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Husband Died And His Brother Took The Businesses

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My husband of 26 years had a heart attack and passed June 2024.He was 52, and we thought great health. He owned 2 successful construction businesses. His brother, whom he was extremely close to, offered to help close out the jobs he had opened when he passed. His brother shared a office with him, he does flooring work. I knew nothing about his business and was concerned about being sued so I was grateful he offered. He suggested I close both DBA's in case there was an unhappy customer and they decided to sue. I later learned that unless he had a LLC, he wasn't protected neither was his estate. 3 weeks after he passed, I closed both businesses. He immediately opened one in the same name but added a dash so he could assume work for that business and give me a percentage. I was dealing with so much, selling our house, we have a 12 yr old. I went with it and fully trusted him. Months went by, I never seen a dime. He was trying to convince me he was still closing up jobs. I was hearing from his employees that they were done with those jobs and had taken on new jobs. I finally asked him to sign a contract, I realize I did this all backwards. He quit talking to me for 2 months, when he finally contacted me, he had already closed that business down and my husbands phone number that I gave him. At that time our relationship was damaged and i strongly felt he was not planning on letting that business go. I did a reverse search of his phone number and I found he opened the same type of business my husband owned, plus added the same type of second business he owned in his own name. He has my husbands tools, he is working everyone of his employees and I'm assuming he rerouted my husband's customers to himself. I am heartbroken, not necessarily monatery wise, more so because my husband spent 27 yrs building this business for him to just step into it, change the name and move on. I no longer live in Michigan, where all of this took place. My question is, do I have any rights to sue? I closed the business, it was solely in my husbands name, however I am the executor of his estate. I don't want to waste my time and money if there is nothing I can do. I absolutely hate to see him profit off of what my husband worked so hard to build.

submitted by /u/brendasaylor
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