I miss my Mom

For the past five + years, everyday, I wonder, where did my Mom go?  Every day,  I miss her. Where are her ashes? Attorney Ken Luce said her ashes were mixed upon his cigar smoke and ashes with no way to determine the difference with her creamatory ashes.  Ken Luce, her probate attorney, whom she trusted her with her life, gave her final resting place in a smothering good bye in an astray and the comment “the hell with her, James, you’ve got it all” - 

 LeeAnna Ruth Mickelson passed away peacefully on  May 1, 2012, survived by Gale, Heather, Scott and Erik.

Finding Comfort in Companionship: A Tribute to My Dog Scooter

As the holidays approach, I wanted to share a sketch of my dog, Scooter. This doodle captures a moment when he looked over me, offering comfort and protection during a challenging time. Scooter, a mini schnauzer, has been an incredible source of support over the past six years. I adopted him as a puppy around the same time my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Throughout this period, Scooter has provided immense strength and companionship.

Thank you, Scooter, for bringing joy, authenticity, and a sense of fun into my life. Your presence has been a beacon of sincerity and genuineness. Here’s to all the wonderful moments we've shared and those yet to come.

Celebrating a Legacy of Genius

I wanted to share some remarkable moments and achievements from my family history.

My mom, Leeanna Ruth Mickelson Benedict, speaking with the renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan. This moment captures her intellectual curiosity and passion for learning.

My grandfather, Anthony Gorman Benedict, was the youngest person accepted to Cal Tech in the 1930s and was widely considered a genius. He once posed a question that stumped Albert Einstein and was later proven correct. During a meeting with Cal Tech professors in the summer of 2017, they unanimously proclaimed my grandfather's question was valid, and Einstein's initial dismissal was incorrect. This insightful question eventually contributed to the development of the Richter Scale, which we use today to measure earthquakes.

The modern analysis of this historical exchange by some of the brightest minds at Cal Tech—who recently discovered Planet 9—further validates my grandfather's brilliance.

My grandpa and my mom were both extraordinary individuals, truly "badass Benedicts."

The Joy of Blackberry Picking and Baking

Early August mornings along the Puyallup River are magical. As the sun rises above the river, fishermen line up shoulder to shoulder, casting their reels in hopes of catching a salmon. Meanwhile, I am an onlooker to their steadfast attempts, all while preparing for my own rewarding endeavor—picking blackberries.

The sweet scent of ripe blackberries fills the air as I navigate through the thorny bushes, hidden away from the bustling riverbank. The bushes are laden with thousands, possibly millions, of fresh blackberries just waiting to be picked, and I am thrilled to gather as many as I can.

My first job, at the age of 12, was picking raspberries in the Puyallup Valley. This was before the fancy car lots and pavement pushed all the farms aside. My mom would drive my friends and me to the farm early in the morning, setting an estimated time for picking us up. We'd check in for the day, get our baskets, and start collecting berries—half going into the basket, half into our stomachs. We used punch cards to track our progress and, at the end of the day, exchanged them for about $10. This experience ignited a passion in me that I could never shake.

My love for baking stems from my joy of picking berries. After gathering the blackberries, I clean them in a large pot of cold running water with lemon juice and salt. Rinse and briefly dry them, then mix with sugar, flour, and lemon juice before dropping them into a freshly rolled-out pie crust. The incredible sweet aroma fills the home while the pie bakes, and the taste is even more delightful, especially topped with homemade vanilla ice cream.

Many ask for my secret to a perfect blackberry pie. My answer is simple: it's all about finding the perfect blackberry.

Want to join me by the river tomorrow morning for some berry picking?

July 26, 2017 Hearing before Commissioner Velategui - Concerns About Fairness in Probate Court in King County Superior Court

On July 26, 2017, during a King County Superior Court probate hearing, Washington State Attorney Kenyon Luce (#3081) appeared before Commissioner Carlos Velategui in ex parte probate court. At the end of the hearing, believing the microphone was off, Commissioner Velategui told Mr. Luce that by awarding him $24,654.01, the heir to the estate could no longer proceed in court, stating, "She's finished."

Transcript starting at 12:16:

COURT: "Oh, the clerk will give you the times on this so that should you wish to order up a CD for $25 from the clerk upstairs you'll have it on the revision motion that I'm sure she's going to attempt to file."

LUCE: "Thank you, your Honor."

COURT: "You're welcome. So, she can file a motion for revision and she can file a notice of appeal, which I can't prevent her from filing, but at least in terms of motions in these courts, I've decided that she's finished."

