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Former employee accuses Hawthorn of discrimination after mental health episode

A young woman is taking legal action against the AFL club she used to work for, claiming she was discriminated against after being hospitalized with a mental illness.

Sophia Salmon-Abbott, 24, suffered anxiety and depression when she was an account manager for Hawthorn, according to documents filed with the human rights division of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

In May last year, she spent a month in hospital after suffering a severe mental health episode and was unfit to work, according to a statement of claim.

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She further claims that in July she was advised by her psychologist she could return to work gradually, starting with one full day a week, but Hawthorn did not permit this.

Sophia Salmon-Abbott is taking legal action against Hawthorn Football Club. Picture: @sophiaabbottsalmon / InstagramSource: Supplied

Ms Salmon-Abbott was removed from a group WhatsApp chat of about 12 to 15 other employees and told she could return to work only in a part-time reception role after lockdown, according to the document.

It claims Hawthorn misled Ms Salmon-Abbott about her prospects of returning to her role as commercial partnerships account executive on a gradual basis.

Evidence cited in the claim includes an email from a Hawthorn executive which was circulated among staff but not Ms Salmon-Abbott.

It is said to have instructed that Ms Salmon-Abbott would be allowed to return to the partnerships accounts team only when she could work five days.

Ms Salmon-Abbott claims she has still not been permitted to return to Hawthorn and is now working for a new employer.

She is seeking an apology and compensation for economic and non-economic loss.

Hawthorn is a high-profile partner of mental health organization Beyond Blue, which was founded by former Victorian premier and Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett founded Beyond Blue and was chair until former prime minister Julia Gillard took over the role in 2017. It has a close relationship with the club. Picture: Stuart McEvoySource: News Corp Australia

Ms Salmon-Abbott said she never expected to be treated the way she was by an employer connected to the advocacy organisation.

“I really thought they would understand what I was going through and have effective support mechanisms in place. They did n’t, ”she said in a statement through her lawyer de ella.

“It kept me from recovering, and made me feel helpless. It also made me feel like a burden.”

Hawthorn Football Club said it “categorically rejects the allegations” and that it will defend itself in any proceedings.

“We regard the physical and mental health and safety of all our employees as our number one priority,” a statement said.

“This has been paramount in our dealings with Ms Salmon-Abbott, with the club repeatedly offering support and assistance to accommodate her circumstances.

“As the matter will be filed with VCAT, the club will not make any further comments.”

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RIP Paul Green: High school sweetheart’s heartbreaking tribute, NRL news 2022

Paul Green’s high school sweetheart has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the former rugby league coach after his tragic death rocked the NRL community this week.

The 49-year-old was found dead at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning, the day after his son’s ninth birthday. It has been confirmed he took his own life from him.

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The Courier Mail reports Green called his friend and longtime manager George Mimis at 4.30pm on Wednesday to speak about his son’s birthday celebrations.

The News Corp publication also reports the footy legend’s wife Amanda found him unresponsive at their home after returning from doing pilates at the gym.

Green’s death comes 11 months after he was sacked as head coach of the Maroons following Queensland’s loss in last year’s State of Origin series, which included a 50-6 win for the Blues.

Speaking on Gold Coast’s 92.5 Triple M Breakfast show, radio announcer Ali Plath fought back tears while grieving the loss of her first love.

“My heart is breaking today for his wife Amanda and his beautiful kids and obviously his parents, and his four siblings,” she said.

“Paul and I went to high school together, he was my first love. You only get one first love.

“We were together when I was in Year 12 for a year and then we split up. I had kids with (former partner) Mark and when that didn’t work out, Paul and I got back together.

“We then did nine years of on-off, long-distance, de facto… I guess we were that couple that I think our family and friends were so much happier than we were when we finally split up.

“Paul was a wonderful stepdad to my two older kids Jesse and Jake when we all lived in Sydney together when I finally had the courage to move them.

