ESTATE OF ANITA JOHNSON, Deceased

ESTATE OF ANITA JOHNSON, Deceased. (08/606/A) — In this pending wrongful death compromise proceeding, certain information came to the Court's attention which the Court was unaware of at the time of issuing the final Decree. As a result of that information, by Order of this Court, dated September 29, 2015, the final decree, dated August 15, 2013, was vacated and the compromise proceeding was restored to the Court's Calendar. After several conferences attempting to resolve the issues that had arisen only after the final decree was signed, the Court received a fax transmission from Paul S. Forster, Esq. dated December 4, 2015, in which Mr. Forster accused a member of the Court's Law Department of threatening a referral for criminal prosecution if this matter does not settle.

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ESTATE OF ANITA JOHNSON, Deceased. (08/606/A) — In this pending wrongful death compromise proceeding, certain information came to the Court’s attention which the Court was unaware of at the time of issuing the final Decree. As a result of that information, by Order of this Court, dated September 29, 2015, the final decree, dated August 15, 2013, was vacated and the compromise proceeding was restored to the Court’s Calendar. After several conferences attempting to resolve the issues that had arisen only after the final decree was signed, the Court received a fax transmission from Paul S. Forster, Esq. dated December 4, 2015, in which Mr. Forster accused a member of the Court’s Law Department of threatening a referral for criminal prosecution if this matter does not settle.

This letter places the Court in a most difficult position. Regardless of how the court ultimately decides this matter, the losing side could reasonably believe the decision was as a direct result of Mr. Forster’s troubling allegations. Accordingly, the Court, on its own motion, recuses itself from all further proceedings in this matter and the matter is respectfully referred to the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for reassignment to another Surrogate.

ESTATE OF ANITA JOHNSON, Deceased

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