Post by Emerald City on Feb 17, 2005 18:31:59 GMT -5
The mother of Ray Charles' 17-year-old son took the witness stand Wednesday as she sought a family allowance of $12,000 to $15,000 a month from his estate.
Mary Anne den Bok said her son, Corey Robinson den Bok, attends a private high school and a musical institute with a combined annual tuition and expenses of $45,000.
She said Charles, who died in June at age 73, had been paying for his son's education, in addition to $3,000 a month.
Den Bok told Superior Court Judge Coleman A. Swart that her son, who wants to pursue a musical career, has had professional training since he was a child but now she cannot afford the $150 to $200 an hour to provide him with the kind of vocal instruction he needs.
She also cited medical expenses, including semiannual eye checkups because "his eye pressure is borderline glaucomic," an orthopedic specialist to deal with continuing problems from a December motorcycle accident and counseling to deal with the loss of his father, den Bok said.
Den Bok said she has no health insurance.
Earlier, den Bok, acting as her own attorney, questioned the controller and office manager of Ray Charles Enterprises about tens of thousands of dollars in checks that were made out for tuition at private schools.
Den Bok initially sought at least $60,000 a month in support, but later amended her request.
Outside court, den Bok said she sought the higher figure in order that the executor of Charles' estate would refuse and she could bring the estate "under court supervision ... to ensure that what Ray Charles intended be done with his money is actually done."
Corey den Bok said outside the courtroom that he had a good relationship with his father and would like to return to the lifestyle he enjoyed when his father was alive, which included living in a much larger house with room to invite his friends to sleep over.
"I would go to his concerts, I'd go backstage, he came to sing me happy birthday on my birthdays, he'd come for parents day at school. It was basically like any other parent," he said.
"I think it's just ridiculous that people are going to fight over stuff like that," he said. "I mean, I'm his kid."
In her petition filed in August, den Bok claimed Charles left behind 12 children and a $100 million estate.
However, attorneys for the executor of the estate, Joe Adams, said the estate had only $500,000 in funds that could be considered for den Bok's demands.
