Gianni Agnelli remembered as estate trial starts

By Silvia Aloisi

ROME (Reuters Life!) - A lawsuit over inheritance brought by the only surviving child of Gianni Agnelli began on Thursday just as an exhibit celebrating the life of the late Fiat chief, Italy's most famous tycoon, opened in Rome.

Margherita Agnelli, who is suing her father's most trusted advisers alleging they never gave her a proper accounting of his estate, told Reuters this week she wanted clarity over the huge family fortune, estimated at about 3 billion euros ($4.4 billion).

She also said she hoped the case would heal feuds within her family, which often draws comparisons with the Kennedy dynasty for its wealth, power and turbulent history.

Margherita was conspicuously absent from the inauguration of the Rome exhibit on her father, which was attended by many family members including her three children from her first marriage, who are not on speaking terms with their mother.

The trial in Turin was adjourned shortly after it started on procedural matters. In Rome, the family left the exhibit before a scheduled press conference, avoiding questions on the lawsuit.

Gianni Agnelli, who died in 2003 at 81, remains a bit of legendary figure in Italy, where he was known simply as "L'Avvocato" (the Lawyer) and was respected even by enemies for his style and class.

"He arouses in Italians feelings similar to those the British have for the Queen," commentator Sergio Romano once said of him.

Many photographs in the exhibit reflect his glamorous lifestyle and high-powered connections -- from the Kennedys to heads of state and diplomats around the world.