Assis Chateaubriand had Vargas change the law to win custody of his daughter, gave his media empire to 22 employees, and that daughter lost the fight to recover it in 2014

Francisco de Assis Chateaubriand built the Diários Associados, at its peak more than a hundred newspapers, radio and television stations and magazines. In 1934, aged 41 and separated, he had a daughter, Teresa, with Cora Acuña, an Argentine actress who was 15 when their relationship began. Brazilian law then barred the recognition of children born outside marriage. In 1942 Chateaubriand pressed President Getúlio Vargas for a decree-law allowing it. The couple split that year, and custody went to the parent who had recognised the child first, the mother. Chateaubriand went back to Vargas and obtained Decree-Law 5.213, which gave the father priority; it became known as the "Lei Teresoca". On 21 September 1959, by deed at a São Paulo notary, he transferred 49 percent of his companies to a condominium of 22 collaborators, and in 1962 he transferred the other 51 percent. Under the clauses, when a member died or was expelled, the remaining members voted on who received the vacant share. He died in São Paulo on 4 April 1968. His heirs went to court to have the shares returned to the estate. A first-instance judge annulled every transfer made after his death; the Rio de Janeiro court of appeals reversed. In May 2014 the Superior Court of Justice, by majority with Justice Nancy Andrighi dissenting, rejected the appeal of his daughter, Thereza Acunha Bandeira de Mello Alkmin (REsp 1.193.809). The companies stayed with the condominium.