PONTIAC, Mich. — Reginald M. Turner, president-elect of the American Bar Association, was appointed temporary caretaker of Aretha Franklin’s disputed estate on Tuesday as her sons continue to battle in court over who controls the rights to her image and music and how her assets should be distributed.
Judge Jennifer Callaghan of the Oakland County Probate Court chose Mr. Turner, a longtime friend of the Queen of Soul based in Detroit. His responsibilities will include completing negotiations for two tributes: National Geographic Channel is to devote a season of its “Genius” series to Ms. Franklin, starting in May and starring Cynthia Erivo, and MGM is scheduled to release a movie starring the Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson in October.
Mr. Turner replaces Sabrina Owens, a niece of Ms. Franklin who resigned as executor, citing the disagreements among the family members. Mr. Turner was recommended by lawyers for Kecalf Franklin, 49, the singer’s youngest son.
When Ms. Franklin died in August 2018, it was believed she had no will, and her four sons expected her estate to be split evenly among them. They agreed to appoint Ms. Owens as the personal representative, as executors are known in Michigan. In May 2018, Ms. Owens and David Bennett, Franklin’s longtime personal attorney, disclosed that at least two handwritten wills had been found in one of her homes.
Those documents, one dated 2010 and one dated 2014, contradicted each other and set off a family battle that appears to be heading to trial later this year. Lawyers for Kecalf Franklin, in particular, have been highly critical of Ms. Owens and Mr. Bennett’s handling of the estate.
Mr. Bennett said Ms. Franklin died owing $8 million to the IRS and that efforts to monetize her work and belongings were intended to pay that down.
Mr. Turner, a former president of the National Bar Association, whose members are primarily African-American lawyers, judges and legal scholars, sits on the boards of Comerica Inc. and Masco Corp. He is a former member of the Michigan State Board of Education and was chosen unopposed as the next president of the American Bar Association.
Lawyers for Ms. Franklin’s eldest son, Clarence Franklin, had asked the court to appoint Andrew Mayoras, a Detroit-area probate attorney, as executor. Mr. Mayoras is known as the former co-host of a REELZChannel show “Fortune Fights” about celebrity inheritance disputes.
Both Mr. Turner and Mr. Mayoras appeared in court Tuesday to answer questions. Mr. Turner quoted a fee of $350 per hour; Mr. Mayoras set his rate at $325. The judge appointed Mr. Turner for an initial term of 90 days, with no explanation of her decision.
“She gave the city so much, and she gave me so much,” Mr. Turner said of Ms. Franklin after the decision. “She didn’t have to befriend me. So I owe this to her.”
Source: Music - nytimes.com
