FORT PIERCE — A woman is suing her deceased father's girlfriend, Joan Blaine, citing alleged tortious and intentional interference.
Julia Hudson filed a complaint on Oct. 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Blaine, alleging that she breached her duty of good faith and fair dealing as a trustee.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she is one of three sisters, who were all expected to receive equal shares of their father's assets, but after her father's death on October 29, 2012, she discovered that an amendment was made to his trust, five days before his death, wherein another sister's share was augmented 88 percent greater than the decedent's prior fixed intention. The plaintiff alleges that her father was influenced by the defendant, his girlfriend and trustee, to change his trust during the time he was heavily medicated and suffering from cognitive impairment and susceptibility to undue influence.
The plaintiff holds Blaine responsible because the defendant allegedly deprived the plaintiff of her expectancy of inheritance, and induced her father into executing the purported amendment in order to heavily benefit one daughter.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, damages, costs, attorney's fees and further relief to which she may be entitled. She is represented by Brian M. Spiro and Jeffrey H. Skatoff of Clark Skatoff PA in Palm Beach Gardens.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Case number 16-cv-14485