Oscar-nominated director Norman Jewison, known for classics like In the Heat of the Night and A Soldier’s Story, spent his final years at the center of a bitter family dispute. Court filings by his sons allege that his second wife, Lynne St. David Jewison, isolated him from family and influenced changes to his estate.
Legal battles in California and Ontario revealed claims of elder abuse and coercion, with allegations that St. David Jewison cut off Jewison’s children, took control of his communications, and influenced major changes to his will. In November 2023—just two months before his death at age 97—Jewison rewrote his will, cutting out his children and leaving an estimated $27 million to his wife and a foundation under her control.
While none of the allegations were tested in court, mediation led to settlements. Jewison’s children eventually regained some access to him before his death, and a final legal agreement granted Michael Jewison $6.8 million, film rights, and loan forgiveness. The dispute highlights the growing issue of family conflicts over elder care and inheritance.
Source: Swifteradio.com
