Hendrix family battling over estate

By Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporter

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One side says the other wrested control of Hendrix's legacy and fortune from Hendrix's elderly father before his death and now lives the high life.

The other side, in court yesterday, said they are only fulfilling the wishes of Hendrix's father, Al Hendrix, who died in 2002.

"Their complaints are with Al," said John Wilson, an attorney for Janie Hendrix, who controls the family estate. "They may think there were bad decisions, but they were made by Al."

On one side is Janie Hendrix, the adopted daughter of Al Hendrix, who inherited almost all of the Hendrix estate. On the other side is Leon Hendrix, Jimi's brother, his children and some of the family members who were named in the will but have never received any money from the estate.

In the opening statements of a long-brewing legal battle, Janie Hendrix, 43, was accused of wresting control of the estate from her ill step-father and mismanaging the funds.

In his will, Al Hendrix gives controlling interest of the family assets to Janie Hendrix, whom he adopted when he married her mother in 1968.

The will also establishes several trusts to benefit 11 other family members, seven of whom say they have received nothing from the estate.

Leon Hendrix and his children are not beneficiaries of the will.

In court yesterday, lawyers for Leon Hendrix said his stepsister had planned for years to have him cut out of the will, even suggesting to the elder Hendrix that he was not her son, so that she could control the family's money.

Also contesting Janie Hendrix's control of the estate are seven of the 11 beneficiaries who say Janie Hendrix mismanaged the estate's money. Their lawyers claim that Janie Hendrix and her cousin Robert Hendrix, who together run the family estate, have refused pleas for financial help from family members, including one who needed money for cancer treatment.
 
At the same time, their lawyers said, they gave themselves six-figure bonuses, drove luxury cars, and rang up $40,000 in credit-card debt per month on the company card.

"Janie has treated Experience Hendrix as an ATM," said David Osgood, who is representing the seven beneficiaries contesting Janie's position as head of the trusts.

He said Janie Hendrix spent more than $1 million on herself, including $60,000 from the company for home improvements, $40,000 to buy a rental property and $413,000 in personal loans.

"Al Hendrix thought she [Janie] would be the person who would be responsible for taking care of his family, and she got the lion's share in exchange [for that duty,]" said Osgood. "But she has shown extreme disregard for the welfare of the family."

Janie Hendrix's lawyer, who is expected to complete his opening statements today, said his client's father gave her the controlling interest in the estate because of her commitment to the family legacy and because he trusted her after she had helped him regain the rights to his son's music.

Leon Hendrix's six children are also represented in the lawsuit.

They claim their grandfather had not intended to cut them out of the will.

The estate, which was once worth $500,000, is now valued at about $80 million and thought to be one of the biggest estates in rock 'n' roll. The estate owns the rights to Jimi Hendrix's music and also licenses and sells Hendrix products.

The bench trial before King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell is expected to last about two months.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com