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Artist News Business News Legal
Dispute over Tom Petty estate goes legal
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 3 April 2019
A dispute between Tom Petty’s widow and his two children from his first marriage has gone legal, with both sides accusing the other of bad conduct.
Dana Petty has filed a petition with the LA County Court arguing that her late husband’s two adult daughters – Adria and Annakim – are making the management of the musician’s estate impossible, including scuppering deals with labels over posthumous releases.
In her legal filing, Dana requests that the court appoint an independent manager to coordinate any “significant decisions” that need to be made in relation to the estate, and also rule that any such decisions need approval from her, Adria and Annakim, so that the two sisters can’t overrule her.
The court papers particularly criticise Adria who, they say, has been abusive towards the people and companies working on her father’s legacy, including management and label. This “erratic behaviour”, it’s alleged, held up the release of a greatest hits record and stopped entirely a 25th anniversary reissue of Petty’s 1994 solo album ‘Wildflowers’.
Adria has responded with her own petition laying into Dana, who she says has sought to push her and her sister out of key decisions. She also says Dana has failed to place assets into a limited company established in Petty’s will, which was meant to be done within six months of his death. Failure to do this has cut Adria and Annakim out of the management of their father’s repertoire and legacy, the second court filing argues.
It remains to be seen whether the court is willing to intervene, one way or the other.
