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Sammy Davis, Jr.’s widow sues partners over rights to Candy Man’s estate, man!

January 21st, 2008 by Scott Marks

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Altovise Davis, the widow of the late, great Sammy Davis Jr. is suing Barrett LaRoda and Anthony Francis, a couple of former business partners, over the rights to Sameleh’s life story and management of his well-tarnished legacy.

Associated Press reports that Davis’ widow filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the two men misrepresented their show-business credentials and tricked her into signing away some rights to her husband’s estate.

Looks like Alto is still using the same accounting firm that Sam did. When he died in 1990, Sammy left to meet the Man upstairs owing more than $5 million to the Internal Revenue Service, man.

Altovise Davis says she gave her intellectual (and I use the term loosely) rights to Sammy Davis Jr. Enterprises Inc., formed in 2004 by LaRoda and Francis, in exchange for a one-third share in the business.

The two men, who Altovise alleges hid the company’s financial records from her, got as far as negotiating with a studio over a biopic based on two books (Yes I Can and Why Me?) co-authored by friends Judy and Burt Boyar. Together with Ms. Davis, they hold copyright interest in the books. The Boyars Company joined Alto in suing the two men who killed any chance of a big screen Samography by demanding a “substantial” fee and credit as executive producers.

In a court filing, LaRoda and Francis claim Altovise Davis’ royalties more than quadrupled after she signed up with them and that they are responsible in helping to rebuild her husband’s image. They accused Mrs. Davis of having an alcohol problem that was getting in the way.

Everyone know that Sammy loved his gadgets, but how much could he have blown on toys, drugs and a good time to check out leaving a tab like this? And what’s with Alto thinking just because she married into showbiz that it entitles her to become a businesswoman? Or is this another case of the greedy leading the gullible?

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