Former NY gov David Paterson sues brother for stealing $7 m
Ex-New York Gov. David Paterson is accusing his brother of cheating him out of his inheritance — by allegedly tricking their elderly mother into giving him over $7 million before her death.
A bombshell lawsuit filed by the former governor claims his younger brother Daniel Paterson, 67, duped mom Portia into transferring the massive sum from her estate to his account through 'undue influence, coercion and excessive persuasion.'
The sneaky move allowed Daniel and his attorney wife Eloise to bypass a long-standing will ordering the brothers to split their mom's estate 50-50 — cheating David, 71, out of some $3.5 million, the Manhattan Supreme Court suit alleges.
'She divested herself of assets in excess of $7 million by transferring [the] same to defendants prior to her death in contradiction and contravention of her long-standing last will and testament,' the court documents, filed Monday, state.
4 Former New York Gov David Paterson (left) says his brother Daniel (right) tricked their 94-year-old mother into transferring over $7 million from her estate to him, according to a new lawsuit.
Robert Miller
Then, after 94-year-old Portia Paterson's death in July, Daniel allegedly tried to claim that their mom died with less than $30,000 to her name in a checking account and an 'inoperable' BMW, the suit alleges.
The 55th Governor — a Democrat who was in office between 2008-2010 — is suing his brother, sister-in-law and two nephews for his alleged at least $3.5 million share of Portia's estate.
'There was a conspiracy to conceal that Portia's assets were transferred before her death,' said the former gov's attorney, Paul W. Siegert. 'She had a huge estate.
4 Lt Gov Basil Paterson and wife Portia at fund raising party for peace candidates, at 'Pembles' in 1970. She passed away last July at 94.
Jerry Engel/NY Post
'Everybody kept it a secret,' Siegert said, 'then we found out about it.'
Daniel, who has worked for the state court system's office of diversity and inclusion, told a reporter that 'this must be a scam call' when reached by phone Tuesday, and quickly hung up. He did not return repeated messages asking for comment.
Portia Paterson was married for 61 years to Basil Paterson, who was the first black vice chair of the National Democratic Party, and the first black secretary of state of New York.
4 The former governor's lawsuit alleges that leading up to her death, Daniel and his attorney wife Eloise (center) tricked the 94-year-old to transfer millions through 'undue influence, coercion and excessive persuasion.'
AP
She was a longtime school teacher at P.S. 116 in Jamaica, a guidance counselor at Queens College, and was a known advocate for disabled students like her son David, who is legally blind.
The ex-gov claims he only learned about the alleged 'unjust enrichment' last month after Daniel filed an affidavit to settle his mother's estate in surrogate's court.
David's attorney then said he got a notice from the court, leading to the shocking discovery that his brother was claiming their late mother only had a $27,000 bank account and an 'inoperable' 2011 BMW 5-series valued at $2,000.
On top of that, the affidavit claimed $8,500 in funeral expenses to be subtracted from the estate.
That means the former governor's share of what was once his mother's sizable estate would be a mere $10,250.
4 Basil Paterson, his wife Portia, and their sons Daniel and David at JFK airport in 1970.
Vic DeLucia/NY Post
'Even Portia's lawyer of 30 years – who wrote her will – did not know that Portia had transferred $7,000,000 in assets,' Siegert said.
Daniel, the executor of Portia's estate, allegedly never even notified her estate lawyers of her death, Siegert claimed.
'How could she die in July of 2024, and we only find out almost a year later that her will was not being probated and then out of the blue, we get a notice from the surrogate's court that her net estate is $21,500,' the attorney said.
'Draw your own conclusions.'
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