The Benson family can charitably be called litigious with cases pending or recently settled in the courts of two states as well as at the federal level. Now one of their disputes is looking to make it’s way to the Louisiana Supreme Court after an intermediate appeals court ruled against Renee Benson in her quest to have her father Tom ruled mentally incompetent. The senior Benson has made multiple moves in recent years to remove his descendants from control of his business empire particularly in relation to the two pro sport franchises he owns. That prompted the court challenge by his daughter who has alleged that her father is being unduly influenced by his third and current wife Gayle in conjunction with executives from the New Orleans Saints. The trial court found Tom Benson to be competent after a closed door meeting with the judge although Renee’s lawyers were never given the right to question him. No word yet on if the court will take the case under consideration.
See Ramon Antonio Vargas, Tom Benson’s relatives ask Supreme Court to overturn unfavorable rulings in lower courts, The Advocate, March 23, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
