Leona Helmsley reportedly left her $8 billion fortune to dogs after her death in 2007, earmarking $12 million for her nine-year old Maltese, Trouble, and zilch for two of her grandchildren. Now, the BBC reports, Manhattan probate court judge Troy Webber has ruled that Helmsley's legal documents allowed the trustees of her fortune to spend the money charitably on causes and in amounts "as they may, at their sole discretion, determine." That means that animal-rights groups could be out of luck when the first grants are announced this March. It should come as no surprise that the dogs may get short shrift. A judge had already knocked Trouble's trust fund to a piddling $2 million, while offering the grandkids $6 million each.
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