“For him to swallow his pride and I guess take my kids under his wing, I really didn’t appreciate how big that was at the time. It’s a big responsibility taking on someone else’s family.

“Paul was extremely loyal, he was highly intelligent — even though I used to tell him I was smarter than him. When I was in Year 12, he was two years older than me, and he was getting up for not doing my schoolwork.

“He just had such a great sense of fun as well as being so capable. If Paul said to you, ‘I’m going to be a pilot’, (you knew) he was going to be a pilot. And he did – he was a commercial pilot.

“My mum let him take me to Hervey Bay in this mosquito airplane when he was doing his training. That’s how capable Paul was. You trusted him, you knew he could do it, I never doubted him.

“He was just one of those people who you knew you could rely on. (As an NRL player), he was one of those players you could count on and he would give his all of him.

“I can’t believe that he’s done this, I can’t believe this has happened.

“That’s not Paul. I’m actually in complete and utter shock. I only spoke to him a couple of months ago.

“It’s horrible.”

Meanwhile, Green’s family is still coming to terms with the footy legend’s passing and revealed plans for a celebration of his life.

Green’s brother Rick told The Sunday Mail the family had come together to plan a public funeral, expected to be held August 23 or 30 at Kougari Oval, the home of the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, a team Green both played with and coached to premiership glory.

But Rick also revealed the family was struggling to come to terms with the enormous loss.

“Everyone is feeling overwhelmed,” he told The Sunday Mail.

“There’s certainly a lot of stories that we’re sharing about our times with Paul but as we reflect on those good times, there’s a great sadness at his passing.

“It’s still very raw and difficult to process.”

The family had earlier released a statement after the news broke of Green’s death.

“Today we are devastated,” the statement began.

“We have lost a devoted husband, loving father and wonderful brother and son. We cannot find the words that would come close to expressing our feeling, however we would like to extend our thanks to those who have reached out to us with their love and support.

“Paul was loved by so many and we know that this news will generate immense interest, however at this time we ask for privacy.

“Our family is still trying to understand this tragedy and we request space and time as we come to terms with this loss. Thank you.”

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Sports

High school sweetheart’s heartbreaking tribute, NRL news 2022

Paul Green’s high school sweetheart has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the former rugby league coach after his tragic death rocked the NRL community this week.

The 49-year-old was found dead at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning, the day after his son’s ninth birthday. It has been confirmed he took his own life from him.

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The Courier Mail reports Green called his friend and longtime manager George Mimis at 4.30pm on Wednesday to speak about his son’s birthday celebrations.

The News Corp publication also reports the footy legend’s wife Amanda found him unresponsive at their home after returning from doing pilates at the gym.

Green’s death comes 11 months after he was sacked as head coach of the Maroons following Queensland’s loss in last year’s State of Origin series, which included a 50-6 win for the Blues.

Speaking on Gold Coast’s 92.5 Triple M Breakfast show, radio announcer Ali Plath fought back tears while grieving the loss of her first love.

“My heart is breaking today for his wife Amanda and his beautiful kids and obviously his parents, and his four siblings,” she said.

“Paul and I went to high school together, he was my first love. You only get one first love.

“We were together when I was in Year 12 for a year and then we split up. I had kids with (former partner) Mark and when that didn’t work out, Paul and I got back together.

“We then did nine years of on-off, long-distance, de facto… I guess we were that couple that I think our family and friends were so much happier than we were when we finally split up.

“Paul was a wonderful stepdad to my two older kids Jesse and Jake when we all lived in Sydney together when I finally had the courage to move them.

Gold Coast radio announcer Ali Plath has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her former high school sweetheart Paul Green on air.Source: Supplied

“For him to swallow his pride and I guess take my kids under his wing, I really didn’t appreciate how big that was at the time. It’s a big responsibility taking on someone else’s family.

“Paul was extremely loyal, he was highly intelligent — even though I used to tell him I was smarter than him. When I was in Year 12, he was two years older than me, and he was getting up for not doing my schoolwork.

