Lakatos v. Estate of Billotti
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
509 S.E.2d 594 (1998)
- Written by Rocco Sainato, JD
Facts
Frank J. Billotti and Carolyn Sue Billotti owned several plots of land as joint tenants with the right of survivorship. In 1982, Frank Billotti murdered Carolyn Billotti. Frank Billotti then transferred the land he had owned as joint tenants with Carolyn to his mother. Carolyn’s parents, Andrew and Virginia Lakatos (plaintiffs) brought suit against the Estate of Carolyn Billotti (defendant) to compel the transfer of the property held in joint tenancy to themselves, as the beneficiaries of Carolyn’s will. The trial court determined that the estate was not entitled to the property held in joint tenancy with Frank Billotti, as that property passed to Frank upon Carolyn’s death. Lakatos petitioned for certiorari to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Maynard, J.)
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