Obese Man Leaves Entire Estate to the Only Cab Driver Who Would Take Him To the Pub

[Turd Fergusen]

A taxi driver who inherited a passenger’s entire estate has been slapped with a huge legal bill after the will was overturned after a bitter legal battle.

The bizarre story began years ago when UK taxi driver Dean Hughes agreed to transport 348-pound Gary Mendez to various pubs.

Most other cabbies refused due to Mendez’s size, and over the years the two men struck up a friendship.

Then, in February 2016, Mendez allegedly phoned Hughes and told him he wanted to leave his entire estate to him in his will, including his $203,583 house in Eastbourne in southeast England.

They then met at a branch of UK pub chain Wetherspoons to sign the legal document in front of witnesses.

But that act disinherited Mendez’s long-term partner Hermes Rodrigues, even though the couple had been in a relationship since meeting on-board a cruise ship in 2001.

He had originally left everything to Rodrigues in an earlier will drawn up in 2013 — but Rodrigues decided to contest the will and has finally had a huge victory after a judge ruled his partner had been too affected by alcohol and ill health to fully comprehend his actions.

Full Story:
https://nypost.com/2019/06/11/cab-driver-slapped-with-massive-legal-fees-after-inheriting-passengers-estate/

 

[Satanica]

That's terribly unfortunate for the driver. I think he should've gotten something but not the entire estate.

 

[Babs]

That's terribly unfortunate for the driver. I think he should've gotten something but not the entire estate.

And he sure as hell doesn't deserve to have to pay "more than $63,618" in legal fees. Not fair!

 

[knockout]

Why not the whole estate, maybe the live-in partner
was not all that and he just didn’t want to kick out and put on the street, maybe he felt he’d already given the partner more than deserved

 

[Brillig]

The testator's wishes should have been respected. This outcome is shameful.

 

[Sejanus]

This is wrong.
Do Will's mean nothing now?

 

[Turd Fergusen]

Wills always mean something. But that's the whole point of probate. Anyone can put forth a claim or contest it. Especially if a will was changed close to the date of death or a otherwise signifigant party was left out. Personally I think the burden should be on the person contesting but that's not always the case.

 

[Brillig]

Especially if a will was changed close to the date of death or a otherwise signifigant party was left out.

That is why you always name all your family members in your will, even if you plan to disinherit them. The fact that you named them proves you did not "forget" them.

If you want to be extra safe, leave them one dollar, or your Elvis lamp, etc, which further proves you did not forget them, but that you truly want to leave your estate to your cat, or a cab driver, or whatever else you choose.