From Grief to Courtroom War: Priscilla Presley faces shocking lawsuit alleging she ‘pulled the plug’ on daughter Lisa Marie in estate power struggle

In a stunning twist to one of the most closely watched celebrity estate battles in recent memory, Priscilla Presley, the 80-year-old widow of Elvis Presley, is facing explosive allegations in a $50 million lawsuit that accuses her of prematurely withdrawing life support from her late daughter Lisa Marie Presley as part of a scheme to regain control over the Presley family’s legendary estate and tarnish former business partners.

The claims, which Priscilla’s attorney has blasted as “salacious, meritless, and shameful,” have shaken both Hollywood and Graceland’s loyal fanbase, reopening old wounds surrounding Lisa Marie’s sudden death in January 2023 and the bitter estate disputes that followed.

The Allegations: “Pulling the Plug” and a $50 Million Demand

The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by former business associates Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, alleges that Priscilla Presley made the decision to terminate Lisa Marie’s life support within mere hours of her hospitalization.

The plaintiffs claim this action was part of a calculated scheme to consolidate power over the Presley estate, manipulate the family narrative, and ultimately defraud her partners.

Kruse and Fialko further allege that Priscilla and an unnamed associate attempted to sabotage their reputations by accusing them of elder abuse, a charge they vehemently deny.

Their lawsuit seeks over $50 million in damages, citing not only reputational harm but also lost business opportunities tied to Presley family projects.

For many, the most shocking element of the complaint is the insinuation that Priscilla acted against her daughter’s interests.

Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley, died at age 54 on January 12, 2023, from a small bowel obstruction related to a previous bariatric surgery.

At the time, her passing was considered a tragic medical event — not a legal or familial scandal.

Priscilla Presley’s Legal Team Fires Back

Priscilla’s powerhouse attorney Martin D.

Singer wasted no time issuing a blistering statement condemning the lawsuit.

“This is one of the most shameful, ridiculous, salacious, and meritless lawsuits I have seen in my practice,” Singer declared.

“Accusing a grieving mother of contributing to her daughter’s death is not savvy advocacy; it is malicious character assassination and should be broadly condemned.”

Singer dismissed the allegations as retaliation, referencing Priscilla’s own lawsuit against Kruse and Fialko, filed in 2023.

According to him, the new claims are nothing more than a “vicious attempt to falsely tarnish the reputation of an eighty-year-old woman” who remains in mourning.

Perhaps most significantly, Singer insisted that Lisa Marie’s daughter, actress Riley Keough, fully supports her grandmother and is “disgusted” by the accusations.

While representatives for Keough have yet to confirm this statement publicly, if true, her backing could prove a decisive factor in swaying public opinion.

A Bitter History: Lawsuits, Broken Partnerships, and Graceland’s Future

The rift between Priscilla and her former business partners is not new.

In October 2023, Kruse filed an initial breach of contract suit against Presley, alleging that Priscilla had abruptly severed their partnership despite their work revitalizing her brand.

Kruse and Fialko claim their collaboration with Priscilla — under the venture Priscilla Presley Partners — played a direct role in projects like the 2023 biopic “Priscilla”, directed by Sofia Coppola.

They allege they received neither credit nor compensation for their contributions.

Priscilla responded with her own lawsuit, accusing Kruse and Fialko of orchestrating a scheme to control her finances, effectively binding her into “a form of indentured servitude.” That filing alleged that Presley had been forced to sign away 80 percent of her income, leaving her financially vulnerable despite her iconic status.

The latest $50 million lawsuit, therefore, appears to be the next chapter in a spiraling legal war — one that has grown increasingly personal and vicious.

The Heart of the Matter: Lisa Marie’s Legacy

At the center of this dispute lies Lisa Marie Presley’s legacy and the future of the Presley estate, including Graceland, the legendary Memphis mansion and shrine to Elvis Presley’s legacy.

Following Lisa Marie’s death, Priscilla initially challenged her daughter’s will, which had been amended in 2016 to replace her and former manager Barry Siegel with Lisa Marie’s children, Riley Keough and Benjamin Keough, as co-trustees.

(Benjamin tragically died in 2020.)

The move sparked speculation of a feud between grandmother and granddaughter.

However, the two women ultimately reached a confidential settlement, with Riley emerging as the official executor of the estate.

Priscilla later emphasized that she and Riley remained on good terms, dismissing media speculation of family division as exaggerated.

Still, the unresolved bitterness between Presley and her former business partners now threatens to reignite questions about the family’s internal dynamics, financial control, and public image.

Reactions from Hollywood and Fans

The new lawsuit has predictably ignited a firestorm on social media and within Hollywood circles.

Some fans are rallying behind Priscilla, echoing Singer’s sentiment that the lawsuit is a “malicious attack” on a grieving mother.
Others are unsettled by the accusations, noting that Lisa Marie’s sudden death and the legal maneuvers that followed left behind more questions than answers.
Riley Keough’s reported support for her grandmother is emerging as a pivotal narrative point — suggesting unity within the Presley family, even as outsiders attempt to fracture it.

On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), fans expressed shock:

“This is disgusting.

Priscilla Presley is 80 years old.

To accuse her of something like this is beyond cruel.”

“These lawsuits are tearing apart Elvis’s legacy.

Leave Lisa Marie in peace.”

The Broader Context: Celebrity Estates and Exploitation

The Presley lawsuit is not an isolated event.

In recent years, the estates of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Aretha Franklin have all become the subject of contentious legal battles involving family, business partners, and opportunists.

The Presley saga highlights a recurring theme: where fame and fortune exist, legal disputes often follow.

Questions of exploitation, undue influence, and financial mismanagement are almost inevitable, particularly when billions of dollars in music royalties, real estate, and intellectual property are at stake.

For Priscilla, who has spent decades carefully shaping Elvis’s legacy through projects like Graceland’s transformation into a major tourist attraction, these lawsuits strike at the very heart of her life’s work.

What Happens Next?

As the case moves through the courts, the next steps will hinge on the credibility of evidence.

Kruse and Fialko’s attorney, Jordan Matthews, claims his clients possess “video recordings and communications” that will substantiate their claims and prove their business dealings with Priscilla were legitimate and mutually beneficial.

Priscilla’s team, meanwhile, appears confident the case will be dismissed.

Ultimately, the court of public opinion may prove just as influential as the legal proceedings themselves.

The Presley family legacy — intertwined with American cultural history — means this lawsuit will remain under intense scrutiny, with fans, critics, and the media dissecting every development.

Conclusion: A Legacy at Risk

For decades, Priscilla Presley has stood as the gatekeeper of Elvis’s legacy, revered as both a cultural icon and businesswoman.

Now, at age 80, she finds herself facing one of the most devastating allegations imaginable — that she hastened her own daughter’s death.

Her legal team insists the claims are fabricated and malicious, a desperate ploy for money and revenge.

Yet the lawsuit underscores a painful truth: even in death, the Presley family remains a battleground where grief, power, and money collide.

As the fight continues, the world watches — not just for the outcome of a lawsuit, but for what it means for the preservation of Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley’s legacies.