Ramey & Flock

Aretha Franklin’s legendary singing career spanned five-plus decades. The “Queen of Soul” made the most appearances on the Billboard charts of any female performer ever. She died from pancreatic cancer in August of 2018 at age 76.
1. Probate CaseIt was initially thought that Franklin died without a will. A niece, Sabrina Owens, was appointed as the administrator of the estate, which is pending in a Detroit suburb. Earlier this month, Owens was searching Franklin’s home and discovered three handwritten wills.
Two wills from 2010 were found inside a locked cabinet. One from 2014 was found in a spiral bound notebook under the cushions of a couch. The wills are difficult to read, are disorganized and look like rough drafts. Words are crossed out and are written in the margins. The primary beneficiaries are Franklin’s four sons.
2. Disputed IssuesThe four sons have been unable to reach an agreement about the validity of the wills. Owens has filed a petition to have the court rule on the valid…

Legal disputes are very unpleasant things. And though often not quite as personal as legal disputes between family members— business litigation can still be just as nasty.
A legal business dispute could be with a business partner, a vendor, a client or customer, or any other entity or individual your company has shared a professional agreement with.
And even though the conflict may not have escalated between you and the other party to the point of a formal complaint, or a lawsuit (yet), there are still critical things you need to know before moving forward. Because the tense period of time leading up to a potential business lawsuit, is the most crucial, and depending on how you handle it, can make or break the successful outcome of the dispute.
Here are 6 tips you need to know before you or your company gets into a business lawsuit:
1. Limit your written communication with the other party.
This can be a challenge because the time leading up to a potential lawsuit is the period of ti…