Priscilla Presley Wins Round in Financial Elder Abuse War, Can Keep Longtime Lawyer

A memorabilia auctioneer claimed Presley's attorney previously gave her legal advice and should be disqualified from the case

by Nancy Dillon 

Priscilla Presley fended off a challenge Monday that sought to disqualify her longtime lawyer, Marty Singer, as her attorney in her financial elder abuse lawsuit against memorabilia auctioneer Brigitte Kruse.

At a morning hearing in Santa Monica, Calif., a judge said Kruse failed to convince him that Singer gave her legal advice in 2022 and 2023 related to her business dealings with Presley, thereby creating a conflict. The judge called Kruse’s evidence “very thin” when it came to her claims Singer counseled her over the phone twice. In her motion, Kruse claimed she consulted with Singer when Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) sent her a letter in August 2022 threatening litigation over an auction of Elvis-related memorabilia that Priscilla authenticated. She claimed they spoke again in February 2023, when EPE sent a cease-and-desist letter claiming Presley’s deal to market a beauty serum violated the name, image and likeness rights she previously sold to EPE.

“I have doubts,” Judge Mark Epstein told Kruse’s lawyer about the alleged phone calls. “You’ve given me no evidence other than a statement by Ms. Kruse. I’ve got no retention agreement, no email, no phone record, no notes of a conversation, no reference to a conversation in a text to Ms. Presley. I got nothing.” 

The judge noted that Singer claimed in a sworn declaration that he had “no recollection” of any calls with Kruse. And even if the conversations occurred, the judge said, they were not “substantially related” to the financial elder abuse case. In his ruling denying Kruse’s effort to disqualify Singer, the judge said he takes such motions seriously, but he also respects people’s right to choose their own lawyer. He said Presley had a long history with Singer that predated her dealings with Kruse, so this wasn’t a case where Presley hired Singer to gain an advantage.  

“While Ms. Kruse and the other defendants continue to throw the kitchen sink at this case to distract from the real issues and delay facing the music, Ms. Presley is anxious to move this case forward and hold defendants accountable for their actions,” Singer said in a statement sent to Rolling Stone Monday afternoon. 

Kruse’s lead lawyer, Jordan Matthews, called the decision “irrelevant” late Monday. “The court’s ruling does not mean Elvis Presley’s ex-wife or Mr. Singer have been absolved, and we intend to hold them accountable for their actions, as we will not tolerate any sort of misconduct in this case,” Matthews tells Rolling Stone. “Priscilla Beaulieu continues to make claims without a shred of proof, seemingly relying on her celebrity status rather than evidence, even if it means bending the rules. Today’s hearing changes nothing. We are moving forward aggressively, and we are prepared to bring forward major evidence that will reveal the truth, which cannot be ignored.”

Presley, 80, and Kruse, 42, are locked in a bitter battle over the companies Presley formed with Kruse and investor Kevin Fialko to monetize Presley’s name, image, and likeness. In her July 2024 financial elder abuse complaint, Presley claimed Kruse and Fialko “manipulated” her into signing the contracts after they allegedly isolated her from her longtime business and legal advisors. She said the pair placed a “stranglehold” on her finances with contracts that gave Kruse a controlling 51 percent interest in Priscilla’s intellectual property in perpetuity. She said another related venture gave her only a 20 percent share and that altogether, she was duped out of more than $1 million. She and her lawyers called the contracts so “egregious” and “unconscionable,” they’re unenforceable.

For their part, Kruse and Fialko claim they were always truthful and invested heavily in the joint ventures to pull Presley back from the brink of insolvency. (Video obtained by Rolling Stone shows Presley appearing fully cognizant and signing many of the documents at issue at Kruse’s Florida home in January 2023.) According to Kruse and Fialko, Presley allegedly made an about-face and shunned them, in violation of their contracts, once her fortunes changed after the 2023 death of Lisa Marie Presley, her only child with Elvis. 

As Rolling Stone previously reported, a few weeks after Lisa Marie’s death, Priscilla challenged a 2016 amendment to her daughter’s Promenade Trust that removed Priscilla as a trustee and replaced her with Lisa Marie’s eldest daughter, Riley Keough. The disputed change meant Priscilla would have lost influence over her daughter’s assets, including Graceland mansion, its archives, and Lisa Marie’s 15 percent interest in EPE, which owns and manages Elvis’ name, image, and likeness. Priscilla wanted the court to declare the amendment “invalid.” 

