Eitel v. Stoll, Keenon, Ogden PLLC

CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Kentucky
DecidedJune 5, 2025
Docket3:23-cv-00398
StatusUnknown

This text of Eitel v. Stoll, Keenon, Ogden PLLC (Eitel v. Stoll, Keenon, Ogden PLLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Eitel v. Stoll, Keenon, Ogden PLLC, (W.D. Ky. 2025).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:23-CV-00398-GNS

MARY EITEL PLAINTIFF

v.

STOLL, KEENON, OGDEN PLLC as successors-in-interest to Ogden, Robertson, Marshall DEFENDANT

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to Reconsider (DN 41). The motion is ripe for adjudication. For the reasons stated below, the motion is DENIED. I. BACKGROUND This case concerns allegations by Plaintiff Mary Eitel (“Plaintiff”) that the predecessors of Defendant Stoll Keenon Ogden (“Defendant”)1 negligently drafted three trust agreements (collectively the “Eitel Trusts”) created in the 1960s and 1970s by Plaintiff’s grandparents, Paul T. Eitel Sr. and Berenice L. Eitel. (Am. Compl. ¶ 6). In a related 2020 case filed in this Court, Plaintiff sued fourteen defendants (“Trustees”), each of whom was allegedly responsible for managing the Eitel Trusts for some period of time over the past several decades.2 See Eitel v. PNC Bank, N.A., No. 3:20-CV-12-RGJ, 2023 WL 2230866 (W.D. Ky. Feb. 24, 2023) [hereinafter Eitel v. PNC].3

1 The firm was previously known as Ogden, Sturgill & Welch; Ogden & Robertson; Ogden Robertson & Marshall; and Ogden, Brown, Robertson & Marshall. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 3, 5, DN 15). 2 The Eitel Trusts were initially managed by First Kentucky Trust Co., currently known as PNC Bank (“PNC”). (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 2, 6). 3 A detailed discussion of the timeline of events and Plaintiff’s complaints related to the establishment and management of the Trusts is set forth in the memorandum opinion and order in Eitel v. PNC. See id. at *1-9. In Eitel v. PNC, Plaintiff contended that she was injured by the Trustees’ mismanagement of the Eitel Trusts, alleging trust assets, including Porter Paint Company (“PPC”) stock, was sold in the 1980s for an unfairly low price and that principal funds were improperly distributed over many years to her stepmother and father, Paul Eitel Jr. (“Junior”). Eitel v. PNC, 2023 WL 2230866, at *4. Plaintiff’s claims in Eitel v. PNC and in the current case are based on her assertion

that her grandparents intended the Eitel Trusts to be generation-skipping (i.e., primarily to benefit their grandchildren, including Plaintiff), and thus the sale of PPC stock and distributions from the principal violated this purpose. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 6-8, 28). The court granted summary judgment for the Trustees in Eitel v. PNC on Plaintiff’s claims of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, and RICO violations. Id. at *22. The Court held that each of these claims against the Trustees had either been abandoned or were barred by the statute of limitations, as Plaintiff had actual or constructive knowledge of her alleged injuries by the various defendants at least 16 years prior to bringing the suit. Id. at *10-13. Plaintiff subsequently moved the Court to reconsider its holding in Eitel v. PNC, which was denied. Eitel v. PNC Bank, N.A.,

No. 3:20-CV-12-RGJ, 2024 WL 4361962, at *10 (W.D. Ky. Sept. 30, 2024). In the current case, Plaintiff argued that Defendant committed professional malpractice by negligently drafting the Eitel Trusts and failing to properly advise the Trustees (Count I); that Defendant aided and abetted PNC’s breach of fiduciary duties (Count II); and that these actions also constitute a breach of Defendant’s fiduciary duty to her (Count III). (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 26, 35, 42). All these claims are asserted under Kentucky statutes and common law. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 25- 51). Defendant filed a motion to dismiss (DN 21), which the Court granted and dismissed all of Plaintiff’s claims with prejudice. (J. 1, DN 40 [hereinafter Final Order]). The Court dismissed all three claims on the basis they were barred by the statute of limitations as well as Counts II and III on the basis that Plaintiff failed to state a claim for which relief could be granted. (Mem. Op. & Order 12, 15-17, DN 38). Plaintiff has moved the Court to reconsider the Final Order. (Pl.’s Mot. Reconsider 1, DN 41). II. JURISDICTION The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 as there

is complete diversity between the parties and the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of $75,000.00. III. STANDARD OF REVIEW Plaintiff has moved to reconsider the Final Order under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 and 60. (Pl.’s Mot. Reconsider 1). Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e), “[a] district court may alter or amend its judgment based on ‘(1) a clear error of law; (2) newly discovered evidence; (3) an intervening change in controlling law; or (4) a need to prevent manifest injustice.’” Brumley v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 909 F.3d 834, 841 (6th Cir. 2018) (citation omitted). A motion to reconsider “may not be used to relitigate old matters, or to raise arguments or present evidence that could have been

raised prior to the entry of judgment.” Id. (quoting Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 554 U.S. 471, 486 n.5 (2008)). Under Rule 60(b), the Court may relieve a party from a final judgment or order for the following reasons: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence that, with reasonable diligence, could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud (whether previously called intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or misconduct by an opposing party; (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged; it is based on an earlier judgment that has been reversed or vacated; or applying it prospectively is no longer equitable; or (6) any other reason that justifies relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). “Rule 60(b) does not afford defeated litigants a second chance to convince the court to rule in his or her favor by presenting new explanation, new legal theories, or proof.” Burnley v. Bosch Ams. Corp., 75 F. App’x 329, 333 (6th Cir. 2003) (citation omitted). Further, “relief under Rule 60(b) is ‘circumscribed by public policy favoring finality of judgments and termination of litigation.’” Blue Diamond Coal Co. v. Trs. of the UMWA Combined Benefit Fund, 249 F.3d 519, 524 (6th Cir. 2001) (quoting Waifersong Ltd., Inc. v. Classic Music Vending, 976 F.2d 290, 292 (6th Cir. 1992)). IV. DISCUSSION Plaintiff does not state explicitly under which provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 or 60 she

brings her motion, but asserts that the “Final Order misapplies the law and misconstrues the facts by which [Plaintiff] seeks redress against [Defendant].” (Pl.’s Mot. Reconsider 1). She also mentions that “[u]nder Rule 59/60, a movant must show the Court’s decision was ‘clearly erroneous.’” (Pl.’s Mot. Reconsider 2). These allegations will be interpreted as an argument for “clear error of law” under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). She also contends that Defendant’s “unclean hands and conduct in Eitel v. PNC contributed to the delayed discovery of claims against [it].” (Pl.’s Mot. Reconsider 15).

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Eitel v. Stoll, Keenon, Ogden PLLC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/eitel-v-stoll-keenon-ogden-pllc-kywd-2025.