- Summary of Lucom’s Will: download pdf
- Lucom’s Will: download pdf
- Panama Supreme Court Decision: download pdf
- Criminal Complaint to the Panama Congress by Mario Chizmar, Notary: download pdf
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Recent Panama Actions
ABC NEWS Article
Court Awards $50M to Widow Over Poor Kids - Rich Versus Poor: An American Millionaire's Will Resolved in Panama. read online
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Council on Hemispheric Affairs
by COHA Research Associates Alexander Brockwehl & Devin Parsons
• Feisty Miami Lawyer Takes on Panama’s Political Mafia
• Panama’s Financial Carnivores Salivate over $50 million Bequest
• The Country’s Corrupt Judicial Establishment in Deep Distress
Read Full article
• Feisty Miami Lawyer Takes on Panama’s Political Mafia
• Panama’s Financial Carnivores Salivate over $50 million Bequest
• The Country’s Corrupt Judicial Establishment in Deep Distress
Read Full article
Monday, July 5, 2010
Through this five-year ordeal, Lehman has learned how to navigate the Central American legal and banking systems centralized in Panama
Beware! Don’t believe widespread reports that Central America will become a haven for retirees or a center for business growth. It will only be that way if you find the right answers.
Many American have gone to this region only to become victimized by corrupt legal systems, inconsistent business regulations, and a banking industry that is a far cry from what we have in the United States. Much of this corruption is based on a class system that rewards cronyism and views foreigners not as allies but as victims. Keep in mind you are still a gringo.
Surprised? Make sure you are not.
Richard S. Lehman, a South Florida attorney has seen the ugly side of doing business in Central America. Lehman has been jailed, threatened, and victimized by the highest courts in Panama. His basic human rights were ignored. Lehman has hired body guards to escort him through the streets of Panama City. All of this was orchestrated by a well known law firm in the country.
Sounds like the plight of a common criminal.
Hardly.
Because Lehman is a lawyer and because he found the right legal teams, he overcame it all. Lehman is not a criminal, but rather a United States attorney who has tried to enforce the last will and testament of a late client who wanted to leave over $50.0 Million dollars to feed the “poor children of Panama.” The wealthy and powerful family of his client had other ideas to steal it by nullifying the will and Lehman has made sure that the will was survived and the fortune is intact. Lives of street children hang in the balance. If the law is followed, these children will survive.
Through this five-year ordeal, Lehman has learned how to navigate the Central American legal and banking systems centralized in Panama, he has assembled the finest legal teams in the region.
And, he’s ready to represent you – The United States citizen considering retiring there or the business person hoping to establish a presence in this market.
Lehman has learned the hard way how to bridge the legal and corruption gap that harms Americans. He has developed, tested and devoted relationships that can keep Americans out of trouble from the start and get them out of trouble if things go wrong. His experience will benefit you.
Lehman’s message is clear: “I have seen it and lived it all when it comes to corrupt legal systems. There is a way to deal with it with dedicated and intelligent lawyers at every level. Lawyers who know the system."
Central America can be a haven, but not without a clear understanding of how these countries function – financially, legally, and culturally.
Lehman has assembled a comprehensive program that will meticulously guide clients through the mine fields that are common in Central America. This program offers a variety of options that include:
- A full analysis of a client’s personal and business objectives and if they are attainable in Central America.
- Orientation to the culture of these countries.
- An introduction to his legal teams.
- An introduction to his wide array of professionals, both in and out of government.
- Full legal and business representation.
Prior to venturing into Central America, we hope you’ll take advantage of the expertise offered by Richard S. Lehman, Attorney at Law. You owe it to your future and your financial well being.
Richard S. Lehman, Attorney at Law
2600 N. Military Trail, Suite 270
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 368-1113
Fax: (561) 998-9557
www.lehmantaxlaw.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Executor of Lucom estate commits $50 million For ‘poor children of panama’ To panamanian institutions
Recent rulings clear path for largest donation in country’s history
BOCA RATON, FL – In an international estate battle marred by greed, viciousness, and corruption, the now legally recognized executor has placed the fate of the “poor children of Panama” in the hands of the country’s most powerful institutions – the Church and the Panamanian government.
After four years of defending the Will of Wilson Lucom, South Florida-based attorney Richard Lehman, Lucom’s friend and attorney of 31 years, who was appointed as the Executor of Lucom’s Will by two Panamanian courts gave his irrevocable commitment that two Panamanian entities would receive any judicial award that is made to carry out the intentions of the Will of Wilson Lucom.
