Brother of Pat Bowlen files motion to remove trustees from control of Broncos
Oct 25, 2018, 8:18 PM | Updated: 8:48 pm
Bill Bowlen, brother of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, asked a Colorado district court Thursday to remove a three-person trust in control of the team.
According to a media release late Thursday, Bill Bowlen filed a petition with the Arapahoe County District Court to remove Richard Slivka, Mary Kelly, and Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis as agents of Pat Bowlen “due to their failure to uphold Pat Bowlen’s wishes and act in the best interest” of the long-time Broncos owner, his family, and the club.
FULL PETITION: Read the full 21-page motion filed by Bill Bowlen on Thursday
“I am a huge fan of the Broncos, and have been for decades. Unfortunately, over the past 15 years, I’ve noticed that the operation of the Broncos has deteriorated, while my brother’s health has worsened,” Bill Bowlen said via the release.
Dan Reilly, legal council for the Pat Bowlen Trust, said via a release from the Broncos that they had not seen the lawsuit and first learned of it through media reports.
“Although we are currently reviewing this matter, we are aware that the counsel submitting this complaint on behalf of Bill Bowlen is the same one that has been representing Beth Bowlen Wallace,” Reilly said.
“The trustees will continue to execute Pat Bowlen’s long-standing succession plan for the Denver Broncos in compliance with all NFL ownership policies.”
According to the release, Bill Bowlen accuses the trust of refusing to implement a long-term succession plan laid out by his brother with the goal of having one of Pat Bowlen’s children retaining control over the team. Instead, the release says, the trio of trustees have attempted to delay Pat Bowlen’s children from assuming control over the team “in violation of their fiduciary duties.”
“I have real concerns with these trustees, their conduct and how they got to the positions they are in. They have little or no accountability to anybody but themselves,” Bill Bowlen said via the release. “They have not complied with the rules of the NFL, and I am uncomfortable with the way they have handled my brother’s affairs.
“I know what his wishes were, and these individuals are definitely not following them.”
Bill Bowlen, through the petition, seeks to have Slivka, Ellis, and Kelly removed as agents of Pat Bowlen and appoint an independent part to serve as a conservator of the Broncos owner’s estate.
Pat Bowlen, who removed himself from control of the team in 2014 after revealing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, is not capable of revoking the powers of attorney and authority of the trustees, according to the release.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
PETITION TO CONSTRUE POWER … by on Scribd
