EXCLUSIVE: Gary Coleman's Sad Legacy: Up To $200,000 In Unpaid Medical Bills
Posted on Jul 09, 2010 @ 06:50AM
Although Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman left a pension that could be worth millions, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that he also left his benefactor a stack of unpaid medical bills worth up to $200,000.
But in a war of wills, a Utah court has yet to decide who will be Coleman’s beneficiary.
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Former manager Anna Gray has a 2005 will making her the executor; ex-wife Shannon Price filed a 2007 handwritten codicil -- or revision to the will -- that benefits her.
Because Price and Gary were divorced when he died, she now must prove she and Coleman were in a common law marriage.
“Whoever wins will have a ton of medical bills they will have to pay,” said Shielia Erickson, Price’s spokesperson.
“I don’t know if Anna knows that.”
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While Erickson wouldn’t say how much is owed to doctors and hospitals, she estimated that it could total $150,000 to $200,000.
“Gary was constantly sick and the medical bills climbed,” she said.
“The person who wins this will most likely only get his ashes... there may not be enough money to cover all his medical bills.”
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Coleman was born with a congenital kidney disease and for years had been undergoing dialysis three times a week.
He also had major heart surgery in November and lived in a hospice for some time.
“All Shannon has said is, ‘Give me my husband and give me his ashes.’ She will spend every penny on her attorney just so she can get his ashes,” Shielia told RadarOnline.com.
“There are so many bills it’s almost not worth fighting for unless you want Gary’s ashes.”
Coleman died May 28 of a brain hemorrhage after suffering a fall. He was 42.
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The Daily Juice
Jul 08, 2010 @ 05:50
Let's see how fast the ex runs away
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 4:00pm
Did the pension from him being an actor disappear somehow? I thought that was the money Shannon was supposed to be after. Let the man RIP already.
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 11:57am
Shannon may be eligible to collect if she is found to be his common law wife. The estate may be entitled to a refund of the balance of the principal Gary actually paid (not the amount paid by the employer) into the system. Not certain about this.
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 3:57pm
This is why we needed national health care. This shouldn't happen to anyone!!
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 11:31am
Radar sure is scraping the bottom of the barrel. What business of anyone if he owed in medical bills?
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 9:22am
So he owes $ in medical bills??? So what? That's not his legacy. Ridic thing to say.
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 8:22am
Gary doesn't owe but his estate does. Your debt is not erased by your death if you die with assets. The accounts will need to be settled by the estate.
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 3:59pm
I just don't trust these people.I thought Shannon was so broke how can she afford an attorney Oh yeah by selling photos to the globe.
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 8:16am
Why does she keep calling him her husband? They were divorced and didn't live together long enough to be common law. Plus the restraining order he took out against her says it all!
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 8:08am
Perhaps you need to read the Utah law on common law marriages. It will be up to the courts to decide if the criteria was met but I think it runs in favor that a common law marriage existed more than it didn't. He never served the restraining order..
Posted Fri, 07/09/2010 - 3:36pm