FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`SUPREME
`COUNTY
`
`OF THE STATE
`COURT
`OF NEW YORK
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`EVAN
`
`DAVID
`
`KREEGER,
`
`-against-
`
`DOUGLAS
`JONATHAN
`
`KREEGER,
`D. DURST,
`
`______________________ __-
`
`---x
`
`Petitioner,
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`DURST
`
`and
`
`Respondents.
`--------------------------------x
`
`FOR
`PETITION
`COMPULSORY
`ACCOUNTINGS
`
`Index
`
`No.:
`
`The
`
`Petition
`
`of EVAN
`
`DAVID
`
`KREEGER,
`
`residing
`
`at 318 Warren
`
`Street,
`
`Hudson,
`
`New
`
`York
`
`12534,
`
`upon
`
`information
`
`and
`
`belief,
`
`respectfully
`
`states
`
`and
`
`alleges
`
`as follows:
`
`1.
`
`This
`
`Petition
`
`is related
`
`to
`
`the
`
`guardianship
`
`case
`
`that
`
`was
`
`brought
`
`by my
`
`parents,
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`KREEGER
`
`and WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`(the
`
`"Guardianship
`
`Petitioners"),
`
`and which
`
`is
`
`currently
`
`being
`
`heard
`
`in New
`
`York
`
`Supreme
`
`Court
`
`by
`
`Judge
`
`Sokoloff
`
`under
`
`index
`
`number
`
`500232/2019.
`
`2.
`
`I, EVAN DAVID
`
`KREEGER,
`
`the
`
`petitioner
`
`herein,
`
`am fifty
`
`(50)
`
`years
`
`old
`
`and
`
`am
`
`the
`
`beneficiary
`
`of
`
`at
`
`least
`
`three
`
`trusts,
`
`which
`
`together
`
`comprise
`
`my
`
`sole
`
`source
`
`of
`
`income.
`
`The
`
`Trustees
`
`of
`
`those
`
`trusts
`
`(described
`
`below)
`
`have
`
`ceased
`
`making
`
`regular
`
`direct
`
`distributions
`
`to me and
`
`thereby
`
`caused me extreme
`
`hardship.
`
`3.
`
`I am advised
`
`that
`
`there
`
`are at
`
`least
`
`three
`
`trusts
`
`created
`
`by my
`
`family
`
`of which
`
`I am a
`
`beneficiary.
`
`The
`
`trusts
`
`that
`
`I am aware
`
`of
`
`are
`
`the WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST
`
`dated
`
`February
`
`10, 2005
`
`(anached
`
`hereto
`
`as "Exhibit
`
`A"),
`
`the EVAN KREEGER
`
`2008
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`dated
`
`December
`
`3, 2008
`
`(attached
`
`hereto
`
`as "Exhibit
`
`B"),
`
`and
`
`the WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`1999 GRAT
`
`REMAINDER
`
`TRUST
`
`dated November
`
`15, 2012
`
`(attached
`
`hereto
`
`as "Exhibit
`
`C")
`
`(collectively,
`
`the
`
`"Trusts).
`
`1 of 7
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`TRUST.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`KREEGER
`
`is
`
`the
`
`Trustee
`
`of
`
`the WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`FAMILY
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`DURST,
`
`JONATHAN
`
`D. DURST,
`
`and EVAN
`
`KREEGER
`
`are
`
`the
`
`trustees
`
`of
`
`the EVAN KREEGER
`
`2008
`
`F AMILY
`
`TRUST.
`
`6.
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`DURST
`
`and
`
`JONATHAN
`
`D. DURST
`
`are
`
`Trustees
`
`of
`
`the WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`1999 GRAT
`
`REMAINDER
`
`TRUST.
`
`7.
`
`It
`
`clear
`
`were
`
`prepared
`
`for
`
`the WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`is not
`
`if or when
`
`any
`
`accountings
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`the EVAN KREEGER
`
`2008
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`and/or
`
`the WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`1999 GRAT
`
`REMAINDER
`
`TRUST.
