Judge weighs in on struggle surrounding Marvel’s Stan Lee

LOS ANGELES — A judge on Friday refused to recognize the authority of a lawyer who had obtained an elder-abuse restraining order on behalf of Stan Lee, a move that allowed attorneys for Lee’s daughter to reassert their representation of the 95-year-old mastermind behind many of Marvel Comics’ most-recognizable characters.

In a tiny Los Angeles courtroom packed with current and former attorneys and associates of Lee, lawyer Tom Lallas rose and asked for a 30-day extension of the temporary restraining order he had received against Lee’s former personal adviser Keya Morgan.

But Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Ruth Kleman refused to consider the motion after attorneys working with Lee’s daughter said they had sole authority to represent the comics legend.

“I’m only concerned who has authority to represent Mr. Lee,” Kleman said.

She then dissolved the temporary restraining order. Lee’s daughter and only child, J.C. Lee, sat in court and smiled at her attorneys when the judge refused to recognize Lallas.

Her attorneys said after court that they immediately filed for a similar order against Morgan. They said they would also work with police and prosecutors in an elder-abuse investigation involving Morgan. It was not immediately clear whether the new restraining order had been granted.

Stan Lee’s declaration said he had fired Lallas in February and had no desire to be further represented by him, and said that he had likely committed malpractice by disclosing to media and others his opinions about Lee’s health and personal life.