The longtime paramour of a outstanding, married Manhattan artwork gallerist allegedly uncared for and starved him to loss of life — and tried to steal his $50 million fortune, his household claims in courtroom papers.
Pierre Levai, the nephew of famed Marlborough Gallery co-founder Frank Lloyd, died in June at age 87, however his closing months had been a painful blur by the hands of Marcia Levine, his spouse and son alleged in a scathing Manhattan Supreme Court docket lawsuit.
Levai hadn’t eaten for 3 weeks and was in crucial situation from septic shock and a bunch of different medical issues by the point he was admitted to a Florida hospital in April, the household alleged.
“Ms. Levine recklessly precipitated Pierre’s loss of life. Due to this fact, based on New York State’s so-called ‘slayer rule,’ Ms. Levine has disqualified herself from benefiting from her would-be benefactor’s demise,” Max Levai, who owns a 26-acre horse ranch in Montauk, stated in courtroom papers.
She was because of inherit $3 million, based on courtroom papers.
The 2 sides have been duking it out in Florida courts since Levai’s June loss of life, data present, with Levine claiming Levai — who owns three Manhattan flats and a house in upstate Germantown — was truly a Florida resident, a competition a choose slapped down in November. Legislation.com first reported the battle over the $50 million property.
For many years, Levai lived an apparently charmed life.
The artwork vendor amassed a fortune after opening the New York department of the Marlborough in 1963; was married to spouse Rosi for 55 years whereas retaining no less than two lovers on the aspect, together with a girl in France and considered one of his longtime staff, Marcia Levine.
And everybody was high-quality with the association.
“I tolerated Pierre’s romantic relationships and Pierre and [I] remained married by way of them. Pierre and I remained amicable and I had a outstanding function in stewarding Pierre’s care till very shortly earlier than his loss of life,” Rosi Levai stated in courtroom papers.
The couple, who share two grownup youngsters, lived aside since 2012 however as Levai’s bodily and cognitive talents declined, he wanted 24-hour dwelling well being aides, and Rosi turned his most important caretaker, she stated in the litigation.
However spouse and girlfriend usually labored hand-in-hand, speaking incessantly as dementia left him unable to fend for himself, Rosi stated, till he went to Miami with Levine in November 2023 for an annual winter trip.
Days after the ailing octogenarian arrived within the Sunshine State with a single suitcase of garments and his medicines, Levine allegedly started isolating him from his household and attempting to alter his property plan, based on the lawsuit.
Levai at all times supposed to come back again to New York, the place a brand new condominium nearer to Rosi was within the midst of being renovated. However Levai “would by no means return,” courtroom papers present.
After a couple of month, “Marcia started to maintain secrets and techniques from me about Pierre’s situation . . . and tried to benefit from Pierre in his weakened and demented state,” Rosi Levai stated in courtroom papers towards Levine.
Levine refused to let him talk with or see Rosi or their son, Max; took management of his cellular phone; had him purchase her a $7 million Miami condominium and allegedly concocted property paperwork with the assistance of a lawyer that went towards Levai’s lifelong needs, his household contended.
Levine, who was allegedly working with a Florida lawyer named Paul Cowan, allegedly refused to let Levai be taken off life help for weeks, “towards Pierre’s categorical needs,” his household claimed.
“Because of the shameful and dishonest actions of Cowan and Marcia actions, Pierre lay strapped to his mattress for weeks in important ache and unable to talk to his household or take pleasure in a ache free second,” based on courtroom papers.
“Everybody who is aware of the couple is aware of they had been in an especially loving, mutually supportive relationship for many years and they’d by no means do something to hurt one another,” a supply near Levine informed The Put up. “She and her authorized crew are trying ahead to addressing this in courtroom.”
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