Priscilla Presley faces explosive allegations from her former business partners who claim she hastened her daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s death for financial control and defrauded them of $50 million. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, presents shocking claims about the 80-year-old’s conduct during her daughter’s final hours.
The memorabilia dealer and investor allege that Priscilla ignored Lisa Marie’s written directive to prolong her life when the 54-year-old was hospitalized in January 2023 after suffering cardiac arrest. According to the complaint, Priscilla pulled the plug within hours of Lisa Marie being admitted to West Hills Hospital, before granddaughter Riley Keough could arrive. The lawsuit claims Priscilla then demanded that Kruse issue a media statement announcing the death to control the narrative.
Central to the allegations is the assertion that Priscilla knew Lisa Marie was attempting to remove her as sole trustee of her irrevocable life insurance trust. The plaintiffs contend Priscilla ultimately wanted to control the Promenade Trust and Graceland, with the lawsuit stating that at her house the week following Lisa Marie’s death, Priscilla declared she was the queen and in charge of Graceland.
Kruse and Fialko seek more than $50 million in damages, claiming fraud and breach of contract. They allege Priscilla falsely claimed ownership of her full name, image and likeness despite having sold the rights to the Presley name and Graceland in 2005 for $6.5 million. The complaint states Priscilla later claimed she had forgotten about the deal while securing millions in investments and benefiting from extensive brand development work provided by the plaintiffs.
The business dispute escalated after Lisa Marie’s death, with the plaintiffs alleging that Priscilla and her associate Keya Morgan, Stan Lee’s former business manager, retaliated with false accusations of elder abuse. According to the lawsuit, this was an alleged tactic intended to damage Kruse and Fialko’s reputations, avoid contractual obligations and regain control of the Presley estate.
Priscilla’s attorney Marty Singer vehemently disputed the allegations in a lengthy statement, calling the lawsuit “one of the most shameful, ridiculous, salacious, and meritless lawsuits I have seen in my practice.” Singer characterized the complaint as a vicious attempt to falsely tarnish the reputation of an 80-year-old woman in retaliation for her own lawsuit against the defendants.
The current lawsuit represents an escalation of ongoing legal battles between the parties. In July 2024, Priscilla sued Kruse, Fialko, and others for financial elder abuse, claiming they swindled her out of at least $1 million and took advantage of her trust and age to enter into unconscionable business arrangements. Her complaint alleged the defendants convinced her that former advisors were deceitful or incompetent, ultimately securing 80 percent of her income through fraudulent contracts.
The plaintiffs’ attorney Jordan Matthews maintains that his clients have video recordings and communications confirming that no evidence of undue influence, coercion, or elder abuse occurred. He asserted the evidence would establish that Kruse and Fialko were the real victims, having invested millions and years of hard work into revitalizing Priscilla’s brand, only to be betrayed once financial success was achieved.
The new complaint also adds Morgan as a defendant, alleging he interfered with the partners’ contracts with Priscilla. According to the lawsuit, Morgan encouraged Priscilla to weaponize elder abuse claims as leverage to exclude Kruse and Fialko from assets and compensation they had legally earned. The filing suggests Morgan approached Priscilla after she settled a dispute with granddaughter Keough over Lisa Marie’s trust, which involved a $2.4 million payment to Priscilla.
Singer emphasized that Keough stands behind her grandmother completely and is equally disgusted with the latest attempt to ruin Priscilla’s life. The attorney noted that accusing a grieving mother of contributing to her daughter’s death constitutes malicious character assassination rather than legal advocacy.
The case highlights the complex web of financial and family disputes surrounding the Presley estate following Lisa Marie’s death. After Lisa Marie died, ownership of Graceland and other assets transferred to Keough, Elvis and Priscilla’s granddaughter, following the resolution of disputes over Lisa Marie’s will.
The plaintiffs contend they invested seven figures into rebuilding Priscilla’s brand, stabilizing her finances, settling lawsuits and attempting to repair her relationship with Lisa Marie. They allege Priscilla targeted them from day one when she faced mounting IRS debt and multiple lawsuits, only to later smear them with false accusations after they had resolved her financial difficulties.
