The depth of acrimony between Donald Trump and two of his siblings toward their nephew Fred III and niece Mary is laid bare in a lawsuit a...
The depth of acrimony between Donald Trump and two of his siblings toward their nephew Fred III and niece Mary is laid bare in a lawsuit against the trio who refused to pay for the medical care of their own flesh and blood.
Mary Trump, who is about to publish a book full of 'harrowing and salacious' details about the Trump family, has raised the ire of the president once again as he demands the book not be published.
Certainly the tell-all will include the bitter legal feud over family patriarch Fred Sr.'s will and the discontinuation of medical benefits for some members of the family.
DailyMail.com has obtained copies of the lawsuit, filed in 2000 by Mary and Fred Trump III, the children of Donald's deceased brother Fred Jr., for wrongful termination of medical benefits and coverage. After providing health insurance for decades, the Trump family 'unilaterally' canceled it 'maliciously and without excuse or justification', the suit claims.
In the legal papers Donald, his brother Robert and their sister Maryanne laid out their reasons for refusing to pay for the healthcare of their disabled infant nephew William - Fred Trump III's son.
The Trumps argued that siblings Mary and Fred Trump III had already received millions of dollars from them and should be thanking them for their generosity.
Rather than suing them a 'thank-you would be extremely appreciated', they wrote in their response to the suit.
The Trumps even claimed that baby William didn't actually need 24/7 care - which they dismissed as 'expensive baby sitting' - despite his frequent seizures.
Instead of hiring a nurse, Fred III should take a CPR course from the American Red Cross in case William has another cardiac arrest and resuscitate the boy himself, according to the Trumps.
Donald Trump, his brother Robert and sister Maryanne were hit with a lawsuit from their nephew Fred III and niece Mary in 2000. Those siblings, who are children of Donald's late brother Fred Jr., filed suit for wrongful termination of medical benefits and coverage
The Trump family had agreed to pay for their health insurance after their alcoholic father Fred Jr. died in 1982, according to the siblings. But they were suddenly cut off by the Trumps who acted in 'retaliation' for them challenging the will of family patriarch Fred Trump Sr, who died in 1999. Pictured l-r: Robert, Elizabeth, Fred, Donald and Maryanne
The Trumps argued that siblings Mary (left) and Fred Trump III (right) had received millions of dollars from them and should be thanking them for their generosity. Rather than suing them a 'thank-you would be extremely appreciated', they wrote in response to the suit. The family dispute was put back into the public eye this week when it emerged that Mary is writing a tell-all about the Trump family, titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man. The blurb says that psychologist Mary, 55, will spill the beans on the 'dark history' of her family
Fred III and Mary claimed the Trumps acted in 'retaliation' for them challenging the will of family patriarch Fred Trump Sr, who died in 1999.
Mary alleged that Fred Sr was suffering from 'significant mental impairment' and that Donald and his siblings manipulated him into nearly cutting out her and Fred III from the will.
In a scathing passage Mary claimed: 'For the defendants to threaten the health of a 10 month old infant in order to try and force a settlement and thereby cover up their own duplicitous conduct is obscene.
'They have lied in the probate proceeding and they are lying in this proceeding, attempting to paint themselves as kind, loving and concerned individuals when nothing could be farther from the truth'.
The family dispute was put back into the public eye this week when it emerged that Mary is writing a tell-all about the Trump family, titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man.
The blurb says that psychologist Mary, 55, will spill the beans on the 'dark history' of her family.
She will describe a 'nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse' that helped to make Donald Trump the man he is today.
The book is not out until next month but court papers seen by DailyMail.com reveal the depth of the rift between Mary and the President.
Mary Trump declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by DailyMail.com. The Trump Organization, that handles the president's family public relations, did not respond to our request for comment.
The documents were filed in April 2000 at the Nassau County court on Long Island, not far from where Donald grew up in Jamaica, Queens, in New York.
The civil complaint is on behalf of Mary and Fred III whose father Fred Trump Jr was the eldest brother of the President and died in 1982 aged 42 after a lifetime of battling alcohol addiction.
The other plaintiffs are Fred III's wife Lisa and Fred III and Mary's mother Linda.
The defendants are Donald Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a retired federal court judge, and Robert Trump, a former executive at The Trump Organization, the family real estate business.
All three were the executors of the estate of their father, Fred Trump Sr - their sister Elizabeth Trump Grau, a retired banker, is not named.
According to Mary and Fred III, Fred Sr had always promised that he would take care of their health insurance and for decades he had done so.
The complaint alleged that all changed when Fred Sr died.
Just a week after Mary and Fred III challenged Fred Sr's will, the Trumps informed them suddenly that their health insurance coverage would terminate on May 1, 2000.
The coverage for William would expire on April 1, so two days from when they received the notice.
The complaint claimed: 'The defendants, who regularly tout themselves in the media as great philanthropists are more than willing to turn their back on the tiniest member of their family in an attempt to bully his father into fading into the night'.