“He just had such a great sense of fun as well as being so capable. If Paul said to you, ‘I’m going to be a pilot’, (you knew) he was going to be a pilot. And he did – he was a commercial pilot.

“My mum let him take me to Hervey Bay in this mosquito airplane when he was doing his training. That’s how capable Paul was. You trusted him, you knew he could do it, I never doubted him.

“He was just one of those people who you knew you could rely on. (As an NRL player), he was one of those players you could count on and he would give his all of him.

“I can’t believe that he’s done this, I can’t believe this has happened.

“That’s not Paul. I’m actually in complete and utter shock. I only spoke to him a couple of months ago.

“It’s horrible.”

Paul Green is remembered and honored at Suncorp Stadium. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Green’s family is still coming to terms with the footy legend’s passing and revealed plans for a celebration of his life.

Green’s brother Rick told The Sunday Mail the family had come together to plan a public funeral, expected to be held August 23 or 30 at Kougari Oval, the home of the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, a team Green both played with and coached to premiership glory.

But Rick also revealed the family was struggling to come to terms with the enormous loss.

“Everyone is feeling overwhelmed,” he told The Sunday Mail.

“There’s certainly a lot of stories that we’re sharing about our times with Paul but as we reflect on those good times, there’s a great sadness at his passing.

“It’s still very raw and difficult to process.”

The family had earlier released a statement after the news broke of Green’s death.

“Today we are devastated,” the statement began.

“We have lost a devoted husband, loving father and wonderful brother and son. We cannot find the words that would come close to expressing our feeling, however we would like to extend our thanks to those who have reached out to us with their love and support.

“Paul was loved by so many and we know that this news will generate immense interest, however at this time we ask for privacy.

“Our family is still trying to understand this tragedy and we request space and time as we come to terms with this loss. Thank you.”

Former Cowboys coach Paul Green. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty ImagesSource: Supplied

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Veteran referee Ben Cummins spills on infamous Grand Final blunder

Veteran rugby league referee Ben Cummins has opened up about his infamous mistake during the 2019 NRL grand final, confessing he felt “ashamed” and “worthless” after the incident.

Scores were tied at 8-8 late in the second half of the decider between the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders when Cummins called “six again” after a Raiders attacking kick came off one of their players.

Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton grabbed the ball and charged into the defensive line believing it was the first tackle of the set, but Cummins reversed his call as the tackle was being made, meaning Canberra had to hand over the Steeden.

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Moments later, Sydney fullback James Tedesco dived over to give the Roosters a 14-8 lead at Sydney Olympic Park.

It was undeniably a major turning point in the contest.

“I realized I stuffed up big time and I tried to correct the call – which would have been the right call,” Cummins said.

“But Jack Wighton didn’t see that and he got tackled and the Roosters get the ball and go down the length of the field in the next set and score.

“I realized then that this was big at eight-all in a grand finale.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“I walked into the tunnel and cameras were all on me… my heart sunk.”

Referee Ben Cummins. Photo by Matt King/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Referee mistakes are not uncommon, and Cummins inevitably copped a tsunami of abuse from disgruntled rugby league fans for the error; even Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe joined the pile-on.

But the veteran referee, who has officiated more than 400 NRL games, has also revealed his teenage daughters were targeted after the ordeal.

“When you sign up to referee at the top level, you know that it comes with fans who are passionate, and people can say things about your performance,” he explained.

“But when it brings in your family and your home, it’s sort of to a different level. I found that really hard.

“I can’t say it was easy for them. My son was copping a lot of abuse at school and my daughters (were) online – because they are on social media. That was really tough.

“I basically locked myself in my house for a week.

“It was pretty dark times. I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it. I had some thoughts about what I wanted to do with my life and they were pretty negative.

“You feel ashamed and worthless, embarrassed. I wasn’t sleeping. I just wanted everything to go away.”

Radio presenter Gus Worland, founder of mental health charity Gotcha4Life, spoke to Channel 9 about the importance of mental strength among Australian men after former Queensland coach Paul Green was found dead in his Brisbane home on Thursday morning, the day after his son’s ninth birthday.

