Former Canucks owner’s sister takes family to court over mother’s will
Posted January 16, 2020 11:00 pm.
Last Updated January 16, 2020 11:23 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A member of a prominent Vancouver family is taking issue with her mother’s will and is taking the family to court.
Mary Louise Priebe is the daughter of Frank Griffiths, who once owned the Vancouver Canucks and a number of broadcast stations.
She is the sister of Arthur Griffiths, who took on ownership of the Canucks from his dad.
Priebe has filed a notice of claim in BC Supreme Court over the will her mother, Emily Griffiths, left behind,
Emily died in January, 2019. Her will has divided the ‘trust property’ into four for each of her offspring: Arthur, Mary, Francis, and Emily Jr.
In addition, each sibling got a cash settlement. According to the civil claim, Francis and Emily Jr. received $2.225 million each. Arthur received $940,000. Mary was allotted $1,000.
The court documents say the trustee who works on behalf of the family claims the will was so structured because of a benefit Priebe received from Emily. However, Priebe denies she received any such benefit. She also states all four siblings “benefited greatly” from Emily and that Francis received “by far the most benefits” from Emily during her lifetime but that there is “not the same corresponding set off as with the Plaintiff.”
Priebe also argues that even though the estate was divided into four equal parts, the specific terms of the will gives too much discretionary power to the trustees. She claims her portion of the trust will be paid to her “as trustees decide” and that the trustees have “complete control” over the terms of the trust, despite Priebe’s age and maturity.
She adds “to date, the Defendant Trustee has refused or neglected to pay any reasonable monies” to her.
Priebe says the trust does not adequately provide maintenance or support for her.
The documents say the gross value of the estate is unknown but has an estimated value of $12-million.
Priebe is seeking to adjust the will and to have the trust terminated with money in the trust paid to her in a lump sum.
