Actress Anne Heche arrives at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica

KEY POINTS

  • James Tupper claimed in a filing that Anne Heche's eldest son, Homer Laffoon, was hostile to Atlas
  • Atlas' dad also alleged that Laffoon did not inventory Heche's belongings as agreed
  • Tupper claimed that Atlas has no confidence in Laffoon's ability to meet his fiduciary obligations to him

Anne Heche's ex James Tupper and son Homer Laffoon continue their legal battle over her estate.

In Tupper's new court filing obtained by People, he objected to Laffoon's request for the court to "expand his authority" over his mother's estate, citing his alleged poor treatment of Atlas — Heche and Tupper's 13-year-old son.

Tupper said in the court papers filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court that Laffoon, 20, "has acted in a hostile manner" toward his half-brother and "has refused to communicate with him or his representatives at all."

Tupper also claimed that Laffoon did not inventory his and Atlas' mom's belongings as they agreed before placing the items in storage.

"Further, Atlas has no confidence in [Homer]'s ability to meet his fiduciary obligations to Atlas," Tupper added in his filing.

"On behalf of Atlas, [Tupper] requests that prior to granting [Homer] any powers to take possession of the tangible personal property in the apartment, the Court compels [Homer] to provide an inventory of such personal property to Atlas so it can be determined whether [Homer] actually safeguards all of the Decedent's personal property in the future and conflict can be minimized," the documents read.

Tupper also suggested in the filing that the bond should be set at $2 million, not $800,000.

Tupper and Laffoon's legal battle raged on following Heche's death. Laffoon filed a nine-page supplement to a previous petition requesting to assume control over his mother's estate in September.

In his filing, he accused Tupper of interfering with his attempt to communicate with his younger brother, Atlas. He also objected to a 2011 document that Tupper presented as Heche's will appointing him as executor of the late actress' estate. Laffoon argued its validity since it lacked signatures from two witnesses, and the signature in the document reportedly didn't belong to Heche.

"Mr. Tupper repeatedly refers to the email attached to the Objection as a 'will.' However — as a matter of law — the email does not qualify as either a holographic will or formal witnessed will," Laffoon said in his filing. "The email fails to satisfy the legal requirements for a valid holographic will because the material provisions of the purported will are not in the handwriting of the Decedent. A will is valid as a holographic will, whether or not it is witnessed if the signature and the material provisions are in the handwriting of the testator."

Heche died a week after a fiery car crash on Aug. 5, which left her in a coma in the hospital. According to the Medical Examiner-Coroner, she died from smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.

Heche's car caught fire almost immediately after it crashed into a two-story home. It took over an hour and nearly 60 firefighters to remove her from the vehicle, and she never regained consciousness following the accident.

emma fielding synopsis
James Tupper and Courtney Thorne-Smith are back in Hallmark’s “Emma Fielding Mysteries: More Bitter Than Death.” Crown Media / Ryan Plummer