The properties of a deceased heart surgeon in Carmel will be auctioned off after a dispute over the estate, which in total is valued at $2.4 million.
All five of Dr. John Pittman’s children inherited equal shares of his estate after he died on Christmas Day 2014. A lawsuit filed by his daughter Anne Kelton is forcing the auction of the Pittman family residence and entertainment complex at 201 W. 106 St. in Carmel.
His other children are four sons: Steve, Mark, Chad and John Pittman.
No date has been set for the auction.
The Carmel residence and entertainment complex are adjacent to each other and are assessed at $513,300 and $628,600 respectively, according to the court filing. The Carmel property includes a classic mid-century home, party barn, tennis court, racquetball court, indoor basketball court, swimming pool and a parking lot. It is one of only a few estate properties available in the 106th St. to 116th St. corridor.
There is also a seven-acre log cabin residential property in Zionsville at 11675 E. Sycamore St. that has been assessed at $628,600, according to the court filing.
The dispute is only over residences owned by Dr. Pittman and not any other potential developments, such as a 62-acre mixed-use project planned by Steve for the southwest corner of U.S. 421 and Sycamore Street in Zionsville.
Kelton could not be reached for comment at the time of publication, but Mark, a co-executor of his father’s estate, noted that property owners hold title as tenants-in-common and any one owner can bring a partition action. If the parties are not able to reach a resolution, then the court will order the property auctioned. In 2012, the Indiana state legislature changed the law to streamline the partition process.
“Our family has hosted hundreds of events at the compound during the past 20 years, including charitable events, political fundraisers and family reunions, and it is time for another family to enjoy the facilities,” Mark Pittman said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the property has been the subject of a family dispute that remains unresolved. As a result, my sister was forced to file the lawsuits and the properties will be liquidated.”
Steve told Current that he, along with his other brothers, believe that the best course of action would be to list the properties for sale with a real estate agent rather than putting it up for auction, but under state law one person can force the property to go up for auction even if the majority disagree.