With a potential legal war looming, Keough reached a generous settlement with her grandmother in a matter of months. Under the deal, Priscilla received a $1 million lump-sum payment off the top of Lisa Marie’s $25 million life insurance policy. Keough also agreed to pay Priscilla $50,000 to resign as co-trustee of the irrevocable trust whose sole asset was the life insurance policy. Priscilla was also awarded an annual salary of $100,000 for 10 years for her new role as a “special adviser” to the Promenade Trust. 

After she settled with Keough, Presley sent a cease-and-desist to Kruse and Fialko in August 2023. Two months later, she was hit with the first breach-of-contract lawsuit over the partnership. Nine months after that, she filed her bombshell claims of financial elder abuse.

Last summer, a judge put Kruse’s Florida-based lawsuit on hold, saying Presley’s elder abuse lawsuit should proceed first. The Orlando-based judge said it didn’t make sense to “enforce rights under agreements” when the “validity” of the agreements remained “squarely in dispute in the California case.” That ruling set the stage for Kruse and Fialko to file their breach-of-contract claims as a standalone, $50 million lawsuit filed in Beverly Hills in August, then as a cross-complaint in the Santa Monica elder abuse case in October. 

Full Article & Source:
Priscilla Presley Wins Round in Financial Elder Abuse War, Can Keep Longtime Lawyer 

See Also:
Priscilla Presley Advances $1 Million Fight Against Former Associate Over Elder Abuse Claims

Priscilla Presley Sued for $50 Million by Partners She Accused of Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley Lawsuit Unmasks Brutal Financial Elder Abuse Claims in Bitter 80th Birthday Showdown

Priscilla Presley’s Legal Battle Over Alleged Financial Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley Elder Abuse War: Florida Lawyer ‘Vehemently Denies’ Conspiring With Auctioneer

Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money

Priscilla Presley challenges Lisa Marie trust amendment that names Riley Keough co-trustee  

Priscilla Presley Advances $1 Million Fight Against Former Associate Over Elder Abuse Claims

By Madelaine Panganiban

Priscilla Presley has taken a major step forward in her legal battle against former associate Brigitte Kruse.

On September 24, a Los Angeles judge approved Presley's request to subpoena bank records, which she believes will support her claims of financial elder abuse and fraud.

The 80-year-old actress filed a lawsuit in July 2025, accusing Kruse and several others of exploiting her finances, isolating her from longtime advisors, and taking hundreds of thousands of dollars without her full knowledge or consent.

Presley is seeking over $1 million in damages. In court filings, Presley alleges that Kruse and the other defendants used a Missouri-based company, Clevenger Accounting, to manage bank accounts linked to her earnings, Yahoo reported.

Her legal team claims these records may reveal withheld payments and misused funds.

"These records will help explain what happened to my money," Presley stated in her declaration. "To this day, I still don't know what was collected, spent, or taken from me."

The court's approval allows Presley's team to gather communications and documents from Clevenger Accounting related to her finances and assets.

Her lawyers argue this is key to proving claims of elder abuse, breach of contract, and other serious accusations.

Kruse Denies Wrongdoing as Presley Lawsuit Heats Up

Kruse's attorney, Jordan Matthews, responded, saying the request was a standard legal process and not a judgment against his client.

"This is simply a procedural step," he said. "We already provided these records and have been fully transparent. No money was withheld."

Presley claims she first met Kruse in 2021, when Kruse was running an auction house selling Elvis Presley memorabilia.

Over time, Presley says Kruse gained control over her business matters, cutting her off from trusted advisors and redirecting most of her earnings into companies Kruse managed.

In one example, Presley says she only received a small portion of the $500,000 paid for the 2023 film "Priscilla," directed by Sofia Coppola.

According to US Magazine, she alleges Kruse and her associates took $120,000 from that deal and shifted over $600,000 from her accounts between 2022 and 2023.

Kruse has denied all wrongdoing and claimed Presley's lawsuit is retaliation for a separate case Kruse filed in Florida, in which she accuses Presley of failing to pay money owed.

