Judge Denies Prince Heirs Request To Move Vault Contents Amid Wildfires
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The heirs to Prince's estate say a natural disaster is threatening pieces of his legacy, but a Minnesota judge disagrees.
Attorneys for the music icon's siblings Monday morning requested a judge order the transfer of Prince's infamous archive of unreleased music, clothing and art from a facility in Hollywood, California, back to Paisley Park. In a letter to the Carver County judge, attorneys referenced ongoing wildfires that they say appear to be approaching the Hollywood area.
In response, attorneys representing Comerica contended that there is no threat of wildfires to the Hollywood storage facility, citing maps and news reports of containment efforts.
Judge Kevin Eide promptly issued a response Monday afternoon denying the heirs' request, calling the issue a "non-story."
"The Court strongly condemns bringing this matter before the Court without adequate discussion between the parties and will sanction a party for doing so in the future," Judge Eide said in his letter.
The Prince heirs have been trying to bring back the contents of the Vault to Paisley Park ever since Comerica Bank, which represents the estate, ordered the move in September. The recordings contained in the Vault are considered one of the most prized pieces of Prince's legacy, with court papers suggesting a value of around $200 million.
