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Robbie Robertson’s youngsters have accused his widow, Janet Zuccarini, of fraud and monetary elder abuse throughout the closing years of the musician’s life.
In a brand new lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone and filed earlier this week in Los Angeles Superior Court docket, Alexandra, Delphine, and Sebastian Robertson declare Zuccarini “took benefit of her relationship with a susceptible and sick Robertson to counterpoint herself to the detriment of Robertson’s youngsters — the only meant beneficiaries of his property.”
The lawsuit largely facilities across the buy of a Beverly Hills dwelling that when belonged to David Geffen. Robertson and Zuccarini, a restauranteur from Toronto, started relationship in 2018, and in 2021, she allegedly “satisfied” him to promote his home so they may purchase the “trophy dwelling” collectively. The couple allegedly agreed that they might personal the home equally, however the lawsuit claims Robertson lined the downpayment in full.
Two years later, Zuccarini allegedly satisfied Robertson to elope, arranging a personal wedding ceremony that was “saved secret” from the musician’s household in March 2023 (Robertson died a couple of months later, in August, on the age of 80). Previous to the marriage, Zuccarini allegedly had Robertson signal a prenup ready by her attorneys, in addition to an amended Tenant In Frequent settlement that acknowledged, if one among them died, the property of the deceased would proceed to pay one half of the mortgage.
The lawsuit alleges that Zuccarini went by means of with all of this whereas Robertson was battling most cancers, present process surgical procedure and chemotherapy, and taking quite a lot of medicines, together with opioids, THC, and antipsychotics. Robertson’s youngsters declare their father’s “psychological state was severely impaired,” alleging that Zuccarini knew Robertson “couldn’t learn the paperwork for himself” and that “in his weakened state, he wouldn’t perceive the subtleties” of what he was signing.
Robertson’s youngsters additional declare that Zuccarini pursued the prenup and wedding ceremony in secret in order that neither they nor his ex-wife, Dominique Bourgeois (with whom Robertson remained shut), would “have the ability to assessment the paperwork prematurely or talk about its content material with him.” ” They declare they solely discovered in regards to the marriage — allegedly solely attended by Zuccarini’s sister and brother-in-law — a couple of hours after it occurred, exhibiting as much as the home for what they thought was an anniversary celebration, earlier than studying it was a marriage celebration .
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After the celebration, Robertson’s youngsters declare their father “assured” them that “nothing in his property plan had modified” and they might “obtain all of his property upon dying.” As such, they have been informed they might have the choice to both purchase the Beverly Hills home from Zuccarini, promote his curiosity to her, or promote it together with her and cut up the proceeds.
However after Robertson’s dying, the go well with alleges, Zuccarini “lawyered up” and demanded, underneath the amended TIC settlement, that Robertson’s property and belief cowl her dwelling bills on the Beverly Hills dwelling, “every thing from the mortgage funds to the pool upkeep and cable invoice.” The lawsuit alleges: “Given her actuarial life expectancy, measured in many years, Robertson’s modest property and belief can be drained dry except Zuccarini determined to surrender this sinecure and discover a new place to dwell that she might pay for on her personal.”
When Robertson’s youngsters pushed again, Zuccarini’s attorneys allegedly “pulled their gotcha,” claiming that the paperwork had been written in “such a approach that, if Zuccarini did not get her windfall from the property, she would declare to revert to the sooner settlement ” which might nonetheless require an “even-even” cost. Moreover, Zuccarini’s attorneys allegedly mentioned this may make her an “omitted partner entitled to a one-third share of Robertson’s complete property.”
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Robertson’s youngsters allege that Zuccarini “knew that she had deceived Robertson.” The lawsuit claims that, lower than three weeks after the musician’s dying, Zuccarini texted Alexandra Robertson, “I feel Robbie did not absolutely perceive the small print of what it means to pay his 50% off and preserve the home within the property.” Throughout an in-person dialog with Alexandra and Delphine, Zuccarini allegedly mentioned, “Had Robbie understood that protecting the home within the property would imply paying half the dwelling bills for all times, he would by no means have agreed to it.”
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A lawyer for Zuccarini, Gabrielle A. Vidal, referred to as the lawsuit “a meritless fiction” and mentioned, “The reality will prevail.” She added: “This can be a gross and exploitative try by Robbie Robertson’s youngsters to eviscerate their father’s expressed needs for his beloved spouse Janet.”
Robertson’s youngsters are asking the court docket to cancel the amended TIC settlement whereas they’re additionally in search of unspecified damages associated to their claims of economic elder abuse and interference with inheritance.
Robbie Robertson’s Youngsters Sue His Widow for Monetary Elder Abuse
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