Judge Appoints Conservator for Zsa Zsa Gabor's Estate

A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday named husband the temporary conservator of the ailing actress and her estate, ending for now a bitter battle between him and his wife's daughter concerning who would oversee the 95-year-old's affairs.

The order by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz appointing Frederic von Anhalt as his wife's conservator is good for six months. She set another hearing for Jan. 9 for an evaluation of how the agreement has worked.

Constance Francesca Gabor Hilton filed her petition March 20 after learning her mother's home was in default over missed mortgage payments and that von Anhalt had obtained a six-figure loan against his wife's equity in the property, according to a statement issued on behalf of Hilton's attorney.

Gabor's real estate holdings are worth more than $10.6 million, according to her 65-year-old only child, who was fathered by hotelier Conrad Hilton.

A brief hearing on the petition was scheduled in early May, but Goetz postponed the matter so both sides could try to reach a settlement. Today, the lawyers told Goetz an interim solution was reached in favor of appointing von Anhalt as Gabor's temporary conservator.

Both Hilton and von Anhalt attended today's hearing but did not address the court.

Key areas of dispute included the ability of Hilton and her mother's friends to visit Gabor without interference by von Anhalt, as well as Gabor's financial protection, said Kenneth Kossoff, Hilton's attorney.  

Koffoff said after the hearing that he is "cautiously optimistic" the agreement will benefit both sides. He said it contains conditions that will allow his client regular visits with her mother and protect Gabor's finances.

In a capacity declaration document submitted by Kossoff, Dr. Debra Judelson wrote that Gabor is "bedbound, unable to hear or see clearly, unable to respond or answer questions, becomes agitated when outside of familiar environment."

Judelson also wrote that Gabor is "calmer in [a] familiar home environment with familiar people, agitated in [a] hospital setting'' and "recognizes husband by voice/hand squeeze and able to be calmed by him."

In a previously submitted sworn statement, Hilton claimed von Anhalt, 68, has thrown up a wall between her and her mother.

"My mother's husband has increasingly isolated my mother from me and from others who have long been close to her,'' Hilton said in a sworn statement. "Before she broke her hip, my mother and I spoke several times every day. Since she broke her hip, her husband has removed the telephone that used to be by her bed."

In his court papers, attorney William Remery, on behalf of von Anhalt, said his client has "managed [Gabor's] finances prudently while under significant financial straits created in large part by [Hilton's] own abuse of power of attorney given to her by [her mother]."

Remery argued that von Anhalt was "entitled to priority for consideration" regarding any appointment of a conservator for Gabor.

In her statement, Hilton claimed she was alarmed during visits on Nov. 27 and Feb. 8, when her mother "seemed heavily sedated" and had remnants from bed sores. A makeup artist who prepared Gabor for her 95th birthday party Feb. 6 saw lesions on the woman's face, according to Hilton.

Until she was heavily sedated, Gabor did not allow her husband access to her funds because of a pre-marital agreement, Hilton said. However, Gabor now has allowed him to obtain a $700,000 loan against the home, according to Hilton.

Hilton said she wants an independent medical evaluation of whether her mother should continue to be confined to bed.

Gabor's right leg was amputated a year ago because of gangrene. After she broke her hip in July 2011, the Hilton-von Anhalt relationship appeared to deteriorate.

Local Connections

Gabor, who owns a mansion in Bel Air, often was seen around Beverly Hills. She attended numerous parties and events at the city's numerous gala venues.  

In 1989, the once rambunctious made the news for slapping a officer who attempted to cite her for driving with expired license plate tags and having an open container of alcohol in her Rolls Royce, according to the Los Angeles Times. She was convicted and sentenced to three days in jail, 120 hours of community service at a shelter for homeless women and was ordered to pay a $2,350 fine. 

Von Anhalt also frequents the city. In September he was reportedly hit by a car while walking to a bank in Beverly Hills.

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