Tobias Case Settled
By: Scott Cohn | CNBC Senior Correspondent
CNBC has learned the estate case of hedge fund manager Seth Tobias has been settled, pending the approval of a Florida probate judge on Monday. Tobias, the founder of the Circle T Family of Funds and a frequent CNBC guest, was found dead in his swimming pool in the early morning hours of September 4. He was 44 years old.
While police ruled there was no evidence of a crime, Tobias' brothers charged his wife Filomena murdered him, and should be barred from collecting his estate under Florida's so-called "slayer statute." The estate case was scheduled to go to trial on Monday, but Filomena's attorney, Jay Jacknin, tells CNBC the two sides reached a settlement late Friday.
While the exact terms of the settlement are not being disclosed, the agreement calls for a retraction by the Tobias brothers of the allegations against Filomena. "I am pleased the case has been resolved amicably, and that both sides can move on with their lives," Jacknin told CNBC.
The case sparked worldwide media frenzy after a man claiming to be the Tobiases' personal assistant said he had evidence Filomena Tobias murdered her husband by poisoning his pasta, then luring him into the swimming pool with the promise of sex with a male stripper. But police eventually discounted the story of Billy Ash, who was, in fact, Filomena Tobias' internet psychic and has a long criminal history.
Both sides will appear Monday before Palm Beach County Probate Judge Richard Oftedal, who must approve the settlement before it is final.