In August, Kruse escalated matters with a $50 million countersuit that includes shocking claims about Presley's personal and professional conduct. 

Full Article & Source:
Priscilla Presley Advances $1 Million Fight Against Former Associate Over Elder Abuse Claims 

See Also:
Priscilla Presley Sued for $50 Million by Partners She Accused of Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley Lawsuit Unmasks Brutal Financial Elder Abuse Claims in Bitter 80th Birthday Showdown

Priscilla Presley’s Legal Battle Over Alleged Financial Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley Elder Abuse War: Florida Lawyer ‘Vehemently Denies’ Conspiring With Auctioneer

Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money

Priscilla Presley challenges Lisa Marie trust amendment that names Riley Keough co-trustee  

Priscilla Presley Lawsuit Unmasks Brutal Financial Elder Abuse Claims in Bitter 80th Birthday Showdown

Priscilla Presley, pictured at a past public event, is now at the center of a high-profile lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging financial elder abuse and fraud.

Critical Details:

Alleged Betrayal: Presley sues former confidante Brigitte Kruse for alleged financial elder abuse, claiming she was conned out of more than $1 million in a predatory deal.
Heated Legal Crossfire: Kruse fights back with a countersuit, arguing she rescued Presley from looming financial disaster and is owed compensation.
Legacy at Risk: Friends and family express deep concern for Presley’s health and legacy as legal costs, grief, and public scrutiny threaten to overwhelm her in her 80th year.

By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald

LOS ANGELES, CA – Priscilla Presley’s 80th birthday was supposed to be a milestone of celebration and reflection—a testament to resilience in the face of loss and adversity. Instead, it has been consumed by explosive legal warfare, allegations of financial betrayal, and a public reckoning with the vulnerabilities that come with age and fame.

Presley, the legendary matriarch of rock and roll’s most famous family, is now the plaintiff in a high-profile lawsuit accusing memorabilia dealer Brigitte Kruse and alleged co-conspirators of a sweeping scheme of financial elder abuse. According to Presley’s complaint, Kruse gained her trust, isolated her from longtime advisors, and manipulated her into signing away as much as 80% of her earnings.

“They preyed on an older woman by gaining her trust, isolating her from the most important people in her life, and duping her into believing they would take care of her—personally and financially—while their real goal was to drain her of every last penny she had,” Presley’s lawsuit states.

The legal drama began in 2021, when Presley first connected with Brigitte Kruse, a memorabilia dealer who quickly became a fixture in her inner circle. Court filings reveal a pattern of daily text messages, lavish praise, and promises of loyalty. Presley claims Kruse expertly “wormed her way” into her personal and financial life, persuading her to distrust longtime advisors and accept new arrangements that benefited Kruse and her associates.

The lawsuit alleges Kruse orchestrated a series of contracts and withdrawals, siphoning money from Presley’s accounts under the guise of protecting her financial interests. In one stunning claim, Presley’s legal team describes Kruse as a “con artist and pathological liar” who meticulously isolated the star in order to exploit her vulnerability after the devastating death of her only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in January 2023.

Kruse categorically denies the allegations. In a breach of contract countersuit filed in September 2023, Kruse contends she was hired to save Presley from financial ruin—including $700,000 in unpaid taxes—and claims she managed Presley’s affairs in good faith. According to Kruse, Presley was “60 days away from financial collapse” and desperately needed help.

Kruse and her attorneys argue that not only was she authorized to act on Presley’s behalf, but that she is owed substantial compensation for her services. Her team describes Presley’s lawsuit as “defamatory and without merit,”and warns that the legal war is causing irreparable harm to Kruse’s reputation and career.

For Presley, the legal and emotional fallout is profound. The lawsuit comes on the heels of unimaginable personal loss: Lisa Marie’s sudden death at 54 and ongoing struggles involving Presley’s son, Navarone. Sources close to the family say the mounting legal drama is exacerbating Presley’s grief, driving her to maintain a punishing schedule of public appearances just to stay afloat financially.

Despite the storm, Presley leans on her grandchildren—Riley Keough, now 36, and 16-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. Their support, friends say, is vital as Presley faces mounting legal costs.

