Priscilla Presley's Ex Associate Breaks Silence After $1 Million Fraud Lawsuit

The drama between Priscilla Presley and her former business partner is gearing up to be a nasty court battle.

The famous ex-wife of Elvis Presley filed a lawsuit against Brigitte Kruse and others for allegedly ripping her off in the amount of $1 million. She accused them of manipulation, isolation, and more crimes.

However, the defendant recently clapped back at Priscilla Presley's lawsuit, slamming it as "retaliatory."

Following Presley's lawsuit, Kruse's legal team responded to her filing with malicious claims. They addressed the situation in a statement, reading: "The suit filed is a retaliatory lawsuit due to the one filed by Priscilla's business partners last year."

"We are confident that the facts will speak for themselves and justice will prevail," the statement continued, claiming Kruse and the other defendants are innocent. The legal team added:

"It saddens all of us who dropped our lives to provide aid to a woman who needed help, and she is now attempting to use her celebrity status to ruin the lives of kind, hardworking people."

Kruse's legal team,per PEOPLE, also thanked everyone who has supported them "during this difficult time." They noted their priorities remain on their business and for the truth to come out during their time in court.

In a statement on July 18, Presley's former business partner, via her legal team, claimed they could not respond to her $1 million fraud lawsuit. They explained the media personality's corner had not served their counsel with the papers.

"We have alerted Ms. Presley's attorneys that we do not have a copy of this filing, but they have not responded," Kruse's legal team explained.

Besides the Kruse GWS Auctions founder, the lawsuit named Kevin Fialko, Vahe Sislyan, Lynn Walker Wright, and Priscilla Presley Partners as defendants.

Before their falling out, Presley raved about working with Kruse GWS Auctions to sell her ex-husband's memorabilia in September 2021. "I thought, 'Why not be a part of it?'" she said at the time, adding:

"I used to have a different opinion about these estate sales, but then as I got older, I realized that you have to pass these things down to someone who'll really appreciate them."

Last week, The Blast reported that Presley had dragged her former business partners to court over allegations of financial mismanagement. She described Kruse, who she began working with in 2021, as a "con artist and a pathological liar."

Presley claimed Kruse deceived her to take control of her finances and forced her into a "form of indentured servitude." She noted the latter manipulated into believing her former financial advisors were dishonest and incompetent, opening the door for Kruse's team.

Presley alleged she was lured into signing shady contracts and creating companies that gave Kruse and her associates 80% of her income. However, the claims of fraud and embezzlement didn't stop there.

According to Presley, Kruse and the other defendants had a field day ripping her off. They allegedly made money off her name, image, and likeness, especially her 2023 biopic "Priscilla."

Presley claimed the profits from the movie were mismanaged alongside any lucrative deals that would have given her financial power.This included a contract that would have given the 79-year-old an ownership interest in a cosmetic company.

The deal, per Presley, ended with Kruse's team settling for a meager $300k upfront payment, which ended up in their pockets. Besides the King of Rock and Roll's ex-wife, their late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, also suffered from the alleged embezzlement scheme.

In her lawsuit, Presley claimed Kruse and the other defendants tried to make arrangements and deals relating to her late daughter's estate. They also allegedly stole smaller amounts from an account she opened for her son, Navarone.

Sources claimed that Presley began suspecting Kruse's dishonesty and misappropriation of her funds sometime in 2023. At the time, she cut off her former business partner, leading to a lawsuit.

Kruse sued Presley for breach of contract, claiming she came in to rescue her from insolvency in 2022 but was suddenly cut off. Meanwhile, the 79-year-old wants the court to void her contract with Kruse and the other defendants.

It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in Priscilla Presley's legal war. However, with the claims flying left and right, it will surely be a tumultuous battle.