The controversial legal battle concerning the late comic book icon Stan Lee’s estate, riddled with allegations of exploitation and elder abuse, has finally reached its end. An arbitrator declared that the lawsuit targeting Lee’s former attorney had been initiated past its due date.
Hollywood’s Investigation Reveals a Darker Picture
This extensive legal ordeal traces its origins back to The Hollywood Reporter’s deep dive into the affairs surrounding Lee’s estate. Their investigation unearthed claims that individuals, brought into Lee’s life by his daughter J.C., had purloined significant amounts from the comic legend. A key figure in these allegations was Jerardo Olivarez, previously Lee’s business manager. Entrusted with power of attorney, Olivarez purportedly steered Lee towards retaining Uri Litvak as his legal counsel for business ventures. However, a significant detail was kept hidden — Olivarez and Litvak had pre-existing professional ties, with the latter representing Olivarez in personal matters.
Consequently, in the wake of his wife’s demise, Lee felt besieged by “unscrupulous businessmen, sycophants, and opportunists”, prompting him to take legal action. Litvak and Olivarez were labeled as individuals capitalizing on his vulnerable state.
Procedural Hurdles and Technicalities
However, the intricacies of the legal system would play a pivotal role in the outcome. A key procedural oversight in the lawsuit paved the way for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Epstein to rule in Litvak’s favor. An arbitrator earlier this year discerned that the time frame for filing a lawsuit against Litvak had lapsed.
Delving into the specifics, the clock started ticking on April 12, 2018, when the complaint against Olivarez was lodged. To include Litvak in the lawsuit, there was a one-year deadline. However, the action against him was taken on April 18, 2018, surpassing the permissible time limit by a mere five days.
Joan Lee, overseeing the estate, posited that Litvak’s professional association with her father stretched beyond the lawsuit’s filing date, which would effectively pause the statute of limitations.
However, evidence in the form of a letter dated Dec. 13, 2017, sent by Lee, communicated his decision to terminate Litvak’s services. This document, supplemented by a directive from Tom Lallas (Lee’s subsequent legal representative) ordering a transfer of all pertinent files, proved pivotal.
Arbitrator David Brickner affirmed the definitive nature of the correspondence, expressing, “The letter from Mr. Lee on December 13, 2017, leaves no doubt in the arbitrator’s mind that Mr. Litvak’s professional services were terminated, both in the minds of Mr. Litvak and Mr. Lee.”
The Conclusion of a Prolonged Battle
This verdict effectively seals the litigious chapter surrounding those alleged to have financially wronged Lee in his twilight years. Olivarez settled claims against him in the prior year. In a subsequent and related development, Judge George Lomeli of the Los Angeles Superior Court declared a mistrial in a case against Keya Morgan, Lee’s erstwhile business manager. Accusations against Morgan involved pilfering funds from Lee’s memorabilia signings. While the majority of the jury leaned towards acquitting Morgan, allegations of elder abuse and false imprisonment were retracted before the trial’s commencement.
Source: Hollywoodreporter
