After two years of intense legal wrangling, the Kennedy clan will pay the family of Carolyn and Lauren Bessette $15 million for their deaths in the crash of the plane piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr., The Post has learned.
Manhattan Surrogate Renee Roth is expected to sign an order within days under which JFK Jr.’s estate – administered by his sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg – will pay the compensation to the Bessettes.
Sources said the ruling will include a probate declaration on the estate and reveal its value – estimated at up to $100 million.
JFK Jr. left the money – out of which the compensation to the Bessettes will be paid – to Schlossberg’s children.
Since the tragic crash in July 1999, the two grieving families have dickered over how much the Kennedys should pay the Bessettes. Negotiations reportedly started 18 months ago with an offer by the Kennedys of around $7 million. The Bessettes demanded at least $20 million.
It was not immediately known to what extent the Bessette sisters’ natural father, William Bessette – who reportedly impeded a settlement earlier – would share in the $15 million. He could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, next week’s National Enquirer will report that the Bessette sisters’ mother, Ann Freeman, almost derailed the deal by insisting the money be accompanied by a Kennedy family apology for the alleged wrongful deaths of her daughters.
The crash of the plane in which the three were traveling to Martha’s Vineyard was officially attributed to pilot error. It was found that John didn’t have enough flying experience for the poor weather conditions the evening of the flight.
According to the Enquirer, Freeman was prepared to file a wrongful death suit seeking more than $20 million unless she got her apology. The Kennedys maintained they had expressed their grief over and over and there was nothing to be gained by issuing a meaculpa.