Edmonia Sue Coleman

Actor Gary Coleman filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit Friday in Los Angeles against his mother, two days after a judge turned down her attempt to have a conservator appointed to take control of his affairs.

Actor Gary Coleman filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit Friday in Los Angeles against his mother, two days after a judge turned down her attempt to have a conservator appointed to take control of his affairs.

Actor Gary Coleman's mother has filed suit to have a conservator named for the 21-year-old former child star, claiming that a man hired as a chauffeur is managing his affairs and that Coleman is "at risk of financial exploitation." The Los Angeles Superior Court suit filed by Edmonia Sue Coleman charges that the nearly $7-million estate of the former star of NBC's "Diff'rent Strokes" is now being controlled by a friend of Coleman's named Dion Mial.

Former child television star Gary Coleman won a court battle with his mother Wednesday when a Los Angeles judge ruled that he does not need a conservator to take care of his personal, medical and financial needs. Superior Court Judge Martha Goldin said the diminutive 21-year-old actor's mental state "does not come close" to the standard needed to place him and his $7-million fortune under the care of a third party.

Former child television star Gary Coleman won a court battle with his mother Wednesday when a Los Angeles judge ruled that he does not need a conservator to take care of his personal, medical and financial needs. Superior Court Judge Martha Goldin said the diminutive 21-year-old actor's mental state "does not come close" to the standard needed to place him and his $7-million fortune under the care of a third party.

Former child star Gary Coleman's life these days is reading like a script. It is a complicated and emotional story line in which the principal players on both sides are making allegations which would keep any soap opera in material for months: sidelined careers, failing mental health, parental greed, questionable friendships, stolen money.

Lawyers for actor Gary Coleman, the former pint-sized co-star of TV's "Diff'rent Strokes," argued in court papers Wednesday that Coleman can manage his multimillion-dollar estate and is in good health. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Martha Goldin, meanwhile, continued a hearing that had been requested by the actor's mother, Edmonia Sue Coleman. The latter is asking the court to appoint conservators to care for her son and manage his finances.

"Diff'rent Strokes" star Gary Coleman is suing his parents and former business adviser, alleging they took too big a share of his earnings. A lawsuit filed in Santa Monica Superior Court also claims that W.G. and Edmonia Sue Coleman and the adviser, Anita DeThomas, caused his assets to be managed unwisely. Coleman, who turned 21 Wednesday, started acting when he was 5. Earlier this week, Coleman's "Diff'rent Strokes" co-star, Todd Bridges, 23, pleaded innocent to attempted murder for a Feb.

A Superior Court judge today denied a request to have a conservator appointed for actor Gary Coleman in a case involving allegations of failing mental health, parental greed and stolen money. Coleman's mother, Edmonia Sue Coleman, sought to have a conservator take over the estate and personal affairs of her son, the diminutive former star of "Diff'rent Strokes."

Coleman Wins Against Parents: Actor Gary Coleman was awarded nearly $1.3 million Tuesday in his suit against his parents, W.G. and Edmonia Sue Coleman, and trustee Anita DeThomas. State Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujiksaki found that Coleman's parents were wrongfully paid that amount in excessive commissions, salaries, fees and pension distributions from 1982-87, when all three were acting as Coleman's trustees. After the judgment, Coleman, who filed suit in 1989, said: "I'm extremely pleased.

Former child star Gary Coleman's life these days is reading like a script. It is a complicated and emotional story line in which the principal players on both sides are making allegations which would keep any soap opera in material for months: sidelined careers, failing mental health, parental greed, questionable friendships, stolen money.

Actor Gary Coleman's mother has filed suit to have a conservator named for the 21-year-old former child star, claiming that a man hired as a chauffeur is managing his affairs and that Coleman is "at risk of financial exploitation." The Los Angeles Superior Court suit filed by Edmonia Sue Coleman charges that the nearly $7-million estate of the former star of NBC's "Diff'rent Strokes" is now being controlled by a friend of Coleman's named Dion Mial.

Actor Gary Coleman's mother is asking a court to put her in control of the diminutive "Diff'rent Strokes" star's $6-million fortune, saying her 21-year-old son's physical and mental condition is deteriorating. Edmonia Sue Coleman filed a conservatorship petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday in the latest in legal wrangling between mother and son. Mrs. Coleman asked that a conservator be appointed for her son and that U.S. Trust Co.

Gary Coleman, who soared to fame in the late 1970s as the child star of the hit sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" and whose post-TV-series life included a stint as a shopping mall security guard and an unlikely run for California governor, died Friday. He was 42. The diminutive Coleman, whose adult height was 4 feet 8 inches, died at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo after suffering a brain hemorrhage earlier this week, according to a statement from hospital spokeswoman Janet Frank.