A day after New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson announced that his wife, Gayle Benson, will run the sports empire following his death, his granddaughter and family members—who were ousted from the family business in the move—have filed a lawsuit claiming the 87-year-old is incompetent to run the teams.
As WDSU-TV in New Orleans reports, the lawsuit was filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court today. It claims Tom Benson is being directed and manipulated by his wife and that he is mentally and physically unfit to manage his businesses.
The lawsuit asks that Renee LeBlanc, Tom Benson’s daughter, be appointed as executor of his sports and business endeavors, placing Rita Benson LeBlanc in a secondary position. Tom Benson described the move to have his wife run his businesses following his death as what is “best for our teams and our community.”
“This is about the legacy of these two teams, and everything we have done for the good of the city of New Orleans and our region. My primary goal is to give the organization the foundation to live on after me for many, many years,” he said, later adding: “… when family members are involved, decision(s) are always tougher. My family, as they have been their whole lives, will be very well taken care of. However, this is about making the correct decision as it pertains specifically to the future of the Saints and Pelicans and their long-term success in the city of New Orleans, where they belong.”
