Jimi Hendrix's estate is suing the late guitarist’s former brother-in-law, Sheldon Reynolds, over claims he tried to sell the legend's Black Widow acoustic guitar for $750,000 although it doesn't belong to him.
Courthouse News Service reports Experience Hendrix filed a suit in Superior Court on Monday against Reynolds and friend Brian Patterson over the guitar, which the company claims was stolen.
Reynolds is the ex-husband of Janie Hendrix, the guitarist's sister and CEO of Experience Hendrix.
The estate says it learned in June 2014 that Patterson had contacted Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles and asked it to sell the guitar; Julien's then contacted the estate to determine if the guitar is legitimate, and the Experience confirmed it was but that it had been stolen.
The lawsuit claims that Patterson got the guitar from Reynolds, who says that he got it in a divorce settlement, or that he got it from a friend who helped him take his belongings from Janie Hendrix's home, and that Janie's teenage son had "directed" his friend "to take a pile of guitars and other belongings, that included the Black Widow."
"Neither story is true," the complaint states, which says Janie Hendrix owns the guitar.
This fall in Seattle, Phase One of the Jimi Hendrix Park is expected to open after four years in the making.
Located in Seattle's Central District, adjacent to the Northwest African American Museum, the 2.5 acre site sees the Northwestern US city honor its hometown guitar hero.
The project went from idea to reality thanks to non-profit groups Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation and the Friends Of Jimi Hendrix Park, who since 2012 have raised more than $1.4 million to finance the landmark.
See also:
Jimi Hendrix Park to open this fall
Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is By My Side coming to DVD
Jimi Hendrix: The Cry Of Love and Rainbow Bridge reissues announced
Jimi Hendrix Park breaks ground in Seattle
Search Jimi Hendrix at hennemusic
