A new chapter in the sad tale of Huguette Clark--the reclusive heiress who died at the age of 104 this summer in an unmarked hospital room--starts today, when her relatives head to court to fight for a piece of her $400 million estate, the New York Post reports.
Though Clark had hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate and assets to her name thanks to a massive inheritance from her father, a copper baron, she didn't leave a penny to her family in her will.
Instead, she left $34 million to a nurse who was randomly assigned to care for her, and who spent the last two decades by Clark's side.
Clark also left $275 million to start an arts foundation at her estate in Santa Barbara.
Today, 19 of Clark's great-nieces and -nephews will head to Manhattan's surrogate court to take on the nurse, Philippine-born Hadassah Peri, for the piece of the fortune to which they claim they are entitled, according to the Post.
The proceedings kick off just a day after Irving Kamsler, the accountant charged with administering Clark's massive estate, resigned from his position after attorneys accused him of underpaying her taxes by tens of millions of dollars, the New York Times reported.
Despite owning lavish properties in California, New Canaan, Conn. and on Fifth Avenue, Clark spent the last 20 years of her life in a room at Beth Israel Hospital, living under pseudonyms.
NEW CANAAN: Huguette has never spent a single night in the 12,766 square foot property
Source: Christie's Great Estates
NEW CANAAN: The home has been on the market since 2005, now with an asking price of $24 million
Source: Christie's Great Estates
NEW CANAAN: Huguette bought the home in 1952
Source: Christie's Great Estates
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