Nick Reiner has won a small piece of his fight over family money. A judge has cleared the way for his trust to cover some of his spending while he is locked up.

What the judge approved

Reiner was in court on Friday for a hearing on the disputed trust. The judge did not settle the larger dispute. The court did approve a $300 deposit from the trust into his commissary account.

When that balance runs out, another $300 can be added. The same step can repeat each time the account is drained.

Mediation set for December

The broader question of how much of the trust he can reach is still open. Both sides told the court they have scheduled mediation for December 16. They also said they feel hopeful about striking a deal.

Why he says the money is his

Reiner argues a large share of his inheritance traces back to his grandfather, comedy legend Carl Reiner. He says it did not come from his parents. He is not accused of any crime against Carl. For that reason he believes he should be able to use those funds.

Paul Kanin, who previously ran the trust, disputes that he has been shortchanged. Kanin says he signed off on about $348,000 for Reiner's benefit. He says that money paid for work by defense attorney Alan Jackson in the days right after the arrest.

The murder case

Reiner is charged with killing his parents, director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Reiner. He has not been convicted. Los Angeles prosecutors have already said they will not pursue the death penalty. He still faces a possible life sentence if a jury finds him guilty.