Unfortunate Turn: Veltins' Son Loses Million-Dollar Inheritance Battle
Velvin's son engages in conflict for his multi-million dollar inheritance stake
The much-anticipated inheritance dispute within the Veltins brewery family has been resolved. The 63-year-old son of the former CEO, Carl-Clemens Veltins, was unable to secure his share of the inheritance in court. His claim to a compulsory portion has simply expired.
Hailing from one of Germany's prosperous brewing dynasties, Carl-Clemens Veltins now faces an empty pocket instead of a multimillion-dollar inheritance. His mother, the long-term proprietor of the Sauerland brewery, decisively disinherited him in her will, opting to favor his aunt instead. The regional court dismissed his lawsuit today, confirming the disinheritance.
"The explicit disinheritance of a child is to be respected," the judge explained her decision. The plaintiff's claims to a compulsory portion no longer hold valid.
Before the trial, the 63-year-old Veltins offspring maintained an unflappable demeanor, despite the high stakes. The court initially set the dispute value at 30 million euros, and the Veltins son was required to deposit 360,000 euros to cover the court costs.
The youngest of three siblings attempted to challenge his mother's will, arguing that she was of unsound mind when she made it. However, the sisters' side refutes this claim. According to their lawyers, the family entrepreneur maintained control of the brewery until her death.
The court did not uphold the plaintiff's argument, deeming it inadmissible to question his mother's capacity to make the will. The Veltins sisters did not attend the trial. One of them, Susanne Veltins, operates the brewery alongside her nephew - a well-renowned name in the beer industry.
Brewers' Troubles
In German beer rankings, Veltins ranks third, behind Krombacher and Bitburger. The brewery, located in the Hochsauerland district, employs over 700 people and generates annual revenues of approximately 460 million euros. The brewery asserts that the court case has had no economic impact, characterizing it as a family dispute.
Behind Closed Doors
Lawyers remained tight-lipped about the case during the proceedings. Essentially, the defense argues that the claims have expired. No settlement is being considered, and even after the trial, they declined to comment on the matter.
Carl-Clemens Veltins, on the contrary, chose to use the media to present an account of a conniving family who sought to defraud him from the start. He claims that his mother coerced him into relinquishing his rights to the inheritance at the age of 18, after a night of revelry, while he was still under the influence.
Uncharted Territory
The court did not entertain that argument, either. According to the judges, the plaintiff had three years to establish his claim, if it was apparent that he would otherwise be disinherited. Despite Carl-Clemens Veltins' insistence, he was never informed about the will, never received a copy, and claims to have been ill-advised throughout the process. However, the court did not follow him, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in enforcing one's rights.
The future of the inheritance dispute within the Veltins siblings remains uncertain. An appeal can be filed with the Higher Regional Court.
The Veltins family's community policy, which governs inter-family matters, played a crucial role in the court's decision, upholding the disinheritance of Carl-Clemens Veltins. In the realm of sports, one might see parallels between this family dispute and a competitively intense game, where deciding on employment policy becomes the deciding factor for inheriting the multi-million euro brewery.