`
`8.
`
`This
`
`Petition
`
`requests
`
`that
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`KREEGER,
`
`DOUGLAS
`
`DURST
`
`and
`
`JONATHAN
`
`D. DURST
`
`(collectively,
`
`the
`
`"Trustees")
`
`file
`
`full
`
`and
`
`complete
`
`accountings
`
`of
`
`the
`
`WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`the EVAN
`
`KREEGER
`
`2008
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`and
`
`the
`
`WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`1999 GRAT
`
`REMAINDER
`
`TRUST
`
`for
`
`all activity
`
`that
`
`has not
`
`yet
`
`been
`
`filed
`
`and
`
`approved.
`
`See CPLR 7701.
`
`9.
`
`Neither
`
`I
`
`nor my
`
`counsel
`
`have
`
`received
`
`any
`
`trust
`
`accounts
`
`whatsoever.
`
`As
`
`a
`
`beneficiary
`
`of
`
`the Trusts,
`
`I have
`
`a right
`
`to demand
`
`an accounting
`
`of each. Moreover,
`
`the Trustees
`
`have
`
`duties
`
`to account
`
`and report-as
`
`well
`
`as a duty
`
`to provide
`
`certain
`
`required
`
`information.
`
`See In re Est.
`
`N.Y.S.2d
`
`sub
`
`In
`
`775
`
`of Hunter,
`
`753
`
`675,
`
`679
`
`(Sur.
`
`2002),
`
`affd
`
`as modified
`
`nom.
`
`re Hunter,
`
`N.Y.S.2d
`
`42
`
`(2004),
`
`affd,
`
`4 N.Y.3d
`
`260,
`
`827 N.E.2d
`
`269
`
`(2005).
`
`10.
`
`The
`
`timing
`
`of my request
`
`for
`
`accountings
`
`is especially
`
`important
`
`because
`
`information
`
`regarding
`
`the contents
`
`of
`
`the Trusts,
`
`and thus
`
`any
`
`distributions
`
`potentially
`
`available
`
`to me,
`
`is essential
`
`to Judge
`
`Sokoloff's
`
`determination
`
`as to whether
`
`the
`
`appointment
`
`of a guardian
`
`is necessary.
`
`2
`
`2 of 7
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`11.
`
`By way
`
`of background,
`
`my parents
`
`filed
`
`a petition
`
`on September
`
`12, 2019,
`
`at
`
`the New
`
`York
`
`County
`
`Clerk's
`
`Office
`
`to commeñce
`
`a guardianship
`
`proceeding
`
`âgainst
`
`me (the
`
`"Guardiañslüp
`
`Proceeding").
`
`I do not
`
`need
`
`a guardian
`
`and make
`
`all
`
`of my own
`
`health
`
`care
`
`decisions.
`
`Further,
`
`when
`
`the
`
`trusts
`
`are properly
`
`functioning,
`
`I have
`
`ample
`
`resources
`
`to secure
`
`the management
`
`of my property.
`
`12.
`
`Before
`
`a court
`
`can exercise
`
`its power
`
`to appoint
`
`a guardian
`
`over
`
`a person,
`
`it must
`
`first
`
`appointment
`
`the
`
`personal
`
`needs
`
`of
`
`that
`
`make
`
`a determination
`
`that
`
`"the
`
`is necessary
`
`to provide
`
`for
`
`person
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`."
`
`See MHL
`
`§ 81.02(a).
`
`A petitioner's
`
`ability
`
`to meet
`
`the
`
`necessity
`
`element
`
`is crucial
`
`to
`
`appointing
`
`a guardian,
`
`as "[c]ourts
`
`have
`
`emphasized
`
`that
`
`even
`
`the most
`
`limited
`
`guardianship
`
`entails
`
`the deprivation
`
`of a person's
`
`liberty
`
`and in this way
`
`is 'a legal
`
`proceeding
`
`of constitutional
`
`dimensions
`
`."
