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Defendant's Attorney Keeps Bringing Up Allegations Of Fraud During Unrelated Hearings, Creating Bias With Judges And Impacting Rulings. Is That An Allowed Tactic, Or Is Can I Report The Attorney? (new Jersey)

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For the last couple years, I've been dealing with a relative "Johnny" who is upset they weren't left big inheritances by 2 of our mutual relatives. Because I was executor for both estates, Johnny blames me for not disregarding the wills and giving him a bigger share of inheritance. Johnny hired an attorney who threatens to take me to court unless I pay Johnny "all that he is owed". Somehow it's morphed into me "stealing Johnny's inheritance to give to the other beneficiaries".

I've been ignoring his attorney, but it's been bleeding into other legal matters.

For example, one relative also had a trust that required a new trustee to be appointed. The other trust beneficiaries set up the hearing. I was involved to represent my adult ward (who is also a beneficiary), and petition to be trustee (which the other beneficiaries had requested).

Johnny is successor beneficiary after my ward dies, so he was also involved in the hearing too. During the hearing, his attorney alleged to the judge that I had been embezzling money from the estates. The judge postponed the hearing twice to allow the attorney to submit evidence. Both subsequent hearings, the paperwork was "still being submitted to the courts". Even without the supposed evidence, and though the majority of beneficiaries requested me to be trustee, the judge decided to appoint a third party trustee instead of me.

Then, as per one of the wills, I was to sell one of the relative's properties and split the money amongst specific beneficiaries (which did not include Johnny). Johnny lives on the property, and after many months of polite requests and even offers of cash for keys, I had to evict him. During the eviction hearing, Johnny's attorney again alleged that I had been committing fraud with the other estates. The judge said that it would need to be heard in a different court, but gave an additional 2 months for Johnny to vacate the house, despite the carrying costs impacting the estate.

Now that my ward is "wealthy", Johnny has been threatening to take me to court and replace me as guardian. His attorney claims I am embezzling the ward's money, that the ward is receiving subpar care and making incorrect statements about Medicaid and disclaiming assets.

I'm not sure if Johnny's attorney is doing this pro bono or what, but I'm tired of being chased after. Is there anything I can do? Would a cease and desist letter be worthwhile, submitting a complaint to the state board, etc?

submitted by /u/Old_Warning7964
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