A Greek Australian doctor, Dr Peter Alexakis, is set to receive a windfall after winning a court battle over the estate of a former patient. Raymond McClure, the deceased, had named Alexakis the main beneficiary in his will, leaving him 90% of his $24 million estate.
McClure, a self-made millionaire, previously intended to leave most of his fortune to the Salvation Army. However, he changed his will several months before his death, significantly increasing Alexakis' share and eliminating the charity entirely.
The changes sparked a legal challenge from McClure's friends and the Salvation Army, who argued that Alexakis had unduly influenced the vulnerable patient. Alexakis, McClure's GP since 2015, made frequent visits to both the hospital and McClure's home during his final illness.
Despite these concerns, both the NSW Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal ultimately ruled in Alexakis' favour, finding no evidence of undue influence. The court noted that Alexakis had previously received a bequest from another patient, but this did not disqualify him from inheriting from McClure.
