Singer Leonard Cohen’s children have sued the appointed custodian of their late father’s $48 million estate, alleging he robbed their father of their fortunes more than a decade ago.
Lorca Cohen, 48, and Adam Cohen, 50, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against attorney Robert Corey, 72, more than a year ago and say he forged documents in 2005 to gain control of the singer’s assets.
The singer, who was 82 when he died in 2016, is best known for his hit song, “Hallelujah.” Leonard left behind an archive worth more than $48 million, which includes about 250 journals he kept since he was a child, poetry, books, hundreds of photographs, and millions of dollars in royalties.
“Leonard Cohen’s attorneys and manager rigged his trust so they could flee the multimillion-dollar estate and steal the Hall of Famer’s legacy from his children,” said attorney Adam Streisand. New York Post.
Leonard Cohen’s children have sued the appointed custodian in charge of their father’s $48 million estate and allege he forged documents in order to gain control.
Lorca Cohen, 48, and Adam Cohen, 50, have been in an ongoing battle with attorney Robert Corey, 72, who seized the singer’s assets when he died in 2016. Pictured: Lorca and Leonard
Adam Cohen (above) is also suing Corey. He is seen above holding. Award in honor of his father in 2017
Robert Corey, 72, took over Leonard’s estate. He has since published a book on behalf of the singer and is set to open an exhibition
The children’s advocate argues that the singer’s trust in allocating his assets to them was “swapped” after his death. Pictured: Leonard (center) with Adam (right) and Lorca (left)
Before his death, Leonard left Cory in charge of his affairs – which Lorca and Adam now describe as a mistake.
Streisand alleged that the singer left behind two different versions of the trust with one of them leaving his assets to Lorca, Adam and his ex-wife Anjani Thomas, according to the newspaper.
“This sole and true copy of the Trust designates Adam, Lorca and Anjani Thomas,” the court documents read.
But Streisand argued that the trust that established Leonard’s children was ‘exchanged’ after his death.
In the court filing, Lorca and Adam claim that Leonard realized in his final days that he had made a grave mistake by letting Cory infiltrate Leonard’s affairs and control nearly every aspect of Leonard’s finances and legacy.
Lorca and Adam further insisted that Corey hired Ryan Corey, his son, to help with the singer’s assets and archive documents, including copies of his songs along with thousands of photos.
Corey has since gained financial benefits from Leonard’s estate by publishing a novel about the singer called “A Ballet of Leprosy” and launching an exhibition at an art gallery in Canada called “Everybody Knows”.
Despite not having control of their father’s estate, Lorca and Adam receive $400,000 each year.
Streisand has claimed that the singer left behind two different versions of his trust with one of his assets being left behind by Lorca, Adam and his ex-wife Anjani Thomas. Pictured: Thomas and Adam
Despite not having control of their father’s estate, Lorca and Adam receive $400,000 each year. Pictured: 16-year-old Lorca with Leonard
Leonard’s lawyer said the singer asked him to change the estate’s trustee to Corey
Riff Chaud, the singer’s attorney, wrote in a letter that Leonard asked him to put Corey in charge of his estate.
“In 2016, without Mr. Corey’s request, Mr. Cohen asked me to change the successor trustee to Mr. Corey,” Schoud wrote in a letter found in the court filing. He was concerned that his children did not have a comfortable enough relationship to work together the intricacies of the artist’s estate.
The letter continued: “While Mr. Cohen did not want to disclose this change in the succession of custody to his children, Mr. Corey insisted, and this was explained to Adam and Lorca at a meeting in September 2015.”
Corey denied playing foul and said he had properly communicated with the singer’s children about his affairs, including the launch of Leonard’s book and the show, according to The Post.
He also insisted that he also send Lorca and Adam monthly financial statements.
Leonard was born in Canada in 1932 and passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on November 10, 2016.
His career in music has spanned nearly five decades. He has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Leonard was born in Canada in 1932 and passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on November 10, 2016.
Just three weeks before his death, the superstar released his latest album, You Want It Darker, and thought it was “one of his greatest records.”
Music fans dubbed 2016 “Annus Horribilis” because Leonard passed away in a year when David Bowie and Prince also died.
His first big success was So Long Marianne in 1967, written about his Norwegian lover, Marianne Jensen, who died of cancer in August.
In a revealing letter sent to her days before her death, Cohen said, “I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close to you that if you reach out, I think you can reach mine.
Before his musical star, he had spent ten years prior as a famous poet and novelist, but turned to music to “pay the bills.”
His career in music has spanned nearly five decades and has seen him inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Future teen idol. Typical social media ninja. Alcohol buff. Explorer. Creator. Beer advocate.”