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Court

Massachusetts Unified County

Massachusetts

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Case Information

Filed 2024-11-05
Status Closed
Type Par Partition, G.l. Chapter 241
Docket 47 entries
Disposition case dismissed

Parties

Plaintiff Lauren B Snelling As Trustee Of The Snelling Family Trust|Michael J. Serduck, As Trustee Of The Snelling Family Trust
Defendant Snelling, Rodman

Lawyers

Docket Entries

  1. Case Dismissed by Order of the Court.
  2. Case assigned to the Fast Track per Land Court Standing Order 1:04.
  3. Land Court miscellaneous filing fee Dismissed Type: Waived Dismissed Date: 11/05/2024 Dismissed Amount: 240.00 Dismissing Clerk / Judge: Kelley, Ellen M. Comments: Fee Waiver - Transfer [Tuesday, November 5, 2024 1:44 PM] Dismissed By: SHEGARTY
  4. Land Court surcharge Dismissed Type: Waived Dismissed Date: 11/05/2024 Dismissed Amount: 15.00 Dismissing Clerk / Judge: Kelley, Ellen M. Comments: Fee Waiver - Transfer [Tuesday, November 5, 2024 1:44 PM] Dismissed By: SHEGARTY
  5. Chief Justice of the Trial Court Order of Transfer dated October 24, 2024.
  6. Financial Notes: Fee Waiver Auth.
  7. Event Scheduled Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Event: Case Management Conference Date: 12/02/2024 Time: 11:30 AM
  8. The case has been assigned to the F Track. Notice sent.
  9. Joint Case Management conference Statement, filed.
  10. Event Resulted: Case Management Conference scheduled on: 12/02/2024 11:30 AM Has been: Held via video Hon. Michael D. Vhay, Presiding
  11. Case management conference and initial intervention event held by telephone. The parties appeared through counsel. Trustee Snelling seeks to partition by sale a property she co-owns with defendant Rodman Snelling at 8 Jude Lane in Williamsburg. Trustee Snelling is interested in partitioning the property by sale whereas Rodman Snelling (should he not replace the current Trustee as trustee) may be interested in partitioning the property by set off. A non-party to this case, Thomas Bechard, holds a mortgage on the property; Rodman disputes that mortgage, the underlying note for which allegedly was due in full in November 2024. The property is uninsured, but none of the parties seeks relief from this Court on that score. A tax-lien foreclosure proceeding, 20 TL 000041, is ongoing; none of the parties (including the Town) seeks relief in this partition proceeding concerning that foreclosure proceeding. By agreement of the parties, the Court CONTINUES the conference to December 5, 2024, at 10 AM by Zoom (a separate conference notice will issue) in the hope that the Hampden Probate and Family Court has decided by that time Rodman's motion to replace the Trustee. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Jonathan G Murray, Esq. [email protected] Sent On: 12/03/2024 10:08:34
  12. Event Scheduled Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Event: Case Management Conference Date: 12/05/2024 Time: 10:00 AM
  13. Event Resulted: Case Management Conference scheduled on: 12/05/2024 10:00 AM Has been: Held via video Hon. Michael D. Vhay, Presiding
  14. Continued case management conference held by videoconference. The parties appeared through counsel. Thomas Bechard, a third party with a mortgage on the owner-parties' Williamsburg property also appeared. Without opposition, the Court ADDS Mr. Bechard as an "interested party" to this case. Mr. Bechard agreed to receive notices from the Court, and service from the other parties, by electronic mail. The parties report the Hampden Probate and Family Court has taken Rodman Snelling's motion to replace the trustee under advisement, although they later clarified that the motion was one for summary judgment; resolution of the parties' trust disputes might require a trial. By agreement of the parties, the Court CONTINUES the conference until the Hampden Probate and Family Court decides Mr. Snelling's motion. The Court ORDERS the parties to file a copy of that ruling promptly following its issuance. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Jonathan G Murray, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 12/05/2024 15:40:43
  15. Motion for Removal of Trustee Snelling and Appointment of New Trustee, filed.
  16. The Court has reviewed the Probate and Family Court's recent order as well as the dockets of the parties' open Probate cases. The Court notes that the owner parties are appearing in the Probate and Family Court for a status conference on December 20, 2024. The Court ORDERS the owner parties to file a joint status report by January 3, 2025, on whether their partition claims can (or should) go forward in the Land Court in view of the owners' open issues in the Probate and Family Court. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Jonathan G Murray, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 12/16/2024 15:20:58
  17. Joint Status Report, filed.
  18. Appearance of Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. for Town of Williamsburg, filed
  19. Withdrawal of Jonathan G Murray, Esq. for Town of Williamsburg, filed
  20. The Court has reviewed the parties' joint status report. The Court ORDERS the parties to file by February 14, 2025, a joint status report regarding their trial in the Hampshire Probate and Family Court (or any postponement of the trial). Proceedings in this case are otherwise STAYED. This order does not affect the progress of the Town's tax-title foreclosure action. This order also is without prejudice to any argument Trustee Snelling might make that Rodman Snelling's alleged refusal to agree to a sale of the parties' Williamsburg property to pay its taxes, and/or his insistence on litigating various trust issues in the Hampshire PTC prior to agreeing to such a sale, constitutes waste. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 01/06/2025 13:05:31
  21. Joint Status Report, filed.
  22. The Court has reviewed the parties' report on their related Probate and Family Court matter. The Court ORDERS the parties to file a further status report by April 14, 2025. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 02/11/2025 16:06:41
