Legal Battle Over Ryne Sandberg’s Trust

Ryne Sandberg’s children have initiated legal proceedings against his widow, Margaret Sandberg, accusing her of mismanaging his trust. In the lawsuit, filed in Lake County Circuit Court in April, Justin and Lindsey Sandberg claim their stepmother has violated their father’s instructions by attempting to transfer control of the trust managing his name, image, and likeness rights. This action, they argue, disrupts the cooperative setup that Sandberg had established between his second wife and his biological children.

The Sun-Times first reported on this legal matter, noting that attorneys Norman Finkel and Adam Hirsch, who represent the siblings, did not provide statements, and Margaret Sandberg could not be reached. Ryne Sandberg, known as “Ryno,” gained fame for the memorable “Sandberg Game” on June 23, 1984. He achieved significant recognition during his career, earning nine Gold Glove awards and seven Silver Slugger awards. He entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and later transitioned to a managerial role.

Sandberg died at 65 from metastatic prostate cancer. He disclosed his cancer diagnosis a year before his passing, and though he experienced a period of remission, the cancer later spread. Before his death, Sandberg left explicit instructions stipulating that Margaret, Justin, and Lindsey should serve equally as co-trustees for his rights concerning his name, image, and likeness. He married Margaret Koehnemann in 1995 after divorcing Cindy, his first wife.

The trust document included a sentiment from Sandberg, stating, “It would disappoint me if they were unable to make decisions on my NIL in a positive and collaborative manner.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive reflection of his legacy and family. The lawsuit accuses Margaret of neglecting these directions and refusing to cooperate with her stepchildren in managing the trust. She allegedly ignored their requests and withheld her signature for necessary documents.

Margaret Sandberg presented a note, purportedly from her late husband, dated less than two weeks before his death. This note allegedly amends the trust to include her son and the family’s financial advisor as part of the trustees. However, the lawsuit challenges the validity of this note, questioning its legal standing as it wasn’t shared with the siblings before Sandberg’s death, as required by the trust.

Furthermore, Justin and Lindsey argue that their father was not in a suitable mental state, due to his deteriorating health, to implement such changes. They recall visits in his final weeks where he seemed sedated and in severe pain, highlighting an incident on July 20, where Ryne was in hospice care, and his daughter found him distressed.

The legal suit seeks a court declaration that the presented note is not a legitimate amendment to the trust. It also aims to require Margaret to formally establish and manage the trust as her late husband intended. The next court hearing for this case is scheduled for July 31.