Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson "will remain in control of the teams and his billion-dollar fortune after a New Orleans judge on Thursday found the 87-year-old capable of managing his own affairs, blocking his estranged heirs' attempt to take over," according to a front-page piece by Sayre & Grimm of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. After an eight-day trial that ended last week, Orleans Civil District Judge Kern Reese "ruled Benson competent." Reese in his decision wrote Benson "is able to make reasoned decisions as to his person and his property and therefore this court will not order an interdiction of any kind in these proceedings." Benson did not testify in his competency trial, but the ruling "revealed that Reese did hear from Benson in the case." Reese wrote that he "interviewed Benson" at Saints HQ on April 20. It "wasn't immediately clear whether the heirs intend to appeal the decision." The Bensons also "remain in a separate battle over the administration of family trusts that is being fought in separate courts." Reese's ruling revealed Benson "was considering" making his granddaughter, Rita LeBlanc, "sole successor as owner of the Saints and Pelicans as recently as Dec. 19." But Benson on Dec. 27 "wrote a letter" to Rita, his daughter Renee and grandson Ryan, "firing them from the family's various businesses and cutting off communication with them." Reese in his ruling "pointed to testimony from a nurse who cared for Benson, Takiyah Daniels, who the judge said was 'found to be perhaps the most credible fact witness.'" Reese's ruling said that Daniels testified that Benson "agonized over distancing himself from his family members, cried about it, read the December 27, 2014 letter three times, and then decided to place his signature on the document." The ruling read, "She testified that no one stood over him while he signed it. It was his decision" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/19).
LONG DECEMBER: In New Orleans, Jeff Duncan notes eight days in December is "how long it took for the ownership" of the Saints and Pelicans "to swing from" Rita LeBlanc to Tom Benson's wife, Gayle, following an altercation between the women during a Saints home game. In roughly a week's time, the family patriarch went from "planning to transfer both teams to his granddaughter's control to cutting her out of the succession plan altogether and awarding the teams to his wife." This was "easily the most eye-opening revelation" in Reese's ruling. The information "seems to contradict previous statements from Tom Benson's legal team, which contended that the decision to change the succession plan was 'a long time coming.'" Duncan: "You have to think those eight days will haunt Rita LeBlanc forever" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/19).
BUSINESS AS USUAL: In Baton Rouge, Ted Lewis writes it is "still business as usual" for the Saints and Pelicans. That is "the way it’s been for the past six months when this whole sad family feud first came to public light." Precluding a successful appeal, which legal authorities "give even less a chance of success than the original suit, this issue is settled." Although Tom Benson is "very much still in charge, Gayle Benson is being fast-tracked for her eventual increased responsibilities as her husband’s successor with increased involvement now" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 6/19). But, in New Orleans, Andy Grimm writes under the header, "Legal Battle For Saints Owner Tom Benson's Fortune Is Likely Far From Over" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/19).
