Estranged Benson Heirs Renew Calls For Psychiatric Exam

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The estranged heirs of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson say in newly filed court documents that Benson's attorneys are opposing an independent psychiatric evaluation of the teams' owner because they fear what the results would be.

The documents were filed by attorneys for Benson's daughter, Renee, and her children Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, who last month were removed from Tom Benson's succession plan for his NFL and NBA teams. Benson now says he wants his wife to control the clubs, but his daughter and grandchildren are suing to block that plan.

Lawyers for Renee Benson and her children say Tom Benson's refusal to testify in a parallel case in Texas this week demonstrated that Benson's lawyers were trying to "shield him from the scrutiny of the court."