Experience
Stradley Ronon Secures Appellate Win in Denial of $26M Tax Refund by Billionaire’s Estate
Stradley Ronon obtained a victory on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue in a matter involving a $29 million inheritance tax refund claim brought by the estate of an heir of the Mellon family. In Estate of Richard M. Scaife v. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh billionaire Richard Scaife’s estate claimed a $29 million deduction from the Commonwealth based on a prior $200 million settlement with Scaife’s children (and certain legal fees and other administrative expenses). The estate argued that the trustee indemnification agreements executed in conjunction with Scaife’s receipt of more than $400 million in trust fund distributions were “bona fide” agreements and therefore the settlement amount was an estate expense that was tax-deductible.
A three-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court ruled the conflicts of interest regarding Scaife’s lawyer — who was also his personal friend, an executive of his media companies, an executor of his estate, and a trustee of multiple trusts, including the trust holding a vast majority of the estate’s assets — meant the indemnification agreements were not “bona fide” and the settlement payment was not tax-deductible. The court affirmed the lower court’s ruling denying the tax-deductible status of the $200 million settlement and $1.6 million in attorney fees, but remanded to the lower court claims regarding the deduction of other administrative expenses.
Russell J. Ressler and Michael J. WiseStradley Ronon Represents Maple Donuts in Acquisition by Swander Pace Capital
Stradley Ronon represented Maple Donuts, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of frozen bakery products, in its acquisition by Swander Pace Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing across the food and beverage industry. The transaction closed on May 30, 2025; the value was undisclosed.
The acquisition will allow Maple Donuts to further expand product offerings and enhance production capabilities.
The Stradley Ronon team was led by Tom Ix and Steve Scolari, with John Hook, Megan Stamm, Rich Peterson, Jon Bloom, Chris Rosenbleeth and Andrew Barron.
For more information, visit Swander Pace Capital’s website.
Thomas O. Ix, Steven A. Scolari, John C. Hook, Megan E. Stamm, Richard E. Peterson, Jonathan F. Bloom, Christopher W. Rosenbleeth and Andrew J. BarronEleventh Circuit Affirms Trademark Ruling for Nutritional Products Company
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a lower court’s decision on behalf of Stradley Ronon client Nutrition Resource Services, Inc. d/b/a JBN – Just Be Natural in a trademark infringement matter.
JBN manufactures and sells energy drinks and powders under various brand names, including “KRANK’D,” which obtained a trademark registration in 2006. A competitor began selling a similar product under the brand name “KRANK3D” and proceeded to market the product to the same consumers as JBN’s product.
Stradley Ronon filed preliminary injunction motion papers and argued the motion at an emergency hearing in February 2024. A Georgia federal court granted the injunction, and a three-judge panel affirmed the lower court’s ruling.
Eric B. Porter, John C. Hook, Joseph J. McHale, Randy M. Friedberg, David Scott and Sabina Corrado
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