“It was so sad to hear this morning about Green,” he said on Thursday evening.

“This is a line in the sand moment for us as sport and us as a nation to say, ‘Enough is enough’.

“Let’s stop talking about awareness, let’s put some action into place.

“It’s all about manning up and speaking up now, Not manning up and shutting up, which is what we’ve been told all our lives to do.

“This is an opportunity to build some emotional muscle, put you hand up if you need some help and support. That’s the bravest thing you can do.

“Why are we so good in this country at helping people, but not good at asking for help?

“It’s so brave to be vulnerable.”

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Sports

NRL news 2022: Veteran referee Ben Cummins spills on infamous Grand Final blunder

Veteran rugby league referee Ben Cummins has opened up about his infamous mistake during the 2019 NRL grand final, confessing he felt “ashamed” and “worthless” after the incident.

Scores were tied at 8-8 late in the second half of the decider between the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders when Cummins called “six again” after a Raiders attacking kick came off one of their players.

Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton grabbed the ball and charged into the defensive line believing it was the first tackle of the set, but Cummins reversed his call as the tackle was being made, meaning Canberra had to hand over the Steeden.

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Moments later, Sydney fullback James Tedesco dived over to give the Roosters a 14-8 lead at Sydney Olympic Park.

It was undeniably a major turning point in the contest.

“I realized I stuffed up big time and I tried to correct the call – which would have been the right call,” Cummins said.

“But Jack Wighton didn’t see that and he got tackled and the Roosters get the ball and go down the length of the field in the next set and score.

“I realized then that this was big at eight-all in a grand finale.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“I walked into the tunnel and cameras were all on me… my heart sunk.”

Referee mistakes are not uncommon, and Cummins inevitably copped a tsunami of abuse from disgruntled rugby league fans for the error; even Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe joined the pile-on.

But the veteran referee, who has officiated more than 400 NRL games, has also revealed his teenage daughters were targeted after the ordeal.

“When you sign up to referee at the top level, you know that it comes with fans who are passionate, and people can say things about your performance,” he explained.

“But when it brings in your family and your home, it’s sort of to a different level. I found that really hard.

“I can’t say it was easy for them. My son was copping a lot of abuse at school and my daughters (were) online – because they are on social media. That was really tough.

“I basically locked myself in my house for a week.

“It was pretty dark times. I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it. I had some thoughts about what I wanted to do with my life and they were pretty negative.

“You feel ashamed and worthless, embarrassed. I wasn’t sleeping. I just wanted everything to go away.”

Cummins’ revelation comes after former Queensland coach Paul Green was found dead at his Brisbane home on Thursday morning, the day after his son’s ninth birthday. It has been confirmed he took his own life from him.

Radio presenter Gus Worland, founder of mental health charity Gotcha4Life, spoke to Channel 9 about the importance of mental strength among Australian men.

“It was so sad to hear this morning about Green,” he said on Thursday evening.

“This is a line in the sand moment for us as sport and us as a nation to say, ‘Enough is enough’.

“Let’s stop talking about awareness, let’s put some action into place.

“It’s all about manning up and speaking up now, Not manning up and shutting up, which is what we’ve been told all our lives to do.

“This is an opportunity to build some emotional muscle, put you hand up if you need some help and support. That’s the bravest thing you can do.

“Why are we so good in this country at helping people, but not good at asking for help?

“It’s so brave to be vulnerable.”

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Sports

NRL icon Paul Green’s death highlights Australia’s tragic suicide rates

The shock death of Paul Green has highlighted a tragic reality for so many Australians, as the country continues to reel from the loss of the NRL icon.

The former footy star turned premiership-winning coach passed away at his home in Brisbane on Thursday morning aged 49. It has been confirmed he took his own life.

Green’s wife, Amanda, found him unresponsive at their home after returning home from doing pilates at the gym, according to the Courier Mail.

