Latest news with #Dennis'
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Secret' daughter of rockstar tattooist battles widow over his fortune – and claims her inkings prove she deserves cash
WILL ROW 'Secret' daughter of rockstar tattooist battles widow over his fortune – and claims her inkings prove she deserves cash THE "secret" daughter of a rockstar tattooist is battling his widow for his £400,000 fortune - and claims her inkings prove she deserves the cash. Dennis Cockell tattooed stars including Paula Yates, Adam Ant, and members of The Sex Pistols, Stray Cats and Bananarama from his Diamond Jacks studio in Soho in the 1980s. 5 Dennis Cockell's estate is at the centre of a bitter court fight Credit: Champion News Service 5 His widow Fong Yuet Cockell (right) and daughter Natalie (left) are battling Dennis' 'secret' daughter Credit: Champion News Service After retiring in 2007, he took up a career as a handyman at Buckingham Palace but continued to make guest appearances at the London studio up until his death in 2022 at the age of 74. His £413,000 estate is now at the centre of a High Court battle between his wife Fong Yuet Cockell, 65, and Cindylee Cockell - his Australian daughter. Fong - the mother of five of Dennis' children - only discovered Cindylee's existence following his death. Cindylee claims she needs a payout because the "overwhelming grief" of his death. She is also claiming that coupled with the death of her mum shortly afterwards has rendered her so depressed and anxious she is unable to work. Cindylee is suing her dad's widow, who inherited all of Dennis' wealth, and her half-sister Natalie Fong Cockell, who is executor of his estate. She is seeking £42,200 plus a valuable sheet of her dad's tattoo flash, which is worth thousands. Cindylee told the court her dad promised to move her from Australia to London and support her financially prior to his death. She said she was two years old when she discovered the truth and visited Dennis in London from her native Australia four times before he died. Cindylee also claims the pair made plans about her moving to the UK and working for him as a £23,000-a-year receptionist at one his studios once her three children had finished school. Denying the widow's claims that Cindylee was not close to her dad, she told the judge the tattoos her dad gave her proved their bond. She told the court: "I have all the evidence of our relationship. My dad did my arms on every visit to London. That's evidence. "I do understand why the family wants to deny my existence. Dad had many secrets and it seems I was the biggest one of all. "That said, it doesn't change the fact that I'm his first born and a rightful and legal heir to dad's estate like everybody else. I deserve to be treated as such. "Dad was always very supportive of me and was supporting my move to London. "I believe I have been very accommodating. I was fair and reasonable in asking for less than an equal share of dad's estate and it's a shame we had to end up in court. "Had the defendants chosen to communicate and negotiate with me in a fair and respectful manner, there would have been no need for anybody to spend legal costs in the first place." The court heard that Cindylee worked as a nanny and PA but is now on "Australian Jobseekers Allowance". She was signed off by her doctor as incapable of working for "years" due to severe "anxiety and depression" caused by her parents' deaths, it was said. She told the judge she needs the money to rent a house, buy a car and pay her son back money that she borrowed to pay solicitors' bills. But Dennis' widow has argued she may be forced to sell her home if she is ordered to make the payout Cindylee wants. Her lawyer Nicholas Michael said: "The deceased had no obligations and responsibilities towards Cindylee, but was married to Fong and she depended on the deceased financially and emotionally. "Cindylee was estranged from the deceased until she was eight. After that she only met him on a few sporadic occasions and she has never been financially dependent on the deceased. "The claim should be dismissed." The judge has reserved his decision for a later date. 5 Dennis, with Stray Cats singer Brian Setzer, was a tattooist to the stars Credit: Champion News Service 5 He passed away in 2022 at the age of 74 Credit: Champion News Service
The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Secret' daughter of rockstar tattooist battles widow over his fortune – and claims her inkings prove she deserves cash
THE "secret" daughter of a rockstar tattooist is battling his widow for his £400,000 fortune - and claims her inkings prove she deserves the cash. Dennis Cockell tattooed stars including 5 Dennis Cockell's estate is at the centre of a bitter court fight Credit: Champion News Service 5 His widow Fong Yuet Cockell (right) and daughter Natalie (left) are battling Dennis' 'secret' daughter Credit: Champion News Service After retiring in 2007, he took up a career as a handyman at Buckingham Palace but continued to make guest appearances at the London studio up until his death in 2022 at the age of 74. His £413,000 estate is now at the centre of a High Court battle between his wife Fong Yuet Cockell, 65, and Cindylee Cockell - his Australian daughter. Fong - the mother of five of Dennis' children - only discovered Cindylee's existence following his death. Cindylee claims she needs a payout because the "overwhelming grief" of his death. Read more news She is also claiming that coupled with the death of her mum shortly afterwards has rendered her so depressed and anxious she is unable to work. Cindylee is suing her dad's widow, who inherited all of Dennis' wealth, and her half-sister Natalie Fong Cockell, who is executor of his estate. She is seeking £42,200 plus a valuable sheet of her dad's tattoo flash, which is worth thousands. Cindylee told the court her dad promised to move her from Australia to London and support her financially prior to his death. Most read in The Sun She said she was two years old when she discovered the truth and visited Dennis in London from her native Australia four times before he died. Cindylee also claims the pair made plans about her moving to the UK and working for him as a £23,000-a-year receptionist at one his studios once her three children had finished school. Denying the widow's claims that Cindylee was not close to her dad, she told the judge the tattoos her dad gave her proved