HOUSTON – A woman claiming to be John O’Quinn’s widow took her fight over part of his estate to court in Houston Friday, claiming that the famed attorney intended for her to have five of his classic cars to start a museum.
O’Quinn was killed in a single-car crash in October of 2009.
According to his will, signed in July of 2008, his vast fortune should go to his charity, the John M. O’Quinn Foundation, which supports hospitals in the Texas Medical Center and schools that serve underprivileged children.
But Darla Lexington, who says she was O’Quinn’s common-law wife, claims the late attorney gave her five of his classic cars, and that they were supposed to be housed in a museum she and O’Quinn intended to build.
"We’re totally looking forward to trying to carry out what we believe John intended. Darla wants these cars to be the nucleus of a car museum. She wants these cars to be something that’s good for Houston," Jimmy Williamson, Lexington’s attorney, said.
However, attorneys for O’Quinn’s estate argue that all of his assets were willed to the foundation. They claim O’Quinn had pledged a number of his classic cars – including the five in question – as collateral to pay off debt. That debt has been estimated to be about $90 million.
"The will leaves all of Mr. O’Quinn’s estate to his charitable foundation, and that includes the cars at issue," attorney Dale Jefferson said.
In all, the estate plans to sell 31 cars to pay off the debt. Lexington became emotional during testimony Friday when asked about the cars set for auction.
"They would not give me a list. I am treated like I never knew John O’Quinn. That’s my answer," Lexington said through tears.
Further muddying the waters is the fact that in his will, O’Quinn said he was unmarried.
Jefferson said while there was a relationship between O’Quinn and Lexington, they were not husband and wife.
But Lexington said she lived with O’Quinn for 10 years, and that she called him her husband. The high-society couple often went to auctions together, where they bid on – and frequently purchased – exotic and unique vehicles.
Her legal team brought several witnesses to the stand Friday, who told the judge O’Quinn had, in fact, bought the five cars in question for Lexington.
They also cited an interview conducted at one of the auctions, in which O’Quinn – on camera – said he’d purchased a 1938 Talbot Lago for Lexington.
"The only thing I want to say right now, because the judge hasn’t made a decision, is that I’m hoping it’s a good decision for Houston and for John O’Quinn," Lexington said.
The judge said there would not be a decision on the case until Monday.
