US News

Man kept mother’s death a secret from brother: suit

A Florida man is suing his Manhattan brother for keeping secrets — like their mother’s death.

George Grodin, of Boca Raton, claims in a lawsuit that he found out about his mother’s August 2012 death seven months later, and that his brother still won’t tell him if she was cremated or where she is buried.

He didn’t learn of the passing of Nanette Scherffius, 83, until he tried to legally wrest guardianship of her from his brother, James Grodin, court papers say.

James Grodin lived with Scherffius in a Tudor City apartment for years, but isolated her from relatives and “was manipulating their mother [and] taking advantage of her,” George says in the Manhattan Supreme Court claim.

George wasn’t allowed to see or talk to his mom, he says.

The behavior is “malicious and outrageous” and “beyond the bounds of decent society,” George charges in the $500,000 suit.

James Grodin could not be reached for comment.