Ex-business associates of Priscilla Presley file lawsuit, demanding over $50 million, claiming fraudulent activities
Priscilla Presley, the actor known for her roles in the original "Naked Gun" franchise and more recently for her appearances in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film "Elvis" and Sofia Coppola's 2023 film "Priscilla," based on her memoir, is embroiled in a legal dispute with her former business partners, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, accuses Presley of fraud and breach of contract related to their business ventures together. Kruse and Fialko, known for their work in auctioneering and Elvis Presley memorabilia, claim they invested millions of dollars and thousands of hours to help restore Presley's brand and public image but that she breached their agreements by abandoning projects and severing their business relationships.
At the heart of the allegations is the claim that Presley misled Kruse and Fialko about the ownership and use of the rights to her name, image, and likeness. The lawsuit states that while they were working to save Presley's finances, she failed to disclose a 2005 deal where she sold the rights to license her name to Elvis Presley Enterprises for $6.5 million.
The lawsuit also alleges that Presley compelled Kruse and Fialko to take part in sham companies, lost control of her name, image, and likeness, and was forced into "a form of indentured servitude." The partners claim that Presley used them to financially exploit her name, image, and likeness, hiding the fact that she had sold those rights decades earlier.
In addition to the fraud and breach of contract claims, Kruse and Fialko make a controversial allegation that Presley hastened the death of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, by overriding Lisa Marie’s documented healthcare directive to continue life support "as long as possible." They argue that this was motivated by Presley's desire to gain control over her daughter’s trust and assets, including Graceland.
The parties have a complicated history of mutual lawsuits. In 2021, Presley sued Kruse and Fialko for elder financial abuse, alleging they manipulated and exploited her finances. Kruse and Fialko contend that the real victims are themselves, emphasizing their investments and efforts to build Presley’s brand, only to be falsely accused and betrayed once financial interests became clear.
This latest lawsuit comes over a year after Presley sued Kruse and Fialko, alleging elder abuse. Presley became a major public figure as a teenager due to her relationship with Elvis Presley and was married to him from 1967 to 1973.
Kruse and Fialko brokered a 2023 deal with Presley, resulting in her receiving $2.4 million. The partners are seeking over $50 million in damages for these claims in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit is certain to generate significant attention and debate, given the high-profile nature of the parties involved and the sensational allegations made.
- Priscilla Presley's legal dispute with her former business partners, Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, extends beyond the realms of business ventures, as they allege she used her celebrity status and ties to pop-culture, including her roles in entertainment ventures such as "The Naked Gun" and "Elvis," to financially exploit her name, image, and likeness.
- The controversy involving Priscilla Presley, Kruse, and Fialko encompasses more than just business deals and lawsuits; it has also shed light on the celebrity-driven world of entertainment and pop-culture, with allegations of fraud, breach of contract, and even questionable healthcare decisions related to Presley's late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
