By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — A Manhattan judge said Thursday she would not grant a copper heiress's relatives guardianship over their 104-year-old reclusive aunt, reported the New York Post.
Huguette Clark's half-nephew and half-nieces claimed the heiress was incapacitated and wanted to take over their great aunt's $500 million finances after accusing Clark's lawyer, Wallace Bock, and her accountant, Irving Kamsler, of mismanaging Clark's money, the paper reported.
But Judge Laura Visitacion-Lewis told Clark's relatives, Ian Devine, Carla Hall Friedman and Karine McCall, that their claim was "facially insufficient" due to "its hearsay, conclusory and speculative assertions of incapacity," the Post reported.
Bock, Clark's lawyer, filed papers earlier this week asserting that Clark was not incapacitated and was in her right mind, according to the Post.
Bock and accountant Kamsler are currently being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for possibly mishandling Clark's wealth, which includes a 42-room, unoccupied Fifth Avenue apartment, the Post previously reported.
Bock has also received extravagant gifts from Clark’s estate, including $1.5 million dollars and a $10,000 dollhouse for his granddaughter, according to the paper.
During the lawsuit, Bock submitted paperwork saying that he has always acted according to the his client's wishes.
The relatives, however, disagree, according to a statement released by their lawyer Thomas Goldberg.
"We remain concerned about the safety and well-being of our great aunt," the statement said, "particularly in light of the numerous reports that raise serious questions about whether professionals, who are reported to be subjects of an ongoing criminal investigation, are taking advantage of her."
The copper heiress has been isolated from her family since she went into a New York City hospital over 20 years ago. Bock and Kamsler are among the few people who still see her, the Post previously reported.
