NEW YORK — Tony Bennett’s two daughters are suing their brother, alleging he mishandled and failed to disclose some of their father’s assets in his role as trustee of the late singer ‘s estate.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York by Antonia and Johanna Bennett accuses D’Andrea “Danny” Bennett of not accounting for all of the proceeds from this year’s sale of Tony Bennett’s catalog and certain image rights to the brand development firm Iconoclast.
The court filing claims that “it remains unclear what music assets (and other property) were or were not sold as part of the deal” because the sisters “have not been provided with various details of the transaction despite repeated requests.”
Danny Bennett, who was the singer’s manager and runs the family trust, didn’t respond Thursday to an email and phone message seeking comment on the lawsuit. Another brother, Daegal “Dae” Bennett, and Tony’s widow, Susan Benedetto, were also named in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further alleges that Danny Bennett “obtained personal benefits for himself and his company” from transactions, including the sale of memorabilia, made on behalf of Tony Bennett, the family trust and Benedetto Arts LLC.
The sisters are seeking unspecified “equitable relief” as well as a full accounting and inventory of the trust. It demands Danny Bennett turn over receipts, disbursements, expenditures and tax returns.
“Although Danny and his counsel have provided piecemeal information and produced some documents to petitioners’ counsel, 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 court filing said.
Tony Bennett, a legendary interpreter of classic American songs who created new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” died last July at age 96. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
Bennett released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys.
Legendary singer Tony Bennett’s daughters, Antonia and Joanna Bennett, have filed a lawsuit against their stepbrother, Danny Bennett, alleging that he has mishandled their father’s assets. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, accuses Danny Bennett of taking advantage of their father’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease to enrich himself at the expense of Tony Bennett’s estate.
According to the lawsuit, Danny Bennett, who serves as Tony Bennett’s manager, has been using his position to exert undue influence over the singer and his finances. The sisters claim that he has been making decisions without their father’s best interests in mind, including selling off valuable assets and entering into questionable business deals.
Antonia and Joanna are seeking to remove Danny Bennett as their father’s conservator and replace him with a neutral third party. They also want an accounting of their father’s finances and assets, as well as damages for the alleged mismanagement of his estate.
Tony Bennett, who is 94 years old and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, has been a beloved figure in the music industry for decades. Known for his smooth voice and timeless hits like “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” he has won multiple Grammy Awards and has performed for audiences around the world.
The lawsuit filed by his daughters shines a light on the often complex and contentious nature of estate planning and management, especially when family dynamics are involved. It serves as a reminder of the importance of having clear and transparent processes in place for handling one’s assets, especially as individuals age and become more vulnerable to exploitation.
As the legal battle unfolds, fans of Tony Bennett are left hoping for a swift resolution that will protect the singer’s legacy and ensure that his wishes are carried out in a fair and just manner. In the meantime, Antonia and Joanna are determined to fight for their father’s best interests and hold accountable those they believe have taken advantage of him.