`
`. . .
`
`See Matter
`
`of Zachary
`
`L, No.
`
`500089-2017,
`
`at
`
`*17
`
`(Sup Ct, New York
`
`County
`
`May
`
`11, 2020)
`
`(attached
`
`hereto
`
`D").
`
`A court
`
`is therefore
`
`required
`
`to conduct
`
`into whether
`
`as "Exhibit
`
`an inquiry
`
`there
`
`are alternative
`
`resources
`
`available
`
`that will
`
`adequately
`
`protect
`
`the alleged
`
`iñcapacitated
`
`person.
`
`See Matter
`
`of Maher,
`
`207 A.D.2d
`
`133,
`
`140 (2d Dept
`
`1994).
`
`These
`
`alternative
`
`available
`
`resources
`
`can
`
`include,
`
`inter
`
`alia,
`
`any
`
`trusts
`
`of which
`
`the AIP
`
`is a beneficiary.
`
`See Mental
`
`Hygiene
`
`Law §81.03(e);
`
`see also Matter
`
`of Zachary
`
`L , at
`
`*18.
`
`13.
`
`1 am aware
`
`that
`
`the
`
`Trusts
`
`are
`
`discretionary;
`
`however,
`
`the
`
`Trustees
`
`can
`
`still
`
`be
`
`compelled
`
`by
`
`a court
`
`to make
`
`distributions
`
`from
`
`the Trusts.
`
`See Anderson
`
`v. Hinrichs,
`
`42 N.Y.S.2d
`
`discretion
`
`610,
`
`611
`
`(2d Dept.
`
`1943)
`
`("The
`
`trust
`
`agreement
`
`gives
`
`to the trustee
`
`uncontrolled
`
`. . . . This
`
`does
`
`not mean
`
`that
`
`the
`
`courts
`
`are without
`
`authority
`
`in a given
`
`case
`
`to control
`
`the
`
`exercise
`
`of
`
`the
`
`discretionary
`
`power
`
`vested
`
`in the trustee.")
`
`(internal
`
`citations
`
`omitted).
`
`14.
`
`Once
`
`reviewed,
`
`it may
`
`be appropriate
`
`to make
`
`an application
`
`to compel
`
`distributions
`
`because
`
`these
`
`are potentially
`
`available
`
`resources
`
`that must
`
`be considered
`
`to determine
`
`whether
`
`or not
`
`a guardianship
`
`constitutes
`
`the
`
`least
`
`restrictive
`
`form
`
`of
`
`intervention.
`
`3
`
`3 of 7
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`15.
`
`The
`
`Trustees
`
`have
`
`virtually
`
`cut
`
`off
`
`distributions
`
`directly
`
`to me,
`
`in
`
`breach
`
`of
`
`their
`
`fiduciary
`
`duties.
`
`A pattern
`
`of distributions
`
`had
`
`been
`
`established
`
`and continued
`
`over
`
`years,
`
`which
`
`has
`
`been
`
`disrupted.
`
`Theonly
`
`explanation
`
`the Trustees
`
`have
`
`provided
`
`to me is that
`
`they
`
`deem distributions
`
`to
`
`be
`
`"inadvisable"
`
`at
`
`this
`
`time,
`
`which
`
`is
`
`insufficient
`
`under
`
`their
`
`fiduciary
`
`obligations.
`
`See
`
`of Trusts
`
`trustee
`
`should
`
`advise
`
`distributees
`
`of
`
`Restatement
`
`(Third)
`
`§ 82 (2007)
`
`("[A]
`
`discretionary
`
`information
`
`the
`
`trustee
`
`may
`
`need
`
`(or
`
`desire)
`
`regarding
`
`the
`
`beneñciaries'
`
`circumstances,
`
`needs,
`
`resources,
`
`concerns,
`
`or wishes,
`
`as may
`
`be
`
`relevant
`
`to
`
`fiduciary
`
`judgments
`
`with
`
`respect
`
`to
`
`discretionary
`
`distributions,
`
`along
`
`with
`
`disclosure
`
`by
`
`the trustee
`
`of
`
`the bases
`
`upon
`
`which
`
`discretion
`
`will
`
`be exercised.").