Presley’s lawsuit is more than a personal drama—it is a cautionary tale for all families about the hidden risks of elder financial abuse, particularly for high-profile figures. The National Council on Aging estimates that up to five million older Americans fall victim to financial exploitation each year, and legal experts say the Presley case may spark broader conversations about protective safeguards for vulnerable seniors.

Presley’s attorneys allege that Kruse exploited not just her trust but also her grief and isolation after Lisa Marie’s death, using manipulative tactics to extract large sums of money. The case has already drawn widespread attention to the issue of “predatory caregiving” and the ease with which charismatic outsiders can infiltrate even the most well-guarded families.

Both Sides Dig In as the Legal Fight Escalates

Presley’s Allegations:

• Manipulation Through Flattery:Daily texts and emotional support allegedly weaponized to isolate and control Presley.
• Predatory Contracts:Deals that handed over up to 80% of Presley’s future earnings.
• Unauthorized Withdrawals:Accusations that Kruse and associates took “massive payments” from Presley’s accounts.

Kruse’s Defense:

• Rescue Mission:Kruse claims she averted a financial meltdown and acted with Presley’s full authorization.
• Unpaid Services:Kruse argues she is the aggrieved party, owed significant fees for her management and advisory role.
• Character Attacks:Kruse denounces Presley’s claims as malicious and reputation-destroying.

What Lies Ahead for Priscilla Presley?

As Presley’s lawsuit winds through the court system, her personal and financial fate hangs in the balance. The prospect of a protracted legal battle looms, with both sides standing firm and no easy resolution in sight. For Presley, the ordeal is a stark reminder of the dangers even the most celebrated lives can face behind closed doors.

For now, Presley remains silent in the media, her only public statements found in the impassioned court documents that have brought her family’s private pain into the public eye. Kruse continues to defend herself vigorously, and the world watches as one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures fights to reclaim her fortune—and her dignity—in court.

The case citation for Priscilla Presley’s lawsuit against Brigitte Kruse and others is Presley v. Kruse et al., Case No. 23STCV04000, filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. 

Full Article & Source:
Priscilla Presley Lawsuit Unmasks Brutal Financial Elder Abuse Claims in Bitter 80th Birthday Showdown 

See Also:
Priscilla Presley’s Legal Battle Over Alleged Financial Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley Elder Abuse War: Florida Lawyer ‘Vehemently Denies’ Conspiring With Auctioneer

Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money

Priscilla Presley challenges Lisa Marie trust amendment that names Riley Keough co-trustee 

Priscilla Presley’s Legal Battle Over Alleged Financial Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley’s Legal Battle Over Alleged Financial Elder Abuse

Priscilla Presley has taken legal action against her former attorney, seeking to prevent her from evading a serious financial elder abuse lawsuit, as reported  by Lawyer Monthly. Court documents reveal that Priscilla, 79, has requested a judge to reject her ex-lawyer Lynn Walker Wright’s request to be removed from the case, arguing that Lynn does not reside in California or have any connections to the state.

Priscilla has filed a lawsuit against her previous business partner, Brigitte Kruse, a man named Kevin Fialko, and Lynn. She alleges that Brigitte and Kevin were responsible for introducing her to Lynn. In a recent declaration submitted to the court, Priscilla stated, “Although they concealed it from me at the time, I now understand that [Brigitte] and [Kevin] orchestrated a widespread effort to isolate me from my trusted advisors, leading me to distrust them. They ultimately convinced me to replace my advisors with individuals they had selected, which was a crucial part of their strategy to manipulate my finances for their own gain.” Priscilla mentioned that she first met Lynn in December 2022 after Brigitte recommended her as a lawyer.

Allegations of Isolation and Secret Recording

Elvis' ex-partner entered into an agreement with Lynn and later discovered that Lynn also represented Brigitte. In her statement, Priscilla mentioned that a few weeks after hiring Lynn in January 2023, the defendants arranged for her to travel to Florida for an auction featuring Elvis memorabilia. She stated that she was informed she would meet Lynn during the trip to "sign some documents."

