Priscilla Presley, ex-wife of Elvis Presley, has claimed she is a victim of financial abuse. On Thursday, July 18, Priscilla’s attorney Marty Singer filed a lawsuit alleging that Brigitte Kruse and others exploited her trust to steal $1 million.
The lawsuit, first reported by TMZ, names Brigitte Kruse, Kevin Fialko, Vahe Sislyan, Lynn Walker Wright, and Priscilla Presley Partners as defendants. Priscilla accuses Kruse, founder of Kruse GWS Auctions, of manipulating her finances and forcing her into a “form of indentured servitude.” The suit claims Kruse isolated Priscilla from important people in her life and deceived her into believing they would manage her finances and well-being.
The documents state that Kruse convinced Priscilla her previous advisors were deceitful or incompetent, leading her to give Kruse and her associates power of attorney and control over her bank accounts and trusts.
Priscilla, 79, met Kruse through mutual connections to discuss selling Elvis memorabilia. By the end of 2021, Kruse had allegedly taken control of Priscilla’s finances, with new advisors chosen by Kruse falsely claiming Priscilla was financially unstable. Under Kruse’s influence, Priscilla set up companies where her associates received 80% of her income, leaving her with minority shares. Additionally, funds from the Sofia Coppola-directed biopic “Priscilla” were allegedly misappropriated.
The lawsuit also claims that $40,000 was withdrawn from the bank account of Priscilla’s son, Navarone Garcia, without a legitimate reason or notification.
Priscilla is seeking to rescind the license and operating agreements for these “sham companies,” block the defendants from accessing her financial accounts, and hold them accountable for their actions.
“They manipulated and defrauded an older woman during extremely vulnerable moments in her life, including the death of her daughter, in an effort to enrich themselves,” the filing states.
In a public statement, Kruse’s legal team responded, “We cannot respond because counsel has not been served with a copy of the lawsuit. We have alerted Ms. Presley’s attorneys that we do not have a copy of this filing but they have not responded.”
Priscilla previously spoke positively about working with Kruse GWS Auctions in September 2021, but their relationship soured, leading to Kruse suing Priscilla for breach of contract in September 2023.
As the legal battle unfolds, Priscilla seeks justice for the alleged financial abuse and exploitation she endured.
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