A big inheritance battle is being waged in OC Superior Court, pitting the widow of Vitamin C entrepreneur Jay Patrick against his only son from a prior marriage and two other directors of Alacer Corp. Ymelda Patrick, 67, alleges that since Jay’s death at age 90 in early 2003 she has been “frozen out” of the Foothill Ranch company she helped build and of which she is 46% owner. She is seeking the ouster of stepson (and 25% owner) Ronald Patrick and family trustees James Turner and Thaddeus Smith. Allegations are flying of attempted murder, self-dealing, marital discord, nepotism and a false tax filing. Ymelda contends the plaintiffs took her office and car away, won’t release her stock to her and refuse to share documents. One example of spite (or fiscal prudence, depending on one’s point of view): Alacer’s board sold off the corporate yacht that Jay and Ymelda used to entertain celebrity clients,after removing Ymelda’s name from the hull. Alacer, now managed by former Hansen Beverages exec Tim Welch, rolls on, selling about $40 million a year of Emer’gen-C drink mix and other supplements despite the insider warfare. Ronald’s lawyer, Ted Wallace of Rutan & Tucker, says his client denies Ymelda’s allegations and adds, “She is not performing her duties as a co-trustee properly.” Ymelda’s lawyer, Jillyn Hess-Verdon in Newport Center, says, “If this was happening in Beverly Hills they’d be doing a movie on it.” Maybe they will,Hess-Verdon says she’s been contacted by ABC News …
Just how ambitious are the plans for Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle? Officials from the city and Lennar believe the envisioned mix of shops, restaurants, nightspots, condo high-rises and offices, plus an NFL stadium added to the existing venues, will turn the area into an entertainment district rivaling San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter …
When new OCBJ reporter Brian Womack called London for information about Experian, he got questioned, too: “Are women in Orange County as beautiful as they are on the show?” asked an analyst, referencing “The O.C.,” a hit in the UK …
Thirty-one years after starting an accounting firm, Bob Grant is launching another. The longtime OC honcho for Deloitte & Touche is leaving to open his own tax practice, serve on a couple of corporate boards and continue charitable work. Grant stayed on when Touche purchased Coleman & Grant in 1988, and when Deloitte and Touche merged one year later …
Honors: To USC’s Matt Leinart, who already has a Heisman, the Sportsman of the Year award at the OC Youth Sports Foundation’s June 2 dinner at the Anaheim Hilton. Call (714) 800-3152. To Milan Panic, the Man of the Year award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s OC chapter … No more golf tips for ME Mike Mason. Less than two years into the game, the whippersnapper has a hole-in-one, on the 142-yard No. 2 at Rancho San Joaquin.
