Probate judge placed victim money in special account for woman's daughter
By Dave Collins
Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut probate court wrongly took control of nearly $1.3 million in Sept. 11 victim compensation funds earmarked for the young daughter of a World Trade Center attack victim and prohibited her mother from spending any of the money on expenses related to the girl, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
The 7-0 decision ends a dispute that began over a decade ago when a probate court judge ordered Carolyne Hynes, of Weston, to place the money for her daughter in a special account, saying the funds were the girl's property and should be protected by the court for her to receive when she became an adult.
Hynes argued the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund allowed her to use the money as she saw fit for current and future expenses relating to her daughter, Olivia, who was born six months after her father, Thomas Hynes, died in the 2001 terrorist attack.
The opinion written by Chief Justice Richard Robinson overturned decisions by a trial court and the state Appellate Court in favor of the probate court and will give control of the money back to Hynes. Robinson wrote the victim fund awarded the money to Hynes with the intent that it would not become tied up in probate court proceedings.
"We conclude that our state statutes did not grant the Probate Court jurisdiction to monitor the plaintiff's use of the fund award or to prohibit the plaintiff from using that award in the absence of that court's approval," Robinson wrote.
A message seeking comment was left for Hynes, who also received nearly $1.2 million for herself from the victim fund, which has awarded $4.8 billion to more than 20,000 relatives of Sept. 11 victims.
Hynes' lawyer, Michael Kaelin, said Wednesday that he was only authorized to say Hynes was pleased with the ruling and grateful the Supreme Court decided to hear her case.
In a 2014 decision, the probate judge, Anthony DePanfilis, expressed concerns over Hynes' use of the victim compensation funds. He wrote that she "co-mingled" the funds for her and her daughter in one account, bought a home for $884,000 and spent another $150,000 on renovations.
DePanfilis also said Hynes had spent $385,000 of her daughter's money on dance, music, karate, tennis and other lessons for the girl, as well as for some costs of the girl's medical insurance, a country club membership and household expenses.
"The sums before us establish that not only had the money been co-mingled, but that it was being spent at an alarming rate and for purposes, most of which are (Hynes') own obligations," the probate judge wrote.
A message seeking comment was left for DePanfilis.
Kaelin, in court documents, said the probate judge's concerns about Hynes' handling of the money were unfounded.
Kenneth Feinberg, who oversaw awards from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, called the case "unique" and said he agreed with the state Supreme Court's decision.
"Normally, probate courts give the widow discretion in spending funds for family members especially sons and daughters," Feinberg said.
Published: Fri, Apr 12, 2019
