Copper heiress estate loses battle over $4M

NEW YORK (AP) — The estate of a copper heiress has lost a battle to recover over $4 million in donations she gave a New York City hospital where she lived for two decades.

A Manhattan Surrogate Court judge ruled the statute of limitations had expired to argue that the hospital had manipulated Huguette Clark into donating.

A Mount Sinai Beth Israel lawyer told The New York Times  it was gratified by the dismissal.

Clark died at 104. Her father was Montana copper baron and U.S. Sen. William A. Clark, who founded Las Vegas.

She had elected to spend her last 20 years in a hospital despite homes in three states.

The city’s public administrator, which controls the estate, said in court papers that Clark suffered from mental illness and was easily manipulated.