A week after she criticized attorneys for their bickering, a judge authorized a $5 million distribution to an elderly beneficiary of the late billionaire Kirk Kerkorian’s will.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maria Stratton issued her order Tuesday after attorneys for Kerkorian’s estate filed court papers asking for allocation of the funds to Jaclyn Thode, Kerkorian’s former assistant, who is in her 80s.
On May 24, Stratton told attorneys for Kerkorian’s estate, his widow, Una Davis, and one of his daughters, 18-year-old Kira Kerkorian, to put aside their differences regarding the distribution of assets in the will and allow Thode to receive her entitlement. Davis agreed to the distribution and Kira Kerkorian said she would not oppose it, according to the court papers of the lawyers for Kerkorian’s estate.
Kerkorian died last June 15 at age 98 from age-related causes. His estate has been estimated to be worth $2 billion to $4 billion.
Davis’ attorney, Robin Bentler, recently filed court papers seeking a one-third interest in Kerkorian’s estate, saying his client was pressured by those close to the businessman into signing a waiver to any interest she had when the two married in 2014.
Bentler states in his court papers that Davis was an “omitted spouse” who is entitled to the same amount of money she would have received had Kerkorian died without a will. A hearing on her petition is scheduled for July 21.
In March, Stratton approved a settlement of a possible will contest that gave $8.5 million to Kira Kerkorian, who says she is the late billionaire’s biological daughter born during the wealthy businessman’s relationship with former tennis player Lisa Bonder Kerkorian.
Kira Kerkorian is appealing the agreement, saying the attorney who represented her as a minor did not fully consult with her before agreeing to the settlement.
Other documents filed by Kerkorian’s attorneys when his estate was opened included a copy of his will, written in July 2013. In addition to the $5 million to Thode, Kerkorian designated that $15 million be given to Patricia Mary Christensen, the wife of longtime Kerkorian attorney Terry Christensen, and $7 million to Anthony Mandekic, secretary-treasurer of Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp.
He left $6 million to another Kerkorian attorney, Patricia Glaser.
— Wire reports