When he died in November, the author left behind two unpublished books and one real mystery: Will his widow be able to gain control of a substantial part of his estate against his wishes?
Michael Crichton, the bestselling author of science fiction thrillers such as Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain, left behind at least one finished novel and part of a second when he died of cancer.
But the prolific Crichton, who was married five times and also created the hit TV series ER, which ended a 15-year run, left behind another, even bigger piece of unfinished business: the fate of a son born three months after the author died.
The son, John Michael Todd Crichton, isn't mentioned in Crichton's will, but as an "omitted child" in legal theory, he may nonetheless be entitled to one-third of the writer's estate. The amount at stake is not known, but may well reach into nine figures: By one account, Crichton earned $100 million a year in his prime.
In a dramatic twist worthy of Crichton himself, his widow—Sherri Alexander Crichton, who signed a prenuptial agreement limiting her share of the estate—is seeking to be named guardian of her son's property. Success would essentially let her circumvent the prenuptial pact.
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Crichton's Last Thriller
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Loeb & Loeb, on behalf of the firms client Sherri Crichton, widow of Michael Crichton and the mother of their newborn son John Michael Todd Crichton, today filed a routine petition in Probate Court requesting the Court's blessing that she will not be violating the terms of her late husband's will or trust by acting on their son's behalf to establish his clear legal right to share in his father's estate, as Michael Crichton intended.
Statement Regarding Petitions Filed by Loeb & Loeb on Behalf of Sherri Crichton
Michael Crichton, the bestselling author of science fiction thrillers such as Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain, left behind at least one finished novel and part of a second when he died of cancer.
But the prolific Crichton, who was married five times and also created the hit TV series ER, which ended a 15-year run, left behind another, even bigger piece of unfinished business: the fate of a son born three months after the author died.
The son, John Michael Todd Crichton, isn't mentioned in Crichton's will, but as an "omitted child" in legal theory, he may nonetheless be entitled to one-third of the writer's estate. The amount at stake is not known, but may well reach into nine figures: By one account, Crichton earned $100 million a year in his prime.
In a dramatic twist worthy of Crichton himself, his widow—Sherri Alexander Crichton, who signed a prenuptial agreement limiting her share of the estate—is seeking to be named guardian of her son's property. Success would essentially let her circumvent the prenuptial pact.
Full Article and Source:
Crichton's Last Thriller
More information:
Loeb & Loeb, on behalf of the firms client Sherri Crichton, widow of Michael Crichton and the mother of their newborn son John Michael Todd Crichton, today filed a routine petition in Probate Court requesting the Court's blessing that she will not be violating the terms of her late husband's will or trust by acting on their son's behalf to establish his clear legal right to share in his father's estate, as Michael Crichton intended.
Statement Regarding Petitions Filed by Loeb & Loeb on Behalf of Sherri Crichton
4 comments:
The son has a right and it's right that he's included in his father's will.
But, the mother should watch out.
The vultures are circling. She needs to look up and see them.
Another example of the power of guardianship and why it must be a tightly controlled measure of last resort.
Another "power" of guardianship.
He has no right...if thats not a gold digger I dont know what is...
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