏRivergate€Inn.€€œAt›€the€death€of€deceased,€the€Inn€was€leased€to€an€operator€at€a€substantialÏrental€which€afforded€the€executrix/trustee€ample€funds€for€the€reasonable€needs€of€theÏbeneficiaries€of€the€trust.ÌÌà àThe€executrix,€without€need€to€do€so,€sold€the€Inn€in€what€is€called€a€ð ðleveraged€deal.ðð€ÏThe€Trial€Judge€held€that€this€ð ðdealðð€was€mismanagement€resulting€in€loss€to€the€estate,€and€thisÏCourt€agrees.€€The€nature€of€the€ð ðdealðð€was€such€that€only€experts€in€the€field€of€finance€wouldÏbe€competent€to€assess€its€wisdom.€€Richard€Chambers€and€Luriven€Coomer,€qualified€experts,Ïtestified€that€the€deal€was€improvident.€€The€reasons€given€for€these€assessments€were:ÌÌà à1.à àThere€were€existing€œmortgages›€on€the€Inn€at€a€fixed€rate€of€9„5/8%€interest€and€aÏrate€of€payment€which€could€be€met€within€the€rental€income.€€As€a€part€of€the€deal,€theÏmortgages€were€refinanced€by€borrowing€a€larger€amount€from€Sovran€Bank€at€a€ð ðfloatingððÍinterest€rate€higher€than€that€of€the€previous€mortgages.€€The€new,€larger,€loan€included€rightsÏof€recourse€against€the€estate€and€the€executrix.€€The€term€of€the€loan€was€five€years,€duringÏwhich€time€the€payments€were€mostly€consumed€by€interest.€€The€expenses€of€the€refinancingÏamounted€to€$13,870.45.€€Had€the€sale€not€taken€place,€the€payments€being€made€on€theÏoriginal€mortgages€would€have€reduced€them€by€the€amount€of€$600,000.00.ÌÌà àThe€executrix€sold€the€Inn€to€Warren€Johnson€with€a€minimum€down€payment.€€Out€ofÏa€$2.8€million€purchase€price,€the€estate€received€œonly›€$58,644.58.€€The€balance€of€theÏpurchase€price€was€secured€only€by€a€second€mortgage€which€was€subject€to,€and€secondary€inÏœpreference›€to€the€first€mortgage€to€Sovran.€€The€interest€paid€by€the€purchaser€on€the€secondÏmortgage€created€an€income€tax€liability€(state€and€federal)€upon€the€estate.ÌÌà àOn€September€1,€1989,€the€purchaser€defaulted€and€the€Inn€was€sold€at€a€foreclosureÏsale€for€$900,000.00€to€Sovran€Bank€which€subsequently€sold€it€at€a€private€sale€forÏ$1,125,000.00.€The€estate€received€$45,109.33€as€a€result€of€the€foreclosure.ÌÌà àThe€administrator€C.T.A.€claims€that€the€estate€lost€$1,002,500.00€as€a€result€of€theÏimprovident€sale€of€the€Inn€by€the€executrix.ÌÌà àThe€administrator€C.T.A.€sued€his€immediate€predecessor,€the€Sovran€Bank,€forÏmismanagement€and€self„dealing€and€received€a€settlement€of€the€liability€of€the€bank.€€To€whatÏextent,€if€any,€the€amount€so€received€should€mitigate€the€surcharge€against€the€executrix€doesÏnot€appear€in€this€record.ÌÌà àThe€administrator€C.T.A.€also€questions€the€amount€and€propriety€of€€fees€paid€toÏvarious€attorneys€by€the€executrix.€€œFees›€paid€by€a€fiduciary€should€have€the€advance€approvalÏof€the€supervising€court.ÌÌà àThe€administrator€C.T.A.€also€claims€a€surcharge€for€penalties€paid€for€late€payments€Ïof€œtaxes,€and€for€payments€to€the€executrix€in€excess€of€her€reasonable€needs.›ÌÌà àIt€does€not€appear€that€the€issues€presented€by€the€administrator€C.T.A.€wereÏadequately€€litigated€by€the€parties€and€adjudged€by€the€Trial€Court.€€Pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€3„128,€the€cause€must€be€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€further€litigation€and€adjudication€ofÏthese€issues.ÌÌà àThe€rulings€of€the€Trial€Court€challenged€in€the€issues€presented€by€the€appellant€andÏappellee€are€affirmed.€€As€to€the€rulings€challenged€by€the€issues€presented€by€the€counter„appellant/administrator€C.T.A.,€the€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€further€litigationÏand€adjudication.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€the€executrix€personally,€not€to€beÏcredited€to€her€in€her€final€accounting.ÌÌà àThe€order€of€the€Probate€Court€from€which€this€appeal€is€prosecuted€is€affirmed.€€CostsÏof€this€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€executrix.€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Probate€CourtÏfor€further€appropriate€proceedings.ÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓÔ€¼Ôò ò€AFFIRMED€IN€PART,€ÌREMANDED€IN€PART.Ô€XÔó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________à àà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌWALTER€W.€BUSSART,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