Bequest to Panama's poor is blocked by donor's family

In Wilson Lucom's Will it, he granted his wife a monthly pension of $20,000 and use of his artwork, grand piano and furniture for as long as she lives. He gave her five children, descendants of the Arias family, one-time payments of $50,000 to $200,000 each. As for the 7,000-acre oceanfront cattle ranch that he had bought from the Arias family, he wanted that sold, with the assets going to the poor.

It would be one of the largest charitable donations, if not the largest, in Panama's history, but so far not a single child has had access to the money. The will has set off a vicious legal battle that is playing out in at least four countries. Criminal charges have been filed, insults traded and threats made. The number of law firms involved exceeds 20. Updates on this case can be found at http://www.LucomChildren.com

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