Bill Davidson, the wealthy founder of Guardian Industries, died in 2009 at 86.
Giving away Bill Davidson's fortune isn't easy.
When the former Pistons owner steered millions of dollars into a foundation as part of his legacy, the goal was to support "charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes." But disagreements have arisen among four relatives overseeing his charity, Mike Martindale reports in The Detroit News.
According to Oakland Probate Court records unsealed Friday, the late Bloomfield Hills businessman and philanthropist apparently left a house divided over how funds from his nonprofit foundation — believed to be one of the largest in Michigan — should be spent.
Davidson, who died in 2009 at 86, was worth an estimated $3.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. He founded Guardian Industries and owned The Palace of Auburn Hills, as well as the local NBA team.
Trustees of the William M. Davidson Foundation are:
- Karen Davidson, his wife
- Ethan Davidson, his 42-year-old son
- Stepdaughter Mary Aaron and her husband Jonathan
The rift is between the two Davidsons on one side and the Aaron couple on the other, Martindale says court filings show.
The Aarons are apparently battling with Davidson's widow and son on how the foundation board . . . should be run.
According to court documents sealed earlier this year on Jonathan Aaron's request by Probate Judge Daniel A. O'Brien, the board of the foundation — which in 2011 had assets of nearly $369 million — is so conflicted it is at an "impasse" on votes and cannot even agree who should sit on the board.
"This disharmony prevents the foundation from realizing Mr. Davidson's charitable vision," Aaron's attorneys wrote O'Brien in support of Aaron's plan to split up the foundation. . . .
Aaron, in court filings, told O'Brien Karen Davidson caused at least three lawsuits to be filed against Davidson's estate in 2009 that, had they been successful, would have bled the foundation of considerable assets. . . .
But Karen and Ethan Davidson and at least two other board members insist . . . nothing needs to be changed.
The News article describes Jonathan Aaron as describing a "level of mistrust" and claiming that Karen Davidson secretly taped a confidential 2010 board meeting she was excluded from.
