FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jimmy Buffett ’s widow has accused her late husband’s monetary adviser of failing to manage the singer’s multimillion-dollar belief in good religion and ignoring what she believed had been her finest pursuits for the $275 million property.
Jane Buffett on Monday requested a choose in West Palm Seaside, Florida, to cease Richard Mozenter from attempting to take away her as a trustee and as an alternative sought an order eradicating him from overseeing the property, in accordance with courtroom papers.
Jimmy Buffett, who popularized seashore bum gentle rock and created a “Margaritaville” empire of eating places and resorts, died Sept. 1, 2023, at 76.
His widow and Mozenter have since been embroiled in a battle over who controls the belief, with every accusing the opposite of mishandling funds in lawsuits filed in each California and Florida.
The dispute is much like one other occurring with the property of one other beloved singer, Tony Bennett. Two of the late crooner’s daughters sued their brother over his dealing with of the household belief.
Jane Buffett’s submitting on Monday accuses Mozenter of “repeatedly” breaching his fiduciary responsibility by failing to supply her with primary details about the belief’s property and its investments whereas taking “unreasonable fees and costs in the context of the services provided.”
On Could 30, Jane Buffett’s legal professionals offered Mozenter’s legal professionals a replica of a petition they deliberate to file in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom if he didn’t resign as cotrustee by June 2, the submitting states.
Mozenter’s counsel as an alternative filed a petition June 2 in West Palm Seaside, searching for Buffett’s elimination as cotrustee, paperwork present. Jane Buffett’s criticism was filed June 3 in Los Angeles, the place Mozenter is managing director at Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman LLC.
“Notably, Mr. Mozenter only brought this (and his other) retaliatory, baseless action after Mrs. Buffett had informed him that, absent his resignation, she would initiate litigation against him to seek his removal as co-trustee,” the criticism mentioned.
Mozenter claimed in his lawsuit that Jimmy Buffett established the belief with Mozenter as an unbiased trustee as a result of he was involved about his spouse’s “ability to manage and control his assets.”
The criticism filed Monday in Florida says the connection between Jane Buffett and Mozenter is “untenable,” and asks the choose to take away Mozenter as cotrustee.
“Jane will not play into Mr. Mozenter’s hands by litigating this dispute in two separate courts across the country, which would drain the very trust money that Jimmy specifically set aside for her care,” mentioned lawyer Matt Porpora.
“Instead, Jane is bringing the fight to Florida, where she and Jimmy called home. Jane is confident she will prevail regardless of where her claims are heard, and her decision to move her claims from California to Florida illustrates that she is the only co-trustee looking to conserve — not waste — trust assets,” Porpora mentioned.
Mozenter didn’t instantly reply to an e-mail searching for remark.
