Man sues daughter for theft

HUNTINGTON – A man who says his adult daughter stole his possessions from him, including more than $50,000 worth of money, is now suing his offspring.

Rodney Glenn McNealy Sr. filed a lawsuit July 27 in Cabell Circuit Court against Deborah Leigh Taylor.

McNealy claims he began living with Taylor in 2001 and appointed her as his attorney-in-fact at the same time. In exchange for room and board, McNealy was paying Taylor $700 per month plus 25 percent of her grocery bill.

The remainder of McNealy's monthly income of $2,694.02 was to be deposited into an insured bank account in his name and was to be used exclusively for his benefit, according to the complaint.

On Dec. 23, Taylor kicked McNealy out of her home for no legitimate reason, the suit states.

After kicking him out, Taylor claimed ownership of McNealy's assets, which include about $43,000 in his checking account, about $11,000 in his savings account, an unknown amount of silver coins in his safety deposit box, a .22 caliber collector rifle, an Isuzu Rodeo automobile and clothing, the complaint says.

"Defendant has purposely, knowingly and intelligently taken the plaintiff's assets and now claims full ownership and control of plaintiff's assets," the suit states. "The defendant induced plaintiff to appoint defendant as attorney-in-fact and did promise to act in the best interest of the plaintiff, and that this inducement and promise was material and was false, and that the plaintiff justifiably relied on this promise, and that defendant took advantage of plaintiff and did fraudulently convert and embezzle plaintiff's assets."

McNealy is asking the court to find that Taylor has breached her fiduciary duty to him, to order Taylor to make a full accounting of McNealy's income and assets to him and to order Taylor to surrender all of McNealy's assets to him. He is also seeking costs, attorney's fees and punitive damages of no less than $100,000.

Ronald G. Salmons of West Hamlin will be representing McNealy.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 09-C-623