In On The Origins of Inequality, political theorist Jean-Jacques Rousseau hypothesizes that foresight holds men apart from other mammals. Unfortunately for lesbianic IBM-heiress Olive F. Watson (pictured), she's not part of the in-crowd.

In an attempt to provide for her longtime partner, Patricia A. Spado, Watson - whose father Thomas Watson Jr. grew IBM from a small company to an technological powerhouse - took advantage of a Maine law allowing adult adoption, thus cementing Spado's place in her bed - and her life. Of course, as happens, Watson and Spado's relationship crumbled. Now, sixteen years later, the two women are fighting over Watson's father's fortune.

With Watson's mother's death in 2004, Thomas Watson's children and eighteen grandchildren each got a stake of the sizable fortune. Spado, however, alleges she's entitled to a piece of the pie. The family went to court in Maine to annul the adoption and won on a technicality. In light of the news, Spado produced papers signed by Watson saying Watson would never annul the adoption. Now, a higher court's rule the annulment invalid, thus setting the stage for what will prove to be a drag-out battle of the greediest.

[Read On ...]

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