FARMINGTON – The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has dismissed an appeal of a Franklin County justice’s decision regarding power of attorney for a deceased, wealthy doctor formerly of Phillips.

Franklin County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ruled in August that the power of attorney granted by Dr. Margarete “Gretl” Hoch on Dec. 7, 2001, to Richard and Lorraine Chandler of Strong was valid and in full-force effect since that day, through and including the date of Hoch’s death on June 24 in Germany. She was 84.

John and Gudrun Stifel of Germany and Mary Wagner-Burkhardt of Kentucky, appealed that decision, which moved the case to the Maine Judicial Supreme Court.

The Chandlers requested that the appeal be dismissed and that request was granted Oct. 20, according to court documents.

Hoch’s wealth was estimated at $7 million with $1.8 million of the assets in the United States, court documents show. Those assets, according to court documents, are left to charitable organizations in Maine.

Hoch had practiced medicine in Franklin County for 40-plus years prior to returning to Germany.

The Chandlers, close friends of Hoch, filed a seven-count lawsuit in October 2007 against the Stifels, owners and operators of Naturhotel Hessische Schweiz, a spa in Germany where Hoch had been staying prior to her death. Also named in the suit was Wagner-Burkhardt. The Chandlers’ suit claims that they found Hoch in poor condition and living in filth during an unannounced visit they made to the German spa in 2007.

The Stifels and Burkhardt claimed in court documents that Hoch was competent, alive and well and didn’t ask for the Chandlers’ intervention.

Murphy entered a final judgment in August against the Stifels and in favor of the Chandlers, on two counts of the Chandlers’ lawsuit. Murphy also issued a permanent injunction against the Stifels.

Murphy’s judgment upheld the Chandlers’ power of attorney and permanently prohibits the Stifels from undertaking directly or through others any action to transfer or exercise control over any money assets and property of Hoch or her estate that are in Maine.

Murphy is now expected to deal with motions filed by Gudrun Stifel and the Chandlers to substitute parties due to Hoch’s death before continuing with the case.