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Priscilla Presley has been hit with a $50 million lawsuit by her former business partners, who claim she engaged in fraud and breached contracts by leaving them responsible for massive financial losses. The suit alleges Presley misrepresented ownership of her name and brand, despite having secretly sold those rights decades ago, and failed to disclose the sale while securing lucrative investments, leaving the partners’ ventures in jeopardy.
Filed on Wednesday in California state court, the suit names Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, leaders of Priscilla Presley Partners, who say they became entangled in a behind-the-scenes battle over the family trust. The complaint asserts that Presley, aware that her daughter Lisa Marie Presley was planning to remove her as sole head of the trust, allegedly withdrew life-saving medical treatment during Lisa Marie’s 2023 cardiac arrest to maintain control over the estate. The lawsuit claims that following Lisa Marie’s death, Presley declared herself “queen” of Graceland, seeking control of the Promenade Trust and her father’s estate.
Kruse and Fialko reportedly brokered a $2.4 million settlement to resolve an earlier dispute over trust amendments, but conflict resurfaced when Keya Morgan, the former manager of Stan Lee, got involved, promising Presley a return of her rights from Elvis Presley Enterprises. Presley is accused of turning against Kruse and Fialko, cutting ties with the company, exploiting her name and likeness for appearances and promotional events without sharing proceeds, and misappropriating funds from the firm’s accounts.
The complaint also references events surrounding the Venice Film Festival premiere of Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, where Kruse and Fialko, despite negotiating additional compensation for Presley, were disinvited while Morgan attended in their place. Lawyers for Kruse and Fialko argue that evidence shows no coercion or elder abuse occurred and that their clients were the true victims, having invested years and millions into managing Presley’s brand, only to be falsely accused once disputes arose.
A representative for Presley did not immediately comment on the lawsuit. The legal battle follows earlier claims that Presley breached agreements related to an A24 film adaptation of her memoir, with her attorney previously denying allegations of wrongdoing and accusing Kruse and Fialko of misappropriating funds.
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