Nina Simone’s Daughter Sues HTC, Lawyers

Lisa Simone Kelly has filed suit against HTC and Manhattanadvertising agency Deutsch LA, seeking $1 million in damages.  She claims the companies neither soughtpermission nor paid Simone’s estate for use of the 1965 hit song “Sinnerman.”

Kelly also filed a separate lawsuit against former attorneysSussan Shore, Blake Rummel, and estate-planning law firm Weinstock, Manion,Reisman, Shore & Neumann, seeking $450,000 in damages.  Kelly claims they failed to investigatewhether her mother was domiciled in France at the time of her death.  She claims it was in her best interest tohave the estate administered in France, but the firm wanted the estate probatedin California in order to net them more fees.

See Matt Reynolds,HTC, Lawyers Sued by Nina Simone’sDaughter, Courthouse News Service, Oct. 1, 2013.