National Football League

Appeal court upholds ruling deeming Benson competent

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) A Louisiana appeals court has upheld a civil judge's ruling that New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson was mentally competent when he ousted relatives from ownership positions with his NFL and NBA clubs and appointed his third wife as his primary successor.

In a ruling issued Wednesday, the state 4th Circuit Court of Appeal finds no fault with Orleans Parish Judge Kern Reese's decision to block the attorney for Benson's estranged daughter and her children from cross-examining their 88-year-old patriarch during the closed trial last June.

Reese ruled that he found Benson competent after interviewing him in chambers.

Randall A. Smith, the attorney for Renee Benson and her children, Rita and Ryan Leblanc, says his clients are considering filing an appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court.