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The state probate judge tasked with deciding who will manage the $200 million trust of Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa told the parties fighting for control that all of the allegations they have so far made against each other in court filings are not helpful. Read more

The state probate judge tasked with deciding who will manage the $200 million trust of Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa told the parties fighting for control that all of the allegations they have so far made against each other in court filings are not helpful.

“I think each one of you has the best interest of Ms. Kawananakoa at heart and the best interest of the trust at heart. But I don’t know that has controlled the process at this point,” Circuit Judge Mark Browning said.

Browning made those comments Thursday after denying nearly all of the requests made by the opposing parties while a court-appointed special master investigates the circumstances surrounding the dispute over the trust.

He denied a request by Kawananakoa’s wife, Veronica Gail Worth, and longtime friend Betty Lou Stroup to appoint them and Kawananakoa accountant Arthur Warren Duryea as the new trustees. Their lawyers told Browning the would-be trustees went to Central Pacific Bank for a loan to pay some of Kawananakoa’s bills but were turned away because the court hadn’t approved their appointments. Kawananakoa’s bills include taxes owed for 2016 and loan payments.

Browning also denied Worth and Kawananakoa’s request to prevent the special master from investigating allegations of physical abuse committed against Kawananakoa, “because there is evidence that (physical abuse) does have an effect on someone’s state of mind.”

The special master does have the authority and did have a doctor examine the 91-year-old Kawananakoa. The doctor has yet to submit his report.

Browning denied requests by current trustee and former longtime Kawananakoa lawyer James Wright to find Worth, Stroup and Duryea in contempt for allegedly representing themselves as trustees and for instructions and permission to sell off certain trust assets, including a horse farm in California.

He said the sale of assets “is the responsibility of the trustee, not this court.”

Browning did approve, however, using trust assets to pay for Wright’s attorney fees and costs.

After the hearing, Kawananakoa said she looks forward to her day in court. Her lawyers prevented her from talking about the case.

Browning removed Kawananakoa as trustee, replaced her with Wright and appointed Honolulu attorney James Kawachika as special master after Wright raised concerns over Kawananakoa’s ability to handle her financial affairs after the heiress suffered a stroke in June.