Fashion Heiresses Defeated in Court Over $35 Million Manhattan Mansion
A dramatic legal saga has concluded with two fashion heiresses losing their battle for a historic $35 million Manhattan townhouse that once belonged to Jackie Kennedy Onassis's renowned designer, Oleg Cassini. The Gilded Age mansion on 63rd Street in the Upper East Side was officially sold for $34.5 million on Tuesday, ending years of contentious court wrangling.
Years of Litigation and Eviction
Sisters Marianne and Peggy Nestor, both in their 80s, desperately fought to hold onto the property, which had been in their family since 1984. Marianne, the widow of Oleg Cassini, used the home as her late husband's design studio until his death in 2006. The sisters' troubles began six years ago when creditors initiated litigation to collect millions in mortgage and lien debts.
Their resistance culminated in eviction two years ago by a bankruptcy judge after they refused access to bankruptcy trustee Albert Togut, who was appointed to sell the property. Despite the sale netting $32 million, reports indicate the sisters will still lack sufficient funds to clear their debts, which exceed $30 million.
Emotional Outcry and Accusations
In an emotional response, Marianne Nestor told Business Insider, "I'm suing everybody. They're crooked as hell." She labeled the court's decision as "totally incorrect" and alleged "deed fraud." The sisters argued they could have repurchased the "rent-stabilized" home, but the judge denied their request.
Trustee Albert Togut described the proceedings as "miserably difficult," criticizing the sisters for years of "frivolous appeals and objections" that created a "litigation cloud." The sale occurred exactly two decades after Cassini's death, adding a poignant note to the dispute.
Cassini's Legacy and Further Legal Woes
Oleg Cassini was a pivotal figure in fashion history, serving as Jackie Kennedy's personal couturier from 1961 and earning the nickname "Secretary of Style." He transformed her into a fashion icon and had a storied career dressing Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Manhattan sale follows the forced market listing of Cassini's 14-bedroom Long Island mansion eight years ago for $19.5 million. The Nestors still have access to a $5 million Connecticut mansion purchased by Peggy in 2021, but a judge has ordered its sale to help settle debts. Additionally, the sisters have pending cases against Togut, accusing him of impropriety, underscoring the ongoing legal turmoil.
