After Stuart Scott's Death, His Ex-Wife, Kimberly, Sued Disney Over Unpaid USD 162K+ Divorce Payouts

The world is once again remembering Stuart Scott, the much-loved ESPN anchor who died from appendiceal cancer at just 49. Years after his death, Scott’s long-time co-host Rich Eisen returned to the SportsCenter desk, the very place where the iconic duo made countless memorable moments before Eisen moved to the NFL Network in 2003. Stuart and Eisen were an iconic duo who redefined the network’s flagship show, going viral long before social media made it common. 

As he returned to the desk, Eisen paid a hearty tribute to his late partner and friend, struggling to hold his tears as he honoured the legacy of Stuart Scott. Next to him was an empty anchor chair, with a large image of Scott, whom Eisen affectionately called his ‘TV wife’, looming over the seat. This emotional return struck a chord with fans, reminding them just how deeply Stuart Scott touched his friends, colleagues, and the sports world at large.

However, beyond the heartbreak of losing him so early and all the tributes, Scott’s family had been caught in years of struggle over the late ESPN icon’s estate. After he died in 2015, Stuart’s ex-wife, Kimberly Scott, went on to sue Disney and Fidelity to collect the money she was owed from her divorce settlement. The fight for Scott’s legacy, together with the lawsuit and his daughters’ accusations of mismanaged assets, is as painfully complex as it is heartbreaking.

Stuart Scott’s divorce settlement with his ex-wife, Kimberly Scott, remained unpaid

Stuart Scott tied the knot with Kimberly (Kim) Scott in 1993, and after 14 years of marriage, they parted ways in 2007 through divorce. In their divorce settlement, the late SportsCenter anchor was ordered to transfer his estate worth USD 162,899.04 plus interest, dividends, and gains from his Disney Savings and Investment Plan 401(k).

However, Scott hadn’t complied with the divorce decree, nor did he transfer the owed amount to Kim in the years that followed. When the sportscaster died of cancer in 2015, his obligation to his ex-wife remained unfulfilled. After Stuart’s death on January 4, 2015, Kimberly tried to collect the money owed to her, but she was told it had already been handed out to his estate. 

After Scott’s passing, Kimberly took matters into her own hands, suing Disney and Fidelity Workplace Services, claiming that her ex-husband’s funds were unfairly distributed to his family trust without paying her the owed amount. The lawsuit went on for years, with Scott’s family allegedly running out of money due to the legal battle before reaching a partial settlement.

The legal battle threatened to drain Scott’s estate

According to court filings, in 2019, Kimberly asked for a pause in the lawsuit she filed against Disney, noting that Scott's daughters, Taelor and Sydni Scott, are themselves in the middle of a legal feud against the co-trustees of their late father’s estate.

According to the Scott sisters’ complaint, the co-trustees of their late father, Susan Scott and Charles Silver, mishandled the Stuart O. Scott Family Trust by failing to open an official estate or inventory of Stuart’s assets while also charging excessive fees. The daughters also alleged that the trustees neglected the income generated from their father’s work, including the royalties he received from his film appearances and even his memoir, Every Day I Fight.

Taelor and Sydni further accused one of the co-trustees of taking possession of 800,000 US Dollars, even issuing their mother a cheque that later bounced. In her filings, Kimberly warned that the ongoing lawsuits were ‘close to wiping out all the trust assets’ due to the massive legal fees.

Remembering Stuart Scott, the legendary sportscaster and his inspiring legacy

All courtroom drama aside, fans continue to remember the legacy of Stuart Scott, the legendary ESPN icon, known for his infectious catchphrases like ‘Boo-yah!’ and ‘Cooler than the other side of the pillow.’ Before the world knew of viral moments, Scott redefined sports broadcasting for a new generation.

Stuart Scott was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and briefly went into remission, only to face new diagnoses in 2011 and 2013. In 2014, just months before his passing, he received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPYs, delivering a speech that remains one of the most powerful and inspirational moments in sports history. His words were as inspiring as they were emotional for everyone present that night. 

In his iconic speech, the late sportscaster reminded the world that his greatest achievement wasn’t his groundbreaking career but being a father to his daughters, Taelor and Sydni. A part of his speech that inspires generations to this day states:

“When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live. So, live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, then lay down and rest, and let somebody else fight for you. That's also very, very important.”

Rich Eisen’s emotional tribute to Stuart Scott

Scott’s former ESPN colleague, Rich Eisen, recently made his return to the desk after 22 years, more memorable when he honoured his late friend and ‘TV wife’ during his return to SportsCenter. Sitting beside an empty anchor chair, Eisen fought back tears as he said:

"It has been a blast being here tonight, but listen, we all know there should be someone else in this chair next to me. Right there, as he was for my seven years in the role, he referred to as my TV wife. And that's my dear, late friend Stuart Scott, who is indeed looking over my shoulder tonight. I could go on and on, because I miss Stuart so very much... He should be in that chair, with me, with us, tonight."

Despite the lawsuits and financial disputes, one truth remains unchanged: Stuart Scott’s voice, courage, and legacy still resonate across the sports world.

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