Local Judge and Attorney Appointed in Benson Battle

A Texas judge is expected to appoint a former mayor of San Antonio and a local attorney to jointly take over a trust established for the benefit of Tom Benson’s estranged daughter Renee—effectively removing Tom Benson as trustee for now. 

Bexar County Probate Court Judge Tom Rickhoff is expected to make the order official after a hearing on Monday.  Yesterday in open court, the judge said the former mayor, Phil Hardberger, and local probate attorney, Art Bayern, are best suited to assist in resolving the bitter dispute between Tom Benson and Renee Benson over who should control the trust.

Hardberger explained, “We stand in the shoes now of the trustee by order of the court.  In short, we’ll make decisions on all the assets.”  Hardberger and Bayern will be stepping into a broader conflict between Benson and his daughter over the future ownership of the Saints and Pelicans sports franchises. 

See Jaquetta, Surprise Move: Judge Expected to Appoint Ex-San Antonio Mayor, Local Attorney to Overtake Renee Benson Trust, The Advocate, Feb. 5, 2015.