Sensitive NFL, NBA documents to be disclosed in Benson trial, judge rules

Billionaire Tom Benson’s lawsuit seeking changes in an estate package for his estranged daughter and grandchildren has a new court date after the two sides failed to finalize a settlement. Billionaire Tom Benson’s lawsuit seeking changes in an estate package for his estranged daughter and grandchildren has a new court date after the two sides failed to finalize a settlement. Photo: Bob Leverone / Associated Press Photo: Bob Leverone / Associated Press Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close Sensitive NFL, NBA documents to be disclosed in Benson trial, judge rules 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

Sensitive internal NFL and NBA documents may be revealed in a family feud over the estate of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson.

A federal district judge in New Orleans on Friday denied a motion to seal sensitive financial information about the teams in Benson’s legal battle with his estranged daughter Renee Benson.

New Orleans billionaire Tom Benson won approval from Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to remove shares in his sports teams from trusts he set up for his daughter and grandchildren, but not before the court hears evidence to determine the value of those shares in a trial set to begin June 20.

Tom Benson sued the guardians of the trusts, San Antonio lawyers Robert Rosenthal and Mary Lowe, last year after they blocked Tom Benson’s attempt to replace nonvoting team shares with promissory notes.

Tom Benson, 88, said last year he wants the teams to be controlled after his death by his third wife, Gayle Benson, instead of his daughter and grandchildren. Rosenthal and Lowe have said the value of the teams need to be determined before an exchange occurs so they don’t get shortchanged.

The octogenarian this week filed a motion to seal 88 exhibits prepared by Rosenthal and Rowe that reveals sensitive financial information on the teams.

The exhibits include NFL quarterly reports, future financial projections of the Saints and Pelicans, attendance records, audited financial reports, balance sheets and internal NFL memos of teams regarding the sales of other teams.

“The information and exhibits that Benson seeks to seal goes to the heart of the issues in this case: the value of the Saints and Pelicans and Benson’s ability to repay the promissory notes that he proposed to provide to the trusts in exchange for those, and other, assets,” replied lawyers for Rosenthal and Lowe, led by Kyle Schonekas of New Orleans, in a court filing.