NEW ORLEANS – Tom Benson’s estranged heirs are taking their battle against the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
So far, Benson’s daughter and grandchildren have been unsuccessful in their attempts to challenge his competency after he announced plans last year to oust them as successors to his business empire and replace them with his third wife, Gayle.
Benson’s daughter Renee Benson and grandchildren, Rita LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc, claim that the 88-year-old is in mental and physical decline and is being unduly influenced by Gayle, whom he married in 2004.
However, Benson was found to be competent in a New Orleans civil court last year, and the ruling was affirmed last month by a state appeals court.