His death shines a light on a heartbreaking reality so many Australian families face every single year.

On average, male suicides make up about 75 per cent of all suicides across the country each year.

In 2019 men accounted for 2,502 out of a total 3,318 registered suicide deaths in Australia.

Awareness around mental health, particularly in men, has increased substantially over the years, but these figures show we still have a very long way to go.

Mental fitness advocate and founder of the Gotcha4Life foundation, Gus Worland, said Green’s death draws a “line in the sand” for Australians.

“Unfortunately, we lose seven blokes a day every day, two women a day every day, we have people attempting suicide at a rapid rate in Australia. So when someone famous, takes their own life, all of a sudden that shines a light on it,” he told news.com.au.

“But it also should make us realize it’s not just about this moment, but how many other families and communities that have that ripple effect that’s ripping through them right now.

“So at some point, we need to put that line in the sand and say ‘You know what? No more’. We have to really start looking after ourselves better.”

World highlighted the importance of everyone understanding who their “village” is, meaning the people around them who they love and cherish.

It is incredibly important for people to identify their support network and make sure they are investing in these relationships.

Worland said this is all part of working on your “mental fitness” so that you feel comfortable reaching out when things get difficult.

“It doesn’t mean you burst into tears every five minutes or you have a deep and meaningful conversation every time you talk. It means you’ve got that in your locker to be able to have enough emotional muscle to ask for help,” he said.

In Green’s case, Worland pointed out that there were thousands of people who would have stopped everything they were doing and done anything to help him.

“That’s the point we need to get to, where people are asking for help and not making this ultimately very, very permanent decision based on a temporary situation.”

Green had arguably endured the toughest year of his life in the lead up to his tragic death, which came 11 months after he was sacked as head coach of the Maroons following Queensland’s loss in last year’s State of Origin series.

Last February he sold his family home in Townsville for $1.85 million, and admitted it was difficult to let go of the place where his two kids, Jed and Emerson, had grown up.

“It is pretty tough to move and tough on the family,” he said at the time.

On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives, according to Beyond Blue.

Reaching out for help is often easier said than done. For someone who is struggling, admitting that you need help can be incredibly difficult.

For men, this struggle can be the result of societal expectations to be tough and not show emotions.

“It is a difficult conversation because we’ve told all our lives to man up and shut up or take a teaspoon of cement and harden the f**k up,” Worland said.

“Even in primary school you scratch your knee and someone says ‘Come on, up you get. You’ll be right. So it is really instilled in us from a young age.”

It can be incredibly difficult to unlearn these things, but doing so is an important step in changing the shocking statistics we see every year.

One of the key things the Gotcha4Life foundation does is encouraging people to exercise their “emotional muscles” and be “mentally fit” so they cannot only reach out when they need help, but can recognize when others need it too.

Unfortunately, because many people are so used to masking their true emotions, knowing when someone is struggling can be difficult.

“Of course we all look out for our friends and if they’re changing their behaviour, their personality changes, they’ve gone quiet, or they’re just looked like they’re not well, that’s easy. But we don’t we don’t get to that stage very often,” the Gotcha4Life founder said.

“Paul Green last weekend was at the Cronulla reunion and he was the life of the party. He was playing golf the day before and he was the life of the party.

“My friend that started this whole journey for me. He had the most fantastic day on a Friday. His third and final child of him had just finished the HSC. He was buoyant. And then half an hour later he went and did what he did.”

Green looked delighted as he chatting with journalists during the meeting last weekend.

Former Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini told News Corp that Green seemed fine three days ago when he spoke to him to say they should catch up for a beer soon.

But Lancini did say that “the last few years had been tough on” the coach.

“The last few years have been a bit tough on him because he hasn’t been coaching in the NRL,” he said.

“I said to Greeny, just take your time and the right opportunity will come along.”

Yes, speaking about these emotions can be uncomfortable, but Worland said if more people focus on getting mentally fit, then they are more likely to start having these awkward conversations and possibly save lives.

