Tom Benson's Family Files Suit Against Saints, Pelicans Owner
A day after revealing Tom Benson's announcement that his wife, Gayle, would seize control of the NFL's New Orleans Saints and NBA's New Orleans Pelicans upon his death, his granddaughter, Rita Benson LeBlanc, and other family members filed a lawsuit to block the change.
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Benson's Psychological Evaluation Complete, Court Hearing Set
Thursday, April 2
According to Manuel Torres of NOLA.com, Benson's medical evaluation has been completed, and a court hearing has been set for June 1.
On Feb. 28, Michael DeMocker of NOLA.com reported that the three doctors who would evaluate the mental capacity of Benson had been chosen, according to Benson's lawyer.
On Jan. 28, Andy Grimm of NOLA.com claimed that members of Benson's family requested the evaluation, which was later granted:
"Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson's daughter and grandchildren Wednesday again asked a judge to order a psychological evaluation of the 87-year-old billionaire. The new court filing repeated a request they made last week in a lawsuit challenging Benson's fitness to control an empire worth nearly $2 billion.
Citing "a pattern of bizarre behavior" by Benson, lawyers for his heirs asked to have him evaluated by former Touro Director of Geriatric Psychology Dr. Ted Bloch III.
"
Benson Sues to Have Saints, Pelicans Removed From Heirs' Trust Fund
Wednesday, March 11
Andy Grimm of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that Benson has filed suit against his heirs, to have the Saints and Pelicans removed from their trust fund:
"Tom Benson, principal owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, filed a lawsuit Wednesday (March 11) to remove all stock in the professional sports franchises from trust funds he set up for his daughter and grandchildren. The suit, filed in federal court in New Orleans, seeks a court order to make longtime trustee Bobby Rosenthal let Benson to remove stock in the teams and related assets, in exchange for $556 million in promissory notes.
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Benson's Latest Proposal Still Not Enough According to Daughter's Lawyer
Tuesday, March 3
Tom Benson has upped the amount of assets proposed to be given to his daughter Renee and her children, but lawyers for Renee's side still believe it's not enough, per Ramon Antonio of the New Orleans Advocate, citing Benson hasn't provided any "current valuations":
"Rosenthal’s lawyer, Kevin P. Kennedy, sent that letter to one of Benson’s attorneys in New Orleans, Paul D. Cordes Jr.
“Mr. Benson cannot effect an exchange until the valuations have been submitted to Bobby and approved by him,” Kennedy wrote to Cordes. “Certainly, an exchange for an amount to be determined in the future cannot constitute the exchange of equivalent value.”
"
Antonio highlighted some of the assets offered up by Benson:
"The proposal Rosenthal rebuffed was one in which Benson suggested swapping out the trusts’ ownership shares in the Saints, Pelicans and other assets in Louisiana and Texas in exchange for secured promissory notes totaling about $449 million, lawyers involved in the matter have said. As collateral, Benson offered up the sports franchises themselves, Zelia LLC and Bensco Inc. — holding companies for Champions Square, Benson Tower and Benson’s five car dealerships.
Benson also said he would forgive loans he made to the trusts in recent years, and he threw in a 50 percent stake in a couple of thousand acres he owns in Texas, plus full ownership of a house on the property.
"
Confrontation Between Benson's Granddaughter and Wife Reportedly Occurred at Saints Game
Saturday, Feb. 28
Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reported a physical altercation occurred between Benson's granddaughter and wife at a Saints game:
"An emotional confrontation between Tom Benson's granddaughter, Rita Benson LeBlanc, and wife, Gayle Benson, that briefly turned physical during a New Orleans Saints home game last season happened days before the 87-year-old billionaire decided to sever ties with his family members and cut them out of his estate plans.
Two sources who witnessed the incident said Rita Benson LeBlanc confronted Gayle Benson in Tom Benson's suite on the 400 level of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before the Saints' game against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 21.
[...]
At one point, the two sources who witnessed the incident said, Rita Benson LeBlanc, then 37, grabbed Gayle Benson by both shoulders and shook the then-67-year-old repeatedly during a confrontation that lasted several minutes.
"She (Rita) was shaking her (Gayle) to emphasize her point and to be heard," said one of the sources who was in the suite and witnessed the incident. "It was pretty ugly.
