Strong Stuff 2,171 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 CHRISTINE Gill who contested her parents' will after they left their £2m estate to the RSPCA has won her legal challenge. Speaking today in Leeds, she said: "I always believed from what my mother said to me that she wanted to leave me the farm. That is what the court has decided today. "I loved my parents and dedicated many years to caring for them and maintaining the family farm. "Sadly the RSPCA refused to believe me and hear my side of the story before we went to court. "These can be expensive cases for working people like me." The RSPCA has said it is looking to appeal the ruling. Mark Keenan, partner at Mishcon de Reya, Christine’s solicitors added: “We backed Christine because we believed she had suffered an injustice. "Sharing some of the risk and securing costs insurance for her were tangible ways of doing so.†The 58-year-old from Potto, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, launched her legal battle in July last year to challenge the will, which she claimed her father coerced her mother into making. After her mother's death in 2006, Dr Gill discovered her parents, John and Joyce Gill, had made wills leaving their 287-acre farm to each other and then to the animal charity when both died. During High Court hearings in Leeds, Judge James Allen QC heard how Dr Gill - an only child - was given repeated assurances that she would inherit Potto Carr Farm when her parents died. The university lecturer told the court she had devoted most of her spare time over a period of more than 30 years to voluntarily helping out at the farm. When Mr Gill died in 1999, aged 82, Dr Gill was left to look after her mother and run the farm, the court heard. It was only when her mother died in 2006, also aged 82, that Dr Gill saw the will, which left everything to the RSPCA. The court heard Mrs Gill suffered from agoraphobia with panic disorder, went everywhere with her husband, who was said to be stubborn and domineering, and was dependent on him to make decisions for her. Psychiatrists said it was likely Mrs Gill would have conformed with the wishes of her husband when they made their wills in 1993 but her anxiety and her dependence on Mr Gill would have made it very difficult for her to take in the proceedings or disagree with what he wanted to do. But experts disagreed about Mrs Gill's mental state, with one telling the court she was an eccentric woman but did not have a formal psychiatric disorder. A spokesman for the RSPCA said afterwards: “We are very surprised and of course disappointed by this judgment, and we are concerned at any implications this could have for charities and other groups. “Throughout this, the RSPCA has been in an extremely difficult position. The Will left by Dr Gill’s parents was very clear - in one sentence they left their entire estate to the RSPCA, and in the next they said their daughter should receive nothing. “In that situation the RSPCA cannot just walk away, in fact we are legally obliged to seek the funds under charitable law. That said, we are a compassionate organisation, and that’s why we’ve tried to settle this matter amicably before it even came to court. Unfortunately, our offers were rejected. “Today’s ruling shows the RSPCA has acted in good faith, and we are glad the judge recognised that the late Mrs Gill understood the Will and knew what she was doing when she made it. "What this case does show is how important it is when making a Will that people discuss their intentions with their family and beneficiaries, otherwise the impact can be very upsetting." That's them 2 Mill down!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest fence_hopper Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 heard it on the radio lol good result Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BIG T 6 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 CHRISTINE Gill who contested her parents' will after they left their £2m estate to the RSPCA has won her legal challenge. Speaking today in Leeds, she said: "I always believed from what my mother said to me that she wanted to leave me the farm. That is what the court has decided today. "I loved my parents and dedicated many years to caring for them and maintaining the family farm. "Sadly the RSPCA refused to believe me and hear my side of the story before we went to court. "These can be expensive cases for working people like me." The RSPCA has said it is looking to appeal the ruling. Mark Keenan, partner at Mishcon de Reya, Christine’s solicitors added: “We backed Christine because we believed she had suffered an injustice. "Sharing some of the risk and securing costs insurance for her were tangible ways of doing so.†The 58-year-old from Potto, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, launched her legal battle in July last year to challenge the will, which she claimed her father coerced her mother into making. After her mother's death in 2006, Dr Gill discovered her parents, John and Joyce Gill, had made wills leaving their 287-acre farm to each other and then to the animal charity when both died. During High Court hearings in Leeds, Judge James Allen QC heard how Dr Gill - an only child - was given repeated assurances that she would inherit Potto Carr Farm when her parents died. The university lecturer told the court she had devoted most of her spare time over a period of more than 30 years to voluntarily helping out at the farm. When Mr Gill died in 1999, aged 82, Dr Gill was left to look after her mother and run the farm, the court heard. It was only when her mother died in 2006, also aged 82, that Dr Gill saw the will, which left everything to the RSPCA. The court heard Mrs Gill suffered from agoraphobia with panic disorder, went everywhere with her husband, who was said to be stubborn and domineering, and was dependent on him to make decisions for her. Psychiatrists said it was likely Mrs Gill would have conformed with the wishes of her husband when they made their wills in 1993 but her anxiety and her dependence on Mr Gill would have made it very difficult for her to take in the proceedings or disagree with what he wanted to do. But experts disagreed about Mrs Gill's mental state, with one telling the court she was an eccentric woman but did not have a formal psychiatric disorder. A spokesman for the RSPCA said afterwards: “We are very surprised and of course disappointed by this judgment, and we are concerned at any implications this could have for charities and other groups. “Throughout this, the RSPCA has been in an extremely difficult position. The Will left by Dr Gill’s parents was very clear - in one sentence they left their entire estate to the RSPCA, and in the next they said their daughter should receive nothing. “In that situation the RSPCA cannot just walk away, in fact we are legally obliged to seek the funds under charitable law. That said, we are a compassionate organisation, and that’s why we’ve tried to settle this matter amicably before it even came to court. Unfortunately, our offers were rejected. “Today’s ruling shows the RSPCA has acted in good faith, and we are glad the judge recognised that the late Mrs Gill understood the Will and knew what she was doing when she made it. "What this case does show is how important it is when making a Will that people discuss their intentions with their family and beneficiaries, otherwise the impact can be very upsetting." Good enough for th wa$%ers That's them 2 Mill down!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ferreterni 29 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 bloody good job. But shows the indecency of them when they will try and appeal, and take all the woman has left of her mother and family home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hagar 5 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Thats made my day, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craigyboy 1,274 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
halfx 3 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) greedy robbing c**ts.....desperate to do some woman out of her inheritance,sums them up for me Edited October 9, 2009 by halfx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IanB 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I hunt most of the farms around that land... Glad things got sorted... RSPCA...pah!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Keswick 119 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 RSPCA aside for one moment, something doesnt quite seem right about this. If this woman had devoted all her spare time for the last 30 years looking after the farm and caring for her elderly parents, WHY would they write in thier will that she should recieve nothing? I realise there are some strange folk about that do strange things, but i just feel that the whole truth about this isnt being revealed... Maybe her parents knew something that we dont? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Strong Stuff 2,171 Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Maybe her parents knew something that we dont? It was her father that wrote her out, her mother just did as she was told, but anyway, the result means the RSPCA don't get 2 million quid, that sounds like a good ending to me ........... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lanesra 3,994 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 delighted with outcome, but you watch them fight her on appeal and probably win, though i hope im wrong ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob.i 26 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 What a princely sum looks like the family had a fall out at some point.What a cheek the arspca had in saying they were legally obliged under charitable law .Yes to steal somebodys birthright twats Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnieboy 93 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 heard it on the radio today and cheered my mate thourght i was mad Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wanna be farmer 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Good result. I hate the RSPCA, bunch of useless twats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tallyho 181 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 im glad they bloody didnt get it , they dont deserve it one bit. What greedy feckers . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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