Defense Attorney: ‘The fact is Dick Poe disinherited his son’
Travis Crawford, a local car delear, and several Dick Poe employees were in the courtroom during closing arguments in the battle over the estate of late El Paso car dealer Dick Poe.
Poe seized control of his estate with a stock transaction 10 days before his death in May 2015. His eldest son, Richard Poe II, is suing to regain control of three delearships and is also seeking damages from three employees currently managing the estate.
“Why did (the stock issuance) occur? Because it was a hijacking, a hostile takeover,” Rob Millimet, Poe II’s attorney, said during closing arguments Monday. “Why didn’t they tell him? They knew if Richard found out he could stop (the stock issuance).”
Millimet further stated the three defendants cannot be trusted.
Richard Munzinger, the defense attorney, countered by saying, “Justice requires the truth. Sometimes truth is bitter. Sad. This is one of those cases.”
Munzinger also questioned whether Dick Poe and his eldest son had a loving relationship. “Where were the witnesses to that,” the attorney asked.
“The fact of the matter is, for some reason, Dick Poe disinherited his son Richard,” Munzinger said, “I take no pleasure in saying this. I’m a father. This isn’t nice, but it’s true.”
During the trial, the defense argued Dick Poe did not trust his eldest son because he feared he was on drugs. It also pointed to Poe II’s failed businesses. “What would you do? Issue shares of stock or leave it in hands of man who lost $18 million,” Munzinger asked the jury.
“Dick did this because he was concerned for (his younger son) Troy, the dealerships and to care for Richard,” Joe Hood, another defense attorney, said, “When Dick died he wanted someone other than Richard in control. He had valid reasons for it.”
“Dick never told anyone he did it because his son had a drug problem. Why? It’s fabricated,” Poe II’s attorney said.
Jury deliberations are underway. ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt is in the courtroom. Look for live coverage during ABC-7 at 4, KVIA.com and the KVIA ABC-7 Facebook page.
