MOUNDSVILLE – A Pennsylvania man alleges his brother has fraudulently deprived him of his expected inheritance of mineral interests in properties in West Virginia and Ohio.
Terry R. Hieronimus filed a complaint in Marshall Circuit Court against C. Keith Hieronimus and C&J Minerals LLC over allegations of deliberate attempt to control oil, gas and mineral interests.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff and defendant are the children of Charles E. Hieronimus, deceased, and their father's will granted equal shares of mineral interests to properties in Marshall County and Harrison County, Ohio to both parties.
The plaintiff alleges his brother created C&J Minerals in November 2017 and attempted to transfer all of the oil and gas interests to the limited liability company to deprive the plaintiff of the assets.
The plaintiff holds C. Keith Hieronimus and C&J Minerals LLC responsible because the defendants allegedly deprived plaintiff of his expected inheritance, breached a fiduciary duty to deal with the decedent's assets with good faith and failed the duty of loyalty to plaintiff.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against defendant for actual, punitive and exemplary damages, attorney's fees, and other relief as the court deems just. He is represented by Erik A. Schramm and Thomas McK. Hazlett of Hanlon, Estadt, McCormick & Schramm Co. LPA in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David W. Hummel Jr.
Marshall Circuit Court case number 18-C-113