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Judge raps attorneys in Benson trust legal tussle

John Breslin Feb. 16, 2016, 11:32am.

Attorneys representing the owner of the New Orleans Saints and his daughter were reprimanded for failing to officially inform a San Antonio court that a settlement was reached.

Saints owner Tom Benson, who also owns the city's basketball franchise, and his daughter Renee Benson, locked in a year-long legal battle over the control of a trust estimated to have assets worth nearly $1 billion, came to an agreement on Jan. 22.

But Bexar County Probate Court Judge Tom Rickhoff was not formally notified of the settlement. He criticized the lawyers for the two sides for failing to keep him properly informed during a Feb. 1 hearing

"I don’t have any assurances” of a settlement, Rickhoff said during the hearing, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News. “I’m worried about losing control of the case. All I have are words. A new party could come in” and state there never was a settlement.

Rickhoff ordered the parties back before the court on Feb. 12 and warned them he would appoint new receivers to run the trust if he was not satisfied there was an agreement. During that hearing, Rickhoff was assured by both sides an agreement was reached and set this Friday as the date to finalize all matters.

The two sides agreed to the settlement on Jan. 22, 10 days before the trial in San Antonio was due to start. The terms are confidential, Benson’s attorney, Phillip Wittmann, said on Monday.

Judge raps attorneys in Benson trust legal tussle | Louisiana Record

ok the end of a drama?????????????

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins