Minneapolis, Minnesota – A legal battle over the late musician Prince’s estate continues as his heirs face off in court over allegations of wrongful control. The dispute emerged among members of Prince Legacy LLC, one of two holding companies managing the singer’s $156 million estate. The lawsuit was filed by L. Londell McMillan and Charles Spicer, managers for Prince Legacy, who claim that four of Prince’s family members are trying to force them out of the company. The lawsuit accuses the family members of lacking business and management experience and warns that their actions could harm efforts to preserve and protect Prince’s legacy.
The lawsuit specifically targets Prince’s half-sisters Sharon Nelson and Norrine Nelson, as well as his niece Breanna Nelson and nephew Allen Nelson. The plaintiffs argue that if Sharon and Norrine were to gain control and remove them as managers, it would cause irreparable harm to the company’s reputation, relationships, and revenue streams. Lawyers representing the family members named in the lawsuit have not yet commented on the allegations.
Since Prince passed away in 2016 without a will, his estate has gone through a lengthy probate process to determine how his assets should be distributed. Six of Prince’s half-siblings were named as heirs, three of whom later sold their shares to another company called Primary Wave. The legal dispute over the estate finally concluded in 2022, with Prince Legacy and Primary Wave each owning half of the estate.
According to the lawsuit, tensions arose within Prince Legacy after McMillan and Spicer refused to comply with Sharon’s demands regarding the operations of the estate. The lawsuit alleges that Sharon sought to replace Paisley Park staff, Prince’s famed Minnesota mansion, and insisted on lavish events at the expense of the estate. Breanna also allegedly made demands, including attempting to appoint her son as an intern at Paisley Park. The lawsuit claims that both women attempted to sell their shares to Primary Wave without unanimous consent.
In response to these actions, McMillan and Spicer claim that Sharon and Breanna harassed and disparaged them, demanding their resignation. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent any changes to the company’s bylaws that would remove the managers or allow a member to sell their shares to a third party.
The legal battle over Prince’s estate continues as his family members are divided over control and management. The lawsuit alleges that certain family members are acting improperly and jeopardizing efforts to preserve Prince’s legacy. The outcome of this ongoing court case will determine the future of Prince Legacy LLC and its role in managing the late musician’s estate.