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Artist News Legal
Battle over BB King estate continues
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 9 June 2015
The legal battle over the BB King estate is becoming more heated, as the musician’s designated executor, LaVerne Toney, fights off attempts by a number of his children to remove her from the position.
As previously reported, following King’s death last month, two of his daughters – Karen Williams and Patty King – accused Toney, who was the musician’s business manager for almost 40 years, and his personal assistant, Myron Johnson, of poisoning the late musician. They also claim that they were blocked from visiting their father in the weeks prior to his death.
But in a statement, Toney’s lawyer Brent Bryson said earlier this week: “We’re asking the probate commissioner to approve [Toney] as executor and personal representative of the estate. The spurious and unjustified allegations made against Ms Toney by Patty King, Karen Williams and [their legal representative] Larissa Drohobyczer will be dealt with at a later time”.
It is reported that at least five of King’s children are now being represented by Drohobyczer, and claim that Toney was also siphoning off the musician’s money. They apparently estimate that the estate is worth ten of millions of dollars, though Bryson says that, while the final figure has not yet been reached, it is not likely to be that high.
Bryson has also filed affidavits from one of King’s granddaughters, saying that she was able to visit her grandfather the day before his death, and three doctors saying that he received proper care prior to his passing. King’s personal physician has said that drops the musician’s daughters claim were poison, were actually a drug commonly administered to people in hospice care to combat respiratory problems.
An autopsy was carried out prior to King’s funeral last week, with toxicology results expected next month. However, police have said that there is no active homicide investigation ongoing.
