Stan Lee on Wednesday filed for a restraining order against Keya Morgan, the man he identified just last week as the only person handling his affairs and business, a Los Angeles Superior Court media relations rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lee was granted a temporary restraining order against Morgan, authorities told THR. The request for a permanent order is 43 pages long. A court date to decide that request is set for July 6.
The restraining order request was filed two days after Morgan was arrested on suspicion of filing a false report to police. Morgan was released from jail on $20,000 bail.
The LAPD is investigating reports of elder abuse against Lee. The investigation began in February, but only became public knowledge on Wednesday.
Former Lee attorney Tom Lallas is now acting as guardian ad litem for Lee.
Days before Morgan’s arrest, a 45-second video was posted to Twitter in which Lee made it clear Morgan was the only person with whom he now worked and allowed to represent him. “My only partner and business manager is @KeyaMorgan, not all the other people making false claims,” read the post accompanying the video.
In April, THR reported that the 95-year-old Lee — who co-created such legendary comic characters as Spider-Man, Black Panther, Iron Man, X-Men and the Fantastic Four, among many others — was caught in the middle of a war of words among those closest to him, all of whom were vying for control over Lee’s life, allegedly for their own financial gain.
Morgan, who has long been involved in the pop culture memorabilia scene, was one of the subjects of the lengthy THR investigation. The other parties involved were Lee’s 67-year-old daughter, J.C., publicist-turned-caretaker Jerry Olivarez, and Lee’s former road manager Max Anderson. Lee’s wife of 70 years, Joan, died last July.
A number of celebrities have publicly shared their concern over the creator’s well-being. Sources with knowledge of the situation have told THR that Lee’s health has notably declined in recent months and his memory is in poor shape.
In February, Lee signed a declaration (THR obtained a copy) that claimed J.C. demanded money from him and insisted that men with “bad intentions” surrounded Lee and influenced the family to “gain control over my assets, property and money.” These individuals included Morgan. The declaration was signed in Lallas’ law office.
However, a video of Lee shortly thereafter posted to his Twitter account called the declaration “misleading” and “insulting,” and the Marvel creator insisted “my relationship with my daughter has never been better.”
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June 13, 2:30 p.m. Updated with the information that Lee was granted a temporary restraining order.
June 13, 3:47 p.m. Updated with the information that the LAPD has opened an elder abuse investigation and that Tom Lallas is now acting as guardian ad litem for Lee.
