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A San Antonio probate judge overseeing one of the Tom Benson family legal fights over the Saints owner's fortune said in a letter this month that the 87-year-old billionaire "is at war with himself."

Bexar County Probate Judge Tom Rickhoff wrote the March 9 letter, recently filed in federal court in San Antonio, to the two receivers he appointed to temporarily replace Benson as trustee of a trust benefiting his daughter Renee Benson.

The letter further reveals the judge's take on the entire Benson family feud playing out in courtrooms in Texas and Louisiana.

"What is this litigation?" Rickhoff said. "It is Tom Benson (2011) versus Tom Benson (2014). He is at war with himself. No one is trying to 'take' anything. He, Tom Benson (2011) already dedicated the bulk of his wealth. Everything is in the I.T. (irrevocable trust) he, Tom Benson (2011) created. Now, Tom Benson (2014) changed his mind. Who cares why.

"But, he cannot," the judge continued. "Big businessmen are still just like all of us and cannot just sign whatever they want and think if it goes south 'I'll just litigate.'"

Rickhoff, in telling the receivers to drop a legal action against Tom Benson, said the Benson family litigation "has reached the Dickensian kerfuffle door where litigation endlessly seeks side corridors."

Co-receivers Phil Hardberger, former mayor of San Antonio, and estate lawyer Art Bayern moved this week for a voluntary dismissal of their intervention in the San Antonio case, in which Renee Benson is seeking to have her father permanently removed as trustee over the Shirley Benson estate trust. The trust holds interests in Lone Star Capital Bank, San Antonio car dealerships and real estate.



Tom Benson family feud: San Antonio judge says Saints owner 'at war with himself' | NOLA.com

B_Dub_Saint

Basically if Tom cannt come up with the cash value of the Saints and Pelicans to pay off the 3 Rs, they will own the 2 clubs. The courts in Texas said he signed a basic no contest contract with them. They are saying that he cannot renig and change his mind.

Foot Stomper

If Rita takes over Sean will scoot. Pretty sure I recall reading that somewhere along the way. Sucks the old Man gave his options away and from what it seems now has no choice but to give Rita the reins if this judge is correct.

jeanpierre

Okay, I'm calling BS on this right now...

Cite your source or move along...

This crappe is as bad as these hacks posing as journalists such as Vargas who dish all this dirt on Rita with these unnamed sources...

Vargas and his like should go back to perpetual high school and right gossip columns...

jeanpierre

Your summation is dead on...

What boggles me is why he went to such lengths to put himself in that corner...

My theory in this whole mess is that Rita has been groomed for sometime, felt she was ready to start making some calls and became frustrated with GranDaddy Warbucks and a room full of men who didn't need some young girl with a different take on things bucking status quo and Gayle made a move...

B_Dub_Saint

Honestly man, I dont know who to believe anymore. One of the two could have best interest in the teams or they could be all about themselves. Its hard to say. All I want is a competent and trustworthy owner laying down the foundation for our future.

jeanpierre

Dub, look at the history, the ENTIRE history...

Katrina hits, who was standing fast, moving in the community and reassuring everyone the Saints were coming back and not making a move to San Antonio?!?

Look at the negotiations for keeping the team in New Orleans when the lease was up...

Protecting your business interests is one thing, what Tom's history has shown is another...

RaginCajun83

I don't even care anymore, its a fact of life your body starts to shut down the older you get. I don't doubt Benson is somewhat crazy since I've seen it myself with a family member about the same age as him. I don't even care who gets what, just keep the Saints in New Orleans where they belong

SmashMouth

Dickensian Kerfuffle.............that is definitely the Phrase of the Day.

RailBoss

'At War With Himself' must have a slit personality. Imagine having dinner with Tom and watching him argue with himself. And at the end he b*tch slaps himself thinking it's the evil Tom. As his dinner guest it must get pretty confusing trying to figure out which Tom to root for.