- Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner, is seeking funds from a trust for his defense against murder charges.
- Trustees have allegedly denied funds without justification; Nick’s siblings initially agreed to support his defense.
- Reiner’s lawyer withdrew from the case; the trust holds $1.5 million in assets.
LOS ANGELES — Nick Reiner, son of the renowned director Rob Reiner, is seeking unpaid funds from a trust set up by his parents. He claims these funds are necessary for his defense against accusations of their murder.
A petition submitted by Nick Reiner’s civil attorneys in a Los Angeles County court on Monday states that the trustees managing the funds have unjustifiably denied him access. The petition argues that he should receive these funds immediately.
“Nick cherished his parents, and their deaths have left him shattered. However, the details of what transpired are not the focus of this Trust litigation,” the petition reads. “Like any individual facing criminal charges, Nick is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and he has the right to utilize his own resources for his defense.”
Rob Reiner, a prominent Hollywood director, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, a photographer and producer, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Dec. 14. Nick Reiner was arrested shortly after and has since pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder.
Reiner initially hired renowned private attorney Alan Jackson to represent him, but Jackson withdrew from the case less than a month later for undisclosed reasons. The new filing reveals that Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, had initially agreed to fund Jackson’s fees, but later changed their minds.
In a statement included with the petition, Jackson said “my firm is prepared and willing to resume representation of Mr. Reiner” if the necessary funds become available.
The filing states that in addition to the larger Reiner family trust, which is not being disputed, Rob and Michele Reiner set up smaller individual trusts for Nick Reiner and his siblings. According to the filing, Nick Reiner’s trust, established in 1993, clearly stated that he was to receive half of its funds at age 30 and the remainder at 35.
However, the filing claims, Reiner never received the funds he was entitled to at 30, and the trustee overseeing them since February — attorney Paul R. Kanin — has provided “a series of shifting excuses and justifications” to deny Reiner the money. These include concerns about Reiner’s competence, which should not affect a mandatory payout.
Reiner argues that he should also receive the funds due to him at 35 immediately, as his defense and basic needs in jail necessitate it.
The petition states that the trust holds at least $1.5 million in assets, but Kanin has not disclosed the exact value.
Kanin did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent after business hours.
Reiner’s murder case is progressing slowly. He is due to return to court for a pretrial hearing in September. He could face the death penalty, but District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet decided whether to pursue it.
Authorities have not disclosed any potential motives, and there have been virtually no leaks from either side. A court order has kept most details of the autopsy confidential. Many fundamental questions about the murder remain publicly unanswered.
On the day he withdrew from the case, Jackson, speaking outside the court, emphatically stated that “according to California law, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”
In April, Jake Reiner shared his first detailed account of the experience of losing his parents and having his brother at the center of the investigation, describing it as “a living nightmare” that is “too devastating to comprehend.”
Rob Reiner was a prolific director known for some of the most iconic and enduring movies of the 1980s and ’90s. His filmography includes “This is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “A Few Good Men,” and ”When Harry Met Sally… ,” during the production of which he met photographer Michele Singer. They married shortly after and were together for 36 years.
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Agree. It’s understandable for Nick Reiner to seek support from his family in a time of need.
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