Lawyers for the widow of Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson lashed out at the late prosecutor’s mother in court papers — accusing her of misusing the court system just to “gratify her curiosity” about the contents of her son’s old will.
Widow Lu-Shawn Thompson and Thompson’s mother, Clara, have been embroiled in a battle over the late DA’s estate since his death from cancer last year. Clara claimed in December court papers that her daughter-in-law manipulated the then-ailing DA into cutting his mother out of a newly drawn-up will.
Lu-Shawn has testified under oath that her husband knowingly shredded his 2008 will, which included his mother, on Sept. 22, 2016, just 17 days before his death. He left behind a new will that gives the entirety of the estate to his wife and young children.
Clara’s lawyers have demanded a copy of the old will. They filed papers Feb. 3 asking that Lu-Shawn be held in contempt for not turning over the 2008 document, which, under law, is null if it is torn, burned or destroyed.
Lu-Shawn’s lawyer, Lori Ann Douglass, argued in papers filed Feb. 8 that her client is not obligated to turn over a copy of the “destroyed” papers because the document is no longer valid.
The lawyer had previously filed a motion to seal the courtroom and filings from press but revoked that application Thursday before Brooklyn Surrogates Court Justice Diana Johnson.
Johnson has yet to rule on the contempt motion.
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