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nn Giurdanella, an 88‑year‑old widow from the East Village, is suing to recover a larger portion of her late husband Robert’s $45 million estate. Robert, who died in December 2021 at 89, owned 14 rental and commercial buildings on East 11th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A, as well as a Highland Beach condo and a Putnam County home. He also left $1 million in cash.

    The couple had two children, Christine and Carlo. Robert’s real‑estate holdings were built over decades, partly through the family firm Giurdanella Bros. Inc., which once employed more than 40 people and spawned Bella Tile Co. to give relatives work opportunities.

    Despite the apparent wealth, Ann claims she has received only $133,000 since her husband’s death, while seeking a $15 million share of the estate. She alleges that her daughter Christine deliberately excluded her from the inheritance, stole her Social Security benefits, and took the Highland Beach condo. Christine denies all accusations, and the dispute remains unresolved.

    In September, Ann filed a lawsuit against Midtown attorney Gregg Weiss, who drafted Robert’s estate documents. She accuses Weiss of fraud, legal malpractice, and negligence, asserting that he misrepresented the estate’s value as $2 million and failed to explain her rights as a spouse. Ann contends that the estate plan placed assets in a trust controlled by Christine, and that Weiss’s actions caused her to sign documents—deeds to the Florida condo and Putnam home—without understanding them. She claims she was physically and emotionally weakened after her husband’s death, hospitalized for weeks, and later sent home on Lorazepam.

    A Manhattan Surrogate judge dismissed Ann’s bid for a share of the estate, citing missed deadlines and labeling her allegations against Christine as irrelevant. The judge also noted that Ann’s $15 million claim would have disrupted the estate plan and triggered $11 million in taxes. Ann’s attorney declined to comment, while Christine’s lawyer pointed to the court’s dismissal of the mother’s claims. Gregg Weiss defended his conduct, stating he faithfully represented Robert’s interests and saved the family $11 million in taxes, calling Ann’s accusations baseless.

    Ann’s lawsuit reflects a bitter family feud over a sizable real‑estate portfolio that once supported a local construction and tile business. The case continues to unfold in Manhattan courts.