Allegations of fraud and undue influence over the estate of a deceased physician have led to a federal lawsuit seeking compensatory, consequential, and punitive damages. The complaint was filed by James G. Gorman III and Nathan P. Gorman in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on April 22, 2026, naming David Avedissian and The Law Office of David A. Avedissian, Esquire, LLC as defendants.
According to the filing, the plaintiffs are the sons and only children of Dr. James G. Gorman Jr., who passed away on August 11, 2025. They allege that after their father’s diagnosis with stage 4 thymic carcinoma in early 2017, he executed a Last Will and Testament on March 15, 2017 (“2017 Will”), which left all assets equally to his two sons and named James as executor. The same day, Dr. Gorman also signed a Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney Directive naming James as agent.
The complaint states that these documents were drafted by defendant David Avedissian but were not seen by the plaintiffs until shortly before Dr. Gorman’s death in August 2025. Plaintiffs claim that James never signed the Power of Attorney document at any time.
A central issue arises from the discovery in July 2025 of a previously unknown will dated February 27, 2019 (“2019 Will”). This document allegedly introduced Melissa Pereen as a one-third beneficiary alongside Dr. Gorman’s sons—a significant change from prior arrangements—and replaced James with Avedissian as executor. Plaintiffs assert that their father never mentioned including Ms. Pereen in his will or removing James as executor.
The suit alleges that Ms. Pereen had an on-again, off-again relationship with Dr. Gorman beginning around 2014 while working at his medical office, and that she ingratiated herself into his life during periods when he was ill and vulnerable due to cancer treatments and cognitive decline.
Plaintiffs further allege that Avedissian concealed the existence of the 2019 Will until after Dr. Gorman’s death despite knowing James was acting as fiduciary agent for his father at that time: “Avedissian never provided James with the 2019 Will or advised him of its existence until after Dr. Gorman passed away.”
The complaint also accuses Avedissian of attempting to change beneficiaries on Dr. Gorman’s $3 million Banner Life Insurance policy to add Ms. Pereen as a beneficiary both before and after Dr. Gorman’s death using forms allegedly bearing forged signatures: “The April 16, 2025 beneficiary designation form allegedly submitted by Avedissian seeking to add Ms. Pereen bears what is obviously a forged version of Dr. Gorman’s signature.”
Additional claims include allegations that after Dr. Gorman’s passing, Avedissian took control over the medical practice (of which Dr. Gorman was sole owner), attempted to sell it for less than its alleged value while allowing Ms. Pereen continued employment there, allowed unauthorized access to confidential information by non-attorneys including his paralegal Barbara Hanson (who allegedly misrepresented herself as an attorney), and engaged in questionable credit card processing practices within the business.
On legal grounds, plaintiffs bring five counts: tortious interference with expected inheritance; tortious interference with contract (regarding life insurance); breach of fiduciary duty; common law fraud; and aiding/abetting undue influence by facilitating Ms. Pereen’s involvement in estate matters contrary to their father’s prior intentions.
The suit seeks compensatory damages for losses incurred through alleged fraudulent acts; consequential damages related to lost inheritance or business value; punitive damages; costs; attorneys’ fees; “and all such other relief as the Court deems just and equitable.” Plaintiffs have requested a jury trial for all triable issues.
Bruce H. Nagel is designated as trial counsel for plaintiffs James G. Gorman III and Nathan P. Gorman in this matter under Civil Case No.: 1:26-cv-04278.
Source: 126cv04278_Gorman_III_v_Avedissian_Complaint_District_New_Jersey.pdf
