The Bitter Legacy: Priscilla Presley Faces New Legal Battles Amidst Family Feuds and Estate Disputes
The enduring legacy of Elvis Presley continues to be shadowed by legal conflict, this time centering on a fierce dispute between his former wife, Priscilla Presley, and businesswoman Laurie Kruse. The latest volley in a multi-year legal saga paints a picture of a fractured mother-daughter relationship, accusations of financial manipulation, and a struggle for control over the iconic Presley estate.
Kruse, through her company GWS Auctions, initially filed a breach of contract suit against Presley two years ago, alleging a sudden termination of a business partnership designed to leverage Priscilla’s name and image, alongside Kruse’s expertise in Elvis memorabilia auctions. The suit portrays Presley as an “opportunist” and details a deeply troubled relationship with her late daughter, lisa Marie Presley.
This isn’t a one-sided battle. Last year, Priscilla Presley countersued Kruse and her associates, alleging fraud and elder abuse. She claimed she was subjected to a form of “indentured servitude,” pressured into relinquishing 80% of her income. Kruse vehemently denies these accusations, framing herself and her business partner, Corey Fialko, as the true victims.
“The evidence will establish that the real victims here are my clients, who invested millions and years of hard work into revitalizing Priscilla presley’s brand, only to be betrayed and falsely accused once the money was on the table,” stated Jordan matthews, Kruse’s attorney.
The legal filings are escalating the stakes,revealing a history of internal family conflict.Kruse’s suit alleges that Priscilla Presley “strong-armed” Elvis’s father, Vernon, on his deathbed in 1979, securing co-executor status of Elvis’s estate by placing a lien on Graceland and assuming control of the trust. The core contention is that Priscilla’s ultimate goal was complete control – of both her daughter’s trust and the legendary Graceland mansion.
This alleged desire for control reportedly fueled a significant rift with Lisa Marie. The lawsuit details Lisa Marie’s refusal to publicly support her mother during the promotional campaign for Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” biopic, even declining to appear alongside Priscilla at the Golden Globes. Lisa Marie was, at the time, actively pursuing legal action to remove her mother as trustee of her life insurance policy.
Kruse and fialko claim they intervened to mend the fractured relationship, even orchestrating a public appearance together at an awards ceremony. Tragically, just two days later, Lisa Marie Presley suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
A notably sensitive allegation within the suit centers on Lisa Marie’s end-of-life care. Kruse claims Priscilla Presley disregarded her daughter’s advanced care directive, which reportedly stipulated a desire for life-prolonging treatment “within the limits of generally accepted health care standards.” A copy of this directive is included as evidence.The legal battles continued after Lisa Marie’s death. Priscilla Presley initially challenged an amendment to her daughter’s trust, the Promenade Trust, which removed her as a trustee and named granddaughter Riley Keough as the sole trustee. That dispute was settled five months later. Kruse alleges she and Fialko brokered a deal securing a $2.4 million payout for Priscilla and a “seven-figure deal” for her son, Navarone.
Adding another layer to the complexity, the Elvis Presley Estate is also suing Kruse and GWS Auctions, alleging the “improper and illegal” auction of documents belonging to Elvis and his manager, Colonel Tom parker. Kruse’s legal team disputes this claim, stating they informed the estate of the documents’ existence in 2021.
This ongoing legal drama underscores the enduring challenges of managing a legacy as complex and valuable as that of Elvis Presley. It’s a story of family conflict, financial maneuvering, and the enduring power of a cultural icon – a story that continues to unfold in the courtroom and the public eye.
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