Woman suing brother over eviction

CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing her brother, claiming he had the police evict her from her deceased parents' home and has kept all her belongings.

Deborah F. Young filed a lawsuit May 8 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Gene H. Young, of Pasadena, Calif.

Deborah said that in 2000, she started caring for her parents, Frances and Eugene Young, at their home on Massey Circle in South Charleston.

Deborah says she moved into the home in early 2006 so she could better care for her aging parents.

Frances died in June 2006. Eugene died on Dec. 3, 2008.

Gene, the son, was named executor of his father's estate on Dec. 16, the complaint says. Soon after, he got a lawyer and sent Deborah a letter telling her to vacate the house immediately.

Deborah said she, through a lawyer, sent her brother and his lawyer letters in February and April asking for an extension of time to leave the house and to resolve the matter amicably.

Deborah says she received no response.

On May 5, Deborah says her brother traveled in from California and showed up at the house with two South Charleston police officers, who instructed her to leave. Under threat of arrest, Deborah says she left.

Later that evening, Deborah believes, Gene began removing items from the house and taking them to California. She says all of her belongings are in the house.

Deborah also claims that her father's will entitles her to half of all his assets, which she estimates at about $500,000.

Deborah is seeking a temporary restraining order against her brother to stop him from removing items from the house. She's also seeking to be compensated for any lost property.

Ann L. Haight is representing the plaintiff. The case is before Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 09-C-871