However, Priscilla claimed she was never provided with any paperwork to review beforehand. During the meeting, which took place at Brigitte's residence instead of Lynn's office, Priscilla felt "completely isolated from my other advisors." She noted that she was not allowed to have anyone else present in the room except for Brigitte. Priscilla asserted that Lynn did not inform her about the potential conflicts of interest in representing both her and Brigitte. "For no valid reason, this meeting was recorded by [Lynn], who I believe later shared a copy of the video with [Brigitte] and [Kevin]." Priscilla further contended that most of Lynn's work for her occurred in California. She argued that Lynn should not be allowed to withdraw from the case where she is seeking $1 million in damages.

Financial Exploitation Claims Against Brigitte Kruse

As previously reported by LM Priscilla alleges that Brigitte and others exploited her. Elvis' former wife referred to Brigitte as a "con artist and pathological liar." Priscilla shared that she first met Brigitte in 2021 when Brigitte was involved in selling Elvis memorabilia. She mentioned that a friendship blossomed between them, but over time, Brigitte began to take charge of Priscilla's life and finances.

Priscilla alleged that Brigitte had her sign various contracts that entitled her to 80 percent of Priscilla's earnings from deals. According to Priscilla’s attorney, “This situation stems from a carefully orchestrated and reprehensible scheme by the defendants to exploit an older woman by earning her trust, cutting her off from her closest friends and family, and misleading her into thinking they would manage her personal and financial affairs, all while their true intention was to deplete her finances.” The attorney further stated, “In a mere two years, the Defendants cultivated a personal relationship with [Priscilla] that allowed them to gain her full trust and distance her from her long-standing business and financial advisors.

They persuaded [Priscilla] that her previous advisors were either dishonest or incapable, leading her to believe she was missing out on millions due to their mismanagement.”

Counterclaims and Ongoing Legal Dispute

Priscilla asserted that Brigitte and the other defendants had funds that were rightfully hers deposited in accounts they controlled. Additionally, she claimed they mishandled transactions and withdrew money from her son’s bank account without justification. A lawyer representing Brigitte and her co-defendant Kevin Fialko commented to TMZ regarding Priscilla’s lawsuit, “This lawsuit is a retaliatory action stemming from one filed by Priscilla’s business partners last year. We are confident that the facts will emerge, and justice will be served.”

The attorney expressed, “It’s disheartening for all of us who dedicated our time to assist a woman in need, only to see her now trying to leverage her fame to harm the lives of compassionate, diligent individuals. We are grateful to all our supporters who have stood by us through this challenging period. Our focus remains on our business, and we eagerly anticipate our day in court. The truth will emerge through evidence, not hearsay. At this moment, we won’t be making any further comments as we honor the judicial process.” Prior to Priscilla’s lawsuit, Brigitte had already initiated her own legal action against Priscilla in a Florida court, claiming breach of contract.

Full Article & Source:
Priscilla Presley’s Legal Battle Over Alleged Financial Elder Abuse

See Also:
Priscilla Presley Elder Abuse War: Florida Lawyer ‘Vehemently Denies’ Conspiring With Auctioneer

Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money

Priscilla Presley challenges Lisa Marie trust amendment that names Riley Keough co-trustee

Priscilla Presley Elder Abuse War: Florida Lawyer ‘Vehemently Denies’ Conspiring With Auctioneer

Lawyer Lynn Walker Wright is asking a California judge to dismiss her from Presley's lawsuit alleging "unconscionable" financial abuse.

 

  by Nancy Dillon

The Florida lawyer accused of conspiring with memorabilia auctioneer Brigitte Kruse to defraud Priscilla Presley out of more than $1 million in an alleged elder abuse scheme is breaking her silence to claim she never violated her duty to the author, actress, and ex-wife of Elvis Presley.

In new court filings obtained by Rolling Stone, lawyer Lynn Walker Wright says she “vehemently denies” duping Presley into signing a stack of legal documents that Presley alleges were so “unconscionable” and damaging to her financial interests, they’re legally “unenforceable.” Walker Wright admits she represented Kruse in a separate legal matter before she represented Presley at the July 2023 document-signing meeting at the center of the case – where Kruse was an adverse party in the negotiations – but Walker Wright is adamant there was no conflict of interest. The lawyer also defends her decision to videotape Presley, her own client, at the meeting.

