87-year-old NYC art dealer allegedly starved to death by much younger paramour who tried to steal his $50M fortune: lawsuit
The longtime paramour of a prominent, married Manhattan art gallerist allegedly neglected and starved him to death — and tried to steal his $50 million fortune, his family claims in court papers.Pierre Levai, the nephew of famed Marlborough Gallery co-founder Frank Lloyd, died in June at age 87, but his final months were a painful blur at the hands of Marcia Levine, his wife and son alleged in a scathing Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit.Levai hadn’t eaten for three weeks and was in critical condition from septic shock and a host of other medical problems by the time he was admitted to a Florida hospital in April, the family alleged.
“Ms.Levine recklessly caused Pierre’s death.
Therefore, according to 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, said in court papers.She was due to inherit $3 million, according to court papers.The two sides have been duking it out in Florida courts since Levai’s June death, records show, with Levine claiming Levai — who owns three Manhattan apartments and a home in upstate Germantown — was actually a Florida resident, a contention a judge slapped down in November.
Law.com first reported the battle over the $50 million estate.For decades, Levai lived an apparently charmed life.The art dealer amassed a fortune after opening the New York branch of the Marlborough in 1963; was married to wife Rosi for 55 years while keeping at least two lovers on the side, including a woman in France and one of his longtime employees, Marcia Levine.
And everyone was fine with the arrangement.“I tolerated Pierre’s romantic relationships and Pierre and [I] remained married through them.Pierre and I remained amicable and I had a prominent role in stewarding Pierre’s care until very shortly before his death,” Rosi Levai said in court papers.
The couple, who share two adult children, l...