A doctor has won a long legal battle to remain the primary beneficiary of his wealthy patient’s multimillion-dollar estate.
Sydney GP Dr Peter Alexakis was embroiled in a dispute over the will with the Salvation Army and two friends of his patient Raymond John McClure, 84.
McClure was a millionaire who had made his fortune selling property in the United States before moving to Australia and becoming a patient of Dr Alexakis in 2015.
He changed his will twice to increase the amount he left for his GP in the months before his death on November 21, 2017.
About 90 per cent of his $24 million estate, which includes a property in Strathfield, western Sydney, was allocated to Dr Alexakis.
McClure’s friends Frank Camilleri and Hildegard Schwanke joined the Salvation Army to challenge the will and the matter was taken to the New South Wales Court of Appeal.
Court documents accused Dr. Alexakis of using “undue influence” on McClure.
The court dismissed the matter in May, finding that Dr. Alexakis was entitled to the inheritance and had not exercised “undue influence.”
Sydney GP Dr Peter Alexakis (pictured) was embroiled in the dispute over the will with the Salvation Army and two friends of his patient Raymond John McClure, 84.
The court heard McClure had created a will in May 2016 which named the Salvation Army and Ms Schwanke as beneficiaries.
McClure then divided ownership of his estate in a will in June 2017 and named Dr. Alexakis as the primary beneficiary, giving him 65 percent.
Mr Camilleri was allocated 25 per cent, while Ms Schwanke was given five per cent.
McClure was receiving treatment for diabetes, prostate cancer and kidney failure at the time of the switch.
The will was amended again a month later, on July 10, to give Dr. Alexakis a 90 percent share of the estate.
Mr. Camilleri saw his entitlement reduced to nine percent and Mrs. Schwanke to one percent.
The Salvation Army was completely eliminated.
McClure had no partner or children to whom he could leave his assets.
Raymond John McClure (pictured), 84, was a millionaire who had made his fortune selling property in the US before moving to Australia and becoming a patient of Dr Alexakis in 2015.
About 90 per cent of McClure’s $24 million estate, which includes a property in Strathfield, western Sydney (pictured), was allocated to Dr Alexakis.
He was also separated from his brother, who was his only sibling.
McClure had been in and out of the hospital since June 2015, where he later returned home after being discharged.
Dr. Alexakis frequently visited Mr. McClure, who repeatedly complained that he did not want to stay in the hospital.
The New South Wales Court of Appeal found that Alexakis did not know he was the sole beneficiary until after the patient’s death.
