Longtime caretaker ‘jealously manipulated’ NYC billionaire Allan Goldman before letting him die alone in Russia so she could pocket $2M inheritance: suit

The lawsuit surrounding the death of Allan H. Goldman, a Manhattan real estate billionaire, alleges that his longtime caretaker, Natalia Vostrikova, manipulated and controlled him to secure a $2 million inheritance, ultimately leading to his neglect and demise. Goldman, who had Parkinson’s disease, was reportedly in fair condition until 2018, when Vostrikova allegedly began exerting strict control over his interactions and medications. She is accused of isolating Goldman from his family, withholding his medication, and denying his illness, ultimately absconding with him to Russia in July 2021. During their stay at a luxury hotel in Moscow, Vostrikova allegedly neglected Goldman, leaving him bedridden, malnourished, and with severe bedsores. Despite pleas from his children, Vostrikova refused to allow them to intervene, claiming they were selfish, until finally transporting Goldman to a hospital in St. Petersburg, where he died shortly after arrival.

The family’s legal filings assert that Vostrikova, who earned a substantial salary from Goldman, had been siphoning off his funds for personal use, including purchasing a lavish home in Bayville, New York. Vostrikova denies these allegations, countering that she was Goldman’s wife and asserting that their relationship spanned over a decade. However, Goldman’s daughter disputes this claim, arguing that her father did not believe Vostrikova genuinely cared for him. The lawsuit highlights the manipulation and neglect Goldman allegedly suffered at the hands of Vostrikova, raising questions about her motives and the extent of her influence over his final years.

For more information see Kathianne Boniello “Longtime caretaker ‘jealously manipulated’ NYC billionaire Allan Goldman before letting him ie alone in Russia so she could pocket $2M inheritance: suit”, New York Post, February 24, 2024.

Special thanks to Joel C. Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.