Alaskan Bush People star Ami Brown is fighting the good fight for her late husband's estate, long after his death. But why's she having such a difficult time?
The lawsuit against Billy's estate was filed by a Tennessee doctor and investor named Robert Maughon on April 27, 2021, two months after the fellow Alaskan Bush People star passed away from seizure complications. He was 68 years old. Maughon filed the lawsuit against Billy's estate since Billy had already died, and he claimed Billy failed to pay him profits. Maughon alleged that he entered into two contracts with Billy, first on Jan. 6, 2009, and again on Jan. 25, 2009. In the first contract, Maughon invested $20,000; he invested another $10,000 for a "lifetime" in the second contract. In his lawsuit, Maughon claimed that he never received the funds owed to him, and while he said "the amount cannot be known without accounting," he said he believes Billy earned about "$500,000 per episode of Alaskan Bush People." Maughon is demanding $500,000 in damages, as well as a trial.
Ami, however, is claiming there’s no validity to Maughon’s $500,000 figure. She claims Billy’s estate is only worth $412,000, according to ScreenRant.com. In addition, the family had about $27,000 in outstanding medical bills, as well.
Last month, Ami filed a request to have the suit dismissed based on a "lack of subject matter jurisdiction," which means she claims that the federal court doesn't have the authority to hear or rule on the case.
The federal court papers read, according to The Sun, that federal courts "have jurisdiction to entertain suits to determine the rights of creditors, legatees, heir, and other claimants against a decedent's estate, so long as the federal court does not interfere with the probate proceedings."
However, in this particular case, the court isn't being asked to "probate or annul a will, nor is it asked to administer Brown's estate," so the case can proceed, according to the judge who dismissed the motion to dismiss the case. Now, Ami is appealing that decision.
Billy Brown's Death
Billy Brown, patriarch of his family and star of Alaskan Bush People, died on Feb. 7, 2021, after suffering a seizure. His estate then transferred to his wife, Ami Brown.
The couple's son, Bear Brown, now 34, (one of seven kids between Billy and Ami) shared the news with fans on his private Instagram page, according to People.
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"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved patriarch Billy Brown passed away last night after suffering from a seizure," Bear posted to Instagram along with a photo of his parents. "He was our best friend a wonderful and loving dad, granddad and husband and he will be dearly missed."
"He lived his life on his terms, off the grid and off the land and taught us to live like that as well," Bear continued. "We plan to honor his legacy going forward, and to continue with his dream. We ask for privacy and prayers during this painful time. God Bless Everyone!"
Ami Brown's Cancer Battle
It was about five years ago when Ami Brown, matriarch of her family and Alaskan Bush People star, was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer.
"I had some pain in my back," she told People at the time. "Walking from the house to the garden, I would get winded. There were days I was just bedridden, but I just thought it was my arthritis. We were filming the show and at times it was all I could do to just stand there I was in so much pain."
"When we were shooting promo shots I told them, 'There's something wrong.' In December (2016), I went to the dentist to get impressions made for new teeth and when they did a scan they noticed a little capsule. That's how this all started."
Ami's cancer diagnosis led to the Brown family moving from rural Alaska hence the show name, Alaskan Bush People to a large estate in Washington state so Ami could be closer to her medical team.
Ami tells People of her health ordeal, "It was very scary, but I never gave up hope."
Confirming Ami's diagnosis, her oncologist, Dr. Deborah Wong of UCLA Medical Center, released a statement stating that "Amora Brown (of Alaskan Bush People) was diagnosed with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (cancer cells that form in the tissues of the lungs) in April 2017. Treatment for her cancer included a four-month course of chemotherapy with radiation. Her disease responded well to the treatment and she is now in remission."
Take it From a Guy Who Looks at Diseased Lungs Every Day Stop Smoking
Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer, and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States. It can be particularly tricky to treat because often, symptoms do not show up until the cancer has spread to other organs.
There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated: Non-small cell lung cancer (what Ami Brown was diagnosed with), the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases, and small cell lung cancer.
Smoking is most likely the first cause that comes to mind when thinking of lung cancer. And it’s true that smoking causes most cases of this cancer, yet almost 20% of people who die from lung cancer in the U.S. each year have never smoked or used any other form of tobacco. While it’s whether Ami smoked, we say that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, regardless of if you’ve smoked or not.
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