Casey Kasem's Daughter Denied Conservatorship, Judge Says Radio Icon Is Getting "Good to Excellent Care" at Home

Grown children of American Top 40 host have accused their stepmom of blocking access to their ailing father

By Natalie Finn Nov 20, 2013 2:02 AMTags
Casey Kasem, Jean KasemChad Buchanan/Getty Images

Casey Kasem is fine right where he is, according to a judge.

One of the radio icon's grown daughters was denied her bid for a temporary conservatorship to oversee her ailing father's medical affairs, with L.A. Superior Court Judge Lesley Green saying in court that the "clear and convincing evidence we have now is that he is receiving, depending on who you talk to, good to excellent care" at his home.

Depending on who you talk to, indeed.

Kasem's adult children have alleged that their stepmother, actress Jean Kasem, cut off access to their father, refusing to let him take their phone calls and turning them away when they would visit the couple's house.

The 81-year-old former host of the nationally syndicated American Top 40 has Parkinson's disease.

In their petition for the conservatorship, Julie Kasem and her physician husband alleged that her dad "has been isolated from his daughters, friends and other family by Mrs. Kasem."

Jean fired back in court documents that were filed yesterday, her attorney charging that her husband's three adult children from his first marriage had "single-handedly and irreparably shattered the lives of their father, his wife and youngest daughter [Liberty], the calm of their home and their neighborhood by engaging in uncalled for public demonstrations and personal attacks in the media. They are doing so with a professionally orchestrated media and legal campaign that has disgraced their father and vilified their stepmother."

Her lawyer, Marshall Grossman, told reporters that his client was "very gratified" by today's ruling.

But Judge Green also ordered the warring parties to work out a visitation plan by Dec. 20.

Grossman said that Jean was willing, so long as the Kasem kids dropped their legal battle. He also said that she had proposed a visitation schedule before that included holidays, but that Julie and her siblings refused it.

Andrew Katzenstein, the lawyer representing the Kasem children, said that his clients felt reassured because they had heard evidence that their dad was receiving proper medical care at home. They were also open to Jean being appointed a temporary conservator because it would give the judge authority to oversee a visitation schedule.

Grossman said Jean had no desire to obtain a conservatorship unless the court ruled that he needed protection, Kasey having already given her legal power to make medical decisions for him in 2011.