Representative Case Summaries

During Judge Adams’ 24+ year tenure on the Marin County Superior Court, as well as her more recent affiliation with ADR Services, Inc., she successfully resolved hundreds of mediations/settlement conferences, discovery disputes, and long-cause trials involving emotionally charged and complex trust and estate issues. These cases include breach of fiduciary duty claims involving family businesses, corporate and individual matters related to real and personal property issues and accountings, will contests, conservatorship and guardianship disputes, and elder abuse claims (financial and personal).

Settled a complex trust administration dispute involving a decedent’s estranged spouse and minor child, other relatives claiming an interest in the estate, and a substantial family business and other property holdings. Nine attorneys were at the mediation, which was resolved in one day. Binding settlement agreements were signed before the mediation was recessed.

Settled beneficiary’s petition to remove and surcharge sibling trustee, including agreements regarding personal property disputes, resolution of trustee’s accounting, and plan for immediate distribution of trust assets to all beneficiaries. Binding settlement agreement was signed before the mediation was recessed.

Settled dispute regarding decedent’s children’s claims against decedent’s surviving widow (children's stepmother) over interpretation of trust instrument and decedent’s capacity. Binding settlement agreement was signed before the mediation recessed.