Ellen DeGeneres' Car Crash Lawsuit Turns Nasty In Unexpected Move That Might Lead To U.S. Return

Unexpected developments are unfolding for Ellen DeGeneres, who is said to be gearing up for a move back to the United States.

The comedian and her wife, Portia de Rossi, initially relocated to the U.K. partly to distance themselves from the political climate following Donald Trump's election victory.

Now, while the couple had already been considering returning, the timeline may be closer than imagined as a 2023 legal case involving DeGeneres takes a fresh turn.

In a December 15 filing, the plaintiff involved in the matter with DeGeneres requested a jury trial. However, only a bench trial has been scheduled so far, PEOPLE Magazine confirmed.

The documents also reveal that mediation occurred on December 9. However, DeGeneres has not yet been formally served because she resides overseas. Officials noted that service will be done under the Hague Convention to reach her U.K. residence.

According to the filing, the woman claimed she suffered "sustained serious injuries and incurred significant income/business loss" as a result of the collision with DeGeneres. 

The Blast reported that the complainant first filed the action back in September, although the incident happened in October 2023. The victim sued the former talk show host for negligence, alleging she failed to stop at a sign and collided with her vehicle.

In her complaint, the woman stated she was driving a Tesla in Santa Barbara County when she came to a full stop at a clearly marked intersection and checked for oncoming traffic. As she proceeded, DeGeneres' car allegedly struck hers, leaving her injured.

The recent developments in the case come amid reports that the 67-year-old TV star and her partner are preparing to leave the Cotswolds due to the harsh winter weather and a longing to reconnect with friends.

Per The Blast, a source said, "She's been telling friends they are coming home soon because they miss them and can't take the winters over there, and Portia wants to act again.”

The insider added, “They will be here for the holidays and longer by the sound of it."

Although DeGeneres is planning to head back to California, questions linger about how long she intends to stay. Sources suggest the move is temporary, though no specific timeline has been given.

An insider explained that the visit would last through the holidays but emphasized that DeGeneres was determined to come back “sooner rather than later.”

Adding to the uncertainty is where she and Portia de Rossi will live, since they sold off their U.S. properties before relocating abroad.

In January, they listed their Montecito mansion, a five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom home, for $29.9 million. By March, they had placed another property on the market for about $5 million, four years after buying it for $2.9 million.

Meanwhile, DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are still struggling to sell their former Cotswolds home, five months after putting it on the market.

As The Blast reported, the couple purchased the Oxfordshire property for £15 million ($19.8 million) last December, hoping for a smooth transition into British life. Unfortunately, those plans quickly unraveled when Storm Bert caused a nearby river to overflow, flooding the grounds

After relocating to higher ground, the pair listed the 43-acre estate in July 2025 for £22.5 million ($29.7 million). However, the property has attracted no buyers so far.

Amid ongoing legal troubles and a housing crisis, DeGeneres has taken time to mourn the loss of Tayt Anderson, a beloved fan who became a favorite on her show and whom she affectionately referred to as her "only boyfriend."

Born with only the right side of his heart, doctors once predicted Tayt would not survive beyond three months, but he defied expectations time and again. By age nine, he had endured 12 surgeries, and at 10, he underwent a heart transplant. Sadly, he passed away in September at 19.

DeGeneres honored his memory with a heartfelt statement describing him as a “special little human being who brought joy, life, and laughter into every room,” per The Blast.