Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, has filed a lawsuit in Tennessee civil court to stop the court-approved sale of Graceland, the late singer’s Memphis compound. Keough alleges that the creditor behind the foreclosure claim used forged signatures and that the paperwork on a $3.8 million loan to Graceland trustees is fraudulent. Elvis Presley Enterprises, which runs Graceland and the assets of the Elvis Presley Trust, has confirmed that the claims are fraudulent and the sale is a scheme. The lawsuit alleges that the loan never happened, Lisa Marie Presley never signed it, the creditor does not exist, and the notary public did not notarize it. A hearing on Keough’s claim was scheduled for Wednesday.
Graceland Mansion was purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957 and became a music history theme park five years after his death in 1977. Today, it attracts roughly 600,000 visitors annually. The end-of-life presence of Elvis transformed the compound into a sacred temple of rock ‘n’ roll, as he brought Black American youth music to the masses in the 1950s. Keough, along with her mother Lisa Marie, who is Elvis’s only child, have vowed to keep Graceland in the family. The estate has had debt at times, but Elvis’s grandmother, Priscilla, has been credited with paying it down. The compound, where Elvis is buried, occupies nearly 14 acres.
The lawsuit claims that the foreclosure sale of Graceland, which was scheduled for Thursday, is based on fraudulent paperwork that violates Tennessee law. The creditor named in the public notice of sale, Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC, did not respond to a request for comment. Kurt Naussany, who is named as a defendant in the filing, said he left the firm in 2015 and should not be involved. The lawsuit also alleges that the loan never happened, Lisa Marie Presley did not sign it, and the notary public did not notarize it. The lawsuit was filed in Shelby County Chancery Court on Wednesday, and a hearing on Keough’s claim was scheduled for the same day.
Elvis Presley Enterprises has accused the creditor of using forged signatures and committing fraud in the attempt to foreclose on Graceland. The entity that runs Graceland and the Elvis Presley Trust has stated that the claims are fraudulent and that the foreclosure sale is part of a scheme. The lawsuit filed by Riley Keough alleges that the loan to Graceland trustees never occurred, Lisa Marie Presley did not sign it, the creditor does not exist, and the notary public did not notarize it. The lawsuit aims to prevent the fraudulent sale of Graceland and to protect the interests of the Presley family in the compound.
Graceland is a significant cultural landmark and tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The compound, where Elvis Presley is buried, holds a special place in music history as the home of the legendary musician. The efforts to keep Graceland in the family have been a priority for Elvis’s heirs, including Riley Keough and Lisa Marie Presley. Despite the estate having incurred debt at times, Priscilla Presley has been recognized for her efforts to pay it down. The significance of Graceland as a symbol of Elvis’s legacy and rock ‘n’ roll history has made it an important site for preservation and family ownership. The lawsuit filed by Riley Keough aims to protect the compound and the family’s legacy from fraudulent actions by the creditor attempting to foreclose on Graceland.
The legal battle over the sale of Graceland highlights the complexity of preserving and protecting cultural landmarks and family legacies. The allegations of fraud and forged signatures in the foreclosure claim raise concerns about the integrity of the process and the rights of the Presley family in maintaining ownership of the compound. The lawsuit filed by Riley Keough seeks to stop the fraudulent sale of Graceland and ensure that the interests of the family and the estate are upheld. The significance of Graceland as a historic site and tourist attraction underscores the importance of preserving its legacy and protecting it from exploitation. The outcome of the legal proceedings will have implications for the future ownership and management of Graceland, as well as the preservation of Elvis Presley’s heritage and music legacy for generations to come.