World said the simplest message he can give people is “don’t worry alone”.

“That’s a really simple key message to get away from this. So if you don’t worry alone, it means you’ve told someone whether it’s a friend or a family member, or it’s a professional,” he said.

“If you don’t worry alone, you’re more likely to get the help that you need to get through the type of stuff that life throws at you.”

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Entertainment

Kids orphaned as parents fall to death from Bronx apartment

Investigators are probing whether there was a struggle before an Albanian actor and his wife plunged to their deaths from their apartment in New York over the weekend, a police source said.

Florind Belliu, 35, an actor and aspiring filmmaker originally from Albania, and his wife Ornela Shehi, 28, were found in the rear courtyard of 2199 Cruger Avenue in the Bronx at around 9.15am on Saturday, cops and police sources said.

“There were signs in the apartment that indicated it wasn’t all Kumbaya, like they didn’t just decide to leave their kids behind and jump,” the source told the new york post.

The source wouldn’t provide any more details on the alleged “signs”.

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A suicide note was not left behind, according to the source.

Authorities are waiting for autopsy results to determine whether Mr Shehi suffered any injuries not indicative of a fall, the source said.

By late Tuesday morning, the city’s Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office had not made a determination on either Mr Shehi or Ms Belliu’s death.

“Both are pending while the ME awaits additional investigative information,” a spokeswoman said, adding that the signs could include “further testing of remains or investigatory material from the scene”.

Mr Shehi was caught on video plunging from the building’s sixth floor first and hitting the alleyway, with Ms Belliu landing seconds later, sources told the post a day after the couple’s deaths.

The couple moved into the building with their two young children about four months ago, and authorities never received reports of domestic violence related to the couple, according to police sources.

Neighbors told the post on Saturday that the pair were a “quiet couple” who “kept to themselves,” and were often seen taking walks – but also that Mr Belliu had been seen visibly angry Friday.

“I’ve seen them always buying things for the house, like every day together, with two kids together, we didn’t recognize there was something wrong,” said Shadie Perkaj, the wife of the building’s super.

She said Saturday was Mr Belliu’s birthday.

Mr Belliu’s pal Elona Caslli mourned her lost friend on Facebook.

“A multiple tragedy for which there is no word of consolation. God give strength to your children and parents,” Ms Caslli wrote in Albanian.

Ms Belliu was a graduate of the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania, and performed on TV and in the theater before moving to the US, EuroNews Albania reported.

As of two years ago, he was working on two books and a movie script he hoped to pitch to Netflix, the report said.

Police sources said he may have been recently working as a livery driver to help make ends meet.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Naomi Judd’s ‘graphic’ death records to remain sealed, per family’s wishes

Naomi Judd’s death records will be kept private – per her family’s request – due to the “graphic” nature in which she died, a judge has ruled.

The late country singer’s husband, Larry Strickland, and her two daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, filed a request in Williamson County, Tennessee, on Monday to keep any investigation records into her suicide private as it may cause “emotional distress, pain and mental anguish” if released, court documents obtained by NBC said.

Naomi – who battled depression and mental illness for years – died in April aged 76.

Her family argued in the court documents that records could depict the death of the singer in a “graphic manner”, new york post reports.

“Moreover, the release of these records would continue to cause the entire family pain for years to come,” the filing also stated.

According to NBC, the request was temporarily granted, but a hearing regarding the matter was scheduled for September 12.

Strickland and the Judd sisters filed the request on the same day news broke that Naomi had left her daughters’ names out of her will and made her husband executor of her estate.

Wynonna, 58, and Ashley, 54, did not address the apparent slight but a source told RadarOnline.com earlier this week that Wynonna is “upset” that she was excluded because she formed half of the duo The Judds with her mother.

The singer reportedly believes she was “a major force behind her mother’s success”.

A legal expert told Page Six exclusively on Tuesday that while it is “common” for a person to name the spouse as the executor of their will, “leaving out her daughters seems pointed, like a purposeful act on Naomi’s part”.

