Widow Claims She Was Left with Little from $45 Million Estate

An East Village widow, mourning her husband’s passing, alleges she received only $133,000 from his $45 million estate and accuses her daughter of intentionally excluding her from the family inheritance. Robert Giurdanella, who died at age 89 in December 2021, owned a substantial property portfolio in the neighborhood, including nine rental and commercial buildings on East 11th Street. His assets also included cash, a Florida condo, and a Putnam County home.

Giurdanella, a native of the area, ran a family construction business and a tile company, which employed dozens. Despite his wealth, his widow Ann, 88, claims she was given a meager share and has been fighting in court for a larger portion, seeking $15 million. She has described her relationship with her daughter, Christine, as severely strained, accusing her of hostility and theft, including taking her Social Security payments and a Florida condo. Christine denies these allegations.

In legal filings, Ann states that her daughter pressured her into signing documents she did not fully understand, including deeds to properties and estate papers, after Robert’s death, when she was hospitalized and on medication. She claims her late husband’s estate was worth only $2 million, a figure disputed by court authorities, who dismissed her claim due to missed legal deadlines and called her accusations irrelevant.

Additionally, Ann filed a $15 million lawsuit against lawyer Gregg Weiss, who prepared the estate documents, accusing him of fraud and malpractice. His firm denies wrongdoing, asserting they acted in the estate’s best interest and minimized taxes. The ongoing legal disputes highlight a fractured family struggling over the final wishes of Robert Giurdanella.