Beth Israel Medical Center gave Huguette Clark’s private-duty nurse free health care to help lobby the heiress for money, the heiress’ relatives charge.
Hadassah Peri acted as an “advocate” for hospital execs in exchange for a free operation, court papers say.
“Beth Israel reciprocated by waiving expenses that Hadassah had incurred for her own surgery at the hospital,” court papers allege.
Clark’s will left $34 million and her lavish doll collection to Peri.
But Peri also raked in the riches while Clark was alive. She pocketed some $31.9 million in cash and property, according to the filing including $10 million she received after Clark sold a Cezanne painting.
“As Mrs. Clark’s liquid assets became depleted in the early 2000s, Hadassah actively intervened to snatch remaining cash,” court papers allege.
Peri’s spokesman, Fraser Seitel, said he’ll challenge the latest filing.
“For two decades, [Clark and Peri] spent virtually every day together, becoming more than caregiver and patient but close friends. Mrs. Clark was loyal and faithful and generous to all of the people who worked for her,” he said.
“Those making accusations against Mrs. Peri are remote relatives . . . none of them closer . . . than half-grandnieces or half-nephews. None of them had any personal contact with Mrs. Clark in 40-plus years, and few even had contact by telephone. It is true, however, that some of them periodically wrote to Mrs. Clark — for donations or gifts.”