Lawyer Holly Davis added, however, that if “there is an issue or tension between the husband and the daughters, we will find out if there will be a will contest via probate lawyers in the coming days”.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Entertainment

Naomi Judd’s ‘graphic’ death records to remain sealed, per family’s wishes

Naomi Judd’s death records will be kept private – per her family’s request – due to the “graphic” nature in which she died, a judge has ruled.

The late country singer’s husband, Larry Strickland, and her two daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, filed a request in Williamson County, Tennessee, on Monday to keep any investigation records into her suicide private as it may cause “emotional distress, pain and mental anguish” if released, court documents obtained by NBC said.

Naomi – who battled depression and mental illness for years – died in April aged 76.

Her family argued in the court documents that records could depict the death of the singer in a “graphic manner”, new york post reports.

“Moreover, the release of these records would continue to cause the entire family pain for years to come,” the filing also stated.

According to NBC, the request was temporarily granted, but a hearing regarding the matter was scheduled for September 12.

Strickland and the Judd sisters filed the request on the same day news broke that Naomi had left her daughters’ names out of her will and made her husband executor of her estate.

Wynonna, 58, and Ashley, 54, did not address the apparent slight but a source told RadarOnline.com earlier this week that Wynonna is “upset” that she was excluded because she formed half of the duo The Judds with her mother.

The singer reportedly believes she was “a major force behind her mother’s success”.

A legal expert told Page Six exclusively on Tuesday that while it is “common” for a person to name the spouse as the executor of their will, “leaving out her daughters seems pointed, like a purposeful act on Naomi’s part”.

Lawyer Holly Davis added, however, that if “there is an issue or tension between the husband and the daughters, we will find out if there will be a will contest via probate lawyers in the coming days”.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Naomi Judd left Ashley and Wynonna out of her will

Naomi Judd left her only two daughters, Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd, out of her will, Page Six can confirm.

The late country singer – who died by suicide on April 30 – appointed her husband of 33 years, Larry Strickland, as the executor of her estate, according to court documents.

Naomi requested in the will that the musician, 76, have “full authority and discretion” over any property that is an asset to her estate “without the approval of any court” or permission from any beneficiary of the estate, Page Six reports.

She also stated, per the documents, that Strickland would be entitled to receive “reasonable compensation” for his services, and that he would be paid or reimbursed for all “reasonable expenses, advances and disbursements, including attorney’s and accountant’s fees, made or incurred. in the administration of my estate”.

The will was prepared on November 20, 2017, nearly five years before Naomi died.

According to the documents, the singer – who suffered a lifelong and public battle with depression – was of “sound mind and disposing memory” when she signed and approved the will.

Melissa Sitzler, a senior account manager at a Tennessee law firm Wiatr & Associates, and another individual named Abigail Muelder signed as witnesses.

According to the will, Naomi also asked that if her husband could not be executor due to death or any other reason, she wanted her brother-in-law, Reginald Strickland, and Daniel Kris Wiatr, the president of Wiatr & Associates, to serve as co-executors.

RadarOnline.com claims a source told them Wynonna, 58, is “upset” that she was excluded because she formed one-half of the duo, The Judds, with Naomi and “believes she was a major force behind her mother’s success”.

However, reps for Wynonna and Ashley, 54, did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.

The sisters have not given any indication of tension between them and their mother since her passing – even attending Naomi’s Country Music Hall of Fame induction one day after announcing her death.

Then in May, Wynonna said she felt “helpless” over the loss and vowed to “break the cycle of addiction and family dysfunction, that I must continue to show up for myself [first] and do the personal healing work”.

Meanwhile, Ashley said in a podcast interview in July that she could “understand” that her mother was in pain after years of dealing with an “undiagnosed and untreated mental illness”.

Page Six has also contacted the lawyer who prepared Naomi’s will, but did not hear back in time for publication.

According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Naomi’s estate is estimated to be worth $35 million.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission

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