In an affidavit, Mary Trump pleads with the court to intervene and a judge granted a temporary stay while the case was resolved.
The civil complaint is on behalf of Mary and Fred III, the children of Fred Trump Jr, (pictured) the eldest brother of the President who died in 1982 aged 42 after a lifetime of battling alcohol addiction
According to Mary and Fred III, Fred Sr had always promised that he would take care of their health insurance and for decades he had done so. The complaint alleged that all changed when Fred Sr died. Just a week after Mary and Fred III challenged Fred Sr's will, the Trumps informed them suddenly that their health insurance coverage would terminate on May 1 2000. The coverage for William would expire on April 1, so two days from when they received the notice. Pictured: Donald and his father Fred Trump in 1987
She claimed: 'Unless prompt action is taken by this court, plaintiffs will be immediately and irreparably harmed by the actions defendants have taken in retaliation for seeking to protect my rights relating to my late grandfather's estate.'
She described William as being 'severely disabled' and requiring 'round the clock' nursing care.
Mary argued it would be 'virtually impossible' to find medical coverage for William because of his extensive pre-existing conditions.
She claimed: 'These nurses are critical because just recently William went into cardiac arrest during the night. Had a nurse not been there to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation he might not have survived'.
Mary claimed that subsequent to Fred Sr's death she discovered that in 1991 he rewrote his will so it 'virtually disinherited' her and her brother Fred III.
The new will divided the bulk of the inheritance among his living children, meaning Mary and Fred III only got $200,000 each because their father was dead.
In her affidavit, Mary claimed that 'blatant threats' were made by the Trump family to her lawyer that their health benefits would be ended.
She claimed: 'I believe these threats were made to force a settlement however they are particularly reprehensible since the defendants were well aware that William is seriously ill and that Fred III is dependent upon the benefits to cover William's extraordinary medical and nursing costs'.
Robert Trump fired back in unyielding terms and argued the suggestion that Mary and Fred III were broke is 'so completely far from the truth it is laughable'.
He claimed: 'Fred Sr and our mother, Mary Ann Trump, have made these children (Fred III and Mary) multi-millionaires over a period of time.
'My parents have furnished Fred III and Mary with annual gifts of $20,000 for each member of the respective families'.
Robert Trump fired back in unyielding terms and said the suggestion that Mary and Fred III were broke is 'so completely far from the truth it is laughable'. He claimed: 'Fred Sr and our mother, Mary Ann Trump, have made these children (Fred III and Mary) multi-millionaires over a period of time. 'My parents have furnished Fred III and Mary with annual gifts of $20,000 for each member of the respective families'. Pictured: Donald Trump at his wedding to Marla Maples with Fred Trump Sr and his mother Mary
Elizabeth Trump, a retired banker, with her brother Donald and their mother Mary in 1995
Fred III's wife got an additional $20,000 when he got married, Robert claimed.
Robert claimed: 'This is over and above the income they received from family ventures, corporate interests and ground leases.
'I have every reason to believe that if the amount does not exceed $200,000 a year in income from Trump operations they each receive reasonably close to $200,000 without either lifting one finger at any time'.
Robert argued that on top of all that Fred III and Mary had an inheritance from their father and capital distributions which between 1991 and 1999 alone were $3 million.
Robert alleged once William was out of the intensive care unit after his birth 'there was no longer a need for 24-hour-a-day care and, in actuality, for the consideration of administering one or two pills a day and for the possibility that he may have to be resuscitated, as we all know, the American Red Cross periodically trains parents, as well as others, about CPR and treatment'.
Robert claimed: 'The responsibility of the health, well-being and general welfare of William is not upon the uncles and the aunts, but is the responsibility of the parents…
'...The thing that I find most surprising throughout this proceeding, and certainly from my experience with my nephew and my niece, is that they just don't know how to say ''thanks''.
'What we did after Williams' birth and the medical problems that he was enduring is that we absolutely took upon ourselves a kindness and a gratuitous act on our part to assist our nephew and his son.
'We did not sign a lifetime guarantee. We do not intend to be compelled to make lifetime gifts. A gift is intended to be a voluntary act, free of restraints and free of compulsion.
'Did we intend to vest a benefit to my nephew's family? The answer is yes…but not for a lifetime.
'A gift is not a contract where something is given for something else. No consideration is required, one was given.
'But a thank-you would be extremely appreciated.'
Donald Trump, left, with his brother, Fred Jr, brother Robert, sister Maryanne, and sister Elizabeth. Shortly after the picture was taken he was 'earning' $200,000 a year
Robert claimed that over the past six years the health plan has paid out: $12,000 for Linda, $9,000 for Mary and $16,000 for Fred III.
A total of $439,000 had been paid for William, of which $200,000 was outside the scope of the policy.
Using underlined text for emphasis, Robert repeats how wealthy his nephew and niece are.
