The son and second wife of late singer Teddy Pendergrass are embroiled in a battle over the singerâs estate. Teddy Pendergrass II and Joan Pendergrass have shown conflicting wills since the R&B singer passed away in January (2010). Pendergrassâ son has a will from May 2009 that names him executor and sole beneficiary. The widow has a will that is from a later date where she signed as the singerâs attorney and would give her control. Attorneys for the two conflicting parties are scheduled to meet next week. Teddy Pendergrass skyrocketed to fame in the 1970s and is most known for the song âIf You Donât Know Me By Now,â which he recorded with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in 1972. In 1982, his career was put on hold after a car crash in Philadelphia left him paralyzed. Pendergrass married Joan Williams, a New Balance shoe company executive from Boston in 2008. He had three adult children, and she had two. In mid-2009, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, and the last eight months of his life were spent in a hospital until his death on Jan. 13. Two friends say that he was lucid until the end. Pendergrassâ survivors organized separate funeral receptions where one was hosted by his widow, and the other by his ex-wife. A lawyer for Joan Pendergrass says that the conflict is not about money, but more about the singerâs legacy. âTo say itâs a money grab is ludicrousâthereâs just no money to fight about,â lawyer Kevin Glickman said. Because Pendergrass did not write most of his songs, his estate has little royalty income. Next month a bank is set to auction off his home in Penn Valley, now worth perhaps half its former $1.5 million sale price.
The late and legendary Teddy Pendergrass left a legacy of incredible music, but his death in 2010 has led to an ongoing legal battle between his son and widow over control of the estate. After years of disagreement and dispute, both parties are still unable to come to terms on how the inheritance should be divided. This article will explore the circumstances surrounding this high-profile case that has been making headlines for nearly a decade.
Teddy Pendergrass was an iconic R&B singer whose career spanned more than three decades. He is remembered as one of the pivotal soul singers from Philadelphia with hits like “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, “Love TKO”, and “Close The Door”. His work earned him multiple Grammy nominations and he continued to make music until shortly before his untimely death in January 2010 at the age of 59 due to colon cancer complications.
Since then, there have been numerous court hearings regarding who holds rights to the singer’s estate: his only son Ted White Jr or his third wife Joan Pendergrass, whom he married just two months prior to his passing. Both sides claim entitlement to what would remain after debts were paid off; these include royalties from record sales, publishing revenue, merchandise income and other investments accumulated throughout Teddy’s life as a performing artist. As tensions continue to mount between the warring parties, it remains unclear who will eventually emerge victorious in this long-standing family feud.
Background Of The Conflict
The Teddy Pendergrass estate has been embroiled in a conflict between his son, Teddy Lamont Pendergrass II and widow, Joan Pendergrass. The disagreement is over the control of the late singer’s legacy. To understand this dispute, we must first look at each party and how they are connected to the case.
Teddy Lamont Pendergrass II was born in 1978 to Teddy Pendergrass and Karen Still-Parks. He has been mentioned as an heir to his father’s fortune since he was 18 years old when reports surfaced that Ted Sr.’s will had not yet been written. This would later become a major sticking point with Joan Pendergrass who married Ted Sr. two years prior in 1997. After the pair wed, it was reported that she held power of attorney for her husband during his health decline due to a spinal cord injury suffered from a car accident in 1982 until his death in 2010. Over time it became clear that no formal document had been created by Mr. Pendergrass regarding his assets or property which left ambiguity about who could legally claim ownership of them after his passing away.
This resulted in legal proceedings being opened between both parties claiming rights to various parts of the estate – mainly involving monetary funds but also including properties owned by Mr. Pendergrass such as homes and land located throughout Philadelphia where he grew up and made music history influencing generations afterwards.. In court documents filed on behalf of Mr. TLPII it alleged Mrs. Joan Pendergrass misused financial resources belonging to him while under her oversight; however those claims were never proven beyond reasonable doubt resulting in neither side gaining total victory in the matter leaving both sides still disputing matters today nearly 10 years after Ted Senior’s death.
Legal Dispute
The legal dispute between Joan Pendergrass and Teddy Lamont Pendergrass II has been ongoing for nearly a decade. While the courts have attempted to settle the matter, neither side has been willing to compromise on their respective claims. As such, the conflict between both parties continues with no end in sight.
At its core, this is a disagreement over who holds rightful control of Ted Sr.’s estate – namely his properties and assets left behind after his passing away. Mrs. Joan Pendergrass maintained that she was entitled to full ownership due to her position as power of attorney during her husband’s illness while TLPII argued that he should be granted some form of recognition given his status as an heir prior to any other claimants being involved. However, without documentary evidence confirming either party’s claim it became difficult for the courts to make a definitive ruling on the case leading them instead towards seeking out mediation between the two sides which thus far appears unsuccessful.
It is unclear what will happen next in regards to this situation or if resolution will ever be reached between Mr. TLPII and Mrs. Joan Pendergrass regarding their conflicting interests in Teddy Pendergrass’ estate but one thing remains certain: until then they remain locked in a bitter battle over control of it all.
Conclusion
I. Summary
The estate of the late Teddy Pendergrass has been embroiled in a legal battle between his son, Theodore Pendergrass III and his widow, Joan Pendergrass. The dispute centers around control of the estate and who should be its beneficiary.
II. Conclusion
It is heartbreaking to see this family torn apart by such a disagreement during an already difficult time. Unfortunately, court proceedings are often necessary when there are disputes over estates such as these. It is my hope that both sides will come together peacefully and reach an agreement soon so that they can honor the life and legacy of their beloved husband and father, Teddy Pendergrass.
III. Final Thoughts
We must remember that even though it may take more effort than expected for families to settle disagreements like this one, it is important to keep our focus on what truly matters: honoring those we have lost while still taking care of ourselves and each other along the way.
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