Monday, June 16, 2008


TROUBLE FOR TROUBLE

In court papers unsealed today, Manhattan surrogate court judge, Renee Roth reduced Trouble's inheritance from 12 million dollars to 2 million. Who's trouble?
This is Trouble....the bereaved surviving dog with his late mistress, Leona Helmsley.
Leona Helmsley, also known as the Queen of Mean, left Trouble the 12 million, while two of her grandchildren got nothing, because Trouble was the only living creature that showed her any affection.
She had originally requested in her will that either her brother of one of her two grandchildren care for Trouble, they declined. Trouble currently resides with the manager of the
Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel in Sarasota Florida. Trouble's annual expenses are $190,000, including a $60,000 guardian fee, $100,00 for round-the-clock security, $8,000 for grooming, $3,000 for miscellaneous expenses, $1,200 for food, which is high considering this breed is known to eat their own poop. This fact has been routinely documented, and medical expenses anywhere from $2,500 to $18,000.

I thought the $100,000 was pretty high for security because won't a leash pretty much keep the dog in check? Well, it seems Trouble has had some death threats.

So the grandkids petition the court saying Grandma L is incompetent which is not the same as incontinent, and didn't know what she was doing. Judge Renee Roth overturned Leona's wishes and reduced the award to $2 million, and dispersing $6 million between the two grandchildren.

My question to you, wise and intelligent readers, is this fair? Was Trouble given the shaft? Or do you think the grandchildren were within their greedy rights?

12 comments:

heartshapedhedges said...

I think the embarassment of having that woman as your "grandmother" , is, in itself, worth a few million in compensatory damages.

Im also sure they have either inherited some of her horrible traits, or fought hard not to...either way, worth more settlement money.

I can only the imagine the "pain and suffering" that such a grandmother would inflict, emotional, physical or otherwise...

So, while I usually say the rich dont need to leave their money to their offspring, in this case, I think they probably deserve it.

As for the dog? Maybe he can move in with you...much more fun than that stuffy life he has now.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

I don't know that I have a solid answer to the question, but if she had left her kajillions to a charity instead of her family, i could swallow that a little easier. the dog could get something, just not everything. same with the kids. just toss a bone their way....so to speak.

and give the rest to charity.

the starting point is the whole thing's crazy. and i know crazy when i see it!

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

This is like one of my favorite episodes of "Designing Women". The "Women" were decorating for a woman who died and left all of her money to her cat. The "Women" had to continue decorating fot the cat. Everyone said she was crazy, but they found at that she wasn't because the cat had earned all the money in cat food commercials. That is really neither here nor there, but the answer to your question is that Trouble got the shaft. If the dog was the one that gave that horrible woman any happiness, than the dog should get the reward as well as the people who are now taking care of her beloved pet. Maybe that's who she really wanted to have her money anyway. Maybe she was such an awful person because of her awful family. Who knows, but I would be happy to adopt that dog.

Karen said...

Boy, I dunno. I can't figure out how the judge came to the conclusion that Leona was incompetent. Was it because she loved her darling Trouble who wasn't selfish and greedy? Aren't wills witnessed by an notary and doesn't someone swear under penalty of perjury that the person is of sound mind?

I say Trouble should appeal and ask for a jury of his peers.

And finally, what kind of grandkids can't give some affection to their grandmother, rich or poor?

Anonymous said...

Oh my freakin' goodness!

Anonymous said...

All the more reason why I want to come back as a dog. Specifically a rich person's dog....an old, sickly, rich person's dog.

Dave

Anonymous said...

I think that Helmsly was within her rights. The dog and the grand kids, they just got lucky.

How do we ask you a question?

Unknown said...

Thank you Rachel, you are the first person to inquire about asking me a question! Oh wait, I did have someone else ask "how to ask". II referenced it in this post:
http://askgrandmaj.blogspot.com/search?q=cialis

His name was Harvey. I guess my post scared him away, never to return, but don't let that scare you...Just go ahead and ASK.

Anonymous said...

alls I gots to say is, I hope her grandkids didn't inherit her eyebrows too! Damn.

Kristin said...

Assholes beget assholes... Leona Helmsely was a selfish woman and so it's no great surprise that her grandkids are the same...

I say, it's within their greedy rights.

CGS said...

I don't know. I don't think anyone or anything who eats its own poop deserves 12 million dollars. But that's just me.

Unknown said...

I think the thing that is silly is that people can even leave an inheritance to a pet. That in itself is pretty ridiculous! I never saw the episode of Designing Women where they had to keep decorating for a cat, but that's hilarious!

Btw Grandma J, I'm tagging you tomorrow for a meme but NO OBLIGATION! I know some people hate them, but if nothing else, I gave you a little publicity. :-)