Supreme Court reverses Rosa Parks estate ruling

DETROIT (AP) -- The Michigan Supreme Court has overturned a lower court decision ordering a nonprofit group funded by Rosa Parks' estate to pay money to her relatives. The high court released an order last Friday reversing a Michigan Appeals Court decision in favor of heirs to the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott instigator. The Detroit resident died in 2005 at 92, leaving almost all her estate to the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute. Its stated purpose is to teach young people leadership and character development. In April, the appeals court said the institute and Parks caregiver Elaine Steele should pay Parks' relatives $120,000 for violating a confidentiality agreement. The high court says lawyers for Steele and the group didn't violate the agreement. Last Friday's order sends the case back to Wayne County Probate Court. Published: Tue, Jan 3, 2012