Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old man accused of murdering his parents in their Brentwood home last year, has reached an agreement with representatives of a family trust to enter into “global mediation” over whether he can use inheritance funds to pay for his legal defense. The decision, reached during a hearing on Friday morning, centers on Reiner’s attempt to secure approximately $558,000 to rehire prominent criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson.
Jackson previously represented Reiner but withdrew from the case due to the defendant’s inability to pay his legal fees. Reiner is currently represented by Kimberly Greene, a Los Angeles County deputy public defender. The mediation process is scheduled to begin in mid-December, though any final settlement will require the formal approval of a judge.
Authorities allege that Reiner stabbed his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, to death inside their Brentwood residence last December. While Reiner was indicted on murder charges earlier this year, a specific motive for the killings has not been publicly disclosed. He faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced last month that his office would not seek the death penalty in this case.
The dispute over the funds hinges on California’s “Slayer Statute,” a law that prevents individuals from profiting from a crime, such as through inheritance, after being convicted of a killing. Attorneys for the trust have argued that this statute should bar Reiner from accessing the money. However, Reiner’s legal team contends the law is currently inapplicable because he has not yet been convicted. They further argue that the $558,000 in question was part of a disbursement Reiner was legally entitled to receive on his 30th birthday in September 2023—months before the murders occurred.
According to court filings, the money Reiner is seeking comes from a specific trust his parents established for him separately from the larger family estate. This trust was made irrevocable, with half of the balance scheduled for payment when he turned 30 and the remainder due at age 35. His lawyers stated in a previous motion that Reiner simply had not claimed the 30th-birthday disbursement at the time it became available.
Lauriann Wright, an attorney representing the current trustee, indicated that a compromise might be possible regarding funds Reiner was eligible for prior to the deaths of his parents. She noted, however, that reaching an agreement on any funds beyond that amount would likely be more difficult. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ruben Garcia has scheduled a court date for March 2027 to review and potentially approve any settlement reached through the mediation process.
