Editor’s note: After publication, GWS Auctions reached out to share a statement regarding this matter. The full statement reads, in part, “The personal and business disputes involved in the Florida lawsuit commenced against Ms. Presley, and Ms. Presley’s recently filed retaliatory lawsuit in California, will be resolved in court. Those disputes, and the litigation, do not involve GWS Auctions, and GWS is not a party in any litigation involving Ms. Presley. GWS has been unfairly maligned, and its reputation harmed, by certain misinformed and overzealous media dragging GWS’s name into these controversies. While Ms. Kruse categorically denies any elder financial abuse of Ms. Presley, those allegations do not involve GWS. Ms. Kruse’s personal and business relationships with Ms. Presley are separate and distinct from GWS. Ms. Kruse is not an owner of GWS.”
Priscilla Presley, the former wife of the late great Elvis Presley, has filed a massive elder abuse lawsuit. In it, she accuses her former business partners of duping her out of $1 million.
Priscilla Files Elder Abuse Lawsuit
In a lawsuit that was filed on July 18, Priscilla accused four of her former business associates of “meticulously planned” financial abuse. Court papers obtained by Fox News show that Priscilla, 79, named Brigitte Kruse, Kevin Fialko, Vahe Sislyan, and Lynn Walker Wright in the suit.
Priscilla is alleging that she was tricked into signing contracts that handed over 80% of her income. She is claiming that this lost her $1 million.
Indeed, Priscilla is now suing for various things including financial elder abuse, fraud in the inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, and legal malpractice.
“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,” the court papers stated.
Priscilla also claimed that she met the four people named in her lawsuit just a few years ago.
Priscilla claims that the quartet convinced her that her former business advisers were “deceitful or incompetent” and that she was losing out on millions.
“By isolating her and immersing themselves in every aspect of her life, the Defendants were able to fraudulently induce Presley into giving them power of attorney, control over her family and personal trusts, and control over her bank accounts,” the court papers continued.
After their “scheme had been uncovered,” the group reportedly sued Priscilla for breach of contract in Florida. Priscilla is now asking for a trial by jury and no less than $1 million. She also wants her attorney’s fees to be paid. In addition, she is asking for special damages and punitive damages along with preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.
Kruse has since fired back with a statement of her own.
“The suit filed is a retaliatory lawsuit due to the one filed by Priscilla’s business partners last year,” Kruse told People Magazine. “We are confident that the facts will speak for themselves and justice will prevail.”
“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,” she continued.
Kruse went on to thank anyone who has been supportive “during this difficult time.”
“We will continue to focus on our business and look forward to our day in court,” she concluded. “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.”
