Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, in his work as a lawyer, has been named in a lawsuit related to a client’s will.
Marie Elizabeth McCallum filed a notice of civil claim last year under the Wills, Estates and Succession Act against Krog, administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Lightfoot McCallum, and her son Russell Alexander McCallum. According to court documents, Elizabeth McCallum died June 3, 2018 and the plaintiff claims her mother’s will “does not make adequate provision for proper maintenance and support.”
Court documents say that when Krog’s client died, she owned 13 properties in Nanaimo, Errington, and Horne Lake and the gross value of the estate was more than $3.2 million. An amount of $600,000 was left in a trust to be administered by Krog for Marie McCallum’s “maintenance, support and advancement,” according to the claim.
The plaintiff said in her claim that she has suffered throughout much of her adult life with unspecified medical conditions that affect her ability to support herself and she was supported financially by her mother. She claims she is “unable to meet her reasonable living expenses on the money available to her” and the will does not provide sufficient “provision for the proper maintenance and support.”
A response from Russell McCallum claims the plaintiff “received significant financial gifts and support” from their parents. He says his sister was given a house on Cathers Road, which he claims she sold in 2005, and then became sole owner of a house on Godfrey Road after their mother’s death.
The response also claims the plaintiff used Elizabeth McCallum’s credit card for cash advances and purchases.
The claims have not been proven in court. A trial management conference is scheduled for today, June 4, and a hearing date is set for July 13 in Nanaimo.