January 26, 2007 13:47

James Brown's children challenge estate trust

Singer's family fear his assets are in danger

The legal wrangle surrounding James Brown's death is continuing to rumble on after his six adult children launched a campaign against the soul singer's trustees.

They have filed an emergency petition in Aiken County, South Carolina, calling for the trustees to be removed, claiming that the late singer's assets are in danger.

The trust, which is separate to the Godfather of Soul's will, manages Brown's estate and music rights, including his 60 acre Beech Island home.

Signed in 2000, the trustees have denied any mismanagement since the soul singer died from heart failure brought on by pneumonia on December 25 2006, reports BBC News.

Trustee Buddy Dallas, who is also Brown's lawyer, said everything in the trust was handled "appropriately and properly".

He added: "I've been Mr Brown's trusted friend and counsel for 24 years - a relationship that was built totally on our trust. And I never violated that trust for 24 years."

The latest wrangle comes after his late partner Tomi Rae Hynie recently clashed with his lawyers over the late singer's will, which did not include her or the five-year-old child she had with Brown.