The Case of the Millionaire's Mistress

From a story on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution web site:

Cobb County millionaire Harvey Strother had three weeks to live when his mistress wheeled him into his lawyer's office to change his will one last time.

Strother, 77 and fading fast, was drinking a gallon or more of wine a day, according to court testimony. The tortured alcoholic barely resembled the vibrant salesman who racked up a fortune with car dealerships in Cobb and south Georgia.

Anne Melican, his mistress of seven years, accompanied the wheelchair-bound Strother into the Naples, Fla., law office on Dec. 16, 2003. With an unsteady hand, Strother changed his will so Melican would be left with a South Florida property, plus a slip at a yacht club where they'd docked his boat, the Lady Anne. He also directed his estate to pay off the balance on a Cape Cod, Mass., condo he built for her.

It was the second time in six months Strother had amended his will and the third time in six years. All told, the changes left about $6 million of Strother's $37 million estate to Melican and her son, including $7,900 a month for Melican for the rest of her life and a $1.3 million Marco Island, Fla., condo.

Were these amendments the wishes of a sound mind and the product of Strother's desire to take care of Melican after his death? Or did Melican take advantage of an addled alcoholic, unduly influencing Strother to ensure she'd get millions?

The probate judge wants a jury to decide. The Melicans have appealed. Meanwhile, the AJC put the question to its readers in a poll. At this writing 38% vote to honor the will amendments; 62% oppose.