Ex-Councilman Pays $1.3 Million to End Suit : Courts: Bill Baker settles a case brought by relatives of his deceased wife. They disputed her late-in-life decision to will him part of her multimillion-dollar estate.

Along-running battle over the multimillion-dollar estate of a Simi Valley woman came to a close Friday when relatives of the deceased woman accepted a $1.3-million settlement from her widowed husband.

Relatives of Lucile Chandler Estes, who died on Christmas Eve of 1989, agreed to the settlement offered by Estes’ widowed husband and onetime Simi Valley City Councilman Bill Baker during a brief hearing in Ventura County Superior Court.

“Enough is enough,” Superior Court Judge Steven Z. Perren said after deciding to authorize the settlement, putting an end to three years of legal wrangling over Estes’ estate. The estate has been estimated by some to be worth $12 million, but the exact figure has been disputed.

“This court has an affirmative duty to resolve litigation at the earliest possible date,” Perren said. “One million dollars has already been spent on this case, not benefiting anybody but the attorneys.”

Perren is expected to review and approve exact details of the settlement next week. But attorneys involved in the case say that will be merely a formality.

The settlement money will be divided among eight of Estes’ relatives--Jeffrey Showers, Gregory Showers, Bradley Showers, Nancy Showers Haddad, William A. Spencer, Stacey Spencer, Abby Spencer and Lilia M. Gillespie. How much each will receive has not been determined.

“We are pleased,” David Tredway, an attorney representing some of the family members, said of the settlement. “It is satisfactory.”

Baker also expressed relief that the legal dispute had finally been put to rest.

“It’s really the best and most feasible thing to do,” Baker said, beginning to sob.

Shortly after her death, Estes’ relatives filed a lawsuit against Baker, challenging his right to inherit her real estate fortune. Baker, who served on the City Council from 1978 to 1980, married Estes in 1986.

In the lawsuit, the relatives charged that Baker, who was 25 years younger than Estes, had befriended the ailing woman shortly before she died and then talked her into placing her assets into a trust with him in sole control.

The relatives alleged that Baker had persuaded Estes to remove them from what was supposed to be an irrevocable trust. Moreover, they charged that Estes, who was 81 at the time of her death, was not of sound mind when she agreed to put Baker in charge of her estate.

The trust, originally set up by Estes in 1986, was amended more than a dozen times before her death. It ultimately named Baker, three of Estes’ relatives and a friend as sole beneficiaries.

Baker said he is still upset about the allegations made against him in the lawsuit.

“Lucile and I loved each other very much,” he said. Baker said he pleaded with Estes to put a family member in charge of her estate, “but she said, ‘Bill, you’re the only one I trust.’ ”

Baker said that when Estes broke her hip and became bedridden shortly before her death, none of her relatives came to visit and care for her. He also said Estes was mentally sharp when she amended her trust.

“Her competency was 100% up until she died,” he said. “Lucile was one of the most intelligent women I’ve ever known.”

Baker said that Estes’ estate was actually worth $8.4 million, not $12 million as has been reported. His attorneys said there is about $2.3 million in cash and the rest is in stock and land holdings.

Asked why he finally agreed to settle, Baker said, “It’s eating us up, the taxes and the attorneys fees.” He added: “If this were to go to trial, there wouldn’t be any money left for the beneficiaries, and they know that.”