Peter Reid was the director of Consolidated Press Holdings from 1960 to 1993. Consolidated Press Holdings was the Packer family company that owned the Nine Television Network and assorted other media outlets. Over his career Mr Reid amassed a $52 million fortune.
There are multiple issues in relation to this estate dispute. Firstly Ms Peta Roberts has initiated a family provision claim in relation to the estate. Ms Roberts is the niece by marriage of Mr Reid. Since Peter’s wife passed away in 1998, he and Ms Roberts have been in a romantic relationship. During this period Peter paid for all of Ms Robert’s expenses including funding her children’s prestigious education and her property dispute with her former de facto husband over a jointly owned farm in Tasmania.
At first instance Justice Kunc made an initial distribution of $150,000 to Ms Roberts, finding that she had become completely financially dependent upon Mr Reid. Ms Roberts described herself as being unemployed, having no savings or particular qualifications. In addition Ms Roberts has Parkinson’s disease. These facts make Ms Roberts eligible to make a family provision claim. The success of her claim will also be based upon what she is entitled to under Mr Reid’s Will when it is distributed, which is as yet, unknown.
The second issue is in relation to Mr Reid’s mental health when he wrote his various Wills and testamentary instruments. Several of the beneficiaries in this case alleged that Mr Palmer, an executor and significant beneficiary, of Mr Reid’s estate may have coerced Peter. These people claim some of the documents that have been made in relation to Mr Reid’s Will were signed in ‘suspicious circumstances’. Where there is evidence that the deceased may have been under undue influence when writing a Will, the Will may be invalidated by the Court.
Therefore this case involves a family provision claim as well as a validity of a Will dispute. We will continue to watch how this case unfolds and provide updates as it progresses.
If you have further questions, please contact us at frank@franklaw.com.au.
This is not legal advice.