Ruling Limits Power of Merritt Adamson’s Widow
A trial in which heirs of the late Merritt Adamson were fighting for control of an $80-million family fortune that includes the Adamson Cos., ended abruptly this week after the judge ruled that Adamson’s widow had not established the legal right to break up the company’s assets.
However, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Berg ordered that Sharon Adamson be notified before the firm engages in any transaction of more than $100,000, and temporarily barred sisters Sylvia R. A. Neville and Rhoda-May Dallas, the firm’s sole general partners, from appointing another general partner.
The development came after 2 1/2 days of arguments in a trial that was supposed to deal with Sharon Adamson’s allegations that her sisters-in-law have mismanaged the company. It is likely to have little bearing on how the 4-year-old legal battle is ultimately resolved.
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