Ralph F. Holmes - McLane Middleton

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Ralph F. Holmes

Director, Litigation Department

Manchester and Woburn

Office603-628-1409

Mobile857-278-0019

[email protected]

900 Elm Street
10th Floor
Manchester, NH 03101

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Ralph has developed one of the region’s leading probate litigation practices and recovered multiple Probate Court seven-figure verdicts. He handles will and trust contests, fiduciary accounting claims, guardianships and conservatorships, and other cases. Reflecting their confidence in his abilities, lawyers within and outside the firm entrust their clients to Ralph when they need aggressive, responsive litigation representation. Mindful of the costs of litigation, Ralph delivers aggressive representation efficiently and strategically with careful attention to planning and budgeting.

Ralph received his J.D. from Boston College Law School (1984) and a B.A. from Lafayette College (1980).

Areas of Focus

Probate Litigation
Business Litigation
Medical Malpractice

Significant Verdicts and Appeals

$3.4 million verdict in Trimble v. Bolduc, a fiduciary duty case against trustee and related entities
$2.8 million verdict in Whittemore v. Hersey, a fiduciary duty case against trustee and attorney-in-fact
$6 million verdict in Loconti v. Loconti (in concert with counsel representing another claimant) to compel settlor’s contractual obligation to fund trust for benefit of claimants
Successfully defended fiduciary duty claims against Trustee relative to management and sale of manufactured housing park in Tay v. Grondin
Successfully challenged will and trust due to incapacity and undue influence in In re Estate of Frederick W. Whittemore (affirmed on appeal)
Successfully obtained contested trust reformation against plain meaning in Preuninger v. Youschak
Successfully defended fiduciary duty claims against attorney-in-fact inTherrien v. Therrien
Successfully defended trustee removal action in In re Trust of Gordon F. York
Successfully defended challenge to will on capacity and undue influence grounds in Betjemann v. Betjemann
Successfully defended challenge to trust on lack of consent and other grounds Belisle v. Belisle
Successfully enforced pre-nuptial agreement in In re Hollett Estate, reversed on appeal, 150 N.H. 39, 834 A.2d 348 (2003)
Successfully defended spendthrift trust on appeal in Scheffel v. Krueger, 146 N.H. 669, 782 A.2d 410 (2001)

ProbateTrial.com

Ralph is a frequent contributor to ProbateTrial.com – a resource for attorneys and the general public that offers commentary on practical and legal issues, including will and trust challenges, elder exploitation, and guardianships. In addition, the website includes a bank of sample pleadings as a resource for attorneys.