Priscilla Presley, the 80-year-old ex-wife of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, is facing explosive new allegations in a $50 million civil lawsuit filed on August 11, 2025, in California Superior Court. The suit, brought by her former business partners Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, claims that Priscilla engaged in a calculated scheme to defraud them, ruin their reputations, and exploit the death of her only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, to regain financial and managerial control over the Elvis Presley estate, including the historic Graceland property in Memphis.
Kruse and Fialko assert that Priscilla not only acted to harm their business interests but also played a decisive role in decisions surrounding Lisa Marie’s health care in the final days of her life. The plaintiffs allege these actions were part of a larger plan to neutralize Lisa Marie’s attempts to remove Priscilla as the sole trustee of an irrevocable life insurance trust established to protect her assets and the inheritance connected to the Elvis Presley legacy.
Events Leading to Lisa Marie Presley’s Death
The complaint centers on events in January 2023, when Lisa Marie Presley attended the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills. According to Kruse and Fialko, Priscilla was aware that her daughter was experiencing serious health concerns at the time but allegedly failed to take appropriate steps to ensure she received immediate medical attention.
Within days of the Golden Globes appearance, Lisa Marie suffered a cardiac arrest at her Calabasas home. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was placed on life support. The lawsuit claims that during this critical period, Priscilla took control of the situation and made the decision to withdraw life support before Lisa Marie’s eldest daughter, Riley Keough, could arrive at the hospital.
The plaintiffs allege that Lisa Marie had previously issued a clear directive that her life should be prolonged in the event of a medical crisis. They claim Priscilla’s actions directly violated this directive and were motivated by the knowledge that Lisa Marie was actively working to remove her from trustee responsibilities over the life insurance trust. Lisa Marie’s death at age 54, they contend, halted these efforts and preserved Priscilla’s position of control.
Alleged Financial and Estate Motives
Kruse and Fialko argue that Priscilla’s ultimate objective was to reclaim decision-making authority over Graceland and the Elvis Presley estate. Control over these assets is highly significant, as they generate millions annually through tourism, licensing, merchandising, and related business ventures.
The plaintiffs state that after Lisa Marie’s passing, Priscilla filed a legal challenge to the trust arrangement Lisa Marie had established. They claim to have stepped in to negotiate a settlement with Riley Keough—who became the sole heir to her mother’s trust in August 2023—and arranged agreements for other family members. This included deals for Priscilla’s son, Navarone Garibaldi Garcia, Lisa Marie’s twin daughters Harper and Finley Lockwood, and their father, Michael Lockwood.
Kruse and Fialko allege that after these negotiations, Priscilla cut off communication with them, undermining prior business agreements and excluding them from estate-related opportunities they had helped to create.
Additional Defendant Named
The lawsuit also names Keya Morgan—known for his previous legal troubles involving the late Stan Lee—as a co-defendant. Kruse and Fialko claim that Morgan contacted them in June 2023, presenting himself as a close friend of Priscilla and allegedly misrepresenting himself as a licensed attorney. They allege that following Morgan’s involvement, Priscilla further distanced herself from them and eventually revoked their access to her business affairs.
Priscilla Presley’s Legal Response
Priscilla’s attorney, Marty Singer, has issued a strong rebuttal, condemning the lawsuit as entirely baseless. He has described the filing as a malicious and retaliatory act aimed at damaging the reputation of an elderly woman in response to legal actions Priscilla had previously taken against Kruse, Fialko, and others.
Singer emphasized that Riley Keough, now 36 and serving as the sole trustee of her mother’s estate, stands fully behind her grandmother. Keough is also the manager of sub-trusts established for her younger sisters, Harper and Finley, both 16 years old. Singer underscored that Keough supports Priscilla’s integrity and rejects the narrative presented in the new lawsuit.
History of Legal Disputes Between the Parties
This latest case is the most recent development in a series of contentious legal disputes between Priscilla and her former associates.
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September 2023 – Kruse filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract, claiming she was instrumental in managing Priscilla’s affairs and securing business deals, only to be excluded from profits and decision-making.
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July 2024 – Priscilla filed her own lawsuit accusing Kruse, Fialko, and others of elder abuse and financial exploitation. She claimed they manipulated her trust, isolated her from friends and family, controlled her finances, and effectively placed her in a form of involuntary servitude. She alleged more than $1 million was stolen from her through these actions. Kruse’s legal team labeled this filing as retaliatory, an accusation Singer firmly rejected.
Damages and Legal Demands
In the August 2025 filing, Kruse and Fialko are seeking at least $50 million in damages. They are requesting a jury trial to determine liability and financial compensation. Their claims include fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, in addition to allegations of wrongful interference in Lisa Marie’s medical treatment and estate planning.
If successful, the lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences, potentially reshaping control over elements of the Elvis Presley estate and intensifying scrutiny of how celebrity legacies are managed after the death of key family members.
Broader Implications for the Elvis Presley Estate
The Presley estate remains one of the most lucrative in the entertainment world. Graceland alone attracts over 500,000 visitors annually and serves as a cultural landmark, while licensing rights to Elvis’s image and music generate substantial ongoing revenue.
Any legal disruption to the trust’s structure or to management agreements could impact not only the Presley family but also multiple business partners, tourism contracts, and licensing deals. The ongoing public dispute risks affecting the estate’s image and brand stability, even as Elvis’s legacy continues to be celebrated worldwide.
