If the lawsuit filed by the youngsters of late musician Robbie Robertson, guitarist of the Band, seems like a damaged document, it’s as a result of we sadly hear about this situation all too typically. Robertson’s youngsters are accusing his widow, Jane Zuccarini, of fraud and monetary elder abuse, claiming she took benefit of an in poor health and susceptible Robertson “to counterpoint herself to the detriment of Robertson’s youngsters.”
Based on court docket paperwork, three years after they began relationship, Zuccarini allegedly satisfied Robertson to promote his personal home to buy a $6 million Beverly Hills dwelling collectively, to be owned equally. The grievance, nevertheless, alleges that Robertson paid the $1.8 million down cost in full. The grievance additional alleges that Zuccarini deliberate a secret wedding ceremony in March 2023, just a few months earlier than Robertson handed away, and that Robertson’s household solely discovered about it hours after it occurred after exhibiting up for what they thought was an anniversary celebration. Zuccarini allegedly additionally had Robertson signal a prenup and an amended Tenant in Frequent settlement earlier than the marriage ready by her attorneys that acknowledged if considered one of them died, the property of the deceased would proceed to pay one-half of the mortgage.
Taken Benefit Of
Based on Robertson’s youngsters, all of this went on whereas Robertson was in poor health—he was battling most cancers, having undergone surgical procedure and chemotherapy, and was on prescription medicines, together with opioids, THC and antipsychotics. They argue that, consequently, Robertson didn’t have the correct psychological capability to learn and perceive the paperwork he signed. The youngsters additionally declare that their father reassured them after the marriage that nothing in his property had modified and that they might “have the choice to both purchase the Beverly Hills home from Zuccarini, promote his curiosity to her, or promote it together with her and break up the proceeds.”
Quick ahead just a few weeks after Robertson’s demise, Zuccarini allegedly bragged to Robertson’s two daughters, through textual content and in particular person, that had Robertson understood what he was signing, he would have by no means agreed to it. She additionally knowledgeable them that, below the amended Tenant in Frequent settlement, she’s entitled to stay on the home till her demise and that Robertson’s property and belief are required to cowl her residing bills on the Beverly Hills dwelling, together with mortgage funds, pool upkeep, cable payments, and many others., which might principally drain the youngsters’s complete inheritance. Her attorneys additionally fired again, stating that if Zuccarini doesn’t get what she desires, they’ll default again to an earlier settlement and that Zuccarini can be “an omitted partner entitled to a one-third share of Robertson’s complete property.”
Monetary Elder Abuse, Undue Affect and Incapacity
The lawsuit asks that the amended settlement be canceled and seeks damages regarding the elder abuse claims and interference with inheritance.
Based on Jennifer Campbell, associate at Karlin & Peebles in Los Angeles, it’s commonplace for a petition difficult an property plan to consist of monetary elder abuse, undue affect and incapacity claims. To prevail on these claims, “the burden of proof is carried by the plaintiff, and the extent of certainty to which the plaintiff should show the plaintiff’s case relies on the kind of claims the plaintiff is making,” mentioned Campbell.
“For instance, if the problem to the decedent’s property planning paperwork relies on a declare of the decedent’s incapacity, then the plaintiff should submit proof to the court docket that demonstrates by a preponderance of the proof that the decedent lacked the required capability to signal the decedent’s property planning paperwork,” Campbell explains. This may be more difficult than meets the attention, as it’s essential to overcome the presumption that the decedent had capability when the paperwork have been signed. Moreover, Campbell provides that merely having a prognosis of dementia or continual ache isn’t adequate to show incapacity.
“Though proof of what different actions the decedent engaged in (or didn’t have interaction in) on the time the challenged property planning paperwork have been signed is useful, these instances typically come right down to a battle of the geriatric psychiatrists, who’re the specialists testifying on the decedent’s capability,” she concluded.
