Samuel "Pat" Black owns dozens of local businesses.

In a case now in federal court, he claims his adopted daughter Sumi James gained his trust, then carried out business dealings to benefit herself and not him.

He, through his lawyers, say attorneys from the Knox firm helped.

"Virtually every decision she made was for her, not for Mr. Black's. The Knox Firm knew it. She didn't make a single decision for his benefit in the last several years," said attorney Gery Nietupski.

Black's attorneys say he was duped, and documents he signed would later be changed without his knowledge.

"Mr. Black would be told that he was buying property. He would sign paperwork that he was buying such property, and then paperwork would change on the cover where his name would be taken off, and one of the other defendants' names would be put on," Nietupski alleged. "So, it was conduct where he thought he was buying things, he was doing things, he was acquiring things, none of which turned out to be in his name."

In filings, the Knox Firm's lawyers say that's not true.

 They say Black became upset with James and is trying to undo decisions he made years ago.

Court filings on behalf of the Knox Firm say:

"The case arises out of a father’s change of heart with respect to two and a half years of estate planning decisions after he and his adult daughter became estranged in or about 2022...  Following the father-daughter estrangement, the Knox Firm, father’s estate planning attorneys between 2020 and 2022, have unfortunately, and without reason been caught in the crossfire."

Attorneys for the Knox Firm and Sumi James declined to comment for this report, citing the pending litigation.

 

  It's critical to note this case is currently in the complaint stage, and Judge Susan Paradise Baxter has been assigned to handle it.

The Knox Firm's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss, saying there's no case and it should not proceed.

Judge Baxter is expected to rule on that motion, perhaps granting attorneys a chance to provide oral arguments before making a decision on whether the case can proceed.