George Harrison's estate sued his cancer doctor for making him sign a guitar two weeks before he died

George Harrison died of cancer at 58. High Court probate papers released on the first anniversary of his death showed a British estate of £99,226,700, reduced to £98,916,400 after expenses. The will left it to his wife, Olivia, and then his son, Dhani; the papers did not show the split. In his last weeks Harrison was treated in New York by Dr. Gilbert Lederman, a Staten Island radiation oncologist. In January 2004 the estate sued Lederman. The complaint alleged that about two weeks before the death, Lederman brought his teenage son and a guitar to Harrison's bedside. Harrison said, "I do not even know if I know how to spell my name anymore." The estate alleged Lederman replied, "Come on, you can do this," and held Harrison's hand while he signed. The suit sought the guitar and two signed cards, and alleged Lederman gave interviews about Harrison to promote his practice, many within hours of the death. Lederman's lawyer called it "strictly allegations." The New York State Health Department had already reprimanded Lederman for speaking to the press without consent, and he paid a $5,000 fine. Within two weeks the sides settled: the signed guitar and cards would be "disposed of privately," the Harrison family would give the son a replacement guitar, and neither side admitted wrongdoing. In 2026 Olivia and Dhani Harrison control his catalog through Harrisongs and Umlaut Corporation.