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Community Corner

Blakeman Heirs Reportedly Suing State

Family is suing state over General Assembly's recent passage of retroactive increase to the estate tax, according to article in the Hartford Courant.

The heirs of the estate of Monty Blakeman, the wealthy Shelton developer who died in April, are reportedly suing the state over the recent increase to the estate tax passed by the General Assembly on May 4, retroactive to Jan. 1.

Blakeman, founder of Shelton’s and a , died 11 days before the law was passed and the family is reportedly claiming "an unconstitutional taking" of his property, because the increase was made retroactive, according to an article in the Hartford Courant.

As per the new law, all estates of more than $2 million are now subject to the state’s estate tax, lowered from the previous threshold of $3.5 million.

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According to the Hartford Courant article, family members were “stunned” when they received “an additional tax bill of more than $100,000.” They claim that the legislature’s action to make the increase retroactive is “unfair,” and there are others who agree.

The article, however, points out that the General Assembly has approved retroactive increases in the past, including one in 2005. It includes interviews with other families that have been affected by past retroactive increases.

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Blakeman Construction was ranked sixth on the town’s last year, with a total value of $31.388 million.

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