The family feud over a $2.6 billion New York property empire

The heirs to Sol Goldman’s real estate fortune are taking a new step in their battle over a property empire worth more than $US1.7 billion ($2.6 billion).

One of Sol’s daughters, Amy Goldman Fowler, and a grandson, Steven Gurney-Goldman, asked a New York court to remove two of Sol’s daughters, Jane Goldman and Diane Goldman Kemper, as executors of the estate of Lillian Goldman, Sol’s wife who died more than two decades ago.

Lillian’s estate was most recently valued at $US656 million in 2022, and her trust was valued at $US1.07 billion. The family owns interests in marquee Manhattan properties including the ground leases for the Mark Hotel and the Peninsula New York hotel.

In filings in Surrogate’s Court in New York — which handles wills and estates — Steven and Amy allege that Jane has made efforts to wrest control of the property empire from certain family members and has refused to distribute the estate and trust’s assets in the two decades since Lillian died. Amy and Steven are also separately seeking to remove Jane as a trustee of the Lillian Goldman Marital Trust, according to one of the filings.

Steven and Amy claim that, as of 2022, the estate and trust had $US100 million in liquid assets that could “easily be distributed” to the beneficiaries, but allege that Jane and Diane were holding those assets hostage.

“Steven and Amy’s latest filing in Surrogate’s Court attempts to revive claims that were a part of that baseless scheme and that the New York Supreme Court dismissed last year for having been filed in the wrong forum, over Steven and Amy’s strong objection,” Jane and Diane’s lawyer Jason Cyrulnik said. “We look forward to further exposing their leverage scheme and defeating it in due course.”

In one document filed Wednesday, Steven alleges that Jane uses Diane as her proxy to obtain control over estate assets. Steven also alleged concerns about Diane’s lack of capacity to serve as co-executor, citing an instance in 2024 when he claimed Diane couldn’t recall key details of the family business structure during a deposition.

“Sadly, Diane suffers from substantial health issues that have diminished her mental capacity to the point that she can no longer serve as co-executor of the Estate,” according to Steven’s filing. “In fact, as a result of her incapacity, Diane is currently unaware that she is serving as co-executor, which has enabled Jane to take advantage of Diane to the detriment of other beneficiaries.”