Death during lawsuit

>>17720525
>As the widow / legal spouse, doesn't she become the representative/heir of his estate?
Sure, but if his will indicated that the money goes to someone else, then there's not much she can do about it. Plus, if the case hasn't settled yet, that money isn't even part of his estate, so there's no reason she should get any of it.

>>17720534

it'd be a different case at that point i think.

consult a DIFFERENT lawyer and find out

maybe its due to an inheritance/estate tax?

>>17720539
>it'd be a different case at that point i think.
What do you mean? If OP's father had a judgment in his favour, then yes, the money is part of his estate. If the case was still at trial, then no, it wouldn't be.

http://info.legalzoom.com/can-deceased-persons-lawsuit-automatically-terminated-21638.html

"In a civil lawsuit, if the plaintiff dies, the beneficiaries and heirs to the plaintiff's estate inherit the lawsuit. The person named in the deceased person's will as his executor, or the person named by the court as administrator of the estate if there is no will, can continue the lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person. If the case settles, the executor or administrator distributes the proceeds to the beneficiaries and heirs. To continue the lawsuit, most jurisdictions require that, within 90 days of death, a notice of death and a copy of the death certificate be filed with the court requesting that a successor to the lawsuit be appointed. A failure to do so could result in an automatic dismissal of the lawsuit. The executor or administrator appointed to handle the decedent's estate should consult with the beneficiaries and heirs of the estate before settling the lawsuit to ensure that there is no dispute regarding the resolution of the case."