"
Tom Benson Releases Statement on Ongoing Lawsuit
Tuesday, Feb. 10
The New Orleans Saints provided a statement from Benson:
Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit
Tuesday, Feb. 10
According to Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the judge hearing the Benson lawsuit has denied a motion by Gayle Benson to dismiss the suit.
Ramon Antonio Vargas of the New Orleans Advocate reported that the judge would require a mental exam for the Saints owner, and passed on detail of the evaluation:
Vargas also passed along comments from Benson's lawyer Phil Wittman regarding the decision:
ESPN provided reaction from the lawyer of Benson's heirs:
"The attorney for Benson's estranged heirs, Randall Smith, said he was "delighted" with the judge's ruling, saying the hearing was what his clients have been asking for.
In court, Smith argued that an examination would "cut to the chase" in determining Benson's ability to manage his affairs.
"
Former San Antonio Mayor Called on to Assist Amid Dispute
Thursday, Feb. 5
Katherine Sayre of NOLA.com reported the judge has named former San Antonio mayor Phil Hardberger to help in Benson's families' disagreement.
Benson's Heirs Speak on Lawsuit
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Andy Grimm of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported comments from Benson's heirs on their lawsuit:
"The document filed Wednesday by Benson's heirs said they're not seeking to anatagonize him, but to help him.
"This matter is not a fight against Tom Benson, but rather a fight to protect Tom Benson," the filing said. "It is undisputed that that over half a century of 'prioritizing' his family, Tom Benson allegedly has changed course in the last 60 days and is seeking to cut all times from them."
The filing goes on to outline the heirs' decades of work for companies owned by Benson, and notes that as recently as last summer Benson filed succession plans with the NFL listing his daughter and grandchildren as his successors.
"
Roger Goodell Addresses Benson Situation at Pre-Super Bowl Press Conference
Friday, Jan. 30
Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports and ESPN's Mike Triplett had the latest from Goodell on Benson and the Saints:
Benson Files Response to Lawsuit
Tuesday, Jan. 27
NOLA.com's Andy Grimm provided comments from Benson's lawyers, who responded to the lawsuit:
"For years, Mr Benson attempted to involve each of the Petitioners in various aspects of his business interests and to groom them into the type of business persons that he could have confidence in to own and/or run those business interests when he died," Benson's lawyers wrote.
"Unfortunately, the Petitioners never rose to the task.
"After years of concern and misgivings about Petitioners' abilities... Mr. Benson made the deliberate, reasoned, and difficult decision to change course and name as his succesor his loving wife, Gayle Benson.
"
Benson's Family Files Lawsuit Against Him
Thursday, Jan. 22
The news was first reported by
"A Texas judge has ordered a temporary freeze on the money and assets in a trust controlled by New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, an order requested by his daughter, Renee Benson.
The temporary restraining order, signed by Judge Thomas E. Rickhoff of Bexar County on Wednesday (Jan. 21), prevents Benson from withdrawing, transferring or otherwise diminishing the value of the Shirley L. Benson Testamentary Trust.
"
Ted Lewis of The New Orleans Advocate spoke to Saints quarterback Drew Brees about the situation surrounding the Benson family:
""All I can say is I absolutely love Gayle," Brees said. "I think she's one of the sweetest people. I know she's one of our biggest fans. Her presence at practice with Tom all the time and the way she treats the wives and the players, she's first class."
Brees didn't comment on reported on talk that there's struggle within the Benson family. Brees said his relationship with the family has been good.
"
"This is about the legacy of these two teams and everything we have done for the good of the city of New Orleans and our region," Benson said. "My primary goal is to give the organization the foundation to live on after me for many, many years. I agree that this is somewhat of a change in what has been formally declared, but this is best for our teams and our community."
Benson's original succession plan called for 60 percent of the two franchises to be given to his daughter, Renee LeBlanc, and 20 percent apiece to his grandchildren, Rita Benson LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc. The lawsuit filed in Louisiana court Wednesday seeks an injunction on the changes, with the originally planned succession being upheld.
Duncan's report from Wednesday indicated all three parties were removed from the Saints' employee directory following the announcement.
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