Layton v. White

Layton v. White (Ninth Judicial District Douglas County 2003-2008)

THE CASE OF THE PENNILESS WIDOW

Mr. Cashill represented Marie Layton, a near penniless widow, in an suit against her sister (Karen White), the family lawyer, and the family ranching Corporation (Frank Settlemeyer and Sons, Inc.) alleging Ms. White’s exercise of undue influence over the sisters’ father and uncle by which Ms. White caused the elderly gentleman to transfer their stock in the corporation to her while the men were in ill health. The evidence showed that Ms. White shuttled her father and uncle on virtually a monthly basis from nursing home to nursing home to isolate them from Ms. Layton. By the suit, Ms. Layton recovered monetary damages against her sister, recovered the ill gotten stock, gained majority (75%) control of the corporation and sold the family ranch for $12,500,000.