Quiet title filing alleges fraud

ST. JOHN — A local woman is alleging her husband defrauded her and induced her to sign a quit claim dead.

In a Friday filing in Whitman County Superior Court alleges Lila Novak claims her husband, John Novak, used fraudulent inducement and undue influence to cause her to sign a quit claim deed for property.

According to the lawsuit, Lila Novak purchased the property in 1998 using her separate assets. Due to health issues in 2013, she signed a will naming her son heir and granting him power of attorney.

The claim states Lila Novak's health declined over years and she suffered progressive memory loss and dementia.

She was moved to an assisted-living facility in Colfax and then Spokane to receive care in 2019.

In 2019, Lila Novak's son discovered a 2016 quit claim on the property transferring an interest to John Novak, the lawsuit alleges.

The son allegedly found incidents of cash transfers and credit card transactions from Lila Novak for the defendant, the lawsuit alleges.

Lila Novak and her agent are seeking judgement declaring the 2016 quit claim null and void, the property title quieted, judgment against John Novak for damages, and injunction preventing him from interfering with her assets.

The lawsuit also seeks an award of attorney's fees.