Legendary Puerto Rican writer Piri Thomas is involved in a legal battle with his stepson, David Elder and the Hotel Chelsea management.

When David’s mother died in 1986, she left her 16% interest in the Chelsea Hotel to David and his two siblings in trust. However, the trust stipulated that Piri Thomas, her husband and David’s stepfather, was to receive all income from the trust for as long as he lived.
David and his siblings didn’t care for that arrangement and have refused to hand over the 1.2 million that the trust has generated in income, forcing Piri to sue for the money. Though the court called David and his siblings’ argument that the income was principal “absurd,” and ruled against them, they have tied it up in appeals.

Personally I was unaware of the legal battle and of the fact that Thomas is in such dire need of money (or at least that is what is stated on the website Save Piri Thomas). Having met Thomas when I was in college the whole battle surprises me as does the cause built around the case.

If you haven’t read Piri Thomas , you should. You can read about Thomas on his web site.

Via / Hotel Chelsea Blog, The Village Voice