Widow fights daughter over $45 million East Village estate

A grief-stricken widow in New York City is contesting her late husband’s estate, alleging that her daughter cut her out of a $45 million East Village real estate empire. Ann Giurdanella, 88, says she has received only about $133,000 since Robert Giurdanella’s death in December 2021 at age 89 and is pursuing roughly $15 million as a spousal share.

Robert Giurdanella built a portfolio that included multiple rental buildings and commercial units on East 11th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A, along with other properties. Court records show he left about $1 million in cash, a Highland Beach, Florida condo, and a Putnam County home. The family-run Giurdanella Bros. Inc. once employed more than 40 people and spawned Bella Tile Co. as part of a broader business footprint tied to the couple’s real estate activity in the East Village.

Despite the apparent wealth, Ann Giurdanella has accused her daughter, Christine, of cutting her out of the estate and has pressed for a larger share. In court filings, she argues she has not been informed of her rights and alleges that Christine controls a trust containing the assets meant for distribution. Ann’s lawsuits contend that Christine’s control of the estate would deprive her of rightful spousal rights and that the estate plan was not explained to her before she signed documents prepared by a Midtown attorney.

Christine Giurdanella has denied the allegations. The estate plan reportedly placed assets in a trust controlled by Christine, and documents were presented to Ann in February 2022 with a notary present, according to the widow’s filings. Ann says she was overwhelmed by grief after Robert’s death, was hospitalized for weeks, and signed papers she did not fully understand. She asserts that she did not contest the estate plan, and she claims the documents included deeds to the Florida condo and Putnam County home, along with language she would not challenge the plan.

A Manhattan Surrogate Court judge previously rejected Ann’s bid to obtain a larger share of the estate, saying she missed legal deadlines and described her accusations as irrelevant to the case. The judge also held that pursuing a $15 million share would disrupt the estate plan and would trigger roughly $11 million in taxes. A lawyer for Ann did not comment, while a lawyer for Christine pointed to the court’s dismissal of the allegations as evidence that the case lacked merit.

Gregg Weiss, the Midtown lawyer who prepared Robert Giurdanella’s estate documents, did not respond to comment for this report, but a representative for Christine’s side noted that Weiss said he faithfully represented the estate’s interests and helped avoid additional tax liability. Weiss has publicly defended his role, stating that the estate’s tax position was prudent and that the late husband’s plan was designed to preserve family wealth within the framework of a trust.

The dispute also involves a broader question of spousal rights, known in New York as the right of spousal election, and how such rights interact with an estate plan that relies on a trust structure to manage and distribute assets after death. Ann’s filings suggest she believed she was entitled to more than the plan allowed, while Christine contends that the court has already addressed the matter and that the trust structure was designed to protect the estate from unnecessary tax burdens.

The estate’s holdings lie at the heart of a multi-generational family business history in the East Village. The properties, concentrated on East 11th Street and surrounding blocks, form a significant portion of a local real estate footprint that has defined the Giurdanellas’ business activities for decades. The case highlights the complexities that can arise when real estate wealth is transferred to a successor generation through trusts rather than direct bequests, and it underscores the ongoing tensions that can accompany large, multi-property portfolios.

The litigation remains active, with each side presenting its arguments to the courts. Analysts note that the outcome could influence how similar family-run real estate empires plan for succession, the tax implications of spousal rights, and the ways in which court rulings define a beneficiary’s standing in disputes over trust-controlled assets. The East Village properties themselves—homes and commercial spaces that anchor much of the Giurdanella family’s business—remain central to the ongoing legal and financial debate surrounding the estate.