98-year-old woman fights eviction

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) - A woman was served eviction papers on her 98th birthday by her son, and while the case is extreme, her lawyer says he sees this issue more than he would like.
The attorney representing 98-year-old Mary Kantorowski who lives in Fairfield County says Mary has been touched by the outpouring of support since News 8 aired the story Thursday night.

"She still can't believe that her son wants to evict her from her home and she has no intentions of leaving it," said Richard Bortolot, Jr., Mary's attorney. "She said it herself, this is my home, this is where I'm staying."
He told News 8 how he plans to fight the eviction in court.

"My position for Mary is that she has a life use. At the minimum she has a life use in the home and based upon that life use [she] cannot be evicted from the premises," Bortolot explained.

He says what's happening to Mary should serve as a warning for all elderly residents.

Before Mary's husband died, the couple, who had lived in the house since 1953, transferred the title to their son Peter Kantorowski, the one now trying to evict her. At the time, she says Peter promised them they would live out their lives in the home. That promise was never put in writing and clearly not kept.

"The breach of trust that's out there right now is just not good, it's a very prevalent thing," Bortolot said.

Especially among families, he says.

"As a piece of advice if someone walks in with an attorney, whether it's your own child bringing an attorney in or your grandchild, sign nothing. Do nothing until you get your own person to look at it," he advised.

The two parties will face each other in Bridgeport court on March 2.