Benson Fighting Probate Battles

As I have previously discussed, Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints & Pelicans, is currently involved in a challenge against his competency brought by his daughter and grandchildren. Two separate courts, one in New Orleans and one in San Antonio, have similar cases before them in the matter. The issue arose after Benson fired his daughter and two grandchildren who he had been grooming to take over the teams, and swapped trust assets.

Benson’s family expressed concern in their court filings that he needed protection from his wife who they claim is manipulating him, and mentioned Benson’s candy and wine heavy diet as evidence of mental incompetence. Benson countered that the business decision to change who ownership of the teams goes to at his death was based on his protégé family members falling short of his expectations.

See Bloomberg News, Saints Owner In $1.7 Billion Family Feud Over Team Control, Financial Advisor, Feb. 4, 2015.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.