CHARLESTON — A woman is suing a Belle man for financial exploitation.
After Shirley Vaught’s husband of nearly four decades died in 2015 and following his death, she decided to purchase a home in Belle, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Following her husband’s death, the defendant, Robert L. Knighton temporarily “ingratiated himself with the Plaintiff” and helped her with transportation as she grieved her husband’s death and when Vaught closed on the new home on July 29, 2015, she permitted Knighton and his wife to live with her in her home.
Vaught claims she paid $184,000 for her home in Belle by using funds she received from the sale of her marital home. Knighton did not contribute any funds toward the purchase of her home and her deed lists only her as the sole owner.
The plaintiff discovered later, however, the deed she was provided at the closing was not recorded, and, instead, another deed was recorded that included Knighton and his wife, along with Vaught, according to the suit.
Vaught claims the defendant has refused to relinquish her home and has forced her to relocate her residence to an apartment. She claims his actions are financial exploitation. She claims he has been unjustly enriched at her expense.
Vaught is seeking to take back her home, along with compensatory damages. She is represented by Thomas H. Peyton of Peyton Law Firm in Nitro.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 23-C-743
