06 Jul THE INK WAS DRY ON ZAPPOS CEO’S DEATH CERTIFICATE BUT THERE IS STILL A BATTLE OVER HIS ESTATE – CASE TO BE DETERMINED BY INK
Although it was originally believed that Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO and founder, died without a Will, the Wall Street Journal has reported a Will may have been found. A man from Pakistan called and sent a copy of the purported will to Las Vegas attorney Robert Armstrong. The validity of the 7-page Will shall be determined by its ink.
Kashi Singh called Armstrong and said he found the alleged Will among the personal property of Singh’s deceased grandfather. Singh also sent copies of the Will to the Las Vegas court which named Armstrong as a co-executor with attorney Mark Ferrario (even though they never met Hsieh).
The Will had a no-contest clause which stated that if a family member of Hsieh contests, then all family members will get nothing. This is unusual. It is normal to have a “no-contest” clause, but usually only the individual who contests is the one who risks getting nothing for contesting.
The witnesses to the Will have not come forward, and Hsieh’s family claim it is a scam.
The judge has ordered a forensic specialist to test the ink used on the signatures to determine whether the Will is consistent with the 2015 date or if the signatures were added later. The Hsieh family has hired a former U.S. Secret Service lab director and chief forensic scientist to represent them in connection with the forensic investigation.
Hsieh died in a fire in 2020. The shoe magnate’s estate is worth a reported $500 million. Additional evidence such as the testimony of someone familiar with the handwriting of the decedent may be needed in this case. The Will directs over $50 million dollars and Las Vegas real estate into trusts for beneficiaries not publicly known. Harvard University is to get $3 million. Several non-profits were also named as beneficiaries and the heirs would be entitled to the residue.
However, there is reason to believe that the Will is a forgery:
- The named executors did not know Hsieh;
- None of the 5 witnesses to the Will can be found;
- Singh cannot be located;
- The address of Singh has “been implicated” in fraudulent schemes conducted through shell companies;
- Hsieh’s name is misspelled in several places in the Will;
- A linguistic professor determined the Will was likely prepared by a non-native speaker of English and not by an attorney.
However, the court must determine if the Will is valid once the judge inks the order.
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