A Manhattan paparazzo who has bagged shots of Julia Roberts’ children, Jude Law and Leonardo DiCaprio, among others, claims his own daughter and son-in-law looted his Midtown apartment while he was deathly ill — even taking his 30-year photo archive featuring images of Princess Diana.
In a $2 million civil suit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday, Frank Ross, 77, of E. 46th St., accuses his daughter Samantha Syoen and her Florida weatherman-hubby James Syoen of a horrific campaign of elder abuse that started in 2013.
The suit says Samantha, 43, a spokeswoman for the Florida State’s Attorney, and James, 48, a TV weather forecaster, pillaged his safe, furniture and antiques.
The Ft. Myers, Fla. couple also swiped his 2011 Jaguar XJ and coerced the shutterbug to sign over documents transferring an upstate vacation home “based on their false promises of return and care,” the suit says.
“There were promises made that he would come down and live with them,” Ross’ attorney Philip Schatz told The Post.
The kin swindle happened while Ross was hospitalized, “fighting death” on heavy narcotic medication, according to court papers.
The celebrity photographer was “at death’s door” Schatz said, when his daughter allegedly helped herself to a “historically valuable” trove of pictures of the late Princess of Wales.
The freelance photographer says he has demanded the return of goods he values at $1 million, but the Syoens are refusing to return them.
“I presume she feels slighted for some reason,” Schatz said. “So she has taken the opportunity to accelerate her inheritance, but she left him high and dry.”
Ross also has a grandchild from another daughter who died.
Schatz said the Manhattan District Attorney’s office looked into the case, but ultimately decided the claims had to go through the civil courts.
“Our goal in this lawsuit is to get his stuff back and let bygones by bygones,” Schatz said.
“You just can’t take advantage of older people the way that she has and her husband too.”
Ross is also suing for $1 million in punitive damages because the theft was “so egregious.”
The Syoens did not immediately return messages for comment.