Once completed this would give $50 million to the Fundacion De Apoyo a Los Ninos Pobres de Panama, a Panamanian charity and the Panamanian Ministry of Social Development. The latter is the Panamanian government agency responsible for addressing malnutrition in the country.
“As the legally recognized executor of this estate, I am going to give all proceeds of the Lucom estate that will result from any judicial award in Panama to these two leading institutions,” said Lehman. “Based on recent rulings, it is apparent that I can now use my powers as executor to carry out the wishes of my late client and to best protect this Estate. This action protects the Estate for the kids.
Lehman’s position as the Executor was confirmed by several Panamanian Court rulings that recently held that Lehman has been illegally and unconstitutionally prevented from carrying out his duties as Lucom’s Executor for four years. Lehman’s path was also made easier by a Panamanian district court that awarded Lehman a $3.8 million judgment against the Panamanian law firm, Infante & Perez Almillano P.A. The ruling states that the firm abused the country’s legal system and that its strategies to restrain Lehman’s efforts as executor were illegal.
This case centers on Lucom, an American expatriate who died in Panama in 2006 and left a Panamanian will with an approximate $50 million gift to “feed the poor children of Panama”. The will appointed Lehman as executor. Lucom’s third wife, 87-year-old Hilda Arias, has sued to nullify the will in Panama and keep the entire fortune for herself.
Until now Lehman was prevented from fulfilling his legal role as executor by illegal and unconstitutional actions. This was accomplished through a mixture of illegal Panama probate court rulings and through a concerted effort to position Lehman as a criminal. The case has featured a series of Panamanian prosecutorial and judicial corruptions affecting Lehman. He was falsely charged with 15 crimes, including murder and gang conspiracy. Five false arrest warrants were issued against him and he was falsely arrested and imprisoned on two occasions when no crimes existed.
These actions, according to Lehman, were implemented as a way to intimidate and force him into resigning as executor and dropping the case. Another tactic involved having Lehman and his Panama lawyer wrongly placed on Interpol’s “Red Notice Alert – Dangerous Criminal” list.
Lehman continued to persevere despite that fact that he has not been able to go to Panama for two years for fear of being arrested and jailed. Every false charge against Lehman has since been dismissed by the Panama Courts.
Despite the efforts against him, Lehman has been able to prevent the will from being nullified for four years and helped organize a strong grass roots campaign that has led to demonstration marches by children through downtown Panama City. He also received strong support and endorsements from the most prominent charities and religious groups in the country. These activities were coordinated by Lehman from the United States with his legal team in Panama.
Through his efforts, the estate remains intact.
“As an American standing alone in Panama and fighting a corrupt legal system and one of the most powerful families in the country, I am now in a position as Executor to make this commitment to the rightful recipients – the starving children on Panamanian streets,” said Lehman.
“All of Panama knows what is happening in this case. The only way to truly guarantee that Lucom’s gift will reach Panama’s poor kids is for the Panamanian government and religious institutions to defend Lucom’s gift and insist on justice. The choice to do the right thing is Panama’s” said Lehman.
For further information, see www.lucompublicdocuments.com
BOCA RATON, FL – In an international estate battle marred by greed, viciousness, and corruption, the now legally recognized executor has placed the fate of the “poor children of Panama” in the hands of the country’s most powerful institutions – the Church and the Panamanian government.
After four years of defending the Will of Wilson Lucom, South Florida-based attorney Richard Lehman, Lucom’s friend and attorney of 31 years, who was appointed as the Executor of Lucom’s Will by two Panamanian courts gave his irrevocable commitment that two Panamanian entities would receive any judicial award that is made to carry out the intentions of the Will of Wilson Lucom.
Once completed this would give $50 million to the Fundacion De Apoyo a Los Ninos Pobres de Panama, a Panamanian charity and the Panamanian Ministry of Social Development. The latter is the Panamanian government agency responsible for addressing malnutrition in the country.
“As the legally recognized executor of this estate, I am going to give all proceeds of the Lucom estate that will result from any judicial award in Panama to these two leading institutions,” said Lehman. “Based on recent rulings, it is apparent that I can now use my powers as executor to carry out the wishes of my late client and to best protect this Estate. This action protects the Estate for the kids.
