The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has upheld a ruling directing attorney John Sogliuzzo to repay $591,535 on a claim that he exercised undue influence to take the assets of an elderly aunt.

The Third Circuit rejected Sogliuzzo’s claims that the trial court made errors when it entered the order. Sogliuzzo was sued by his sister, Jane Adkins, who claimed he misappropriated the funds of Mary Grimley. The ruling affirms an award of $391,040 in damages and $200,495 in prejudgment interest to Adkins. Adkins claimed that her brother took $70,000 in cash that Grimley was storing in her home, and that he cashed in $321,040 in bonds belonging to Grimley.