Berger v. Stephan

This is a dispute among family members concerning their respective claims to the proceeds of the sale of a ranch in Crook County, Oregon. The parties to the dispute, plaintiffs Freidrich and Erika Berger, 1 along with the two primary defendants, their daughter Kristine Berger Benks and her domestic partner, Rudiger Stephan, have held the property as tenants in common in a life estate, with cross-contingent remainders in fee simple. 2 Freidrich and Erika 3 sought a partition or sale of the property pursuant to ORS 105.205. 4 They also sought the recovery of funds from Kristine for loans and…