In 2018, Taft represented an Ohio trustee in an arbitrated trust dispute between him and another trustee. Ohio recently passed legislation confirming the enforceability of arbitration clauses contained in trusts, making this a case of significance for arbitration practitioners and trust practitioners alike.

Cincinnati fiduciary litigation partner Julia Meister represented the Ohio trustee at the multi-day arbitration, obtaining an award finding the other trustee in breach of his fiduciary obligations and imposing other relief against him. The other trustee was unsuccessful in his efforts to have the trial court vacate the arbitration award and appealed to the Tenth District Court of Appeals. Cincinnati associate Philip Williamson assumed a key role in the appellate briefing and Meister argued the appeal before the Tenth District. On Sept. 29, 2020, the Tenth District Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision and upheld the arbitration award in favor of Taft’s client.   

Hughes v. Hughes, 2020-Ohio-4653.