Disinherited children of 'French Elvis' use Instagram posts to win $160m court case


READ MORE

Paris: Johnny Hallyday was idolised as the “French Elvis”, but he spent much of his time in Los Angeles and once vowed never to return to live in France until it changed its tax laws.


Disputes over the residency status of France’s biggest rock star have continued beyond his death in 2017, fuelling a bitter inheritance battle between Hallyday’s widow and two of his children from previous marriages.


The widow of French rocker Johnny Hallyday, Laeticia Hallyday, and her children, Jade, left, and Joy, kiss Johnny Hallyday's coffin at his 2017 funeral.

The widow of French rocker Johnny Hallyday, Laeticia Hallyday, and her children, Jade, left, and Joy, kiss Johnny Hallyday’s coffin at his 2017 funeral. Credit:AP


Now, on the basis of Hallyday’s Instagram posts, a French court has ruled his true home was France – and upheld a claim on his fortune by his daughter Laura Smet, 35, and son David Hallyday, 52. The will cut them out of his estimated €100 million ($161 million) estate, leaving everything to his widow, Laeticia, 44. Under French law, parents cannot disinherit their children, but Hallyday’s will was drafted in English in California, where it is legal to do so.


Lawyers for Laura and David compiled a chart from Instagram showing that Hallyday spent 151 days in France in 2015 and 168 in 2014 – enough, they argued, for him to be considered a French resident. Before his death, aged 74, he spent eight consecutive months there while being treated for cancer.


Article source: http://smh.com.au/sport/basketball/melbourne-united-forward-tai-wesley-surges-into-key-role-ahead-of-nbl-opener-20171004-gyu71d.html

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

World Cup Central: Dhoni, Akhtar, Botham in All Blacks all-time cricket XV

Banned Bancroft's journey of self-discovery

Drones to become the new naval mine hunters under Morrison pledge