Estate Fight in Los Banos

A protracted estate battle has been waging in Los Banos, California after the death of mortician Joel Whitehurst Sr.

Here is an outline of this case:

• Joel Sr. died in 2002 with an estate valued at over $10 million.
• Joel Sr. was survived by his four children, Anne (pictured), Alfred (a lawyer), Joel Jr., and Tony.
• Joel Sr. and his wife had created an irrevocable inter vivos trust in 1991.
• Joel Sr.’s will, also written in 1991, named Alfred as the executor of his estate.
• Anne claims that one week before his death, their father executed a new will naming Anne and Alfred as co-executors.  This alleged will has never been located.
• Anne alleges that her three brothers conspired to cheat her out of her share of their father’s estate.
• The brothers claim they have acted properly.
• Anne is currently on her fifth attorney.
• Anne’s behavior was once so outrageous that she was arrested for disturbing the peace.
• In December 2008, the 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno rejected Anne’s claims holding that Alfred did not abuse his discretion when he divided their father’s assets.
• The California Supreme Court declined to review the case on February 18, 2009.
• Anne asserts that she will continue with another suit against her brothers, this time on the basis of defamation.

For more information, see Pablo Lopez, Heirs not so apparent in Valley feud, Fresno Bee, Feb. 16, 2009 and Pablo Lopez, Woman to press on despite loss in Whitehurst estate battle, Fresno Bee, Feb. 20, 2009.