Lehman’s position as the Executor was confirmed by several Panamanian Court rulings that recently held that Lehman has been illegally and unconstitutionally prevented from carrying out his duties as Lucom’s Executor for four years. Lehman’s path was also made easier by a Panamanian district court that awarded Lehman a $3.8 million judgment against the Panamanian law firm, Infante & Perez Almillano P.A. The ruling states that the firm abused the country’s legal system and that its strategies to restrain Lehman’s efforts as executor were illegal.
This case centers on Lucom, an American expatriate who died in Panama in 2006 and left a Panamanian will with an approximate $50 million gift to “feed the poor children of Panama”. The will appointed Lehman as executor. Lucom’s third wife, 87-year-old Hilda Arias, has sued to nullify the will in Panama and keep the entire fortune for herself.
Until now Lehman was prevented from fulfilling his legal role as executor by illegal and unconstitutional actions. This was accomplished through a mixture of illegal Panama probate court rulings and through a concerted effort to position Lehman as a criminal. The case has featured a series of Panamanian prosecutorial and judicial corruptions affecting Lehman. He was falsely charged with 15 crimes, including murder and gang conspiracy. Five false arrest warrants were issued against him and he was falsely arrested and imprisoned on two occasions when no crimes existed.
These actions, according to Lehman, were implemented as a way to intimidate and force him into resigning as executor and dropping the case. Another tactic involved having Lehman and his Panama lawyer wrongly placed on Interpol’s “Red Notice Alert – Dangerous Criminal” list.
Lehman continued to persevere despite that fact that he has not been able to go to Panama for two years for fear of being arrested and jailed. Every false charge against Lehman has since been dismissed by the Panama Courts.
Despite the efforts against him, Lehman has been able to prevent the will from being nullified for four years and helped organize a strong grass roots campaign that has led to demonstration marches by children through downtown Panama City. He also received strong support and endorsements from the most prominent charities and religious groups in the country. These activities were coordinated by Lehman from the United States with his legal team in Panama.
Through his efforts, the estate remains intact.
“As an American standing alone in Panama and fighting a corrupt legal system and one of the most powerful families in the country, I am now in a position as Executor to make this commitment to the rightful recipients – the starving children on Panamanian streets,” said Lehman.
“All of Panama knows what is happening in this case. The only way to truly guarantee that Lucom’s gift will reach Panama’s poor kids is for the Panamanian government and religious institutions to defend Lucom’s gift and insist on justice. The choice to do the right thing is Panama’s” said Lehman.
For further information, see www.lucompublicdocuments.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Attorney turns Lucom land over to Panama
http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/news.html?news_id=61966
http://www.lucompublicdocuments.com/DBreview_4_20_2010.html
In the past four years, Boca Raton attorney Richard Lehman has been thrown in a Panamanian jail, put on Interpol’s highest red flag status, sued in both Panama and in the United States and slapped with a nearly $2 million judgment. He responded by filing a complaint with the Organization of American States, accusing the government and courts of Panama of widespread corruption.
He says he barely kept his tax law practice alive.
Lehman, executor of Wilson Lucom’s estate, said it’s all because he’s been trying to carry out the wishes of his longtime client and friend, an eccentric millionaire who died in Panama in 2006 and wanted his beachfront land worth $50 million to go to the poor children of his adopted country.
If it sounds like a movie script, it’s that, too. Screenwriter David Griffiths, who co-wrote “Collateral Damage” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is writing a screenplay based on Lehman’s experience.
“What’s happened to Richard is outrageous,” Griffiths said. “He’s been hugely heroic.”
Lucom was an ardent anti-communist, conservative activist and co-founder of the media watchdog group Accuracy in Media. He’d served in the Truman and Roosevelt administrations.
Twice he married into wealth. He was first wed to the heiress to the Willys Jeep fortune, Virginia Willys de Landa. After she died, he sold a massive tract of land in Palm Beach County for $10 million that became Greenacres.
In 1982, Lucom wed Hilda Arias, former wife of Panama’s minister of finance.
Lehman has been battling Lucom’s widow, Hilda, a powerful relative of former Panamanian presidents whose family owns one of the country’s biggest newspapers. The widow and her attorneys claim Wilson Lucom’s will was not properly executed. They went as far as asking Panamanian authorities to bring manslaughter charges against Lehman and others in connection with Lucom’s death. Lehman and his attorneys called the charges ridiculous, and Panama’s attorney general dismissed them with prejudice.
Last year, after leaving a meeting in Panama, Lehman had boarded a plane when police escorted him off the aircraft and took him to jail. He sat there for 16 hours until his lawyer awakened the judge and prosecutor on a Saturday morning. Lehman was released but vowed to never step foot in Panama again. He said his arrest was due to a slander and extortion lawsuit filed against him by the Lucom family attorney.
