Chapter 19 - The Trust Court
The Delaware court issued its ruling eight months after the hospital incident.
Odette was removed as trust protector.
Not because she loved Connor more.
Because her conduct demonstrated she could no longer exercise the role impartially and safely.
The written opinion cited:
Repeated efforts to reallocate one beneficiary’s reserve while minimizing documented medical uncertainty.
Direct communication of allocation disputes to a five-year-old beneficiary.
Pressure on medical providers to provide a preferred certification.
The hospital oxygen incident.
Not because trust law regulates oxygen masks.
Because the incident revealed how far the financial fixation had distorted judgment.
The court did not accuse Odette of theft.
Important.
No money missing.
No fraudulent transfer.
No secret account.
She had been financially honest.
Emotionally dangerous.
An independent professional protector replaced her.
Family advisory committee lost binding power and became consultative only.
The trustee adopted a written rule:
No beneficiary-specific reserve may be reduced for another beneficiary’s benefit without two independent medical reviews and actuarial analysis.
No family member serving in advisory capacity may communicate allocation disputes directly to minor beneficiaries.
Again:
Obvious.
Write it.
My role was limited too.
I could provide information.
Request review.
Appeal through procedures.
I could not order transfers.
Excellent.
I did not say excellent immediately.
I said:
“This is ridiculous.”
Sarah Kline said:
May you like
“That means it’s probably working.”
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