Since her death in May of 2011, the estate of Huguette Clark has gone through an incredible number of twists and turns. The multimillionaire heiress of a former senator and wealthy industrialist, Ms. Clark was 104 when she died. In the last 20 years of her life, her nurse had been one of her few constant companions and received much of the woman’s wealth. Her family is now alleging that many of these gifts were due to fraud on the part of the nurse as well as Ms. Clark’s attorney and accountant.
Ms. Hadassah Peri, the private registered nurse who had taken care of Ms. Clark in her declining years, received over 25 million from her while she lived. Additionally, Ms. Clarke also left the nurse more than 30 million in her last will and testament. The same will left nothing to Ms. Clark’s family, the closest relatives of which are half grand-nephews and half grand-nieces. Attorneys for the family argued that the will was made under duress on the part of the nurse and others around Ms. Clark, and that a previous will that had left the nurse only 5 million should apply. This previous will also leaves money to the family that had otherwise been completely left out.
Though the most recent photograph of Ms. Clark was taken in the 1930s, her life drew increased attention in late 2009 as people became more interested in her story. She only married once, and divorced shortly thereafter. She also left no children, surviving siblings or other close family members to whom she could leave her fortune.
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