An Illinois woman is suing a St. Clair County attorney following complications with her late husband's estate.
Brenda Knuckles, individually and as a beneficiary of the Donald E. Knuckles Sr. Declaration of Trust, filed a complaint on Aug. 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Valroy Binsbacher and Binsbacher & Griffithe LLC, alleging professional negligence and legal malpractice.
The complaint states that Binsbacher, Donald Knuckles' estate planning attorney, during a January 2012 meeting with Donald and Brenda Knuckles did not inform them of possible complications with Brenda Knuckles' beneficial interest in the Donald E. Knuckles Sr. Declaration of Trust. These complications arose out of the fact that the couple had previously divorced and then been remarried.
The complaint also states that Binsbacher represented Donald Knuckles Jr., whose interest in the assets of the trust were contrary to those of Brenda Knuckles, and that he failed to disclose this conflict of interest.
These breaches of professional duty were not revealed to Brenda Knuckles until after her husband's death on May 25, 2012, according to the complaint. Shortly afterward, the complaint states, Binsbacher told Brenda Knuckles he could not advise her anymore.
Knuckles seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus court costs and attorney fees. She is represented by William T. Dowd of Dowd & Dowd PC in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-440