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Oborny mail fraud trial rescheduled

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The criminal trial of a woman who allegedly forged the a codicil to her employer’s will in an attempt to gain millions of dollars from his estate has been pushed back.

The new trial date for former Hays bookkeeper, Wanda Oborny, has been rescheduled to 9 a.m. Feb. 19 in Wichita before Judge J. Thomas Marten.

The case had been set to go to trial Sept. 18, but was pushed back during a court conference in late August.

Related story: Woman involved in multimillion-dollar probate case in Hays indicted for mail fraud

A civil court earlier ruled against Oborny, who was seeking a portion of her former employer Earl O. Field’s $20 million estate.

Oborny alleged her employer signed a codicil to his will shortly before his death in 2013, leaving half of his estate to her with a quarter of the estate going to Fort Hays State University and the rest going to Field’s attorney, Joseph Jeter.

However, a district court and appellate court both found the codicil and Field’s signature on it were fakes, clearing the way for FHSU to receive the bulk of the estate, which is supposed to be dedicated to scholarships.

Oborny also sought more than $1 million in attorney’s fees from the estate. However, an appellate court found she acted in bad faith and she should not receive the attorney’s fees.

Related story: Court rules in FHSU’s favor; bookkeeper denied millions in Field will case

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