Probate Judge
Loudon County Tennessee
601 Grove Street
Loudon, TN 37774
c/o Penny Glasgow <penny.glasgow@tncourts.gov>
Cc: Kris Frye <kfrye@ford-nichols.com>
Cc: suehross@gmail.com
Subject: Contesting Will Re: Dkt#7072 Estate of Beatrice Horion
May 20, 2024
Dennis Horion
10 Macon Street
Monticello, GA 31064
770-712-8685
Email: dennishorion@att.net
Dear Sir,
I am contesting the last Will and Testament of Beatrice Horion. The will and the execution and the distribution of assets has been a source of contention for both me and my sister Sue. I am acting pro se in this effort due to my indigent status. I am asking the court to waive all customary fees due to my financial circumstances.
A cursory search of relevant issues associated with this case shows many troubling issues. I will not make rash observations and accusations without having the evidence to lend credence to my claims. I am asking the court to allow me the opportunity to gather relevant documents and interview witnesses to establish an accurate picture of the facts in this case. I am asking the court to grant me the necessary time to thoroughly research all the obvious issues.
Disbarred Lawyer Presides Over Beatrice Horion’s Will
At the time of my father’s death in 2002, I received a copy of my parents last Will and Testament. My parents gave their three children equal shares of their estate. I am asking that the terms of my parents’ Will and Testament executed by a competent attorney be the document used to distribute the assets of my mother’s estate. I am asking the court to seek the return of all monies or assets liquidated or distributed by my sister Diane Horion Lee.
The Testator of the last Will and Testament of Beatrice Horion was James L. Kennedy on October 26, 2019. Diane Horion Lee found a crooked disbarred attorney to act as a licensed attorney at the meeting to obtain my mother’s signature. Diane had her husband act as a witness even though he was a beneficiary of the estate. A random member of Diane’s subdivision acted as the second witness. The signing took place at Diane’s personal residence instead of a legal office. This location helped obscure the fact that the attorney was disbarred for probate crimes on two occasions. He has since been disbarred permanently.
Diane used a disbarred attorney to write my mother’s will. Diane’s used a disbarred attorney found guilty of crimes in the probate arena. Diane has breached her fiduciary duty by not hiring a competent attorney to execute my mother’s will. Diane may face civil or criminal consequences related to forgery, fraud, or misrepresentation. These offenses can carry criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.
I am asking for all information related to the engagement of Mr. Kennedy. I am asking for all correspondence either written or electronic related to the case. It is important to get copies of any invoices or receipts for services rendered in this matter. This information will be critical to include in my referrals to the Tennessee Bar Association, the local law enforcement community, and the District Attorney. I anticipate deposing Mr. Kenndy for this case or any subsequent civil litigation.
My sister, Susan Horion Ross, has retained an attorney to represent her interests. I am indigent and unable to have an attorney represent my interests in this contested case. I am therefore representing myself in this matter. I ask that all parties respect my pro se status and include me in distributing any correspondence, filings, evidence, emails to the courts, and all other important matters in a timely fashion. I ask both my sisters to direct all their contact with me through their legal representatives. It is important to maintain professional interactions with officers of the court.
I am asking the Judge in this case to immediately issue a Temporary Restraining Order halting all disbursements from this estate immediately. Since fraud is part of the will, we need time to seek, receive, and evaluate evidence beyond information available in the public domain. A cursory review of online information details a vast difference in the facts presented by both my sisters. It is important to seek any information to prepare for preliminary court actions, depositions, and trial.
Lack of Testamentary Capacity
Sue Horion Ross was the first family member to call me in twenty years. Sue told me of the passing of my mother. We had three extended telephone conversations over a short period. One of the topics mentioned was the medical state of my mother in recent years. Sue told me my mother was diagnosed with aggressive dementia ten years ago. Sue told me my mother could not control her illness. My mother would have been diagnosed five years before the execution of the Last Will and Testament in question.
Sue told me that Diane boasted about her ability to get my mother to sign anything she put in front of her. Sue reacted to my mother’s diagnosis by moving from Marietta, Ga to Texas. Sue is a physician's assistant with over four decades of experience. She deliberately walked away from my mother due to her mean-spirited behavior. Instead of leaning in and contacting me for additional support, both my sisters saw an opportunity to exploit my mother’s mental health situation for their personal financial gain.
I want to get a copy of all my mother’s health records. It is important to start interviewing health care workers to assess her ability to oversee her own financial affairs. It is important to understand my mother’s ability to ask probing questions about circumstances surrounding the execution of important decisions. My mother was completely at the mercy of Diane to help her as her mental health deteriorated. Diane was her only lifeline to ongoing health care. It is highly unlikely my mother would have been competent to drive herself to medical appointments and shopping trips.
