Paul Newman’s Daughters Suing Newman’s Own Foundation For ‘Mismanagement’

Paul Newman’s family is taking his legacy charity foundation to court accusing it of “questionable practices.”

The foundation was created and funded by Newman in 2005, continuing his line of several food products beginning with a salad dressing in 1982 for sale with most of the proceeds going to charity.

According to a court filing on behalf of his daughters, Elinor “Nell” Newman and Susan Newman, the foundation has “strayed from its mission to preserve and honor Paul Newman’s legacy.”

They also claimed that Newman allowed the foundation to use his likeness “on the condition that Newman’s own foundation allocate $400,000 each year to each of his ‘Daughters’ Foundations’ for them to donate to charities identified by his daughters.”

The foundation has reportedly halved the annual allotment to Newman’s daughters, and their suit also accuses the charity of “mismanagement, scandal, and questionable practices.” The sisters are seeking in damages a $1.6 million payment made to a charity of their choosing.

A spokesperson for the foundation has called the suit “meritless” and seemingly implied that the Newmans were more interested in lining their pockets by saying this action “would only divert money away from those who benefit from Paul Newman’s generosity.”

On the annual payments, the spokesperson claimed that the reduction decision was made by the board of directors. “Best practices surrounding philanthropic organizations do not allow for the establishment of perpetual funding allotments for anyone, including Nell and Susan Newman,” the spokesperson said.