CONNIE FRANCIS - CONNIE FRANCIS SUES OVER FAN'S WILL

CONNIE FRANCIS SUES OVER FAN'S WILL

American sixties singer CONNIE FRANCIS is suing the family of a late fan who left $300,000 (GBP150,000) to the star shortly before killing herself. Patricia Nilsen, 57, arranged a series of bank transfers to Francis in the days leading up to her suicide in Summerfield, Florida on 27 November (06). Nilsen's relatives, who were originally set to be the heirs to Nilsen's estate in her original will, have accused Francis of using "undue influence" to obtain her fan's money. Their lawyer Richard Brown says, "That $300,000 represents nearly the total value of Ms. Nilsen's estate. Our primary contention is that Ms. Francis enacted undue influence over Ms. Nilsen, which caused her to change the beneficiaries in her estate, or that Ms. Nilsen was insane at the time of her death." However, the Who's Sorry Now hitmaker tells the New York Daily News, "I didn't even know she had any money. It's not my fault she left me the money. "This woman was a fan of mine who came to all my shows in the '70s and '80s. The only real conversations I ever had with her were regarding music. "At first I was willing to give her family half and also make a $25,000 donation to St. Jude Hospital." Francis says she decided to sue after the relatives demanded the full amount or they would "embarrass" her publicly. She adds, "They were trying to hold up the payment. So I sued them. I don't want to be greedy about this, but it's clear she didn't provide for these people."