In a major legal dispute that has stunned the entertainment world, Tony Bennett's daughters, Johanna and Antonia Bennett, have filed a lawsuit against their brother, Danny Bennett, in the New York Supreme Court. The lawsuit accuses Danny of mishandling the family's trust and failing to account for assets and transactions, bringing to light potential mismanagement issues in the administration of the late singer's estate (USA Today, June 14, 2024; New York Post, June 14, 2024).

Danny Bennett became the sole trustee of the family's trust following Tony Bennett's death in July 2023. The trust beneficiaries include Johanna, Antonia, and their brother Daegal, as well as Tony Bennett's wife, Susan Crow. The lawsuit alleges that Danny has consistently failed to provide Johanna and Antonia with sufficient information to fully understand the property and assets within the trust, making it difficult for them to exercise their rights and protect their interests (USA Today, June 14, 2024; New York Post, June 14, 2024).

In addition to transparency issues, the lawsuit accuses Danny of obtaining personal benefits for himself and his company, RPM Productions, through transactions conducted on behalf of Tony Bennett, Benedetto Arts, LLC, and the family trust. Specifically, in July 2022, Danny reportedly sold and consigned certain items of Tony Bennett's memorabilia, personal property, and an interest in Tony's name and likeness. RPM Productions allegedly received a substantial commission from this financial activity (USA Today, June 14, 2024).

The daughters further contend that Danny has not accounted for the proceeds from the sale of Tony Bennett’s catalog and that they were largely kept uninformed about an auction of their father's belongings scheduled for April 2024. Additionally, they claim that they were blocked from viewing Bennett’s personal property following a business deal with the company Iconoclast (New York Post, June 14, 2024).

The legal filing highlights the complex nature of Tony Bennett’s estate, which includes loans and gifts made to Danny. In 2020, Tony Bennett made loans to Danny totaling $1.2 million. Additionally, Danny allegedly received lifetime gifts from his father amounting to approximately $4.2 million. With so much at stake, Johanna and Antonia are seeking a full account of the financial activities related to the family trust and Benedetto Arts, LLC, to ensure that their and other beneficiaries' rights and interests are safeguarded (USA Today, June 14, 2024; New York Post, June 14, 2024).

Tony Bennett, whose illustrious career spanned over seven decades, passed away on July 21, 2023, at the age of 96 in his hometown of New York. His public battle with dementia, which was disclosed in February 2021, had already drawn significant public attention (New York Post, June 14, 2024; USA Today, June 14, 2024).

The lawsuit emphasizes the potential for familial disputes over the management and distribution of an estate, especially when significant assets and high-profile individuals are involved. The outcome of this legal battle could have broader implications for the governance of similar trusts and the protection of beneficiaries' interests.

By bringing their grievances to court, Johanna and Antonia seek not only to uncover how their father's estate has been managed but also to ensure that justice prevails in preserving Tony Bennett's legacy and the rightful share of his beneficiaries (USA Today, June 14, 2024; New York Post, June 14, 2024).