This spring we shared a story with you about a settlement that was intended to put an end to a will contest and protracted litigation regarding James Brown's estate. The settlement was necessary to put an end to a dispute raised by the adult children of James Brown after they had been left only a few personal effects and some household items. In his Will James Brown apparently indicated that a failure to provide substantial assets to his children was intentional and not an accident or mistake.

The settlement earlier this year allocated half of the assets from the estate to an educational fund for needy children, a quarter to his widow and young son and the remaining quarter to his adult children. But now the former trustees, who were removed as trustees by a circuit court judge are suing to block the deal. In court filings the ousted trustees were said to have claimed $5 million in fees, paid themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars form a sale of items from the estate and failed to conduct a proper appraisal of the estate.

It seems clear that it was James Brown's intent that a significant portion of his estate would be used to benefit underprivileged children and provide them with an opportunity to receive an advanced education. James Brown had only gone to school though seventh grade himself.

The ousted trustees question the role that the then state Attorney General played din pushing through the settlement. In the case before the South Carolina Supreme Court the former Attorney General who brokered the settlement explained that not only did the deal allow a professional manager to repay the large amount of debts against the state but also enter into lucrative licensing deals and pave the way for thousands of needy students to receive scholarships.

Source: The Washington Post, "Wrangling over estate of the late James Brown, 'Godfather of Soul,' reaches SC Supreme Court" Nov. 1, 2011