Judge sides with widow in Pendergrass estate fight

NORRISTOWN, Pa. -- A suburban Philadelphia judge has decided that the widow of R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass will retain control over his estate after rejecting a will submitted by the singer's son.

Montgomery County Orphans' Court Judge Stanley Ott said a will dated in May 2009 and submitted by Theodore "Ted" Pendergrass II "was fraudulent" and called his testimony "wholly lacking in credibility."

Ott called testimony by the singer's wife, Joan, and other witnesses "highly" credible and ruled that the will dated in March 2009 and giving Joan Pendergrass most of the estate will stand.

Attorney Timothy Holman said Pendergrass' son "respectfully disagrees with the court's ruling" and is considering an appeal.

The singer was paralyzed in a Philadelphia car accident in 1982. He died of colon cancer in 2010 at age 59.