RJG Legal

“Pawn Stars” Star Disinherits Son

“Pawn Stars” Richard Harrison has disinherited one of his sons.”

The 77-year-old curmudgeon lovingly referred to as “Old Man” on the “Pawn Stars” television show died last month, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Richard Harrison reportedly disinherited one of his sons.

news3lv.com’s recent article, “Pawn Stars' Richard 'Old Man' Harrison disinherits his youngest son” asks the million-dollar question: why did Richard Harrison leave his youngest son, Christopher Harrison, out of his will?

The will was filed in Clark County in Las Vegas, Nevada. It states that Rick Harrison is the executor of the Harrison Trust and Will. Rick is Richard Harrison’s son, who starred on the hit History Channel show.

Richard’s widow and his other son Joseph are named as the other beneficiaries of the will.

There are many reasons why a person will disinherit a family member. They may be estranged, for example, or there are maybe other circumstances, such as when the testator feels the person already has the means and isn’t in need of assets from the will. Other common reasons for disinheritance include when:

• The heir hasn’t supported or cared for the testator in the past;
• The parent testator has already provided financial support to the child;
• The testator doesn’t believe that the heir is financially responsible;
• The testator doesn’t support the heir’s lifestyle or behavior; and
• The testator failed to update his or her will.

In the will, Richard Harrison states: “I would like to express my love and affection for Christopher Keith Harrison, however for the purposes of this will I have intentionally and with full knowledge failed to provide for him and his issue.”’

Like the Old Man’s will, it’s critical to make the disinheritance in your will as clear as possible because this document is a personal statement that comes into effect after death.

In a statement, Rick Harrison said through his publicist: "The family had previously discussed this information and it is a private matter.”

Reference: news3lv.com (July 18, 2018) “Pawn Stars' Richard 'Old Man' Harrison disinherits his youngest son”

The Fight Continues Over Charlie Manson’s Remains

“A judge said Friday that Los Angeles County court is not the proper venue for the next hearing associated with conflicting petitions to gain control of Charles Manson’s remains.”

Judge David Cowan ruled that Los Angeles Superior Court wasn’t the right venue for the question of who gets Charles Manson’s remains. However, the judge did rule that LA is the correct place for court hearings on his will and other related matters. As a result, the parties need to file their petitions for Manson’s body in Kings County, where the cult leader was in prison for more than 50 years, or in Kern County, where he died in a Bakersfield hospital in November 2017.

The Pasadena Star News reported in its report, “Battle for Charles Manson’s remains, estate will be split between counties,” that another hearing is scheduled in response to a petition filed by Bryan Walters, a deputy attorney in the county. The County wants to know who should take Manson’s remains.

“He was incarcerated in Kings County, not L.A. County,” Cowan said. “It should be Kings County or Kern County, not L.A. County for the venue.”

Because there are competing claims, government attorneys filed a petition for instructions. “If this was the simple case,” Walters told Judge Cowan, “we wouldn’t file a petition for instructions.”

Forty-one-year-old Jason Freeman is the son of late Charles Manson Jr. and the grandson of Manson and his former wife Rosalie Willis. He filed his petition with the probate court to have the hearing in Los Angeles because Manson and his followers lived in Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth before he went to prison.

Freeman’s petition is competing with Manson’s longtime pen pal Michael Channels. Channels visited the mass murderer in prison in 2002 and claims that he has a will signed by Manson. The will, which Channels filed in Kern County, names him the executor of Manson’s estate and gives him control of his remains. But when Channels attempted to gain custody of the body in Kern County, his petition was objected to by Freeman, who argues that Manson’s signature on the will was forged.

In another twist, Attorney Daniel Mortensen represented Michael Brunner, a purported son Manson had with Mary Brunner, a member of his “family.” Mortensen said his client wants to cremate Manson’s remains immediately.

Manson died in 2017 at the age of 83 after spending 50 years in prison for masterminding the 1969 killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight others.

