Sibling Rivalry Over Secret Probate of Inheritance

Thomas and Terrance Bean, two sons of the late Gerald Bean who owned Toyota Kendall and Lexus Kendall car dealerships, recently won a victory in a Miami-Dade Circuit Court. The legal fight involves the $250 million to $400 million Bean estate.  When Gerald Bean died in 2011, he left a large trust to his wife with instructions for his children to get a share after she died.  Thomas and Terrance allege that their sister, Lorraine Bean, unduly influenced their mother who suffered from dementia, and had their mother disinherit all of her children except Lorraine. The brothers also accused Lorraine of going behind their backs , misrepresenting to a probate judge that they agreed with the will, and having the court file sealed. The brothers’ successfully had the file unsealed.

See John Pacenti, Siblings at War Over Kendall Toyota Inheritance, Daily Business Review, Sept. 12, 2014.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.