Man who claims Schaefer's estate owes him loses another round in court

A Las Vegas man who claims the estate of William Donald Schaefer owes him $28,000 for restaurant checks he picked up and time he spent visiting with the former governor and comptroller for five years lost another round in court on Monday.

Michael Schaefer, who is no relation to the former Baltimore mayor, was appealing last year's decision by the Baltimore County Orphan's Court to reject the claim. Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Levitz on Monday ruled that there was no evidence that the former governor, who died last April, agreed to pay for Michael Schaefer's time or compensate him for restaurant meals, and no verification of the $28,000 sum.

Schaefer -- who once owned a small downtown Baltimore hotel and now lives in Las Vegas -- said after the 30-minute trial in which he acted as both attorney and sole witness that he would pursue the case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. He had moved for a postponement of Monday's proceeding, as his only witness, Eugene Raynor, a longtime friend of the former governor, was ill and could not appeal. Judge Levitz denied the motion.

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