In a probate case with millions and millions of $$ on the line that went before the Alabama Supreme Court, the adult children won their father’s coffee empire. The adult children of coffee baron Leroy Hill sued their dad’s former girlfriend, who later became his 2nd wife, over the estate and family business he created. Anyone involved in probate litigation or family disputes, or will contests with family businesses may wish to look for the published opinion from the Alabama Supreme Court on the Leroy Hill estate.
- As of Saturday, October 18, 2014, the Alabama Supreme Court had not published itsonline opinion in the Leroy Hill estate case
- Published reports relate that:
- This was a probate litigation case which pitted dad’s second spouse against dad’s adult children.
- At stake was the Leroy Hill Coffee Company, one of the largest privately held businesses in the USA
- Leroy Hill divorced his long time wife with whom he had children, who became adults
- After the divorce, it was learned that Leroy Hill had an affair with a girlfriend, who he later married
- Leroy Hill died in 2009 and evidently his estate plan left his coffee empire and family business to his 2nd wife
- The adult children sued the 2nd wife in probate court and won
- The Alabama Supreme Court upheld the probate court’s ruling after the 2nd wife appealled
- Lots of money, land, and prestige on the line
- Evidently there was evidence of an oral promise by Leroy Hill to leave the coffee empire and family business to children
- But what is not known is the Court’s approach to this case: in some states, like under theFlorida Probate Code, oral promises to leave an inheritance are not valid
- What is not clear is how the adult children won: what was their probate litigation strategy and legal basis to inherit the estate? As any probate litigator Palm Beach will tell you, these inheritance lawsuits are very fact specific
- Look for the complete opinion from the Alabama Supreme Court on this Leroy Hill probate lawsuit to get the full details.
Question: want to read or see more about probate litigation?
Answer: check out these free online estate litigation and probate litigation videos which may educate and assist: http://www.pankauskilawfirm.com/