Anne Heche Intubated After Car Crash Where She Was Severely

[lindsaywhit]

Isn't the younger boy's father still alive? Mr. Tupper?

[no1novice]

James Tupper denied guardianship of Atlas amid estate battle with Anne Heche’s son Homer

By Sophia Melissa Caraballo Piñeiro

October 11, 2022 | 10:00pm
James Tupper and son Atlas huggingJames Tupper’s petition to be named his son’s guardian amid his legal battle with Homer Laffoon was denied.Instagram/mrjamestupper

A California judge has denied James Tupper’s petition to be named his son’s guardian ad litem.

According to documents obtained by Page Six, the court found that not enough evidence had been provided by Tupper — who shares Atlas with Anne Heche — to stop Homer Laffoon from becoming his half-brother’s legal guardian.
james-tupper-denied-guardianship-atlas-homer-laffoon668

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According to the court, Tupper did not provide enough evidence.

Instagram/mrjamestupper

Following the ruling, Laffoon’s lawyer, Bryan L. Phipps, told Page Six in a written statement, “We are pleased — but not surprised— with the court’s ruling this morning denying James’ petition to appoint himself guardian ad litem for Atlas. We look forward to the court resolving Homer’s petition at the next hearing and, in the meantime, Homer will continue to diligently administer the Estate pursuant to his authority as Special Administrator.”

The next court hearing will take place on Nov. 30, 2022.
Atlas Tupper, Anne Heche and Homer Laffoon
Laffoon (far right) had asked the court to become the executor of his later mother’s estate as well as his half-brother’s legal guardian.
Instagram/anneheche

On Aug. 31, Homer — Heche’s oldest son with Coleman Laffoon — filed a petition to be named executor of his mother’s estate, claiming that he is “the person with the highest priority of appointment” and is “legally entitled to appointment as administrator.”

The 20-year-old requested that he and his brother be listed as their late actress’ sole heirs before asking the court to name him as Atlas’ guardian.
2017 Los Angeles Film Festival - "My Friend Dahmer" Premiere

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Heche had allegedly left Tupper in charge, according to an email she had sent him back in 2011.

Getty Images

Immediately after, Tupper tried to stop Homer, claiming that “as a minor, Atlas has no ability to hire legal representation to represent his interests in these proceedings.”

He also added that he is Atlas’ sole living parent, they live together and he loves his son “very much.”
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Tupper claimed he only wants what's best for both Atlas and Laffoon.

Instagram/anneheche

Tupper continued in his petition, “In order to preserve family harmony and a healthy, brotherly relationship between Atlas and Homer, and given the complexity this estate will foreseeably involve … a bonded, neutral, private professional fiduciary would be a more appropriate administrator.”

On top of asking the court to name him as his son’s legal guardian, Tupper also claimed he was the executor of Heche’s estate, according to an email she had sent him back in 2011.

“My wishes are that all of my assets go to the control of Mr. James Tupper to be used to raise my children and then given to the children,” he claimed she wrote in the alleged will.
Anne Heche and Homer Laffoon
Laffoon claimed that the will wasn’t valid because she hadn’t signed it and there were no witnesses.
Getty Images for Christian Siria

However, Homer fired back and claimed the alleged will wasn’t valid because it “was not signed by [Heche] and does not have two witnesses who signed the document during [her] lifetime.”

The “Six Days Seven Nights” actress died on Aug. 12 after an Aug. 5 car crash that left her in a coma. She was 53.

[trixie]

Hmmm, am I wrong thinking this is odd? I would assume that a minor's legal guardian would be the surviving parent unless that person is incapacitated. I guess it's not that simple.
Tupper's claim to be executor is shady though. They were never married and not together when she died.

[albatross]

This ruling is about the 'guardian ad litem' in the issue of Anne Heche's estate. It's different than legal guardian. The 'guardian ad litem' is the legal advocate in a single court action. It's not making the older brother the actual legal guardian for the boy, it's just about who is responsible for protecting the boy's interest in the distribution of Anne Heche's estate.

[trixie]

^ Gotcha. It was confusing because the article also said "Laffoon had asked the court to become the executor of his later mother’s estate as well as his half-brother’s legal guardian."

I don't know if the executor of the estate and heir should also be guardian ad litem for a minor heir. Seems like a possible conflict. Seems like a neutral 3rd party would be a better choice, but what do I know? Not much apparently.

[czb]

i would think that the problem with assigning a neutral party for a relatively small estate would be the costs. but if this keeps getting litigated, the 400k will dwindle quickly enough due to legal fees.

[trixie]

^ True. And once they finish with claims against the estate, there probably won't be much left to inherit.

[Froogy]

Anne Heche’s Cause of Death Was Not Due to Drugs: Coroner

Did not expect this:

The post Anne Heche’s Cause of Death Was Not Due to Drugs: Coroner appeared first on Consequence.

Anne Heche had traces of cocaine, cannabinoids, and benzodiazepines in her system at the time of her death, but there is no evidence that drugs were a contributing factor.

The 53-year-old actress died on August 11th, six days after crashing her car into a Los Angeles home.

According a final autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (via E Online), cannabinoids were detected in Heche’s urine but not in her blood sample, which is “consistent with prior use but not at the time of injury.” The blood sample also showed presence of benzoylecgonine, an inactive metabolite of cocaine. Meanwhile, the fentanyl detected in her urine was “consistent with therapeutic use” by the hospital.

A toxicology report also found no alcohol in Heche’s system.

Heche’s official cause of death was the result of inhalation and thermal injuries sustained in the August 5th crash, with a sternal fracture identified as another “significant condition.” Following the crash, Heche was trapped inside of her vehicle for 30 minutes before she was rescued by first responders. The resulting injuries caused “changes to the respiratory system that decreases the intake of oxygen needed to sustain life,” the coroner concluded.

After being hospitalized, Heche fell into a coma and was declared brain dead, but she was kept on life support until her organs could be donated.

[loftybike]

What a horrible way to die, especially since she was awake in that car for the whole time.
Poor, poor woman.

[tiggle]

Good lord that is a messed up way to go. And she wasn't even high.

[Sarzy]

Yeah that is very grim way to go

[no1novice]

Such a mixed blessing for the kids - horrible way to go but it wasn't the drugs/alcohol.