The family of a New Brunswicker is challenging the validity of his will in the Court of King’s Bench. The man, who suffered from mental illness throughout his life, left his money to his fiancée with whom he had a long-distance relationship without ever having seen her in person.
The family of Louis Fournier, originally from Moncton, alleges that his fiancée used a undue influence
which he would have pushed him to make her his one and only heir in July 2019, a few months after their engagement in testimony of his love and admiration
.
This woman with whom Louis Fournier had a relationship for five years, he never met her. Instead, they spoke to each other by email, text or on the phone.
The 73-year-old man died on December 25, 2021. A few months before his death, he had written to his daughter Anna, with whom he had lost contact, to warn her that he was leaving all that [lui] belongs as bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, precious metals
to Mary Lamont.
The family is now contesting this inheritance before the Court of King’s Bench. The court will have to decide whether Louis Fournier had sufficient cognitive abilities when he revised his will to make her the sole beneficiary of his will.
Because for a large part of his life, Louis Fournier suffered from mental disorders. He claimed to be the victim of electromagnetic harassment, that is to say a targeted attack using microwaves or radiation.
A disease that is not recognized by medicine and is spread by conspiracy theories. However, Louis Fournier was the victim of real suffering which undermined his quality of life.
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The family believes that Louis Fournier was not in full possession of his means when he changed his will to make Mary Lamont the sole beneficiary.
Photo: iStock / djedzura
His condition led him to search for answers in forums and blogs. It was there that he met Mary Lamont. A 66-year-old woman from British Columbia who identified herself as a therapist, supposedly an expert in electromagnetic harassment, and who said she was the target of such harassment.
According to the family, the latter would have comforted Louis Fournier in his convictions, which cemented his attachment to her.
Called to the witness box, Louis Fournier’s psychiatrist and doctor spoke of an obsessive idea that he was the victim of a conspiracy, highlighting in the process his distress and suffering.
Mary Lamont’s lawyer believes he had ‘his head intact’
He was a person who still had mental disorders, certain obsessions. What emerged was that his head was still intact. It could work. He had the power to bequeath his property as he wished.
believes Jonathan Martin, Mary Lamont’s lawyer.
In the pre-hearing brief, he indicates that the family wants the changes to the will to be deemed non-compliant, because they feel financially harmed. According to the document, one of the applicants would be entitled to more than $60,000 if the will was annulled, another to $25,000.
The plaintiffs’ lawyers declined to comment.
The presentation of evidence will continue Thursday morning with key testimonies: that of Louis Fournier’s brother as well as that of his fiancée and beneficiary, Mary Lamont.
The lawyers will then present their arguments to allow the judge to make a decision, no later than Friday.
According to a report by Louis-Philippe Trozzo
