Tradewind Consulting v. Wildcat Distributors CA2/4

BACKGROUND

A. Michael, Mindey, and Steven Inherit WDI and the Land it Occupies WDI is an adult entertainment business, a bookstore, located in Lennox, California. WDI originally was owned by Allan Morrison (Michael and Mindey’s father, and Steven’s grandfather), who also owned other adult bookstores. When Michael and Mindey’s parents divorced, their mother, Geri Morrison Steingold, was awarded ownership of WDI and the land it occupies. Geri died in July 1997, leaving behind her spouse, Joseph Steingold, her three children (Michael, Mindey, and Tracey Goverman), and her grandson, Steven, who was twelve years old. Geri’s will provided that on the death of her husband, her estate would be divided equally among Michael, Mindey, and Steven.3 Joseph died in 2000. Michael was the executor of Geri’s estate, the primary assets of which were WDI and the land it occupied. At the time, Michael lived in Atlanta and owned a chain of adult bookstores in the southeast United States. While the will was in probate, he came to Los Angeles every month or two to check on WDI; a long- time employee ran the day-to-day operations. During that time Michael, as executor, made certain capital…