Jewish charity files claim against estate of ex-Pistons owner over $4.8 million of pledge

Charity seeks $4.8M from ex-Pistons owner’s estate

DETROIT — A New York-based charity that promotes Hebrew language charter schools is suing the estate of the late Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson, saying it owes $4.8 million of $5 million Davidson pledged to the charity.

In a lawsuit filed in August in Oakland County (Mich.) Probate Court, Areivim Philanthropic Group said Davidson pledged to give it $5 million when he helped start the charity in 2006. The group claims it only received $200,000 from Davidson, and that his estate is responsible for paying the remaining $4.8 million.

A lawyer for the estate filed a notice in October rejecting the claim.

“There was no enforceable promise that William Davidson would provide for payment of any potential donation by his estate should he die before making a donation,” attorney Samuel Damren wrote in a court filing dated Friday. Damren represents the estate’s agents, Jonathan S. Aaron and Eric L. Garber.

No court dates had been set to settle the dispute as of Wednesday.

Davidson, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, died March 13, 2009, at age 86. He was the chairman of glassmaker Guardian Industries Corp., and also owned the WNBA’s Detroit Shock and Palace Sports & Entertainment, comprising The Palace of Auburn Hills and DTE Energy Music Theatre.

In October, officials announced the sale of the Shock and the team’s move to Tulsa, Okla.

Areivim, which is based in New York City, seeks to encourage Hebrew-language charter schools and other educational projects designed to retain the cultural identity of American Jewish young people.