Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson is ready to face off with her 74-year-old former client, who is accusing her of financial elder abuse, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by Us, Gunvalson, 63 asked that the lawsuit brought by Diane Field be resolved with a jury trial.
The Bravo star said she believes the trial will last between seven and 10 days.
As Us previously reported, Vicki and her insurance company, Coto Insurance and Financial Services, were sued by Field earlier this year.
In her lawsuit, Field claimed she met Gunvalson in 2019. She said the reality star and Gunvalson’s business partner convinced her to hire them to help manage her finances. Field said she was in charge of managing her and her husband George’s $6 million estate.
Vicki Gunvalson Jesse Grant/Getty Images
She said George had been injured in a bike accident in 2002.
In court documents, Field claimed that Gunvalson and her business partner told her they could lower her income tax and increase future/potential financial capital for her family.
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“[Gunvalson] was very convincing, and [Field] felt that she could trust her,” the suit explained. Field said she followed Gunvalson and Gunvalson’s business partner’s advice. She took out a life insurance policy and put funds into an investment account.
Field said the insurance policy ended up costing her hundreds of thousands more than she was told. In addition, she did not believe the investments that Gunvalson and her business partner selected for her were not the best options. Field accused the duo of fraudulent sales tactics.
Field’s lawyer said, “she felt uninformed by them and that the annuities and life insurance policy they convinced her to open did not seem to be the best investments for her, as they tie up large sums of money for a long time that she may never be able to use, for maybe longer than she will live or will be too old to enjoy.”
Gunvalson adamantly denied all allegations of wrongdoing. “[Field] knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care should have known, of the risk and hazards involved in the undertaking in which they engaged, but nevertheless and with full knowledge of these things, did fully and voluntarily consent to assume the risks and hazards involved in the undertaking,” the RHOC star’s lawyer argued.
Gunvalson’s lawyer also accused Field of being “careless and negligent with respects to the matters alleged in the” lawsuit.
The RHOC star demanded all claims be thrown out.
Jill Zarin, Taylor Armstrong, Tamra Judge, Vicki Gunvalson, Phaedra Parks, Brandi Glanville and Dorinda Medley Leonardo M/VIEWpress
Gunvalson’s legal team tells Us, “[Gunvalson] has asked for a jury trial expected to last 7 to 10 days, just like all of the parties in this litigation.”
They added, “[Gunvalson] is a respected insurance professional with over 34 years of experience, having served more than 7,000 clients with dedication and care. She unequivocally denies all allegations asserted against her [Field] in the pending lawsuit.”
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The lawyer said, “[Gunvalson] acted at all times under the direction of her client and in accordance with the products that [Field] specifically requested. To date, there continues to be no evidence to support the claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or financial elder abuse or alleged damages.”
Gunvalson’s lawyer ended, “We believe this lawsuit is entirely without merit and we will continue to vigorously defend Ms. Gunvalson’s reputation. She remains committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional service.”
The case is ongoing.
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