The sad stories seem to reappear with depressing regularity: another beloved celebrity passes away, and soon his or her would-be heirs are in a full-fledged legal battle over the money they thought was rightfully theirs. Tim Conway and Casey Kasem, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin, Prince and James Brown – the list keeps growing. Now we have to add the name of beloved singer Tony Bennett to the roster of deceased celebrities whose family is embroiled in a courtroom fight. 

We found the story, originally published by the Associated Press, in this article from NBC News. 

According to the account, two of Bennett’s daughters have now filed a new lawsuit in New York against their brother, who was not only the singer’s manager but also in charge of the family trust. NBC News reports that the sisters claim to have received one lump-sum payment each – what they call a “single modest distribution” – far less than the amount due them. 

As always, we relate this story as a warning to us all. We may not be celebrities with multi-million-dollar estates, but the issues of proper estate planning and the need to maintain healthy family relationships are critical ones. Let’s take a look. 

Lawsuit Alleges Illegal Enrichment and Unchecked Control 

The article begins, “Tony Bennett’s two daughters have filed a new lawsuit against their brother, alleging he illegally enriched himself at their expense against their father’s wishes both before and after the legendary singer’s death in 2023.” 

The lawsuit was recently filed in New York by Antonia and Johanna Bennett against D’Andrea “Danny” Bennett. Danny was their father’s manager and also heads the family trust.  

“Since Tony’s death, Johanna and Antonia have discovered that Danny exercised complete and unchecked control over Tony and his financial affairs prior to and following his death through multiple fiduciary and other roles of authority that Danny has abused, and continues to abuse, for his own significant financial gain,” the suit alleges. 

Taking Advantage of Tony Bennett’s Dementia 

The article calls Tony Bennett “a legendary interpreter of classic American songs”, releasing more than 70 albums and winning 19 Grammy Awards in his long career. He died in 2023 at age 96. There was no specific cause of death, but he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016.  

The suit alleges that Danny Bennett “took advantage of his father’s diminished capacity late in life due to Alzheimer’s disease,” making deals which made millions for himself and his company. This included the sale of Tony Bennett’s catalog and his name, likeness and image rights to the brand development firm Iconoclast shortly before the singer’s death.  

It’s not the first time the Bennett siblings have brought this issue into a courtroom. “The sisters previously sued their brother in June [2024] seeking an accounting of their father’s assets and alleging Danny Bennett had mishandled them,” the article explains. But this new suit makes more serious and more specific allegations of Danny’s wrongdoing.  

Attorneys for Danny Bennett did not respond to a request for comment.  

Embattled Son Says His Father Trusted Him Completely 

“In court filings in the previous lawsuit, his attorneys said the sisters’ claims were baseless, that they had been provided with sufficient accounting, and that Tony Bennett trusted Danny Bennett completely during his life and credited his son with pulling him out of financial troubles and reviving his career,” the article explains.  

Danny Bennett was both his father’s personal and professional manager. According to the suit, he had power of attorney, was manager of his company Benedetto Arts, and is the trustee of the family trust. The lawsuit accuses him of benefiting from “self-interested and conflicted transactions, excessive and unearned commissions,” and “substantial loans and gifts to himself and his children” that have diminished assets that Tony Bennett’s will calls for his four children to split equally. 

The article adds that another brother, Daegal “Dae” Bennett, and Tony’s widow, Susan Bennett, were also named as defendants in the lawsuit. 

Modest Payments, “Malicious” Behavior Alleged 

In the suit, the sisters say they have received a “single modest distribution” of $245,000 apiece that is “nowhere close to what they believe they are entitled to receive.” Antonia and Johanna also allege their brother has gotten rid of items of great sentimental value to them in a “malicious and retaliatory manner” after the previous lawsuit’s call for accounting. 

For example, their father’s piano—which Antonia says was promised to her—was in “terrible condition” when they were allowed to see it in a tour of the singer’s apartment. During this tour they claim they were denied access to much of Bennett’s property. 

“The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial, and for a judge to remove Danny Bennett as head of the family trust,” the article says.  

A Question Families Hope They Never Have to Face 

Before leaving this story, we wanted a quick look at some of the legal implications of the Bennett family saga.  In researching the topic , we discovered this recent article about the Bennett Battle from the website Lawyer Monthly.   

The writer recalls how the world mourned when Bennett died in 2023. “But behind the curtain,” the article goes on, “something far more personal was unfolding. His children were suddenly entangled in a legal fight that cracked open a question many families hope they never have to face: Can a sibling actually take your inheritance?” 

Not Just “Tabloid Drama” – Issues Apply in Everyday Families 

As the Lawyer Monthly article observes, it’s tempting to dismiss these estate battles as the domain of the rich and famous. “But the truth is, inheritance battles aren’t just tabloid drama,” the article states. “They happen in everyday families too—maybe not with music catalogs and image rights on the line, but with real emotions, memories, and trust at stake.” 

This is especially poignant when the deceased’s mental capacity is called into question. That was clearly an issue with Tony Bennett. 

“Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s years before his death,” says Lawyer Monthly, “it’s hard to know what he truly understood about the deals being made in his name.” The article explains that mental capacity is “about whether someone could comprehend what they were agreeing to. And if they couldn’t? Courts can—and do—step in to undo those decisions.” 

Choose a Trusted Agent, and Communicate with Care 

There’s much more to the article which we lack the space to explore. So, we’ll end with a simple reminder from Lawyer Monthly: there are lessons to be learned from cases like Tony Bennett’s even for the many of us who don’t have a famous last name. 

“Family disputes over estates happen more than most people realize—and they rarely end well if they aren’t addressed early,” the article warns. “If you’re setting up your own plan, think beyond just the numbers. Choose someone you trust completely to carry out your wishes. Talk with your family. Keep your documents updated. Don’t wait for a diagnosis or an emergency to get things in writing.”   

Sounds like good advice. Would it have prevented the Bennett family meltdown? Perhaps we’ll never know. 

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(originally reported at www.nbcnews.com)