DECISION AND ORDER Jean-François Champollion Jean-François Champollion (1790-1832), a younger contemporary of Napleon Bonaparte, was a French philologist and Egyptologist credited with having deciphered ancient hieroglyphics through translation of the Rosetta Stone. It was Bonaparte who stimulated European interest in Egyptology during his expedition there. In 1822, Champollion published his decipherment of the Rosetta Stone hieroglyphics. (See Jean-François Champollion, Wikipedia, available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran percentC3 percentA7ois_Champollion [last accessed Aug. 11, 2024].) Unfortunately, despite 21st century technological advances, this Court has been confronted on various occasions with documents submitted on motions which could use the assistance of a Champollion to decipher. Introduction The instant action concerns the issue of who owns the Brooklyn property located at 585 Barbey Street. As alleged by Plaintiffs Debra Castaneda and Richard Serrano, by deed dated November 27, 1982, non-party Gladys Nova purchased the property; the deed embodying the transfer to Gladys Nova was recorded on December 16, 1982. Defendant Ralph Serrano and Gladys Nova maintained a non-marital relationship. Plaintiffs, the children of Ralph Serrano, while not being the issue of Gladys Nova, maintained a close relationship with the latter. On November 6, 1984, Gladys Nova transferred 25 percent of the property to each of the two Plaintiffs, who were then minors; the deed was recorded on November 8, 1984. This resulted in the property being owned 50 percent by Nova, 25 percent by Plaintiff Deborah Serrano (now Deborah Castaneda), and 25 percent by Richard Serrano. Nova had told Plaintiffs many times over the years about this transfer to them. Gladys Nova died on January 14, 2023, perhaps without a will. (See NYSCEF Doc No. 26