Background: My late mother visited Luce & Associates law firm on November 3, 2011, intending to write a will as her doctor advised her to get her affairs in order due to her terminal illness. Four years after her passing, a purported community property agreement surfaced and was recorded, yet no heirs have inspected the original document. My mother was an heir to a large estate prior to her marriage, which remained separate property, and is still separate today.

I attempted to get a ruling of intestacy twice, seeking the short form of probate, but was dismissed after being signed and no will was ever produced, noting the Piece County intestate order from 5/16/16 is res judicata, when not asking for letters of administration.  Following Commissioner Velategui's direction in now seeking letters of administration, I filed to open proper probate, notified all heirs, received no objections, and was granted letters of administration and transferred the property under separate beneficial designation and filed the accounting with the court. Two months later, Luce & Associates disputed this award and requested the court to appoint the surviving spouse. Despite no objections, Judge Ruhl, during the matter under revision, denied the argument to compel compliance mediation.

Luce & Associates continues to accrue attorney fees by bringing the matter to court, whereas all other parties prefer resolving it through private mediation. The award of over $24,000 lacks an itemized statement and includes fees related to responding to a bar complaint from July 2016, which were never officially recorded.

Concerns:

Unjust Financial Award: How can an attorney be awarded such an amount for doing no substantive work? His client was not awarded the Letters of Administration until August 14, 2017 

Negligence: Mr. Luce has failed to send out the Notice of Appointment.

Commentary on the Judicial Function of Law Libraries

"The law library board performs a judicial function. It has since the bar was formed. In the days before computers, judges went to the law library to find the law.

Law libraries were the primary means by which law was dispersed to the people and where judges found the legal precedents they needed for their work.

In Lewis County, law libraries were behind closed doors, located on the second floor of the historic courthouse, and administered exclusively for judges and members of the bar. This was the judicial function they served.

Today, with computers providing access to legal information, many young lawyers have never experienced the necessity of going to a law library. However, the purpose of the law library was to ensure that judges and the bar had access to the law, fulfilling a critical judicial function."

Glenn J. Carter, WSBA #33863, Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Hupy v. Lewis County, May 19, 2017

Quote can be found starting at 11:29

John Kenney & Associates, PLLC confirms 5 year partnership with Ken Luce Law Firm

John Kenney & Associates, PLLC confirms 5 year partnership with Ken Luce Law Firm.  

###

Thank you for contacting John Kenney & Associates, I regret that our firm will not be able to assist you in this matter. As our firm was partnered with Ken Luce’s firm for 5 years we have a conflict of interest.

Regards,

Jayne M. Cribbs

Legal Assistant

John Kenney & Associates, PLLC

​360-850-1049

jaynec@kenneylawfirm.com

Please note: The best time to reach me is between the hours of 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM

 
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From: DONOTREPLY@mycase.com[mailto:DONOTREPLY@mycase.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 11:40 PM
To: Jayne Cribbs <jaynec@kenneylawfirm.com>
Subject: New submission from Case Evaluation

Message   Would like to arrange a 1/2 hour legal consultation with Mr. Kenney regarding managing my mom's probate (Pierce County). Thank you! About Donald “John” Kenney Mr. Kenney has eighteen years experience helping various clients such as families, individuals, and business owners with legal issues ranging from estate planning, asset protection, to wealth preservation and transfer, tax minimization and more. The firm is located by the scenic waterfront in Poulsbo, Washington. A much sought after expert, Mr. Kenney is the author of several articles on a variety of topics and has presented nearly a hundred seminars throughout the country to audiences of potential clients as well as his contemporaries in the legal and tax field. Mr. Kenney serves as a Commander in the US Navy JAG Corps (Reserve Component). He serves as a Pro Tem Municipal Court Judge for the City of Poulsbo. He has also been a guest instructor, teaching military justice for the University of Washington Navy ROTC program for twelve years. Education University of Washington – School of Law, LL.M., Taxation, 2004 University of Utah – College of Law, J.D. 1997 Brigham Young University – B.A., 1993 Bar Admissions Washington State Bar Association State Bar Association of Arizona Utah State Bar Association Federal District Court, Western District of Washington Professional Activities Member – WealthCounsel Past President – Kitsap County Estate Planning Council Board Member – Harrison Medical Center Foundation Board Member – Bremerton Historic Ships Association Board Member – Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce Board Member – Blanket Coverage, The Richard Sherman Family Foundation Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Section – Washington State Bar Association John Kenney & Associates, PLLC serves the following locations: Poulsbo, Kingston, Bainbridge Island, Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Shelton, Gig Harbor, Seattle, Tacoma, Kitsap County, King County, Jefferson County, Clallam County, Mason County, Pierce County, Thurston County, Snohomish County and the entire Puget Sound region. « Back to Attorneys Page