Reference: Pasadena Star News (January 26, 2018) “Battle for Charles Manson’s remains, estate will be split between counties”

Heirs of Airline Exec Want Less Money from Estate

“The children of a dead former American Airlines executive have said they do not want an $8 billion punitive damage award from a bank for mismanaging their inheritance.”

Max Hopper, a former SVP at American Airlines and IT expert who created the airlines' seat reservation system, died unexpectedly in 2010. He left an estimated $19 million without a will.

The bank, JP Morgan Chase, was asked to divide his assets. However, his wife Jo brought a lawsuit, according to The Daily Mail’s recent article, “Children of dead American Airlines executive want LESS money.”

The widow claimed the bank took years to release the funds.

This fall, a jury ordered the bank to pay $8 billion in punitive damages, $2 billion each to Mrs. Hopper, her stepchildren Stephen Hopper and Laura Wassmer, and the Hopper estate. But Hopper's children said they only wanted $74 million in damages.

JP Morgan says Hopper’s heirs want the damages reduced to about $74 million because they think the $8 billion figure is excessive. It would be the ninth largest verdict in US history.

Jo Hopper's lawyers contend that JP Morgan Bank took years to release basic interests in art, home furnishings, jewelry, as well as Mr. Hopper's collection of 6,700 golf putters and 900 bottles of wine.

Some of the assets weren’t released for more than five years.

JP Morgan is adamant that it did nothing wrong and believes the ruling in Dallas, Texas will be overturned.

JP Morgan said: “The law and evidence do not support any claim against JP Morgan, much less the unprecedented multi-billion-dollar punitive damage award, which the heirs have already admitted is unconstitutionally excessive.”

The crux of the lawsuit, according to the bank, “is whether sparring survivors of a decedent may blame an independent administrator for seeking judicial guidance on a distribution issue about which the survivors disagree.”

Reference: Daily Mail (November 20, 2017) “Children of dead American Airlines executive want LESS money”

What Happens to Las Vegas Gunman’s Estate?

“Shooter Stephen Paddock was an avid gambler and left behind an estate worth an estimated $5 million. However, he didn't leave behind instructions on what he wanted to be done with his money, properties or belongings after he died.”

The gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history didn't have a will before killing all those innocent concert goers in Las Vegas and then turning a handgun on himself. Therefore, what happens to his estate?

Newsweek’s recent story, “Vegas Gunman Died Without A Will. Who Will Get Stephen Paddock's 5 Million?” explains that attorneys for victims of the shooting are asking that a third-party attorney be appointed to control Paddock's assets and freeze them.

At a recent hearing, Paddock's mother said she didn’t want to be the executor, the person who would distribute his properties and assets. His brother, Eric, told reporters that he wanted to control his brother's fortune and give it to victims of the shooting.

Since Paddock died without a will, Nevada law says that everything he owns would’ve gone to his parents because he wasn't married and didn't have any children. If his parents decline, Paddock's assets would be divided with his siblings. The law also says if no one comes forward to claim his estate, it could go to the state of Nevada.

However, Paddock's case is different than others, because of his fortune and the murders he committed before he killed himself.

Attorneys want a third-party administrator to be set up, which is permitted by state law, to collect everything Paddock owns to find out his net worth.

The court scheduled a hearing to consider excluding Paddock's family from being beneficiaries of his estate.

Victims of the shooting have filed more than 17 lawsuits against MGM Resorts—which owns the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where Paddock carried out his attack—the country music concert organizer Live Nation and the makers and sellers of bump stocks, the device that may have allowed Paddock to kill more quickly.

In addition to financial compensation, the victims’ legal counsel say the claims are designed to prevent another tragedy and to get answers for survivors and the families of victims about exactly what happened during the attack.

Reference: Newsweek (November 20, 2017) “Vegas Gunman Died Without A Will. Who Will Get Stephen Paddock's 5 Million?”