“I videotaped Ms. Presley’s meeting with me and her execution of all Florida documents prepared by me with her consent. I explained each document during the meeting and answered all questions she asked,” Walker Wright states in her new sworn declaration. “I had videotaped other clients executing estate planning and other documents in the past if I had any concern that a document would possibly later be contested.”

In her declaration, Walker Wright says Presley, 79, consented to the taping. She further states that she rescheduled the signing appointment twice to accommodate Presley’s schedule. She says the meeting finally took place the day after Presley purportedly had dinner with former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania at Mar-a-Lago and just hours before Presley flew back to California to attend the 2023 Golden Globes, the awards ceremony where Austin Butler would win a best acting award for his lead role in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic and Presley would see her daughter, Lisa Marie, for the last time before her unexpected death days later.  

Walker Wright filed her declaration as part of a new motion asking a Los Angeles County judge to reject the claims lodged against her in Presley’s blockbuster elder abuse lawsuit filed against her and Kruse, as well as Kruse’s husband and another business associate, in July. Walker Wright argues she has never lived or worked in California, so Presley shouldn’t be allowed to sue her in the Golden State.

In her underlying lawsuit, Presley claims Kruse is a “con-artist and pathological liar” who fraudulently induced her to form several closely held companies with Kruse at the helm. The company contracts gave Presley only minority shares in the ventures — just 20 percent in at least one case — even though Kruse received the exclusive license to profit off of Presley’s name, image, and likeness.

Presley has not commented on the legal war outside of her filings. In a declaration filed July 19 in Florida, she described the document signing held at Kruse’s home as predatory.

“Kruse arranged for me to be ‘represented’ by her friend, Lynn Walker Wright,” Presley wrote. “I was isolated from my advisors and asked to sign a series of agreements, one after the other, with little to no explanation of the contents of each agreement. For example, I was never advised that the agreements stated that I would be holding only a minority interest in these companies, in some cases, only 20% of the company. I had not been provided with any paperwork to review in advance, had not had an opportunity to have anyone review the paperwork before I was asked to sign it, and was not advised as to the nature of the paperwork in advance by Wright, my purported attorney.” 

A source close to the Dallas star tells Rolling Stone she’s “been through hell” in the last year as she’s been fighting to extricate herself from the disputed deals. “Priscilla is one of the nicest people,” the source says. “She’s just a very sweet and trusting woman.”  

Presley filed her elder abuse lawsuit two months ago after Kruse separately sued her for breach of contract in Florida last year. Kruse alleged in her dueling lawsuit that Presley illegally walked out on their agreements when her financial circumstances changed in the wake of Lisa Marie’s death. As Rolling Stone previously reported, Presley initially challenged a 2016 amendment to her daughter’s Promenade Trust that removed her as a co-trustee, but she quickly reached a generous settlement with granddaughter Riley Keough that granted her a $1 million lump-sum payment, $100,000 annual salary, and burial rights near Elvis at Graceland.

Kruse did not personally respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment sent Tuesday afternoon. Her Florida lawsuit hit a possible speed bump Tuesday when a judge agreed to let her lawyer, Jeffery Gilbert, withdraw from the case due to alleged “irreconcilable” differences. Kruse’s new lawyer, Kevin A. Reck, tells Rolling Stone he and his clients “look forward to vindicating our rights in these court proceedings.” He says Gilbert was “replaced” in the Orland case “in an effort to better align with the plaintiffs’ overall litigation strategy.” A hearing on Presley’s motion to dismiss the Florida lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction is set for November. 

Meanwhile, Walker Wright’s motion to be cut loose from the Los Angeles lawsuit is set for a hearing on Nov. 21. The judge on that case recently gave Presley an extension on her deadline to serve Kruse with the California complaint. Presley’s lawyers had alleged in a filing that Kruse and her husband were “evading service for no legitimate purpose other than to avoid facing liability in this action.” In his emailed response, Kruse’s lawyer denied his client was ducking service. “With regard to the scandalous allegations of the intentional evasion of service, these unfounded allegations are categorically denied,” Reck says.  

