A lawyer allegedly brought in by Brooke Astor’s son to work on her estate has a history of becoming close with elderly millionaires – and then making a killing off their estates.
Francis X. Morrissey Jr., has befriended and done estate work for at least six people who died in their 80s and 90s – all of whom changed their wills shortly before they died to make sure he got a bigger piece of their estate, court records show.
One of his generous clients was economist Sam Schurr, who changed his will the day before he died at age 83 to leave Morrissey his East 57th Street apartment and a drawing by Diego Rivera, in addition to the $300,000 he was already getting, records show.
In all, Morrissey’s clients have left him millions in cash and property, including a Park Avenue apartment, 29 acres and a house on the Maine coast, jewelry, furniture and even two Renoir paintings, Surrogate’s Court filings show.
In two of the cases, including Schurr’s, Morrissey was accused of using “undue influence” – taking advantage of his clients’ mental states for his own benefit. Both cases settled, and the charges were never substantiated.
Morrissey did not return calls seeking comment.
Friends of Astor – the 104-year-old first lady of New York society and philanthropy – say her penny-pinching son Anthony Marshall placed Morrissey in charge of her estate planning in 2004, pushing aside her 40-year relationship with the white-shoe law firm of Sullivan Cromwell.
Morrissey, 63, is friends with Marshall and his wife Charlene, and is on the board of their theater production company, Delphi Productions. Morrissey’s association with Delphi certainly provided him with easier access to Astor because Marshall moved the company’s offices into Astor’s Park Avenue apartment in 2003.
Marshall’s lawyer, Kenneth Warner, said it was Astor’s idea to turn to Morrissey for “general advice. He didn’t prepare any legal documents. His role was limited.” He said Morrissey and Astor have been friends since the 1970s.
Records show Morrissey has made his long-time friendships with other rich people pay.
Morrissey, who was admitted to the bar in 1973, was doing estate work by the mid-’70s. In 1979, he befriended Jay Lovestone, labor party leader, cofounder of the Communist Party of America and CIA operative.
He was named co-executor of Lovestone’s 1986 will, which was prepared when Lovestone was 86. Lovestone died in 1990, and one-third of his residuary estate went to Morrissey.
Morrissey also helped Page Morris, who died in 2002 at age 98. Her 2001 will left Morrissey one-third of her residuary estate and trust fund.
It was through Lovestone that Morrissey became friends with Schurr, who was married to Lovestone’s niece.
Schurr’s nephew charged in court papers that Morrissey and others took advantage of his uncle’s failing mental state after a stroke he had in 2000.
They noted that Schurr suddenly moved to New York in August 2001 and bought an East 57th Street apartment.
The following March he changed his will and decided to leave his newly purchased apartment to Morrissey, along with a Diego Rivera drawing.
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Cleaning up on the wealthy
Francis X. Morrissey Jr., the lawyer allegedly brought in by Anthony Marshall (below left) to work on multimillionaire mom Brooke Astor’s (far right) estate-planning, has raked in millions by befriending the rich and elderly, including:
* Sam Schurr, economist. Died March 4, 2002, at 83. His March 3, 2002, amended will left his $640,000 apartment at 200 E. 57 St. (right), a Diego Rivera drawing, and $300,000 cash.
* Elisabeth Von Knapitsch, ladies-apparel executive. Died in 2000 at 91. Her 1997 will left her apartment at 470 Park Ave., two Renoir paintings, two Guillemain paintings and cash.
* Anne Hilde Huston, friend of Von Knapitsch. Died in 2003 at 94. She left her Seal Cove, Maine, home and 29 acres, valued at $2.5 million.
* Alexandra Gregersen. Died in 2001 at 99. Her 1997 will left 60 percent of her estate after her debts were paid.
* Jay Lovestone, labor leader, co-founder of the Communist Party of America and a CIA operative. Died in 1990 at 90. His 1986 will left one-third of his estate after his debts were cleared.
* Louise Page Morris, housewife and associate of Lovestone. Died in 2002 at 98. Her 2001 will left one-third of her estate and trust, in addition to all her personal effects, including jewelry, furniture and works of art.