New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his recently estranged heirs who are seeking control of his NFL and NBA teams.

Benson’s lawyers filed an answer to the lawsuit in district court in New Orleans on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Benson said he made a “deliberate, reasoned and difficult decision” to eventually leave control of the teams with Gayle Benson, his wife of 10 years.

Benson’s daughter, Renee Benson, and her children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, have recently been removed from the 87-year-old owner’s succession plan for his clubs.