Priscilla Presley accuses ex-business partner of 'abhorrent' elder abuse: 'I was completely isolated'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Priscilla Presley has lately been publicly articulating about the alleged elder abuse she suffered at the behest of her former business partner, ex-attorney, and others.
In a recent court filing, the ex-wife of Elvis Presley revealed more details about what she describes as "abhorrent" financial abuse inflicted by her former business partner, Bridgitte Kruse, and ex-attorney, Lynn Walker Wright.
Priscilla Presley accuses former attorney and business partner of elder abuse
In a lawsuit filed in July, Presley named Walker Wright (the attorney) and others, accusing them of taking advantage of her and stealing a whopping million dollars. However, Wright denied Presley’s claims and requested the court remove her name from the case.
Priscialla’s legal team responded to Wright’s statement with a filing on November 7, Thursday, alleging Kruse (Presley’s former business partner) and investor Kevin Fialko — were the ones who introduced her to Walker Wright. Presley further states that this “was an essential part” of their alleged effort to control and direct her finances for their own benefit.
As per PEOPLE, Presley alleged, “Though they hid it from me at the time, I now know that Kruse and Fialko engaged in an extensive, far-reaching campaign to isolate me from, and cause me to distrust, my own long-time advisors, to the point where they were able to convince me to replace my advisors with ones hand-picked by them."
“I was completely isolated from my other advisors,” she further swore in a statement obtained by Rolling Stone.
She alleged Wright conducted "extensive communication" with her other attorneys regarding Presley’s affairs, such as power of attorney or healthcare directive. In the recent filing, she claimed, “I am informed and believe that it was Kruse who instructed Walker Wright to prepare those documents and that this was done to facilitate the defendants' control over my life.
Priscilla Presley’s $1M elder abuse lawsuit
The elder abuse lawsuit involving 79-year-old Priscilla Presley continues to unfold after she accused Kruse GWS Auctions founder, Kruse, and associates of financial exploitation.
Presley’s lawsuit, filed on July 18, alleges that Kruse manipulated her finances, isolating her from loved ones and misappropriating $1 million. According to Presley, Kruse’s influence created a “form of indentured servitude,” wherein she gained her trust under the guise of providing personal and financial care. She also named Kevin Fialko, Vahe Sislyan, Walker Wright, and Priscilla Presley Partners as defendants.
Kruse’s attorneys responded on July 22, calling the lawsuit “retaliatory.” However, Presley’s attorney Marty Singer countered, dismissing the claim as untrue.
In September, Walker Wright, an attorney based in Florida, petitioned for dismissal from the case, citing lack of California jurisdiction. Wright argued that as a Florida-based lawyer, the documents she prepared for Presley fall under Florida’s legal jurisdiction, specifying that any disputes should be addressed in Orange County, Florida.
Her legal filing requested dismissal of the case against her on grounds of “forum non conveniens", arguing that California is an inconvenient forum for this dispute.
On November 7, Presley’s legal team responded by filing a motion to dismiss the service of summons and requested the case’s dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction. They contend that Kruse and Fialko were responsible for introducing Presley to Wright, an assertion that could influence the court’s jurisdictional ruling as this case moves forward.