“My lawyer stayed with me, outside the jail, the whole time,” Lehman said. “He said he was afraid I would disappear otherwise.”
Later, Lehman and his Panamanian lawyer, Victor Crosbie, mysteriously wound up on the Interpol red flag alert — the highest warning for criminals and terrorists sent to 183 countries — and his lawyer was subsequently arrested.
As if the saga wasn’t dramatic enough, a human rights activist who organized a march to protest the delay in transferring Lucom’s gift to the poor was shot and wounded. The activist claims the shooting was tied to his protests.
Well-litigated
Lawsuits and orders in the case, accusing parties of slander, murder, theft, misrepresentation and a variety of other charges, have flown back and forth, reaching the Panama Supreme Court.
The case made it to the United States when one of Hilda Lucom’s attorneys, Charles Weiss of Palm Beach Gardens, filed a suit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court to block Lehman’s appointment as personal representative of Lucom and to declare his use of $600,000 in Lucom’s U.S. bank accounts unlawful.
Judge John Phillips ruled in March 2009 after a jury trial that Lehman lacked authority to spend the $600,000 and that he had failed to set up a trust account and commingled funds. The judge ordered the money to be returned with attorney fees. Weiss said he is still trying to collect a $1.9 million judgment against Lehman.
In a scathing order, Phillips labeled Lehman a “covetous opportunist seeking personal advantage and control of assets in the $25 [million] to $50 million domiciliary estate.”
Lehman hired appellate lawyers Arthur England of Greenberg Traurig and Bruce Rogow, special counsel with Alters Boldt Brown Rash & Culmo, to defend him. England filed a motion to overturn the verdict based on the reversal of a key Panamanian ruling. If the motion fails, Lehman will appeal to the 4th District Court of Appeal.
Asked his opinion about how Lehman was treated in Panama, England said dryly: “We’re fortunate we live in a country where attorneys are not thrown in jail for their status as personal representative. That country’s judicial system is out of sync with what I’m used to.”
Not the hero?
But Weiss said Lehman is not the hero he paints himself to be. He accuses Lehman of rushing to drain Lucom’s Palm Beach account right after his death and misrepresenting facts to the judge.
“He talks about the poor children of Panama. Well, when presented with all the facts, people will come to the conclusion the judge did,” Weiss said.
But others call Lehman heroic and commend him for all he has endured over the past four years. Griffiths has spent two years researching the film and traveling to Panama numerous times. His working title is “The Poor Children of Panama.”
“What’s happened to Richard is outrageous,” Griffiths said. “It’s a very corrupt world there. We have to wait until the end to see what happens — and see if any of the kids see any of that money.”
Lehman hopes the end is in sight. In an attempt to wash his hands of the matter, he formally turned over a 7,000-acre former ranch to a charity, the Fundacion De Apoyo a Los Niños Pobres de Panama, and the government of Panama.
The charity was organized to receive Lucom’s money along with the Panamanian Ministry for Social Development, which is responsible for feeding the poor, in the form of an irrevocable commitment.
In a letter to the agencies, Lehman stated: “Even though I had all the legal authority I needed under the law in Panama, I have not been permitted to distribute one penny to Panama’s poor children for four years. All of it as a result of judicial corruption, and it continues now to illegally prevent me from carrying out Wilson Lucom’s written intentions.
“I am told that every three days in Panama, one child dies of malnutrition-related diseases. Lucom’s gift would have stopped this four years ago if Panama law had been allowed to prevail.”
Julie Kay can be reached at (305) 347-6685.
http://www.lucompublicdocuments.com/DBreview_4_20_2010.html
In the past four years, Boca Raton attorney Richard Lehman has been thrown in a Panamanian jail, put on Interpol’s highest red flag status, sued in both Panama and in the United States and slapped with a nearly $2 million judgment. He responded by filing a complaint with the Organization of American States, accusing the government and courts of Panama of widespread corruption.
He says he barely kept his tax law practice alive.
Lehman, executor of Wilson Lucom’s estate, said it’s all because he’s been trying to carry out the wishes of his longtime client and friend, an eccentric millionaire who died in Panama in 2006 and wanted his beachfront land worth $50 million to go to the poor children of his adopted country.
If it sounds like a movie script, it’s that, too. Screenwriter David Griffiths, who co-wrote “Collateral Damage” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is writing a screenplay based on Lehman’s experience.
