Koons Involved in Another Lawsuit

Deborah Koons Garcia, Jerry's "last" wife (who was recently sued by Jerry's "last" daughter), is apparently suing...herself. Well, kinda. The Associated Press reports:

Jerry Garcia's Widow Sues Over Estate
By Associated Press

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- The widow of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia is suing to gain access to unpublished tapes of her late husband's musical performances.

Deborah Koons Garcia filed a civil suit Jan. 31 in Marin County Superior Court against a limited liability corporation, comprised of the rocker's beneficiaries including Koons Garcia, that oversees business involving his estate.

According to the lawsuit, Koons Garcia wants to professionally restore the so-called "Garcia Tapes," but others in the limited liability corporation have stalled the process. The suit asks a judge to clarify the terms of the agreement that led to the formation of the business entity.

Koons Garcia claims the corporation had been scheduled to dissolve by Dec. 31, 2005, but continues to exist.

The lawsuit is just the latest in a prolonged legal battle among Jerry Garcia's beneficiaries.

Some have filed their own lawsuit against Koons Garcia in an effort to maintain the corporation. The rocker's daughter, Keelin Noel Garcia, 19, also has sued Koons Garcia for allegedly shoddy financial oversight of the estate.

Attorney Lawrence Rockwell, who represents several of the defendants in the Jan. 31 lawsuit, could not be reached for comment.

A hearing is scheduled for April 13.

The AP story has been carried by the Chicago Tribune, the Toronto Star, the Gainseville Sun, the Baltimore Sun, the Mercury News, the Herald Tribune & MSN Music News (as well as over 160 other news outlets).

The Marin Independent Journal has a little more info...

Koons has been involved with many Jerry related lawsuits over the years, especially since she is co-executor of his estate (further referred to as "The Estate"). Here are a few:

1997 - Koons is sued by Carolyn "Mountain Girl" Garcia over money MG was to receive based on her divorce terms. A court awarded MG $5 Million but, during appeal, she accepted a $1.25 - $1.5 Million settlement.

1998 - Former Office Manager Suzanne Stephens sues The Estate over an alleged promise by Jerry to pay her half the royalties from the "Cherry Garcia" ice cream.

2005 - The Estate sues Moe's Southwestern Burritos for using Jerry's image unlawfully to sell tacos and Southwestern food.

2006 - Keelin Noel Garcia sues The Estate over child support/Estate division misallocation.