Motion Claims Benson Cannot Transfer Saints, Pelicans To Wife

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson cannot transfer the teams to his wife because the NBA and NFL have not approved the transactions, according to a motion filed in federal court by the Louisiana trustee seeking to block the deal. The motion, filed by trustee Mary Rowe, were made public yesterday. Benson is seeking to transfer the teams from his estranged heirs. Rowe, and another trustee of the trusts that hold the assets, have objected, sparking the litigation. Rowe’s motion appears to set up a Catch-22. The leagues will not consider the deals because of the litigation, and Rowe will not consider approving the deals because they have not been league-approved.

She also questioned the validity of the transfer in a second motion, saying the notes Benson would substitute for his heirs would be backed by the holding companies of the teams he was taking from them. But the heirs would not be able to foreclose on the teams in this instance in the event their notes did not pay, Rowe contended.