Family turmoil erupts as lawsuit raises questions over final hours

The Presley family, America's most famous musical dynasty, is again embroiled in a bitter legal battle that shocked even seasoned entertainment observers. Priscilla Presley has been slapped with a $50 million lawsuit, which accuses her of prematurely 'pulling the plug' on her daughter Lisa Marie's life support, in what lawyers are calling one of the most 'salacious' celebrity lawsuits in recent memory.

The bombshell allegations, filed by Priscilla's former business partners in a Los Angeles superior court, go far beyond typical contractual disputes. The suit claims Priscilla figured Lisa Marie's death would end her daughter's efforts to remove Priscilla as the sole trustee of Lisa's irrevocable life insurance trust, and Priscilla ultimately wanted to control the Promenade Trust and Graceland.

The shocking allegations unfold

Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko claim 'Priscilla pulled the plug within hours of Lisa being admitted' in January 2023 after suffering cardiac arrest. The lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of the final days before Lisa Marie's death, alleging that Lisa was noticeably ill and complained to Priscilla about her health when they attended the 2023 Golden Globes together, but 'Priscilla ignored the warning signs despite being only a short drive from the world-renowned Cedars-Sinai Medical Center'.

Even more dramatically, the docs claim that the next week — prior to Lisa Marie's funeral — Priscilla exclaimed, 'I'm the queen. I'm in charge of Graceland'.

The allegations directly contradict the official medical findings. The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner determined the cause of death for 54-year-old singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley as a small bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue that developed after a previous bariatric surgery years ago, with 'no evidence of injury or foul play' and the 'manner of death is deemed natural'.

The family business that went wrong

To understand how this explosive situation developed, we need to look back at the business relationships that soured after Lisa Marie's death. Kruse and Fialko say Priscilla approached them in 2021 looking for help to save her from financial ruin, which they spent thousands of hours working to do, claiming they spent thousands of hours – and millions in funding – revitalising her brand.

Kruse is described as a well-known auctioneer and Fialko a successful entrepreneur, both of whom dealt in Elvis Presley memorabilia. The partnership seemed promising initially, with the duo ultimately brokering a deal to end the dispute between Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley's daughter Riley Keough that involved a $2.4 million payment to Priscilla.

But things went south quickly. The lawsuit says she cut them off in violation of contracts soon after, publicly smeared them and later sued them, with the relationship turning sour when Morgan, alongside Priscilla Presley, accused Kruse and Fialko of coercion and elder abuse.

Riley Keough stands firm

In a remarkable show of family solidarity, Riley Keough, Presley's granddaughter (and the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley) stands behind her grandmother 100 per cent and is equally disgusted with this latest, vicious attempt by Kruse to attempt to ruin her grandmother's life.

This support is particularly significant given that Riley and Priscilla had their own legal disputes after Lisa Marie's death. Four days after Lisa Marie's funeral, Priscilla filed court documents disputing a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie's living trust that removed her and a former business manager as trustees, but Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough agreed to a settlement in May.

The empire at stake

The financial stakes in this dispute are enormous. Today Graceland reportedly generates over $10 million annually, and in 2020, the estate's value was $400 to 600 million, though a new source tells Billboard the Presley estate is now worth more like $1 billion. Graceland attracts more than 650,000 visitors annually and welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year, making it one of the five most visited home tours in the United States.

This vast wealth explains why the family disputes have been so intense. When Lisa Marie inherited her father's estate at age 25 in 1993, it was worth close to or more than $120 million, as Priscilla had resurrected the business by making Graceland a tourist attraction that has raked in about $15 million annually since it opened to the public in 1982.

Elder abuse in the spotlight

The case highlights a serious issue affecting many older Australians. Priscilla's counter-lawsuit describes an 'abhorrent scheme' by the defendants 'to prey on an older woman by gaining her trust, isolating her from the most important people in her life, and duping her into believing that they would take care of her — personally and financially — while their real goal was to drain her of every last penny she had'.

According to Priscilla's legal team, Kruse and the others 'established a personal relationship' with her and then used it to 'isolate her from her long-time business and financial advisors,' taking steps to 'fraudulently induce' Presley into signing over power of attorney, giving them control over her trusts and bank accounts.

Celebrity estate battles: a cautionary tale

The Presley family disputes fit into a broader pattern of celebrity estate controversies. Cases like Howard Hughes, who left no will sparking a drawn-out legal battle, and Prince, who passed away suddenly without a will and died intestate, show how even the wealthy and famous can leave their families in turmoil.

From billionaires to celebrities, the lack of a well-thought-out estate plan can lead to confusion, family disputes, and significant financial loss. While these stories captivate us with their drama, they also serve a practical purpose: they remind us of the critical need for a comprehensive estate plan.

The legal experts weigh in

Priscilla's high-profile attorney, Marty Singer, blasted the lawsuit as 'shameful' and 'salacious,' calling the accusations 'malicious character assassination' and stating it's 'one of the most shameful, ridiculous, salacious, and meritless lawsuits I have seen in my practice'.

On the other side, Jordan Matthews, an attorney for Kruse and Fialko, said 'the evidence will establish that the real victims here are my clients, who invested millions and years of hard work into revitalising Priscilla Presley's brand, only to be betrayed and falsely accused once the money was on the table and every personal and business issue had been resolved'.

What this means for Australian seniors

While this case plays out in American courts, it offers important lessons for older Australians. Under Australian law, similar protections exist against elder abuse, but prevention remains the best defence.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recommends that seniors be particularly cautious of anyone who:

• Rushes them into financial decisions
• Discourages them from seeking independent advice
• Shows excessive interest in their financial situation
• Attempts to isolate them from family or trusted advisers

The battle continues

As this legal drama unfolds, both sides seem prepared for a protracted battle. Priscilla's attorney tells the media the allegations are 'fabricated, malicious lies', while the plaintiffs maintain they have evidence to support their claims.

The case serves as a stark reminder that even in America's most famous families, money, grief, and family dynamics can create explosive situations. For those of us watching from afar, it's a cautionary tale about the importance of clear estate planning, trusted legal advice, and the protection of our most vulnerable family members.