You didn't need to be clairvoyant to see this coming.
Sibling psychics James Van Praagh and his sister Lynn are battling in court over who can use the family's good name.
James Van Praagh, a former producer of the TV show "Ghost Whisperer," claims his sister has started using her maiden named to cash in on his success, even though she took her husband's surname, Gratton, four dacades ago.
James Van Praagh "is one of the most recognized spirutal mediums in the world," he argues in court papers filed last week in federal court on Long Island.
The suit argues Gratton's use of the Van Praagh name will confuse and deceive the public.
But Lynn Van Praagh-Gratton claims she's a psychic in her own rights - a "bridge between worlds" who has the "gift of communicating on the other side with those who have passed," she claims on her website.
It is unclear whether that gift extends to her spouse, who is dead. Lynn did not return calls.
It's also unclear what value the Van Praagh name still has. James' reputation took a hit in 2008 when Barbara Walters debunked his claim she suffered from a blood disorder. Walters submitted to a blood test and announced on "The View" the result was normal.
But Van Praagh is best known for "Ghost Whisperer," a TV drama starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as a character who talked to ghosts. The show ran for five seasons on CBS.
It bolstered Van Praagh's claim to be a mentalist who can talk to dead people. He's written books, speaks at seminars and has appeared on talk shows such as "Oprah," "Larry King Live," and "Dr. Phil."
He is seeking monetary damages.
