Trouble No More
Leona Helmsley’s pooch passes
Leona Helmsley with Trouble
The notorious “Queen of Mean” insisted that her Maltese dog, Trouble, be referred to as “Princess.” And she left $12 million to her pooch. But, princess or not, Trouble is no more. She passed away on Thursday at age 12.
A judge agreed with members of Leona Helmsley’s family that $12 million was an excessive amount and the product of an unsound mind, and the legacy was reduced to $2 million. Trouble went to live with Carl Lekic, the general manager of the Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel in Sarasota, Florida.
At her new home, Trouble still lived in luxury, but her diet became a little more modest – reduced from the likes of crab cakes and cream cheese to commercial dog food. She still had a security team, however, largely because of the death threats she continued to receive from people who had never gotten over feeling badly mistreated by Helmsley.
The bequest to Trouble was not the only item in Helmsley’s will to be contested by the family. The will also provided for $3 billion to be given to humane organizations that care for dogs. But a judge agreed with family members that this amount was excessive and that the provision did not have to be fully observed. Several animal protection groups are appealing the ruling.
More at the New York Times