It is clear from my online research that Diane may have used her access to my mother’s financial matters to use her position to apply for real estate loans, distribute money to her family members, pay personal bills, or any number of transactions outside of accepted fiduciary responsibilities.
Everything I have heard about my mother’s health challenges is hearsay evidence from a person with a conflict of interest. It is important to have direct testimony from health care professionals with no financial interest in this case.
Executor Removal
I have numerous questions about my mother’s finances that Sue either lied about initially or refused to disclose at all. The issues in question include the following basic issues based on the current state of my knowledge base;
- Diane has my mother listed as a resident at her personal property and potentially an investment property. This information may be the result of Diane using my mother’s cash or credit to obtain financing for any money loaned against these assets. Sue told me that my mother never lived at either address.
- My mother had a long-term insurance policy to fund any expenses for an assisted living situation. Sue told me that my mother paid her premiums until the day she went into an assisted living situation. Initially Sue told me that my father’s pension was taken up with her assisted living expenses. Later Sue told me that her pension continued after her residence in her assisted living facility. Sue refused to discuss the disposition of the money from my mother’s pension payouts. Sue said her pension was around $60,000 a year. Diane’s Linked in page seems to suggest a $250,000 a year income. Sue told me all my mother’s money is now gone. My mother was a pauper when she died. I want to review all the bank records associated with my mother’s financial picture. The discrepancy between both pictures is extreme.
- Beatrice Horion Trust: The proceeds from the sale of my mother’s home were said to be deposited in a trust. Sue Horion Ross told me that Diane paid herself $25,000 a year to manage the trust. I want to look at all the trust formation documents. In addition, I want an accounting of all the transactions of the trust financial accounts. Sue told me that her expected payout was $175,000. This amount is significantly less than half of the proceeds from the sale of my mother's home and other personal assets. It seems prudent to appoint an independent audit of her trust.
- Family property purchases: All five of the beneficiaries noted in the Last Will and Testament have recently purchased large expensive new homes. I applaud the success of my family members, but I question the timing of these purchases. It seems highly unlikely that everyone had a personal financial bonanza at the same time without benefiting from my mother’s estate. I want to confirm the gifting of all money beyond the Prudential shares mentioned in the dubious last will. It is important to investigate the tax implications of the inheritance versus gifts to my three nephews. Malfeasance seems to be highly possible.
- Correspondence has been an ongoing byproduct between my sisters about the funds yet to be paid out. I want to know exactly the amount and timing of all funds distributed to both my sisters. I want a copy of the correspondence between them about my mother’s estate.
- Tax returns: Sue Horion Ross told me that my mother received $60,000 in income from my father’s pension plan. Her payout from this pension plan continued after her move to an assisted living facility. I want access to all the financial records of my mother’s interactions with the financial institutions where she had accounts. I need all the specific details needed to subpoena all her bank records. I need to receive a copy of the last ten years of her tax returns to ensure that they were filed correctly and accurately.
- Compensation records: Sue said Diane was compensating herself for her time managing the trust and my mother’s estate. It is important to confirm that these funds were paid for legitimate work for the estate. I want to see any work agreements that describe her duties for this work. I want to see all the tax records showing her compliance with State and Federal Laws concerning employee tax regulations.
- Insurance policies: I want to see any life insurance or annuity policies my mother had in her portfolio.
- Brokerage accounts: Sue Horion Ross told me my mother had no stocks or bonds in her estate. The Last Will and Testament clearly refers to the distribution of three hundred shares of Prudential Insurance. It seems Sue was unaware of this asset, or she wanted to conceal these stocks or any other assets in my mother’s portfolio. I want all the pertinent information to subpoena the necessary records to prepare myself for upcoming depositions.
- Banks Accounts: Sue told me that Diane was given complete access to my mother’s financial accounts beginning in 2002. It is important to identify every account where Diane managed my mother’s affairs. Sue told me my mother had no clue about the status of her financial affairs since my father handled all their financial matters. Sue told me my mother was incapable of balancing a checkbook. I clearly remember seeing her balance a checkbook as a child. I want to see if there was an ongoing taking of money for Diane or Sue’s personal benefit.
- Asset Sales Records: I want to see all records of advertisements, purchase agreements, and receipts for the sale of my mother’s personal items. These receipts must include the sale of her vehicles and all other items sold.
I have numerous concerns about the distribution of my mother’s assets both before and after her death. It seems highly likely that there may have been a liberal approach to enriching all members of my family. The only question is the legitimacy of these transactions. I am asking the court to assign a professional to look at the information along with me. If my concerns are real problems, it is imperative that the appropriate actions be taken before my family members attempt to liquidate personal property. These assets may be needed to reimburse any improper transactions including fines and penalties. I am asking the court to act with haste and stop the bleeding while there is time.
Sincerely,
Dennis Horion
770-712-8685