Nick Reiner, accused of murdering his parents, is petitioning for funds from a trust established by them to help with his defense. Reiner’s civil attorneys submitted the petition in a Los Angeles County court. They argue that the trustees improperly denied access to the funds.
“Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths. But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this Trust litigation,” the petition states. “Like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent, and he is entitled to mount his defense with the resources that are lawfully his own.”
The trust reportedly holds assets worth at least $1.5 million. However, the attorney managing the trust has not disclosed the exact value. Reiner’s parents, Rob Reiner, a well-known film director, and Michele Singer Reiner, were killed in their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on December 14. Nick Reiner, arrested shortly after the incident, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Initially represented by private lawyer Alan Jackson, Reiner lost Jackson’s services due to undisclosed reasons. Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy, withdrew an agreement to finance Jackson’s legal services. Jackson’s statement within the petition confirms readiness to resume representation if funds are allocated properly.
The petition mentions that Rob and Michele Reiner’s family trust is not contested, but they also created individual trusts for their children. Nick’s trust, set up in 1993, specified a distribution at ages 30 and 35, which has not yet occurred. The trustee, Paul R. Kanin, is accused of denying access based on irrelevant concerns about Nick’s competence.
Reiner argues for immediate access to the funds meant for age 35, citing his legal defense and basic needs in jail. Efforts to contact Kanin for comments have been unresponsive. Legal proceedings related to Reiner’s murder charge are ongoing, with slow progress.
Reiner faces possible capital punishment, although a decision by District Attorney Nathan Hochman remains pending. Motives for the crime are unclear, with little information leaked from the case. A court order restricts autopsy details, leaving many questions unanswered publicly.
Outside the court, Jackson firmly stated, “pursuant to the laws of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”
In a statement, Jake Reiner described losing his parents and facing accusations against his brother as “a living nightmare,” marking the emotional impact on the family.
Rob Reiner, celebrated for directing iconic films from the 1980s and ’90s like “This is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “A Few Good Men,” and “When Harry Met Sally…,” married Michele Singer shortly after they met. The couple was married for 36 years.