CITY TO HIRE LAWYER IN CONTEST OF WILL.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer The City Council voted Wednesday to hire a private attorney to defend the city's interests after relatives of publishing heiress heiress n. feminine heir, often used to denote a woman who has received a large amount upon the death of a rich relative, as in the "department store heiress." HEIRESS. A female heir to a person having an estate of inheritance. Margaret De Heurtaumont contested a will in which she left $600,000 to the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Library Department. The council approved the $8,000 contract with probate attorney Fred Seymour despite objections from attorney James McGinley, who told the council that the city is not legally entitled to his great aunt's bequest and has refused offers to negotiate a settlement. ``I was extremely disappointed,'' said McGinley, a Glendale resident. ``We had an opportunity for cooperation instead of litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. but, unfortunately, this escalates the litigation.'' De Heurtaumont died last year and left a handwritten hand·write tr.v. hand·wrote , hand·writ·ten , hand·writ·ing, hand·writes To write by hand. [Back-formation from handwritten.] Adj. 1. will that leaves the bulk of her $695,000 fortune to the city Library Department, which one friend said played an important part in her life. Linda Brown, who manages the Lannan Ranch in Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
Brown said De Heurtaumont once applied to be a librarian but did not pursue it. She said the woman called reference librarians often for information after her age made it difficult to leave her home. Councilman Nate Holden Nathaniel "Nate" R. Holden (1929-) served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2002. He previously served a term on the California State Senate and was Assistant Chief Deputy to then Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. said the city should defend De Heurtaumont's last wishes to benefit the city library system in what is the largest bequest to the library in anyone's memory. ``This individual decided . . . to give the money to a cause that will benefit many,'' Holden said. ``I can't see why anyone would want to try to change that today, after the fact. I think the last will and testament should stand.'' However, McGinley said the handwritten will found in De Heurtaumont's possessions is not legal because it was not properly dated. He also said other documents indicate his great aunt intended to leave her money to nieces, nephews and their children if they are alive. ``We're still alive and well,'' he said. McGinley said the family offered to pay the city a six-figure settlement, but he said the City Attorney's Office has refused to negotiate. ``Unfortunately the city has taken a scorched-earth, litigate-at-all-cost approach that has discouraged settlement,'' McGinley said. The council refused a request by McGinley to order the city attorney to sit down for negotiations. Council President John Ferraro John Ferraro (May 14 1924—April 17 2001) served as a Los Angeles City Councilman from 1966 until his death. Early life Ferraro was born in the working class suburb of Cudahy, California, just south of Los Angeles. and Senior Assistant City Attorney Pedro Echeverria said the city needs the advice of a probate attorney before deciding how to handle the case. Echeverria said the process involving contested wills usually requires mediation and the city will participate. ``That's certainly not something we are opposed to,'' he said. ``We're also very sensitive to carrying out the wishes of anyone who gives money or leaves money to the city. We don't utilize a scorched-earth policy Scorched-earth policy Often used in risk arbitrage. Any technique a company that has become the target of a takeover attempt uses to make itself unattractive to the acquirer. .'' |
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