The Quintanilla family dispute has taken another public turn. A.B. Quintanilla III is pushing back after his sister, Suzette Quintanilla, and their mother, Marcella Quintanilla, said Suzette had never been served with a lawsuit and questioned whether the legal action A.B. described actually exists.
The musician, producer and older brother of late Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla responded by posting what he says is documentation showing that Suzette and her attorneys were notified about the dispute. “I don’t lie,” A.B. declared in a statement posted to social media on Sept. 2.
© Getty Images“Suzette and her lawyers were notified with the corresponding documents via certified mail and electronic mail,” he continued. “She was notified of a lawsuit related to her fiduciary duties, that is, her legal obligations to act with loyalty, transparency and in the best interests of those she was responsible to.”
But the paperwork A.B. displayed appears to be correspondence between attorneys concerning the dispute and it does not by itself establish that Suzette was formally served with a court-filed lawsuit.
That detail is now at the center of the family’s escalating disagreement.
A.B. Quintanilla posts paperwork involving Suzette Quintanilla
One document shared by A.B. is a letter on Manatt letterhead dated Aug. 26, 2025. It is addressed to attorney Michael A. Trauben of Singh, Singh & Trauben, LLP, and references “AB Quintanilla (‘AB’)/Estate of Selena Quintanilla Perez (the ‘Estate’).”
The visible portion states that a July 23, 2025 email allegedly demonstrated Suzette’s “utter disregard for her fiduciary duties to the Estate’s beneficiaries.”
© A.B. QuintanillaIt further alleges that Suzette did not respect A.B.’s request to exercise a contractual right “to inspect the Estate’s books and records.” Much of the remainder of the page A.B. displayed is redacted.
A.B. also accused Suzette of failing to turn over information his side requested. “She responded, but did not provide what was being requested: contracts, documentation and financial information,” A.B. said. “Those fundamental requirements were left unanswered.”
The documents appear to support A.B.’s narrower assertion that lawyers were communicating about a legal dispute and requests for records.
© GC ImagesThe Los Angeles Times reported that it searched Nueces County, Texas, court records and could not locate a case involving Suzette matching A.B.’s description. The newspaper noted that Q-Productions and the Selena Museum are based in the county.
Suzette Quintanilla says she was never served
A.B.’s latest post came after Suzette and Marcella released a lengthy joint statement disputing his account. “Suzette has never been served with any lawsuit,” they said. “She has received no court-filed complaint, summons, petition, or other legal pleading concerning the allegations A.B. is describing.”
They said they had also searched available public records and could not find a publicly filed case matching A.B.’s claims.
© Marcella and Suzette QuintanillaThen they posed three direct questions: “What lawsuit? Where was it filed? What is the case number?”
A.B. says Suzette and her lawyers received documents and notice relating to his legal claims. Suzette and Marcella are specifically saying she has not received a court-filed complaint, summons, petition or other legal pleading.
Does A.B. Quintanilla's paperwork prove Suzette was served?
Receiving a demand letter, correspondence between attorneys or requests for documents is different from formal service of a filed lawsuit. A.B.’s screenshot shows legal correspondence, but the visible page does not display a court name, court stamp, docket number or case number.
A.B.’s publicly released material as of Sept. 3 does not independently resolve whether a lawsuit has been filed and formally served. A.B., however, remains adamant that his sister knew about the matter.
© A.B. QuintanillaHe concluded his latest statement by promising another development: “This Friday my lawyer will speak out and many things will be made clear.”
Suzette and Marcella deny theft allegations
The disagreement goes beyond whether legal papers were served. Suzette and Marcella also addressed suggestions of financial misconduct involving Selena’s estate, family businesses and property. “There was no theft by Suzette,” their statement said.
They maintained that Suzette had not “stolen, misappropriated, or improperly taken” money or property belonging to A.B., Abraham, Marcella, Chris Pérez, Selena’s estate or family-owned businesses.
© Marcella and Suzette QuintanillaThey also denied reports or implications that Suzette plans to sell Selena’s personal belongings. “Suzette is not selling, and has no intention of selling, Selena’s personal belongings,” the statement said, explaining that a potential sale of an ownership interest in a company would be a separate matter.
A.B. Quintanilla says the family dispute goes back years
A.B. first publicly confirmed the legal conflict on Sept. 1, saying it involved Suzette as well as “facts and circumstances” concerning their late father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., who died in December 2025.
© Getty ImagesAccording to A.B., the situation did not suddenly begin with the current disagreement. “What led me to this point did not start a few months ago. It comes from years,” he said, describing “years of accumulated situations, decisions and circumstances” that he previously kept private because they involved his family.
Suzette and Marcella strongly rejected insinuations of wrongdoing by either Suzette or Abraham and called on A.B. to present evidence if he believes misconduct occurred. “We love A.B. He is our son and brother,” they said, while adding that they would continue defending their family, Abraham’s memory and Selena’s legacy.
