Minnesota group opposed to abortion loses battle to collect $842K from man's estate
A leading group in Minnesota that opposes abortion has lost its battle in court for a donation of nearly $842,000 from the estate of a benefactor who bequeathed the money one day before he died.
John Charais, of Forest Lake, made a gift of almost $850,000 in February 2022 to Minnesota Citizen Concerned for Life (MCCL) and its affiliated education fund, a gesture that emptied a family trust fund. The next day, Charais died by suicide at age 81.
His son, Nick Charais, of Bemidji, stopped payment on the donation checks and said MCCL knew his father wasn't of sound mind when it accepted the money. The group sued the son last fall in Beltrami County District Court for the money.
Last week, Judge John Melbye sided with the son and dismissed MCCL's suit.
"The delivery of the checks does not constitute delivery of the money, and therefore there was no gift," Melbye's dismissal order read.
The judge also rejected the claim by MCCL that the family trust was in breach of contract by blocking the checks from being cashed, writing, "There was ... no enforcement contract. Since no enforceabl
https://www.startribune.com/anti-abortion-group-loses-court-battle-in-effort-to-collect-842k-from-mans-estate/600270306/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.