Judge denies Anne Heche’s ex-boyfriend control of estate as court battle continues

Anne Heche’s oldest son will retain management over the late actor’s property whereas a authorized battle together with her ex-boyfriend continues, in keeping with a choose’s ruling Tuesday.

Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Choose Lee Bogdanoff issued the ruling in favor of 20-year-old Homer Laffoon, Heche’s oldest son. Heche’s ex-boyfriend, James Tupper, had additionally filed to be appointed authorized guardian of 13-year-old Atlas Heche Tupper, his son with the actor, who died in August.

In earlier court docket filings, Tupper argued that Laffoon was “not appropriate for appointment as private consultant of this property” and that the individual accountable for the property ought to be “somebody with extra expertise and class.”

“He’s solely 20 years of age and is unemployed, and was estranged from [Heche] on the time of her dying as a consequence of his dropping out of college research and never working to help himself,” the submitting learn.

Bogdanoff rejected that argument Tuesday.

“As earnest as Mr. Tupper’s testimony was on the significance of preserving the connection between the siblings and the way the appointment of Mr. [Laffoon] as administrator would possibly have an effect on that relationship, the court docket shouldn’t be conscious of any authority to help the proposition that appointment of the current petitioner ought to be denied in favor of another person having a decrease precedence based mostly on that consideration,” the choose stated, in keeping with a minute order documenting the listening to.

Tupper’s lawyer, Chris Johnson, argued {that a} 20-year-old is unfit to handle an property, however that introduced a rebuke from Bogdanoff.

“He’s not certified on what foundation? In California, you will be illiterate and be an administrator,” the choose stated.

Bogdanoff additionally criticized Tupper for shaking his head after his petition for advert litem guardianship was denied.

Laffoon filed a petition in August to be named administrator of Heche’s property, saying his mom died with out leaving a will.

Tupper adopted with a submitting in September by which he claimed that he’s the rightful executor of the property and requested to be appointed Atlas’ authorized guardian.

Tupper, who can also be an actor, claimed in a submitting obtained by The Occasions that Heche in 2011 emailed him a will by which she named him as executor.

Heche died of accidents she sustained when she crashed her automotive into a house in Mar Vista and was trapped inside for practically an hour whereas the house burned.

Laffoon’s court docket papers state that Heche had about $400,000 in belongings and that he expects about the identical quantity in residuals and royalties yearly.

Bogdanoff set a follow-up listening to for Nov. 30 and prolonged Laffoon’s non permanent management over administration of the property to Dec. 14, in keeping with the minute order.

Metropolis Information Service contributed to this report.