In a statement previously sent to Rolling Stone, a spokesperson for Kruse called Presley’s elder abuse lawsuit a “retaliatory” response to Kruse’s breach of contract case. “We are confident that the facts will speak for themselves and justice will prevail,” the statement said. “It saddens all of us who dropped our lives to provide aid to a woman who needed help and she is now attempting to use her celebrity status to ruin the lives of kind, hardworking people. Thank you to all of our supporters who have stood by us during this difficult time. We will continue to focus on our business and look forward to our day in court. The truth will come out by way of evidence and not rumors. There will be no further comment at this time as we respect the judicial process.”

Full Article & Source:
Priscilla Presley Elder Abuse War: Florida Lawyer ‘Vehemently Denies’ Conspiring With Auctioneer

See Also:
Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money

Priscilla Presley challenges Lisa Marie trust amendment that names Riley Keough co-trustee

Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money

In a scathing lawsuit, Presley's attorneys say a shady group opted to "prey on an older woman" to "drain her of every last penny."

by Bill Donahue

Priscilla Presley attends the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on Jan. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Attorneys for Priscilla Presley are suing four of her former business partners over allegations of elder abuse and fraud, accusing them of a “meticulously planned” scheme to drain Elvis Presley’s ex-wife of “every last penny she had.”

In a complaint filed Thursday (July 18) in Los Angeles court, lawyers for Presley, 79, accuse Brigitte Kruse, Kevin Fialko, Vahe Sislyan and Lynn Walker Wright of fraudulently convincing her to give them power over nearly every aspect of her life — and then abusing that control to steal her money.

“This action arises out of a meticulously planned and abhorrent scheme by the defendants in this action to prey on an older woman by gaining her trust, isolating her from the most important people in her life, and duping her into believing that they would take care of her (personally and financially), while their real goal was to drain her of every last penny she had,” writes high-profile attorney Martin Singer, who now represents Presley.  

Calling Kruse a “con-artist and pathological liar,” Singer says the defendants took more than $1 million from Presley and convinced her to sign a deal that would give them 80% of her future income.

“The fact that the plaintiff in this case is internationally recognized actress, author, and cultural icon … demonstrates both how effective the defendants’ plan was (and needed to be), and how anyone can be a victim of elder abuse and fraud,” Singer writes.

The new case comes eight months after Kruse’s company, Priscilla Presley Partners, filed its own lawsuit against Priscilla in Florida. That case claimed that Presley illegally turned her back on Kruse and Fialko after they had helped her “dig herself out of impending financial ruin,” including negotiating the deal that led to last year’s Priscilla biopic.

But in Thursday’s new lawsuit, Singer argues that the earlier case was merely a cover for Kruse and Fialko’s alleged misdeeds.

“When it became clear to the defendants that their scheme had been uncovered, they attempted to falsely portray themselves as the victims by filing a lawsuit against Presley in Florida in the name of several of the sham companies they established, alleging that Presley breached the fraudulently-induced operating agreements,” her legal team writes.

According to the complaint, Sislyan is Kruse’s husband and participated in the scheme; and Walker-Wright is an Orlando-area attorney who allegedly helped the others carry it out.

Singer and Priscilla’s other attorneys say that Kruse and the others “established a personal relationship” with her and then used it to “isolate her from her long-time business and financial advisors,” whom they argued were “deceitful or incompetent” and causing her to lose money. Once they had isolated her, the lawsuit says, Kruse and the others took steps to “fraudulently induce” Presley into signing over power of attorney, giving them control over her trusts and bank accounts, and signing deals with “sham” companies like Priscilla Presley Partners.

One of those deals, the lawsuit says, gave the defendants “an exclusive license to exploit and profit off of her name, image, and likeness, and to control and receive virtually all of her income from any of her professional ventures.”

“Dissatisfied with what existing resources they could siphon from her, the defendants’ plan involved usurping control over her ability to control her finances going forward and forcing her into a form of indentured servitude, where plaintiff was forced to work so that they could receive the lion’s share of any revenue that she was able to earn in the future,” Singer writes.

An attorney for Kruse and Priscilla Presley Partners did not immediately return a request for comment on the allegations. Walker-Wright also did not return a request for comment.

Full Article & Source:
Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse, Alleging ‘Abhorrent Scheme’ to Steal Her Money