“What’s happened to Richard is outrageous,” Griffiths said. “He’s been hugely heroic.”
Lucom was an ardent anti-communist, conservative activist and co-founder of the media watchdog group Accuracy in Media. He’d served in the Truman and Roosevelt administrations.
Twice he married into wealth. He was first wed to the heiress to the Willys Jeep fortune, Virginia Willys de Landa. After she died, he sold a massive tract of land in Palm Beach County for $10 million that became Greenacres.
In 1982, Lucom wed Hilda Arias, former wife of Panama’s minister of finance.
Lehman has been battling Lucom’s widow, Hilda, a powerful relative of former Panamanian presidents whose family owns one of the country’s biggest newspapers. The widow and her attorneys claim Wilson Lucom’s will was not properly executed. They went as far as asking Panamanian authorities to bring manslaughter charges against Lehman and others in connection with Lucom’s death. Lehman and his attorneys called the charges ridiculous, and Panama’s attorney general dismissed them with prejudice.
Web Extra: |
“My lawyer stayed with me, outside the jail, the whole time,” Lehman said. “He said he was afraid I would disappear otherwise.”
Later, Lehman and his Panamanian lawyer, Victor Crosbie, mysteriously wound up on the Interpol red flag alert — the highest warning for criminals and terrorists sent to 183 countries — and his lawyer was subsequently arrested.
As if the saga wasn’t dramatic enough, a human rights activist who organized a march to protest the delay in transferring Lucom’s gift to the poor was shot and wounded. The activist claims the shooting was tied to his protests.
Well-litigated
Lawsuits and orders in the case, accusing parties of slander, murder, theft, misrepresentation and a variety of other charges, have flown back and forth, reaching the Panama Supreme Court.
The case made it to the United States when one of Hilda Lucom’s attorneys, Charles Weiss of Palm Beach Gardens, filed a suit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court to block Lehman’s appointment as personal representative of Lucom and to declare his use of $600,000 in Lucom’s U.S. bank accounts unlawful.
Judge John Phillips ruled in March 2009 after a jury trial that Lehman lacked authority to spend the $600,000 and that he had failed to set up a trust account and commingled funds. The judge ordered the money to be returned with attorney fees. Weiss said he is still trying to collect a $1.9 million judgment against Lehman.
In a scathing order, Phillips labeled Lehman a “covetous opportunist seeking personal advantage and control of assets in the $25 [million] to $50 million domiciliary estate.”
Lehman hired appellate lawyers Arthur England of Greenberg Traurig and Bruce Rogow, special counsel with Alters Boldt Brown Rash & Culmo, to defend him. England filed a motion to overturn the verdict based on the reversal of a key Panamanian ruling. If the motion fails, Lehman will appeal to the 4th District Court of Appeal.
Asked his opinion about how Lehman was treated in Panama, England said dryly: “We’re fortunate we live in a country where attorneys are not thrown in jail for their status as personal representative. That country’s judicial system is out of sync with what I’m used to.”
Not the hero?
But Weiss said Lehman is not the hero he paints himself to be. He accuses Lehman of rushing to drain Lucom’s Palm Beach account right after his death and misrepresenting facts to the judge.
“He talks about the poor children of Panama. Well, when presented with all the facts, people will come to the conclusion the judge did,” Weiss said.
But others call Lehman heroic and commend him for all he has endured over the past four years. Griffiths has spent two years researching the film and traveling to Panama numerous times. His working title is “The Poor Children of Panama.”
“What’s happened to Richard is outrageous,” Griffiths said. “It’s a very corrupt world there. We have to wait until the end to see what happens — and see if any of the kids see any of that money.”
Lehman hopes the end is in sight. In an attempt to wash his hands of the matter, he formally turned over a 7,000-acre former ranch to a charity, the Fundacion De Apoyo a Los Niños Pobres de Panama, and the government of Panama.
The charity was organized to receive Lucom’s money along with the Panamanian Ministry for Social Development, which is responsible for feeding the poor, in the form of an irrevocable commitment.
In a letter to the agencies, Lehman stated: “Even though I had all the legal authority I needed under the law in Panama, I have not been permitted to distribute one penny to Panama’s poor children for four years. All of it as a result of judicial corruption, and it continues now to illegally prevent me from carrying out Wilson Lucom’s written intentions.
“I am told that every three days in Panama, one child dies of malnutrition-related diseases. Lucom’s gift would have stopped this four years ago if Panama law had been allowed to prevail.”
Julie Kay can be reached at (305) 347-6685.
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