Gayle Benson’s Past May Come Under Scrutiny

I have previously discussed the ongoing battle between Tom Benson and his heirs over his decision to implement his wife, Gayle, as his successor. 

This choice could lead the court to put Gayle’s business background under the microscope.  As an interior designer, Gayle Benson spent several decades working in homes and big businesses.  Before she married Tom, Gayle was part of legal action in more than 30 different cases both professionally and personally.  “[W]hat’s striking about the litigation involved here is that it doesn’t just involve business disputes, it involves a diversity of judgments and litigation including car notes, condo fees, mortgage notes, and that to me is unusual,” says Loyola Law Professor Dan Ciolino. 

Attorney for Tom and Gayle Benson, Phil Whittmann, issued a statement about Gayle’s financial past explaining, “Gayle Benson is a woman who was born and raised in New Orleans and is a person of the highest integrity.  As someone that went through an unfortunate marriage, she overcame the issues that marriage presented to her as single woman and business owner . . . While she does not dispute her struggles, she should be saluted not vilified for her ability to deal with those issues that were brought upon her by others.”

See Katie Moore, Gayle Benson Had History of Legal Trouble Before Marriage, WWLTV, 2015.