Quote from Dr. Sugar's book: “Family dysfunction, that’s what starts it every single time, essentially,” Sugar says. “[There were] allegations back and forth, accusations that were never proven, etc. And then one side hired an attorney. Those are the seeds and the fertilizer for these cases.”
Court filings show that the appointed guardian sued the Sugars, who had been managing Stern’s affairs, for allegedly misappropriating funds and abusing Stern — though there were never criminal charges filed and the Sugars flatly reject the claims. Further, the guardian sued the other family members who were fighting the Sugars, also for allegedly misappropriating funds.
Idelle Stern died in 2013. Yet to date her estate, once valued at $13 million, remains unsettled.