He argued: 'They are wealthy individuals. They can provide for their own coverage. Apparently Mary Trump lives primarily off the Trump income. It is my understanding she is not gainfully employed.'
The Trump family lawyer Louis Laurino goes further and accused Fred III of 'taking advantage' of family members willing to assist with William's birth.
The claim that William 'requires extensive medical treatment and around the clock nursing care is absolutely misleading and untrue', Laurino argued.
He claimed: 'In fact people who are familiar with this case have referred to this as 'expensive baby sitting charges.
'It is unfortunate that the child is ill but it is unfortunate that the child's parents have not assumed the responsibility.
'Fred III and his wife hopefully have taken the initiative of going to the American Red Cross and qualifying for CPR training in view of the fact they contend that William does need cardiopulmonary resuscitation on occasion during the night and given two pills per day.
'This is the way to handle this, not with the kind of expense that has been incurred. There are thousands of children who have similar problems as William and they do not need 24 hour a day nursing care.
'The principal problem here is that the grandchildren, Mary Trump and Fred Trump III are not very grateful persons.'
Laurino argued that Mary and Fred III 'are not paupers' and estimated the trusts established for them by Fred Sr to be worth $750,000 each.
He mockingly argued that judging by their pleadings 'one would be left with the impression that they are candidates for homelessness and a handout by a charitable institution'.
The Trump family gathers for a photo at the opening of the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC in 2016
Mary and Fred III claimed that their father's separation agreement stated that he would 'pay directly all medical and dental expenses for their children'.
But Mr Laurino argued that the obligations 'were only intended to be obligations of their father during his lifetime'.
Nor is there any language that covers Linda Trump, Lisa Trump or William or any other of the other grandchildren.
In his statement to the court, Fred III said he has reviewed the Trump family's legal filings with a 'heavy heart'.
He claimed that his aunts and uncles never once visited William when he was in intensive care in hospital after being born 'despite the fact that the hospital was at most a short cab ride from their Manhattan residences'.
The extent of Robert's involvement was a phone call with Fred III the day after William was born when he had the first of many seizures.
Robert reassured Fred III that the medical bills would be paid, the lawsuit claims.
Maryanne 'called me once three weeks after William was born and has never called again', Fred III alleged in the suit.
He claimed: 'My uncle, Donald Trump, saw me in a restaurant one night (I had reluctantly left the hospital briefly at my aunt's insistence in order to visit with my grandmother's relatives from Scotland) and yelled across the tables that he had heard my child was sick.
'Again, no phone calls, no visits. True to form, my aunt and uncles never bothered to inquire as to William's condition or learn the extent of his illness'.
Fred III said William's care involves far more than just 'one or two pills a day' as Robert claimed.
He argued in the suit: 'I only wish his care were that simple. Although my wife and I are trained in CPR, we are not qualified to perform the other duties the nurses perform.
'It is easy for someone like my uncle, who is not a parent, to suggest resuscitating one's own child should be an easy matter. Any parent would know otherwise.'
A pediatric nurse at Mt Sinai with special training in critical care for infants and who cared for William, bristled at Robert's description of her as a 'highly paid babysitter' in her affidavit.
She said when William was born he was diagnosed with a seizure disorder known as 'Infantile Spasm', which requires regular injections and constant monitoring.
Mary has already extracted her revenge on Donald to some extent and was reportedly the main source for a New York Times investigation published in 2018. It revealed that rather than being a self made man as he claims, Donald received at least $413 million from his father
Mary wrote on Twitter that her uncle Donald's election was 'the worst night of my life' in a 3am tweet storm as the results came in
At the time of the suit, William was 11 months old but in terms of development, he was closer to five or six months of age.
He could not sit up, roll over, could not recognize what a bottle was and required a special chair to bathe himself.
The case was eventually settled and the terms are not in the court file.
Donald is reportedly considering suing Mary to stop the publication of her book and she supposedly signed an NDA not to talk about their family's affairs.
Her social media accounts give an indication of what is to come, describing Donald's 2016 election victory as the 'worst night of my life'.
The last time Mary spoke publicly about her family was 20 years ago in an article for the New York Daily News in which she said Donald and his siblings 'should be ashamed of themselves'.
Fred III joked that 'our family puts the ''fun'' in dysfunctional', adding: 'These are not warm and fuzzy people'.
In an interview in 2016 Donald said the dispute ended 'very amicably' but his comments in the 2000 article with the Daily News suggested otherwise.
He said: 'It's cold when someone sues my father. Had he come to see me, things could very possibly have been much different for them'.
Mary has already extracted her revenge on Donald to some extent and was reportedly the main source for a New York Times investigation published in 2018.
It revealed that rather than being a self made man as he claims, Donald received at least $413 million from his father.
Donald made losses of $1.1bn over a nine year period including $418 million in 1991 alone - one percent of all the losses the IRS recorded for individual taxpayers for that year.
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