Two daughters of the late jazz legend have filed a lawsuit against their brother, alleging mishandling and undisclosed assets in his role as trustee of their father's estate.
- June 15, 2024
AceShowbiz - Two daughters of Tony Bennett have filed a lawsuit against their brother. In their lawsuit, they accused their brother D'Andrea "Danny" Bennett of mishandling and undisclosed assets in his role as trustee of their father's estate.
In a lawsuit filed in New York on Wednesday, Antonia and Johanna Bennett accuse Danny of failing to account for all proceeds from the sale of Tony Bennett's music catalog and image rights to Iconoclast, a brand development firm. The sisters claim they have not been provided with details of the transaction despite repeated requests.
The lawsuit also alleges that Danny Bennett "obtained personal benefits for himself and his company" from transactions on behalf of Tony Bennett, the family trust, and Benedetto Arts LLC, which includes the sale of memorabilia.
Antonia and Johanna claim their father loaned Danny $1.2 million in 2020, and he received lifetime gifts totaling $4.2 million, which they consider disproportionate. Danny claims to have written commission agreements with Bennett, including a 25% commission for work performed.
The late jazz legend's daughters are seeking full accounts and inventories of the family trust and Benedetto Arts LLC, as well as receipts, disbursements, and tax returns. They also demand Danny Bennett properly administer the trust and turn over all relevant documents.
"Although Danny and his counsel have provided piecemeal information and produced some documents... the information provided raises more questions than answers and fails to provide anything close to an accounting of Tony's assets and financial affairs," the lawsuit reads.
Tony Bennett's widow, Susan Benedetto, and another brother, Daegal "Dae" Bennett, are also named in the lawsuit.
Danny Bennett has not yet commented on the allegations. Tony Bennett passed away in July 2023 at the age of 96, leaving behind an enduring legacy as one of the most acclaimed American singers of all time.