their bond. She told the court: "I have all the evidence of our relationship. My dad did my arms on every visit to London. That's evidence. "I do understand why the family wants to deny my existence. Dad had many secrets and it seems I was the biggest one of all. "That said, it doesn't change the fact that I'm his first born and a rightful and legal heir to dad's estate like everybody else. I deserve to be treated as such. "Dad was always very supportive of me and was supporting my move to London. "I believe I have been very accommodating. I was fair and reasonable in asking for less than an equal share of dad's estate and it's a shame we had to end up in court. "Had the defendants chosen to communicate and negotiate with me in a fair and respectful manner, there would have been no need for anybody to spend legal costs in the first place." The court heard that Cindylee worked as a nanny and PA but is now on "Australian Jobseekers Allowance". She was signed off by her doctor as incapable of working for "years" due to severe "anxiety and depression " caused by her parents' deaths, it was said. She told the judge she needs the money to rent a house, buy a car and pay her son back money that she borrowed to pay solicitors' bills . But Dennis' widow has argued she may be forced to sell her home if she is ordered to make the payout Cindylee wants. Her lawyer Nicholas Michael said: "The deceased had no obligations and responsibilities towards Cindylee, but was married to Fong and she depended on the deceased financially and emotionally. "Cindylee was estranged from the deceased until she was eight. After that she only met him on a few sporadic occasions and she has never been financially dependent on the deceased. "The claim should be dismissed." The judge has reserved his decision for a later date. 5 Dennis, with Stray Cats singer Brian Setzer, was a tattooist to the stars Credit: Champion News Service 5 He passed away in 2022 at the age of 74 Credit: Champion News Service 5 Fong and Natalie are fighting to keep Dennis' estate Credit: Champion News Service
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman allegedly assaults daughter during flight to Honolulu
A 49-year-old woman faces federal charges after she allegedly got drunk and assaulted her minor daughter on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu in November. Samantha Ann Dennis is charged with simple assault and interference with flight crew members and attendants, according to a nine-page federal criminal complaint filed April 3. After Dennis' flight landed in Honolulu, her daughter was taken by ambulance to a hospital where state child welfare services workers assessed her and 'determined that she would be placed in foster care, ' where she remains, according to federal court documents. An interview of Dennis at the airport was terminated because she appeared to be under the influence of drugs and /or alcohol, according to court records. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Nakamura is prosecuting the case. On Tuesday the U.S. Attorney's Office withdrew a motion to detain Dennis without bail until trial. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined comment on the reason for withdrawing the motion. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Dennis is being represented by the office of the federal public defender. On Nov. 4, state sheriff's deputies were called to the arrival gate for Hawaiian Airlines Flight 9 after receiving reports that 'a female passenger was being physically and verbally abusive to her minor daughter and had interfered with the duties of the flight crew members and attendants, ' according to an affidavit authored by a task force officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A flight attendant told investigators that during the the first two hours of the flight, four separate passengers came to her to report that a young girl 'was being verbally abused by her mother, Dennis.' A fifth passenger told the flight attendant that they saw Dennis kick her daughter and tell her, 'You keep smiling like that, God is going to kill you.' The flight attendant told investigators that Dennis' actions frightened her. 'We were 30, 000 feet in the air with no one to help if she (Dennis ) went crazy. I had anxieties because she was not completely there, and her actions were not that of a normal person, ' the attendant told investigators, according to court records. Dennis allegedly threatened another passenger, the flight attendant told investigators. That passenger, an off-duty Long Beach, Calif., Police Department officer, helped restrain Dennis and 'placed her in handcuffs, and moved Dennis to a different seat.' Dennis' behavior stopped flight attendants from offering water every 30 minutes for the remainder of the flight. Another passenger told Dennis to lower her voice and asked her whether everything was OK, to which Dennis told the passenger she 'was trying to calm her daughter.' 'At this time, multiple passengers stood up and reported witnessing Dennis push (the girl's ) head against the window and verbally abuse her, ' according to the affidavit. A flight attendant who had to sit next to Dennis and then later at the back to the plane with her daughter, told investigators that she felt 'alarmed and scared due to the number of passengers standing up in a darkened aircraft and yelling at Dennis ' to stop abusing her daughter. There was the 'likelihood of a riot ' on board, and the attendant told federal law enforcement she had never experienced anything like that before. On March 13 a child and adolescent forensic interview was done with Dennis' daughter at the FBI's Honolulu field office. The girl told FBI agents that Dennis was 'drinking and started hitting her, kicking her, and hitting her head.' Dennis would not let her daughter talk and 'spoke for her.' After the police officer handcuffed her mom and moved her to the back of the plane, the girl told FBI agents 'she was so scared she was shaking but calmed down after a while.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman allegedly assaulted daughter in-flight
