Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Tom Benson Mental Competency Ruling Appealed: Latest Details, Comments

A Louisiana appeals court will likely rule within a month whether Tom Benson is competent to run both the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints, per Katherine Sayre of the Times-Picayune.

Last June, Orleans Civil District Judge Kern Reese ruled the then-87-year-old Benson could maintain his ownership stake in both franchises after his mental competency was challenged by members of his family. A lawyer on behalf of Benson's daughter Renee LeBlanc and Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, two of Benson's grandchildren, appealed the ruling.

In January 2015, Benson decided to grant ownership of the Saints and Pelicans to his wife, Gayle Benson, upon his death.