‘Motivated by financial gain’: Aussie’s major claim for actor’s millions

A wild court battle has emerged over an actor’s multi-million dollar fortune, and it involves a major claim from his glamorous young Aussie personal assistant.

EXCLUSIVE

The battle over a European actor’s “substantial estate” has landed itself in an Aussie courtroom as his Melbourne-based personal assistant attempts to claim millions from his inheritance.

Italian-born actor Daniele Legler died in April 2022 at age 72, leaving behind a multimillion-dollar fortune through property across NSW, Portugal, Lichtenstein and Malta.

According to his IMBD, Mr Legler featured across 30 movies and TV shows in his life and was best known for his roles in the films Eine Liebe am Gardasee (2006), Marienhof (1992) and Tatort (1970).

Mr Legler’s father Fredy was also a “pioneer in textiles” and accumulated “considerable wealth” before establishing the “Legler foundation”.

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The pair first met after Ms Vernon helped him get a visa to Australia to visit his two youngest children from a previous marriage in Melbourne. She later became his personal assistant. Picture: Facebook

After his death, his estate was named as going to his five children as his only legitimate heirs.

However, his personal assistant Zhenya Vernon, who was born in Russia but is an Australian citizen, has since taken the matter to the NSW Supreme Court.

She states she was in a de facto relationship with Legler, with whom she had a 30-year age gap, before his death, which would give her claim to Mr Legler’s inheritance.

Mr Legler on the set of German TV show Kreuzfahrt ins Glück. Picture: Supplied

Mr Legler states on his website he was a performer for 30 years. Picture: Supplied

Ms Vernon, who has since legally changed her last name to Legler “in memory of Dany”, told the court the pair went from a “professional relationship” to a “personal relationship” in 2018 and were living together at his home in Portugal.

According to her LinkedIn, she remains in Melbourne where she continues to work as a visa consultant.

The court also heard how on the day after Mr Legler’s death, she withdrew $35,000 from his personal Westpac bank account which she had access to, before withdrawing another $22,300 three days later.

She also withdrew a total €63,000 ($102,076 AUD) from their joint bank account shortly after his death.

The court also heard how on the day after Mr Legler’s death, Ms Vernon wrote to an “on-and-off boyfriend”: “By the way the Swiss has died this Friday”.

Mr Legler was born in Italy, however, grew up in Switzerland.

Mr Legler ran acting workshops across the globe, including Australia. Picture: Facebook

The oldest of Mr Legler’s children, Nadja, 31, told the court that while the pair’s relationship may have gone beyond that of a personal assistant to a “sexual relationship” she did not believe they were together.

“She took the view that what Zhenya was doing in these proceedings was seeking to cheat her and her siblings out of their rightful inheritance, although she appeared to not quite understand the term “cheat out”,” the court decision states.

A signed photo of Mr Legler being sold on eBay. Picture: eBay

Mr Legler was born in Italy but grew up in Switzerland. His eldest three children, born from his first wife, were raised in Germany with his two youngest, born from his second wife, growing up in Australia. Picture: Supplied

The court also heard how Mr Legler had emailed his friend, who was also his lawyer, about Ms Vernon in 2018, saying he would change some bank accounts passwords to which she had access.

“I consider her a secret person, a friend, and lately a little bit more: ..ah ah !! A leopard can’t change its spots,” he wrote in the email before the court.

“I don’t tell her everything, but she obviously knows certain things since she followed my visa. I am 68 and there is some money, she knows.”

The Melbourne woman previously competed in women’s bodybuilding. She also released a book. Picture: Facebook

The court heard how Ms Vernon was “wholly dependent financially” on Mr Legler. Picture: Facebook

In his final decision, Justice Ian Pike ruled that while Ms Vernon was an “unsatisfactory and unreliable witness” who appeared to be “motivated by self-interest and financial gain” she did legally meet the criteria of a de facto spouse.

“Zhenya repeatedly refused to answer the question that she was asked but instead made long speeches which she believed would assist her case,” he noted.

Justice Pike said while the pair did travel constantly - mostly separately - both of them considered Mr Legler’s residence in Lagos, Portugal to be their “base” and were therefore living there together.

“I am satisfied that the relationship remained on foot as at the date of the death of the Deceased,” he said in his decision.

“She was his de facto within the meaning of the relevant statutory provisions.”

Justice Pike also ruled an independent person as administrator of the will going forward.

The matter is set to be relisted for a short hearing in July to hear the claim for costs.

Originally published as ‘Motivated by financial gain’: Aussie’s major claim for actor’s millions