In Re Elijah and Mary Stiny Trusts

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
NORTHERN DIVISION
IN RE ELIJAH AND MARY
STINY TRUSTS
ORDER
No. 3:19-cv-346-DPM
1. 	The 	Court 	directs 	the 	Clerk 	to 	correct 	docket 	entry 	42 7:
The embedded reference to Wilson's motion to withdraw should be to
Doc. 423 rather than Doc. 413.
2. 	The trustee's motion to pay Brett Watson's attorney's fees for
recent work on both appeals, Doc. 422, is granted for good cause as
modified. 	No 	one has opposed this request. 	Watson's work was
necessary. And his fees for that work are reasonable. The modification:
Watson has submitted another invoice for out-of-pocket expenses for
the last appellate brief. 	Of course these reasonable expenses must be
paid, too. 	Doc. 430-1 	at 12-14. 	The Court therefore authorizes the
trustee to 	pay 	Watson 	$12,665.57 from 	the 	Stiny Survivor's 	Trust
Regions Account No. xxxx4646.
3. 	The 	Court 	appreciates, 	and 	approves, 	the 	trustee's 	eighth
status report on the California proceedings, Doc. 431. 	The Court notes
the 	trustee's 	receipt of his 	letters of administration, his notice to
creditors, 	and 	his 	rejection 	of 	Patricia 	Sorley' s 	creditor's 	claim.
Case 3:19-cv-00346-DPM Document 438 Filed 11/06/25 Page 1 of 3

The trustee provided a copy of her claim at Doc. 421-2. 	The Court also
notes the important deadlines:
• 	23 December 2025 .... Patricia Sorley' s deadline to sue based
on her denied claim
• 	24 January 2026 ..... The probate estate's claim deadline
The Court would appreciate a ninth status report on the California
proceedings by 13 February 2026 after the issues develop further.
4. 	The 	Court 	has 	received 	and 	reviewed 	the 	trustee's
twenty-second status report from mid-September, Doc. 430, including
the many attachments. 	The Court appreciates all the information and
updates. 	No one has objected to this report. 	And the Court approves
all 	the 	trustee's 	actions 	described 	in 	it, 	particularly 	the 	various
payments made and tax returns filed.
5. 	The Court authorizes the trustee to pay the Darvish Firm,
APC, $22,829.34 from Regions Account No. xxxx4646. 	This work was
necessary 	given 	the 	California 	probate 	matter. 	Two 	loose 	ends.
First, 	the 	invoices 	reflect 	a 	slightly 	higher 	balance 	of $24,433.87.
Doc. 430-1 at 11. Please explain this difference in the next status report.
Second, the Court notes that the Darvish Firm is billing for interest.
Given the inevitable lag between the firm sending monthly invoices,
the trustee submitting them to the Court periodically, and the Court
considering them as the docket permits, the Court requests the trustee
and the firm to explore waiving future interest charges.
-2-
Case 3:19-cv-00346-DPM Document 438 Filed 11/06/25 Page 2 of 3

6. 	The Court approves the trustee's request to make Gardner
Milner, PLLC $856.50 from Regions Account No. xxxx4646. The firm's
work 	monitoring 	the 	litigation for 	Wood's 	estate 	was 	reasonable
and necessary.
7. 	The Court authorizes the trustee to make federal ($50,670.00)
and Arkansas ($2,118.00 and then $3,220.00 in 2026) quarterly estimated
tax payments for the Stiny Administrative Trust in November 2025,
February 2026, and June 2026 as they become due.
8. 	The Court has reviewed the trustee's bill for work managing
the trusts, including the litigation, from 26 May 2025 through 26 August
2025. 	All these efforts were needed; 	the time spent was reasonable;
and, as usual, the work was careful. The Court approves all the actions
taken as documented in the bill. 	And the Court authorizes the trustee
to pay himself attorney's fees and costs of $21,171.74 from Regions
Account No. xxxx4646.
So Ordered.
v
D .P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
-3-
Case 3:19-cv-00346-DPM Document 438 Filed 11/06/25 Page 3 of 3