Rosa Parks' Estate Being Drained by Judge, Attorney Claims

Uncivil fight for the estate of the civil rights leader

An attorney is claiming that a judge and two lawyers are involved in a long-running dispute over civil right pioneer Rosa Parks' estate and a conspiracy to drain it of cash, according to the Associated Press.

The estate, which is located in Detroit, is reportedly $88,000 in debt.

Attorney Stephen G. Cohen in court papers Tuesday said that Judge Freddie Burton Jr. conspired with John Chase Jr. and Melvin Jefferson Jr. to rack up more than $507,000 in mostly unnecessary legal fees.

Chase and Jefferson's lawyer Alan May deny the conspiracy charge and call it a "great fabrication."

A hearing is set for May 22nd.

[ALSO READ: Obama Recreates Rosa Parks Bus Photo]

When Parks died in 2005, she left behind a museum's worth of papers and personal effects potentially worth millions of dollars. The greatest financial value in Parks' estate resides in the collection of her personal papers and possessions, now in the custody of Guernsey's, a New York auction house.

Mr. Cohen said the collection could be worth $4 million to $8 million. Mr. May said the value could be more.