This is definitely not how Jimmy Buffett would have wanted this to go. A long, drawn-out battle between his co-trustee and wife? It is truly wild what money does to people.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Maybe I'm the crazy one, but I can't believe a man who sang this
would want people squabbling about his finances. He's been a preacher of love and peace since day one.
Jimmy Buffett's Estate Argument
To put it in simple terms, Jimmy Buffett's wife Jane, has accused a co-trustee of wasting Jimmy's estate. And not just generally, in a lawsuit against her.
Which, if that's true, that's pretty baller. Using someone's money against them in a suit against them? Absolutely hardcore. (But of course, terrible.)
The origins of this whole dispute seem to have come from Jane. According to PEOPLE , Jane's camp has alleged that, "Mr. Mozenter has failed to perform even the most basic tasks required of him in his role as co-trustee, including providing Mrs. Buffett with information concerning Trust assets and finances, which has left Mrs. Buffett in the dark with regard to the state of her own finances."
As co-trustee, that's kind of the gig, unfortunately. Hiding funds from the wife of Jimmy Buffett feels like a crazy move if it's true.
Apparently, Jane also didn't want the whole thing to blow up the way that it has. Allegedly, she asked him to step down as co-trustee multiple times. Not formally through a judge. Just as a friend, or colleague, or co-worker, or whatever they call each other now.
Due Process Is Coming Due
Well, since Jane allegedly tried to do things the easy way, now she's doing them Mozenter's way. (He's the co-trustee in question in case that wasn't clear by the way.)
Not only has she sent a formal suit to Mozenter's team, but she's now moved the suit from California to Florida. Not because she 'paid off judges', but because she knows she'll win. And she's no longer being courteous about it.
According to her team via PEOPLE, "Jane has never been interested in a legal battle over which court should hear this dispute. She filed her petition in California because that is where Rick lives and works, and she therefore believed it would be the least objectionable forum for him."
And then when addressing this switch in location, "She has therefore decided to bring the fight to Florida — where Jimmy called home for much of his life — to minimize wasteful litigation costs."
Jane just wants her loving husband Jimmy Buffett's money. And I sincerely hope she gets it.
