Growing Stronger episode #25 & 26: The Secret Lover Part 1 and Part 2

This complex case spanned many court hearings and many years, accruing an astonishing amount in legal fees.

As the heart of it was George Sclavos, a pharmacist who owned a pharmacy in Leppington and who was 65 when he died in August 2013.

And we have Okan Yesilhat. A former police officer, now co-owner of a tyre business.  He was 30 years younger than George and after George’s death, claimed that for 14 years they had been having a secret romantic and sexual relationship.

This secret relationship was at the basis of Okan’s legal claims:

  • his claim for family provision from George’s extensive estate, worth $6m at his death,
  • his claim that extensive funds he had received from George were gifts and not loans,
  • his claim that the George’s informal will had been fabricated.

Did George and Okan have a secret 14-year relationship? Or was the whole thing a fantasy, an elaborate story and elaborate deception intended to fleece the estate?

In part 1 – We outline the evidence, the versions and arguments of each side and the evidence of the witnesses.

In part 2 – We discuss the findings of the Court, the orders made and what we can learn from this case.

Citation: Yesilhat v Calokerinos [2015] NSWSC 1028; Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat [2017] NSWSC 666 (9 June 2017); Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat (No 2) [2019] NSWSC 584 (22 May 2019); Calokerinos, Executor of the Estate of the late George Sclavos v Yesilhat (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 1752 (13 December 2019); Yesilhat v Calokerinos [2021] NSWCA 110 (28 May 2021)

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NOTES: While this podcast is aimed to be informative, it is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. For any matter we discuss, we summarise, skip over parts that may be too technical and only generalise. You should still see a solicitor for complete advice that relates directly to your particular situation.

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