Manhattan Club Lawsuit

I would take the offer and get rid of it or it will be a total nightmare for your children as it was for me when I inherited two of them when my Mother died. She had only just begun realizing what a mess she had gotten herself into and then died. I can't tell you how awful my experience was. Don,t do that to your kids. If they end up getting rid of it, they arent going to make more than the $100 anyway, if that unless something really drastic occurs.

I read your prior message before posting. I am sorry that happened to you. I so not intend on passing this on to them.

Just a random thought over my morning coffee. And a follow up to the thread on inheriting a timeshare. Stick with me for a few moments. I'm doubting that many of us that have purchased timeshares over the past 30 or more years considered the death event consequences of the purchase. Especially under the high pressure sales tactics used by many in the industry. The Manhattan Club (IMO) is the poster child for what is wrong with the industry as a whole. Granted there are good, well intentioned developers in the industry. But I'm guessing most of us active on this forum would agree the owners, developers and managers of TMC aren't high on that list. Maybe we owners of the intangible 'time' need to lobby the industry with tangible results... What if we were to collectively build boilerplate language for inclusion in our individual wills? What if we built a database of our least favorite developers, lawmakers, industry lobbyist, etc. Then provide the boilerplate language to everyone to insert into their will. Willing the timeshare to your least favorite industry representative.

About 10 years or more from now when developer 'A' ends up with inheriting maintenance bills due to developer 'B' - or better yet politician 'A' owes developer 'B'.... I'm guessing we'd see laws enacted to allow the maintenance obligation to die with us.

Let's stop spewing 354 pages of complaints about how we were wronged and let's use social media to our benefit to enact change in the system. I'm confident there are smart legal minds in our collective that'll find gapping holes in my concept - but I'm thinking there might be value in some discourse to study it. I know TMC monitors this list. I'm happy to have them participate in an honest discussion on potential ways to modify industry contracts to be mutually acceptable.

I'm going back to my coffee.

Robert I rarely post anymore but I will if I think my experience will help others. I am not complaining, but sharing something about an issue someone brought up and needed valuable feedback on, which I believe I provided and in which I had very pertinent experience. That is what this forum is for. I am not on social media. I have no interest in discussing the corrupt time share industry. I have moved on. I would never have been a part of it, if I had not inherited. Enjoy your coffee.

I am not positively sure but can't an heir refuse part of their inheritance???

As I found out this is not necessarily true, though there are those who beg to differ. My Mother lived in VA, had the timeshares in NYC and I live in MA. Obviously the will was probated in VA and I was told by lawyers in VA that I had to accept everything I was inheriting, including the timeshares or if I wanted to refuse the timeshares I would have to refuse everything I was inheriting which I certainly did not want to do. I spent so much money and time trying to figure this out and in the end giving them back was my best option if I wanted these monkeys off my back. I was given so much information and advice by several real estate and regular lawyers and came away from the grueling process realizing most did not know what they were talking about and there was no way to get out of the situation, other than the way I chose. With all this said, I learned that issues like what State you live in, what kind of contract you have etc matters. I am sharing my experience. Perhaps there is another way.

PS. On top of my Mother’s will being probated in Virginia, where she lived, I also had to file an ancillary probate in NY.

I believe if an heir refuses part of an inheritance, it just goes back to the estate. I bought TMC about 15 years ago and enjoyed it very much. A few years ago, I decided to get rid of it, so it was not a burden for my kids. I took the $100 buyout. Did it hurt? Sure. But I learned a long time ago that when making an important decision, it was best to completely forget the past and just consider what is best for me and my family going forward. Your family will have enough on their plates when you are gone. Don't add TMC to their issues.

You can't believe/assume anything. You have to do your research and know what will happen. As I said previously, circumstances may vary depending on different issues. Do your homework. Or get rid of the timeshare while you are alive, unless your kids want to keep it. Then they know what they are signing up for or maybe not.

Hey Dks - just a quick note to say I truly empathize with what you've been through. My proposed solution in no way was meant to imply you were complaining. I apologize if what I said lead you to believe that. I've been an on and off contributor to this forum for many years. Your situation prompted me to consider a potential solution that MIGHT highlight one of many industry shortcomings. Thanks for sharing your experiences - I think it's a valuable lesson for many. Just sorry to hear it was so painful on your end.

Did any MANHATTEN CLUB MEMBER get money from the lawsuit?

My suggestion is definitely have in writing any agreements,offers,etc from TMC. Also,I would request that if your account was turned over to collections that to is removed in writing. Verbal communication with TMC cannot be trusted. Good luck.

Hello mc victims Spoke to attorney Marc Zimmerman on April 13 2023 re class action suit and he feels it has a good chance for a positive outcome. This property has a great deal of value and those who have established a legal claim may have a very substantial stake. Those who sell or do not establish legal representation would get nothing. I have refused the $100 buyout and paid nothing to anyone for 15 years. Consider the cost of $1995 to join lawsuit as a lottery ticket at a minimum with potential big payouts. Mc hopes you walk away and that my reason to stay in the game.

There has been numerous twists and turns. And tmc has no intention of voluntarily settling anything. All they offer is $100 possibly and nothing to those still paying

As far as I know nothing has happened to those who simply stopped paying

If a settlement happens those not represented will get nothing

penneyo2 wrote:

Did any MANHATTEN CLUB MEMBER get money from the lawsuit?

I understand that you do not need to accept an inheritance. So my lawyer says.

My lawyer says that one does not need to accept an inheritance.

Doesn't it then go back to (or stay with) the estate?

I saved this RedWeek post from 2017 To all those inquiring about your heirs being saddled with this albatross: I have been a practicing estates lawyer in NY for nearly 50 years. The information given to you by Laura (I believe her name was) was basically correct: your beneficiary cannot be "forced" to inherit (and therefore have to pay for maintenance etc.) for the timeshare. The legal route is to execute a disclaimer within 9 months after death, and make sure that you do NOT accept the timeshare by using it or otherwise indicating acceptance (e.g., trying to sell it as if you own it). However, each state has its own laws as to how one disclaims. …...Note though: the (resort) can then also disclaim it, so there are some further fine points legal steps that must be implemented in your Will or trust to deal with that possibility. But most definitely your heirs are NOT bound to accept the timeshare and make the payments if a proper disclaimer strategy is included in your estate planning documents. stevenw on May 02, 2017 06:01 PM.

Hello How do I join the class action suit? Is it too late? Stephanie

Technically it's not a class action. Mr. Zimmerman is representing individual claims. Contact information for Mr. ZImmerman is on his website.

https://www.zimmermanlawgroup.com