The Murdochs' legal proceedings are "of great interest to people, and it just fits into this cultural moment ,” Allison Tait, a law professor at the University of Richmond and expert in trusts and estates, told Salon. “People are trying to understand the ways that these trusts are used, and how things work.”

Rupert Murdoch has lost a legal fight to change his family's trust, which would have let his son Lachlan take control the family's media empire after Murdoch's death.

A Nevada probate commissioner has rejected Rupert Murdoch’s effort to change his family’s trust in order to give his oldest child, Lachlan, control of News Corp when he dies. Rupert Murdoch has previously argued that Lachlan would keep Fox News’ conservative orientation and solidify his companies’ commercial values for all of his children.

He plans to appeal the probate recommendation that blocks him from handing future control of his media empire to his oldest son.

Rupert Murdoch has lost a bid to change his family trust to consolidate control of his media empire in the hands of his son Lachlan, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing a sealed court document.

Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant

Rupert Murdoch wanted his son Lachlan to run Fox News — and everything else — after his death. It may not work out that way.

A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly against Mr. Murdoch, who was trying to give full control of his empire to his son Lachlan and lock in Fox News’s right-wing editorial slant.

A Nevada probate commissioner has ruled against Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to alter his inviolable family trust to give his oldest son Lachlan Murdoch control of his media empire, in an effort to preserve Fox News’ conservative slant.