Updated

A former Medford police detective who specialized in investigating elder abuse has been accused of using her expertise to exploit the dementia of a Portland lawyer before his death last year.

The daughter of Victor Calzaretta says in a $4 million lawsuit filed in Portland that she was in line to inherit his estate until Calzaretta married Sue Campbell after a brief courtship. Calzaretta changed his will in 2011 to make his wife the executor and sole beneficiary.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Diane Miller in Multnomah County says the detective was familiar with the signs of dementia and married Calzaretta to get access to his estate.

Sue Campbell Calzaretta declined comment Thursday. Her lawyer, Jim Callahan, said his client adamantly denies the allegations.