In a dramatic turn of events, Australian musician Vanessa Amorosi is set to appear in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday, embroiled in a legal dispute with her mother, Joyleen Robinson. The court battle has thrust the private matter of the two into the public eye, as Vanessa seeks to resolve a matter over the ownership of two properties, one located in Narre Warren, Victoria, and the other in California, both held under separate family trusts.
Vanessa Amorosi – known for hits like “Absolutely Everybody” from 1999 – is alleging ownership disputes against her mother, who denies the claims. The trusts were established by Joyleen during Vanessa’s early career, and were intended to manage the income generated from her career.
Philip Solomon, representing Venessa, detailed in court that the structures were set up for Vanessa’s benefit during her rise in the industry. However, Vanessa disputes that the mismanagement and lack of protection have led to the controversy at hand.
The legal saga explores the intricacies of family trusts – with Vanessa and her mother joint shareholders in Vanjoy, formed in 1999, and Road Runner and Llama, formed in 2001, respectively – where Mr. Solomon explains that if different structures had been in place or if proper protection were taken, the legal battle might have been avoided all together.
Vanessa is now seeking sole ownership of the property based in Victoria, or, alternatively, a court order for its sale to someone else. However, Vanessa alleges that her mother insisted on having her name on the title under the guise of protecting Vanessa from creditors. The legal dispute extends to properties in the United States as well, notably a house in Bell Canyon, California, and another in West Hills.
The roots of the conflict date back to 2014 when Vanessa requested full control of the trusts, but Joyleen refused – citing concerns about Vanessa’s husband potentially mismanaging funds. Despite mediation sessions and attempts to set aside the matter, the legal proceedings have now reached the Supreme Court.
Additional source: ABC News
