USLegal Reporter

Leona Helmsley’s dog Trouble, who received $12 million through a pet trust upon his owner’s death, has apparently been rejected by his appointed caretaker. Helmsley named her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, as the dog’s caretaker, but he has reportedly expressed a lack of interest in caring for the dog, who is currently tended to by staffers at Helmsley’s mansion.

Helmsley also directed that the dog be laid to rest in her mausoleum when he dies. However, the cemetary has cited state law which prevents animal remains from being buried in a human graveyard.

To further compound his legal woes, Trouble’s $12 million is being eyed by a former Helmsley housekeeper, who claims the dog bit her several times during her three-month employment. The housekeeper, Zamfira Sfara, sued her employer in 2004, claiming the dog bit her numerous times. Sfara lost due to workers’ compensation laws, which the judge ruled relieved Helmsley of liability.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/05/helmsley.dog.ap/index.html

A Maltese dog named Trouble, owned by the “Queen of Mean” hotelier and real estate billionairess Leona Helmsley, has been bequeathed an inheritance of 12 million dollars by her owner’s will. After living the pampered pet life, Trouble will be buried next to Helmsley in a mausoleum.

Alvin Rosenthal, Helmsley’s brother, was named as the dog’s caretaker after Helmsley’s death, and received a large inheritance. Meanwhile, the will omitted any bequests to two of Helmsley’s grandchildren.

Because pets are considered property, they cannot legally inherit. Trouble’s care will be provided through a pet trust. A pet trust was established by Helmsley (the grantor),who left money to a trustee to make payments to the designated caretaker for the lifetime of the pet. Any remaining assets at the death of the pet usually go to a charity but they can also be paid to surviving family members if desired.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/29/helmsley.dog.ap/index.html