LOS ANGELES — A judge declined Friday to immediately place Cher's son under the legal guardianship she seeks and opposes, but the court will take up the issue within weeks.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jessica A. Uzcategui ruled that Cher's attorneys failed to provide Elijah Blue Allman and his attorneys with necessary documents to give them enough time to argue their case, and scheduled another hearing for January 29.
Last week, the Oscar and Grammy-winning singer and actor filed a petition for control of the finances of Elijah Blue Allman, 47, claiming his substance abuse and mental health issues have made him unable to manage their money and potentially risk their life. danger by allowing him to buy drugs.
Allman receives money from a trust left by his late father, musician Gregg Allman. Cher's attorney, Gabrielle Vidal, said during Friday's hearing that a payment from the trust was pending and that immediately establishing a conservatorship was “a life-and-death proposition.”
But Uzcategui said: “I’m not convinced.”
She cited the refusal of Cher's lawyers to share documents with Allman's lawyers when contacted Thursday. Cher's lawyers said they had privacy concerns and instead shared the documents with Allman's court-appointed attorney.
Allman said in a court filing before the hearing that a conservatorship was not necessary. He acknowledged that he suffered from addiction and irresponsible spending, but said he was under a doctor's care, had been sober for more than three months, attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and that he was willing to submit to drug testing.
“While I understand that my mother, the proposed conservator, believes she is looking out for my best interests and I appreciate her love and support, I do not need her unsolicited help or support for the moment,” the filing states.
Allman was in court Friday, but spoke only to briefly answer the judge's questions. His lawyers declined to comment after the hearing.
Cher was not present. His lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.