`
`16.
`
`It
`
`is important
`
`to note
`
`that my circumstances
`
`are not markedly
`
`different
`
`than
`
`they were
`
`times
`
`creation
`
`of
`
`and
`
`pattems
`
`established.
`
`I believe
`
`at most
`
`since
`
`the
`
`the Trusts
`
`the
`
`distribution
`
`that
`
`the timing
`
`of
`
`the
`
`Trustees'
`
`termination
`
`of
`
`regular
`
`distributions,
`
`coupled
`
`with
`
`their
`
`reticence
`
`as to the
`
`reason
`
`for
`
`the termination,
`
`is troubling.
`
`By
`
`cutting
`
`off
`
`direct
`
`distributions,
`
`the Trustees
`
`have made my
`
`life more
`
`difñcult
`
`in order
`
`to cause me to act out
`
`and
`
`demonstrate
`
`the need
`
`for
`
`the
`
`appointment
`
`of a
`
`guardian
`
`over me. This
`
`is in clear
`
`violation
`
`of
`
`their
`
`duty
`
`of
`
`loyalty
`
`as fiduciaries.
`
`I
`
`have
`
`spoken
`
`about
`
`matters
`
`throughout
`
`which
`
`17.
`
`my mind
`
`family
`
`my
`
`adulthood,
`
`infuriates
`
`the Trustees.
`
`18.
`
`I have made
`
`a previous
`
`application
`
`for
`
`this
`
`relief.
`
`In October
`
`2019,
`
`I
`
`filed
`
`a Petition
`
`for Compulsory
`
`Accountings,
`
`dated
`
`October
`
`29,
`
`2019,
`
`with
`
`the New York
`
`Supreme
`
`Court.
`
`It was
`
`dismissed
`
`without
`
`prejudice
`
`to renew
`
`because
`
`it was
`
`not
`
`in compliance
`
`with
`
`certain
`
`provisions
`
`of
`
`the
`
`CPLR.
`
`I now
`
`refile
`
`to be in compliance
`
`but
`
`ask
`
`the Court
`
`to look
`
`at
`
`the
`
`substance
`
`of
`
`the
`
`application.
`
`4
`
`4 of 7
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`WHEREFORE,
`
`your
`
`Petitioner
`
`prays
`
`why
`
`the Trustees
`
`should
`
`not
`
`file
`
`their
`
`accounts
`
`of
`
`the
`
`WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`the EVAN
`
`KREEGER
`
`2008
`
`FAMILY
`
`TRUST,
`
`and
`
`the
`
`WENDY
`
`KREEGER
`
`1999 GRAT
`
`REMAINDER
`
`TRUST
`
`and
`
`cause
`
`same
`
`to be judicially
`
`settled
`
`and upon
`
`failure
`
`to file
`
`their
`
`account
`
`in the time
`
`and manner
`
`directed
`
`by the Court,
`
`why
`
`their
`
`authority
`
`should
`
`not
`
`appoint
`
`an eligible
`
`be
`
`suspended,
`
`and why
`
`the
`
`court
`
`should
`
`not
`
`person(s)
`
`as temporary
`
`fiduciary
`
`and
`
`to fix
`
`a trial
`
`date
`
`for
`
`a hearing
`
`on the
`
`removal
`
`of whose
`
`authority
`
`has been
`
`suspended
`
`and
`
`for
`
`the
`
`appointment
`
`of Successor
`
`Fiduciary(ies);
`
`and
`
`further,
`
`grant
`
`such
`
`other
`
`and
`
`further
`
`relief
`
`as seems
`
`just
`
`and
`
`proper.
