March 12, 2009

Court Rules Helmsley Trustees Not Bound by Donor's Instructions

By Maria Di Mento and Ben Gose

The trustees of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust do not have to limit the distribution of their grants to charities focused on the care and welfare of dogs, a New York judge ruled last month.

The ruling is significant because it allows the foundation's trustees to go against Ms. Helmsley's wishes that the bulk of her estate be directed toward that purpose.

Ms. Helmsley's foundation has been closely watched, since it could receive as much $5-billion from her