Eviction Hearing For Oprah Winfrey Stepmother Set For Monday
Mar. 29 2014, Published 4:40 p.m. ET
A hearing to determine if Oprah Winfrey's former stepmom, Barbara Winfrey, should be evicted from her home of 13 years, is set to get underway Monday, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Generous daughter Oprah, had purchased the Laurelbrooke, Tenn. house for her father, Vernon, and Barbara after they wed in 2001. It was kept in the name of the limited liability company Overground Railroad, started by Oprah, reports USA Today.
But the couple's relationship fell apart two years ago and Vernon filed for divorce amid a financial free fall.
They lost a building in Nashville where Vernon's barbershop was located, plus both of their former homes. Oprah came to the rescue, buying all three properties out of foreclosure.
The talk show-turned cable net titan then offered Barbara her former house "free and clear" to live in. Barbara refused the deal because, she said, it required her to sign a non-disclosure agreement with her former stepdaughter.
She dug her heels in at the Laurelbrooke mini-mansion and the legal wars began.
Even though Oprah, not she, owned the house, Barbara refused to leave. "I've been here 13 and a half years" she said and refused to pack her bags.
"The next offer was to sell the (Laurelbrooke) residence and split the proceeds equally, which (Barbara Winfrey) also turned down," O's spokeswoman told USA Today. "After several requests to voluntarily vacate the property at Willowbrooke Circle, the appropriate paperwork has been filed to have her vacate the property."
Barbara will try arguing her case before Judge Ernie Williams on 9 a.m. Monday, but insists she's never been after money from Oprah.
"It's not money. It's never been about money," she said. "If it had been about money, I would have taken it and run a long time ago."
Oprah is well-known for her generosity with her relatives and earlier this year purchased a half-million dollar house for her long-lost half sister.