  23. Joint Status Report, filed.
  24. The Court has reviewed the parties' joint status report. The Court ORDERS the parties to file a further report by July 2, 2025, following the June 2025 status conference in the related Probate and Family Court matters. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 03/31/2025 12:20:28
  25. As-recorded Copy of the Notice for Petition for Partition - Hampshire County Registry of Deeds: Book 15424, Page 76, filed
  26. Joint Status Report, filed.
  27. The Court has reviewed the parties' latest status report. The Court ORDERS the parties to file a further status report by August 15, 2025. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 06/30/2025 4:01:54
  28. Joint Status Report, filed.
  29. The Court has reviewed the parties' latest status report. The Court ORDERS them to file a further report by September 2, 2025, unless one or more of the parties moves before then for substitution of the named plaintiff trustee in this action. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 08/14/2025 14:25:09
  30. Hampshire Probate and Family Court's Decree and Order, filed.
  31. The Court has reviewed the Hampshire Probate and Family Court's judgment replacing the trustee of the Snelling Trust. The Court ORDERS the Trust to file by September 18, 2025, a motion for substitution of the new trustee into this action and any appearance by new counsel, should the new trustee opt for that. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 09/04/2025 07:57:25
  32. Motion to Substitute new Trustee as a Party Plaintiff, filed.
  33. Motion for Zoom Hearing, filed.
  34. The Court has received attorney Serduck's motion for substitution as plaintiff. The Court ORDERS defendant Snelling and the Town to file by September 17, 2025, any objection to the motion. The Court also has received attorney Serduck's motion to have the Court hold all proceedings by Zoom. The Court will not rule on that motion until it has ruled on the substitution motion. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 09/10/2025 12:29:14 Notice of Docket Entry sent to counsel of record and Attorney Michael Serduck by email.
  35. Town of Williamsburg's Notice of No Objection, filed.
  36. Without objection, the Court GRANTS Michael J. Serduck's motion for substitution of parties. The Court DIRECTS the Sessions Clerk to substitute Michael J. Serduck, as trustee of the Snelling Family Trust, for Lauren B. Snelling, as trustee of the same Trust, as plaintiff in this matter. The Court further GRANTS, in part, Trustee Serduck's motion to have events conducted in this case by Zoom. The Court will use Zoom unless (a) a party objects or (b) the Court otherwise orders. The Court ORDERS the parties to appear by Zoom on October 2, 2025 at noon for a status videoconference. The Court ORDERS the parties to confer in advance of the conference over what they see as the next steps in this partition matter. SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Plaintiff: Roger P Lipton, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Defendant: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas Bechard [email protected] Sent On: 09/22/2025 09:01:33
  37. Scheduled Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Event: Status Conference Date: 10/02/2025 Time: 12:00 PM
  38. Withdrawal of Roger P Lipton, Esq. for Lauren B Snelling as Trustee of The Snelling Family Trust, filed
  39. Appearance of Michael J Serduck, Esq. for Michael J. Serduck, as Trustee of The Snelling Family Trust, filed
  40. Order to Show Cause, issued. (Copies emailed to Attorneys Michael Serduck, Thomas Vincent, Katharine Klein, Keelin Ciccariello, and Pro Se Interested Party Thomas Bechard) Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D.
  41. Event Resulted: Status Conference scheduled on: 10/02/2025 12:00 PM Has been: Held via video Hon. Michael D. Vhay, Presiding
  42. Appearance of Thomas J Hamel, Esq. for Thomas Bechard, filed
  43. Reasons for Failure to Appear via zoom on October 2, 2025 at 12:00P.M, filed.
  44. Trustee's Report, filed.
  45. The Court has reviewed the Trustee's Report. The Court ORDERS the Trustee to file by November 28, 2025, either a further report on the status of the Snelling Trust or, alternatively, a notice of the Trust's dissolution. The latter notice must include (1) the date of dissolution, (2) the names and addresses of the persons to whom Trust assets have been distributed (the "Grantees"), and (3) a certificate by the Trustee that he has informed each Grantee of the following: "As of the date of dissolution of the Trust, the Trust had pending at the Massachusetts Land Court an action for partition of 8 Judd Lane, Williamsburg, MA. The case's docket number is 24 MISC 000648. You may view the docket of the case at www.masscourts.org. If you wish that partition action to continue, you must file with the Land Court in Case No. 24 MISC 000648, by no later than [insert date 30 days after dissolution date], a motion under Rule 25(c) of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure asking the Court to substitute yourself for the Snelling Trust as a plaintiff in the case. Should no one timely file such a motion, the Court may dismiss the case, in which event you and the other persons to whom the Trustee has granted interests in 8 Judd Lane will remain as the property's co-owners." SO ORDERED. Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D. Notice of Docket Entry was generated and sent to: Defendant: Thomas P Vincent, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Katharine Lord Klein, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Jonathan G Murray, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Keelin B Ciccariello, Esq. [email protected] Interested Party: Thomas J Hamel, Esq. [email protected] Plaintiff: Michael J Serduck, Esq. [email protected] Sent On: 10/14/2025 10:19:07
  46. Report Re Snelling Family Trust, filed.
  47. Order of Dismissal, issued. (Copies emailed to Attorneys Michael Serduck, Thomas Vincent, Katharine Klein, Keelin Ciccariello, and Thomas Hamel) Judge: Vhay, Hon. Michael D.

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