Trustee: Hawaii’s Royal Princess Needs A Legal Guardian

Her former lawyer questions whether the heiress’ current legal team is acting in her best interests in the fight over her $215 million trust.

The trustee of Abigail Kawananakoa’s $215 million estate has asked a judge to appoint a guardian ad litem for the aging heiress because he believes she is not able to make sound decisions about her ongoing court battle.

“It is abundantly clear that (Kawananakoa) is unable to understand and appreciate the complexities of this proceeding,” wrote Jim Wright, the estate trustee, in his petition to Circuit Judge Mark Browning.

A guardian, Wright’s filing stated, would make sure all decisions the 92-year-old Kawananakoa has made since suffering a stroke over a year ago, were in her best interest.

Three months ago, court-appointed psychiatrist Dr. David Trader found that Kawananakoa lacked “sufficient mental capacity” to understand her complex financial situation.

Wright’s latest filing argues that lack of capacity extends to other decision-making, including the hiring of her attorneys and whether she is directing the legal team or being coerced by it.

As proof Kawananakoa may not be in charge of her case, Wright’s petition says her legal team hired coaches, including a forensic psychiatrist, to prep her before her evaluation by Trader.

Kawananakoa’s attorney, Michael Lilly, declined to comment on Wright’s request, citing a court order not to comment on the case. A hearing on the guardian matter has been set for Nov. 8.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2018/08/trustee-hawaiis-royal-princess-needs-a-legal-guardian/

Source: HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT, (article published 28. August 218) - Terri Langford is a Civil Beat reporter. You can follow her on Twitter @tlangford.