A 49-year-old woman faces federal charges after she allegedly got drunk and assaulted her minor daughter on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu in November. Samantha Ann Dennis is charged with simple assault and interference with flight crew members and attendants, according to a nine-page federal criminal complaint filed April 3. After Dennis' flight landed in Honolulu, her daughter was taken by ambulance to a hospital where state child welfare services workers assessed her and 'determined that she would be placed in foster care, ' where she remains, according to federal court documents. An interview of Dennis at the airport was terminated because she appeared to be under the influence of drugs and /or alcohol, according to court records. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Nakamura is prosecuting the case. On Tuesday the U.S. Attorney's Office withdrew a motion to detain Dennis without bail until trial. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined comment on the reason for withdrawing the motion. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Dennis is being represented by the office of the federal public defender. On Nov. 4, state sheriff's deputies were called to the arrival gate for Hawaiian Airlines Flight 9 after receiving reports that 'a female passenger was being physically and verbally abusive to her minor daughter and had interfered with the duties of the flight crew members and attendants, ' according to an affidavit authored by a task force officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A flight attendant told investigators that during the the first two hours of the flight, four separate passengers came to her to report that a young girl 'was being verbally abused by her mother, Dennis.' A fifth passenger told the flight attendant that they saw Dennis kick her daughter and tell her, 'You keep smiling like that, God is going to kill you.' The flight attendant told investigators that Dennis' actions frightened her. 'We were 30, 000 feet in the air with no one to help if she (Dennis ) went crazy. I had anxieties because she was not completely there, and her actions were not that of a normal person, ' the attendant told investigators, according to court records. Dennis allegedly threatened another passenger, the flight attendant told investigators. That passenger, an off-duty Long Beach, Calif., Police Department officer, helped restrain Dennis and 'placed her in handcuffs, and moved Dennis to a different seat.' Dennis' behavior stopped flight attendants from offering water every 30 minutes for the remainder of the flight. Another passenger told Dennis to lower her voice and asked her whether everything was OK, to which Dennis told the passenger she 'was trying to calm her daughter.' 'At this time, multiple passengers stood up and reported witnessing Dennis push (the girl's ) head against the window and verbally abuse her, ' according to the affidavit. A flight attendant who had to sit next to Dennis and then later at the back to the plane with her daughter, told investigators that she felt 'alarmed and scared due to the number of passengers standing up in a darkened aircraft and yelling at Dennis ' to stop abusing her daughter. There was the 'likelihood of a riot ' on board, and the attendant told federal law enforcement she had never experienced anything like that before. On March 13 a child and adolescent forensic interview was done with Dennis' daughter at the FBI's Honolulu field office. The girl told FBI agents that Dennis was 'drinking and started hitting her, kicking her, and hitting her head.' Dennis would not let her daughter talk and 'spoke for her.' After the police officer handcuffed her mom and moved her to the back of the plane, the girl told FBI agents 'she was so scared she was shaking but calmed down after a while.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Attorneys: Trial in Molly Dennis' discrimination lawsuit could be held during the summer of 2026
Apr. 25—ROCHESTER — Attorneys in a former Rochester City Council member's discrimination suit against the city report they will be ready for a potential jury trial by June 1, 2026. A report filed with the federal court on Thursday outlines the attorneys' expectations ahead of a planned May 1, 2025, pretrial conference related to Molly Dennis' claims that the city denied her access to public services based on her attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder disability. The report states the attorneys met on April 15, a day after Paul Ostrow of Minneapolis-based Ostrow Law, filed notice that he was representing Dennis. Dennis filed the lawsuit in early 2023 , originally representing herself. The city is being represented by Minneapolis-based Greene Espel law firm, which is being funded through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. The city denies allegations made by Dennis in the wake of her 2023 censure, stating actions taken were not acts of retaliation but were a response to complaints about Dennis' actions against elected officials and staff. The new report outlines expectations for the year leading up to the potential jury trial requested by both sides of the case. It also outlines views regarding the potential number of witnesses and the sharing of information. It also points to potential conflicts related to some information that could be raised during a trial, including how to deal with a city-issued laptop that Dennis has yet to return. The report states Dennis has offered to purchase the device, but the city did not agree to the option. "The plaintiff's legal counsel will further discuss resolution of this issue with defense counsel," the report states. The two sides also reportedly disagree on the handling of some information shared by others with City Attorney Michael Spindler-Krage. While the city considers some of the material protected under attorney-client privilege, the report indicates Dennis' attorney questions the status in some cases. The parties were required to discuss potential settlement options ahead of Thursday's hearing, but the report states more time is needed to allow Ostrow time to review the case documents filed so far. "Because plaintiff's counsel was only recently retained and needs to fully review the matter and consult with his client following that review, the plaintiff is not yet able to make a detailed settlement proposal and the parties are not yet able to conduct a meaningful discussion about possible settlement," it states. "Both parties nonetheless believe that a pretrial conference would be useful at the discretion of the court." U.S. Federal Court Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko confirmed plans to hold the scheduled hearing on Thursday.
