www.loubar.org 14 Louisville Bar Briefs HAYNIE & REYNOLDS FAMILY LAW MEDIATION Judge Hugh Smith Haynie (ret.) Rebecca C. Reynolds FOR SCHEDULING, PLEASE CONTACT [email protected], OR CALL (502) 354-5049. ✓ CCo-mediators specializing in the most complex divorce and custody cases ✓ NNo charge for preparation of your case ✓ W We will simultaneously draft the agreement for you, saving you and your clients time and money Powers of Attorney and Bank’s Client ID Procedures John R. Cummins and Abagail Zaman The Kentucky Court of Appeals recently ruled on the interplay of the Kentucky statutory mandate that banks and other third par- ties must accept power of attorney instruments with the federal regulations requiring bankers to take the needed steps to know their customers, including power of attorney holders. The case turned on the holder of a power of attorney from his grandmother requesting her bank to honor his power of attor- ney regarding her credit card account. The bank responded by requesting the grandson to provide certain personal informa- tion—his Social Security Number and a clear photo of his driver’s license—so the bank could verify his identity. The grandson did not provide the requested information to the bank, so the bank refused to add him as an agent on his grandmother’s account. The grandson asserted that the bank had to accept and honor the power of attorney from his grandmother, due to the provisions of Kentucky’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act requiring third parties to accept powers of attorney generally. KRS 457.200. The statute imposes certain liabilities for failing to honor a power of attor- ney, including a court order mandating acceptance of the power and reimbursement of the legal fees and court costs incurred in obtaining a court order. The bank countered that federal regulations require it to use certain procedures to create a Customer Identification Program, with the intent being that the bank always knows with whom it is dealing. The bank asserted that it was not rejecting the power of attorney, but simply carrying out its responsibility under federal regulations to prove the grandson’s identity before dealing with him under the power of attorney. The Court found that Kentucky’s Power of Attorney statute created an express exception for federal laws and regulations which are in conflict with Kentucky’s statutory mandate to honor a power of attorney. KRS 457.220 states that federal laws control over the Kentucky Power of Attorney law in that situation. As a result, the court concluded that the bank was required by federal law to fol- low its Customer Identification Program and thereby get to know the grandson before agreeing to deal with him under his grandmother’s power of attorney. The court concluded that the Kentucky Power of Attorney statute had not been violated by the bank in taking this federally mandated precaution. Partner John R. Cummins and Associate Abagail Zaman are based in Dentons’ Lou- isville office and are members of the firm’s Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice. n Donald LaDuke Donald Joseph LaDuke, 88, passed away at his Port Charlotte, FL home on Janu- ary 2, 2026. He was a Louisville native. He graduated from Bellarmine College (1959) and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (1962). He ran hurdles for Bellarmine track team and served in the Kentucky Air National Guard. Don married Joann Rose Hume and together they raised a family of three children. After a lengthy career as an attorney in Louisville, he and Joann retired to Port Charlotte in 2009. He remained quite active, playing senior softball (five World Series rings), golf and walking. He was a lifelong Louisville Cardinal sports fan. Don leaves behind his wife Joann, three children Donna Fox, Scott LaDuke and Denise Littlejohn, two sisters Marilyn Brown and Sherry Greenwood and a brother Larry LaDuke, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed. For a full version of this obituary, please visit www.courier-journal.com/obituaries/psbn1375321. n It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Brian T. Bruenderman on January 15, 2026, after a brief illness. Brian was a cherished member of our extended LBA family and the beloved husband of our Executive Director, Kristen Miller. His death is a profound loss not only for Kristen, but for all who had the privilege of knowing him. – Louisville Bar Association family Brian was an unfailingly kind and generous friend, son, brother and husband. His sud- den loss has sent shockwaves through a vast community of family and friends whose lives will forever be the better for his presence but will never be the same after his loss. Brian was born in Louisville on March 7, 1971, to Janice Wrocklage Bruenderman and Warren Bruenderman. He graduated from Trinity High School and briefly attended Bellarmine before transferring to the University of Louisville, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Brian later earned his J.D. at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Always an entrepreneur, Brian owned several local bars and restaurants throughout his life, including the Golden Nugget, Diamond Station, Bearno’s by the Bridge and Vines Wine Bar & Spirit Shop. Most recently, he was a partner in a new local spirit brand called Shortfuse. But these endeavors were his beloved hobbies; he spent his professional career working in business devel- opment, mostly in the healthcare sector. He worked at ResCare, Almost Family and Signature Healthcare before joining a healthcare mergers and acquisitions firm, Stoneridge Partners. Under Brian’s leadership, Stoneridge grew to a multi-million dollar business. After a brief “retirement,” he had recently started a new firm, Ascend Healthcare Advisors. Brian cared lovingly for his parents throughout their lives and took immense pride in trying to set an example for his younger brothers. He had true, dear friends all across the country. No one was immune to his charm – including his loving wife Kristen, for whom he was her best friend, closest confidante and biggest supporter. Brian was an avid boater who spent many summers on the Ohio River and had recently joined a boat club near his home in Miramar Beach, Fl. He was a member of the Limestone Bay Yacht Club and the Louisville Boat Club. Brian also loved collecting expensive watches, good wines and old cars. He loved live music, horse racing, spending time with his friends and concocting silly ways to make his wife smile. Expressions of sympathy in Brian’s honor may be directed to APRON, Inc. or the Kristen Miller and Brian Bruenderman Scholarship Fund at Western Kentucky University. For a full version of this obituary, please visit www.Pearsonfuneralhome.com. In Memoriam
