Harry Potter publisher’s lover faces succession battle
Sons of the late Richard Robinson claim that Iole Lucchese should not inherit $1.2bn book firm
THE secret lover of the billionaire US publisher of Harry Potter is facing a succession battle with his sons, after they refused to accept that she should inherit his $1.2billion (£900million) company.
Richard Robinson, the long-time head of Scholastic, died in June aged 84 after collapsing while on a walk in Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, with one of his children. His family were shocked to find that his fortune had been left to Iole Lucchese, a 54-year-old senior executive at the company.
Mr Robinson’s family members – including his siblings, ex-wife Helen Benham and sons John Benham “Ben” Robinson, 34, and Maurice “Reece” Robinson, 25 – thought the long-time romantic relationship ended years ago.
But the publishing giant, who had a 53.8 per cent controlling stake Scholastic – which sold more than 180 million Harry Potter books in the United States – wrote in his will that Ms Lucchese would become the owner of the underlying shares if the will is fully executed in court.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Robinson also gave Ms Lucchese sole discretion over whether to distribute any of his personal possessions to his two sons, “with the request, but not the direction” that she hand out items “as she believes to be in accordance with my wishes.” Scholastic Corporation, set up by Robinson’s father a century ago as a magazine for teachers and pupils, publishes some of the world’s most popular children’s titles, including Captain Underpants and Clifford.
Now, new court filings reveal that Mr Robinson’s two sons are exploring avenues to challenge her right to the controlling stake of the company and that Ben declined to sign a document waiving his right to contest his father’s will.
He later received a court summons from Ms Lucchese’s team in October seeking a response, according to legal filings.
The family also believes Robinson was at work on a new will when he died, they said.
While rumours of the relationship between Robinson and Ms Lucchese have been described as an “open secret” by employees speaking on condition of anonymity, it appears that the sons were never told directly, even when a pair of Prada boots were found at home.
Anne Sparkman, a spokesman for Scholastic, said of Ms Lucchese: “Iole is committed to doing what’s best for all stakeholders, including the Robinson family.”