Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson will remain in control of the teams and his billion-dollar fortune after a New Orleans judge on Thursday (June 18) found the 87-year-old capable of managing his own affairs, blocking his estranged heirs' attempt to take over. Orleans Civil District Judge Kern Reese ruled Benson competent after an eight-day trial that ended last week. His daughter, Renee Benson, and grandchildren, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, had asked the judge to declare the patriarch incompetent, arguing the octogenarian is in mental decline and is being unduly influenced by his wife and an inner circle of team executives. But for now, Benson will stay in control of his estimated $1.7 billion fortune, built over decades on car dealerships, real estate and banking deals in New Orleans and San Antonio. Reese ruled that Benson "is able to make reasoned decisions as to his person and his property and therefore this court will not order an interdiction of any kind in these proceedings." Benson didn't testify in his competency trial, but the ruling revealed that Reese did hear from Benson in the case. Reese wrote that he interviewed Benson at Saints headquarters April 20. "The court sat across from the defendant, looked into his eyes, listened carefully to his responses, and concluded the capacity to make reasoned decisions was present," Reese said. Lawyers for Benson and the heirs were present at the interview, but only the judge was allowed to ask questions. - See more at: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/06/tom_benson_saints_pelicans_com.html#incart_big-photo
