Alan Yoshitake Quoted in Portfolio.com
“Crichton’s Last Thriller”

Alan Yoshitake was quoted in the Portfolio.com article “Crichton’s Last Thriller,” published April 20, 2009. According to the article, Michael Crichton, the bestselling science fiction author and creator of the television series ER, passed away last November after a battle with cancer. He left behind two unpublished novels and another unsolved mystery: who will get control over his multimillion dollar estate? The article noted that his son, who was born three months after his father’s death, was not included in his will. However, his son may still be entitled to one-third of the estate, which is estimated to be in the nine figures.

The article went on to explain that due to the author’s four failed marriages, he had constructed his will to include language regarding his prior prenuptial agreements as well as an “incontestability clause,” stating that he has intentionally made no provisions for any heirs not mentioned in the will and disinherit every person claiming to be an heir. Michael had a prolific romantic life and this clause would seemingly block children from coming out of the “woodwork,” thus protecting his 20-year-old daughter, who is listed as a beneficiary of the private estate.

Alan Yoshitake, a Trusts and Estates attorney at Seyfarth Shaw, referred to the clause as a “beefed-up no-contest clause,” but added that his “strong belief” is that the omitted-child statute would let the infant share his father’s fortune.