`
`Dated:
`
`New York,
`September
`
`New York
`2021
`
`20,
`
`LAW OFFICES
`By: Clifford
`
`OF CLIFFORD
`Esq.
`A. Meirowitz,
`for Petitioner,
`David
`Attorney
`Seventh
`1908
`450
`Avenue,
`New York,
`New York
`764-1261
`(212)
`
`Evan
`Suite
`10123
`
`A. MEIROWITZ,
`
`PLLC
`
`Kreeger
`
`5
`
`5 of 7
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`VERIFICATION
`
`ss:
`
`) )
`
`STATE
`
`OF NEW YORK
`
`COUNTY
`
`OF NEW YORK )
`
`CLIFFORD
`
`A. MEIROWITZ,
`
`ESQ.,
`
`an attomey
`
`admitted
`
`to practice
`
`in the Courts
`
`of New
`
`York,
`
`hereby
`
`affirms
`
`the following
`
`under
`
`penalties
`
`of perjury:
`
`That
`
`I am the attorney
`
`of
`
`record
`
`for Petitioner
`
`in this proceeding;
`
`that
`
`I have
`
`read
`
`the foregoing
`
`petition
`
`and
`
`know
`
`of
`
`the
`
`contents
`
`thereof;
`
`that
`
`the
`
`same
`
`is true
`
`to my
`
`own
`
`knowledge,
`
`except
`
`as to
`
`the matters
`
`therein
`
`stated
`
`to be alleged
`
`upon
`
`information
`
`and
`
`belief,
`
`and
`
`as to those matters
`
`I believe
`
`them
`
`to be
`
`true.
`
`The
`
`source
`
`of my
`
`information
`
`is investigations,
`
`conversations
`
`with,
`
`and
`
`papers
`
`furnished
`
`to me by
`
`the Petitioner.
`
`That,
`
`pursuant
`
`to CPLR
`
`§ 3020(d)(3),
`
`this
`
`Verification
`
`is made
`
`because
`
`Petitioner
`
`resides
`
`outside
`
`the County
`
`in which
`
`our
`
`office
`
`is located.
`
`Clifford
`
`A. Meirowitz
`
`Affirmed
`20th
`
`day
`
`this
`of September,
`
`2021.
`
`6
`
`6 of 7
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 09/21/2021 04:29 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 1
`
`INDEX NO. 158695/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/21/2021
`
`CERTIFICATION
`
`The
`
`undersigned,
`
`CLIFFORD
`
`A. MEIROWITZ,
`
`ESQ.,
`
`an attorney
`
`duly
`
`licensed
`
`and
`
`admitted
`
`to practice
`
`law in the State
`
`of New York,
`
`with
`
`an office
`
`located
`
`at 450
`
`Seventh
`
`Avenue,
`
`Suite
`
`1908, New York,
`
`New York
`
`10123,
`
`does
`
`hereby
`
`certify
`
`pursuant
`
`to § 130-1.1-a
`
`of
`
`the Rules
`
`of
`
`the Chief
`
`Administrator
`
`(22 NYCRR)
`
`that
`
`I have
`
`prepared
`
`the
`
`annexed
`
`Order
`
`to Show
`
`Cause
`
`and
`
`Verified
`
`Petition
`
`on behalf
`
`of my client,
`
`EVAN
`
`DAVID
`
`KREEGER,
`
`and that
`
`the contents
`
`thereof
`
`are trues
`
`to the
`
`best
`
`of my knowledge,
`
`information
`
`and
`
`belief.
`
`Dated:
`
`New York,
`September
`
`New York
`20, 2021
`
`LAW OFFICE
`
`F CLIFFORD
`
`A. MEIROWITZ,
`
`PLLC
`
`By:
`
`Clifford
`
`A. Meirowitz
`
`7
`
`7 of 7
`
`