Priscilla Presley Sues Ex-Advisors for Elder Abuse and Financial Fraud

Amid ongoing legal disputes, Priscilla Presley has initiated a lawsuit against her former financial advisors, accusing them of orchestrating an “abhorrent scheme” to exploit her financially, primarily targeting her due to her age.

79-year-old Priscilla, once married to Elvis Presley from 1967 to 1973, has built Graceland into a successful business venture. However, it was her granddaughter, Riley Keough, who was named trustee of the Memphis property. In May, the property narrowly avoided auction after officials intervened. This incident is a part of a larger pattern of legal troubles that have been affecting the Presley family for months.

On June 18, Priscilla’s lawyers filed a complaint against Vahe Sislyan, Brigitte Kruse, Lynn Walker Wright, and Kevin Fialko. The complaint alleges that they manipulated her into giving them control over crucial aspects of her life, which they utilized for personal gain.

“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,” stated attorney Martin Singer, representing Priscilla. He claimed they isolated her from significant people in her life and misled her into believing they would care for her personally and financially, all while aiming to deplete her finances.

The lawsuit further accuses Priscilla’s former advisors of forcing her into a form of indentured servitude, where she had to work to generate revenue that largely benefited the defendants.

In response to these allegations, Priscilla is seeking $1 million in damages. She also wants the defendants to be barred from accessing her finances and demands complete documentation of all payment activities.

On Monday, Kruse and her legal team issued a statement, declaring, “The suit filed is a retaliatory lawsuit due to the one filed by Priscilla’s business partners last year. 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.”

They added, “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.”

Eight months prior, Kruse’s team had already filed a lawsuit against Priscilla in Florida. The lawsuit claimed Priscilla abandoned Kruse and Fialko after they worked hard to rescue her from impending financial ruin. Their efforts included negotiating the deal for the recent “Priscilla” biopic, committing to extensive work despite the strain it put on their ongoing businesses.

The lawsuit further accuses Priscilla of breaching her contract by cutting Kruse and Fialko out of significant business deals, such as excluding them from the “Priscilla” premiere at the Venice Film Festival and NBC’s “Christmas at Graceland” TV special.

Attorney Martin Singer, representing Priscilla, argues that Priscilla’s international fame only underscores the effectiveness of the advisors’ scheme and highlights how anyone can be susceptible to elder abuse and fraud. According to Singer, the Florida lawsuit is a smokescreen designed by Kruse and the defendants to obscure their own wrongdoings. When their plan was uncovered, they falsely portrayed themselves as victims by filing a lawsuit in Florida, alleging that Priscilla breached fraudulently-induced operating agreements.

It remains to be seen if this legal storm will eventually subside.

Source: Various sources