Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, May 23, 1995
Heiress Duke's Ex-Butler Ousted as Estate's Executor
Probate: Judge cites his 'substance abuse' and waste of assets from
the $1.2-billion fund. Bank is also replaced.
By JOHN J. GOLDMAN and PAUL LIEBERMAN
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
NEW YORK -- In a scathing decision affecting the future of one of the
nation's largest charitable foundations, a judge Monday ordered the immediate
removal of former butler Bernard Lafferty as chief executor of the $1.2-billion
estate of tobacco heiress Doris Duke.
Duke's final will is being challenged by Dr. Harry B. Demopoulos, a former
physician to the heiress who was named as her co-executor in an earlier will.
The will also was contested by Chandi Heffner, who at 35 was adopted by Duke and
later disavowed, but she dropped her challenge after reaching a reported
$65-million settlement with the estate -- a deal that now could unravel with the
appointment of new administrators.
A hearing is scheduled next week on Demopoulos' bid for standing to challenge
the will.
"We are obviously very pleased and relieved," one of his lawyers, Suzelle
Smith, said after Preminger's ruling.
She said Demopoulos will ask for a jury trial on his claim that Duke's last
will was "clearly a product of fraud and undue influence."
|
