Vicki Gunvalson Rich Polk/Bravo
Vicki Gunvalson, the star of Real Housewives of Orange County, is facing legal trouble. A former client of her insurance company has sued her for financial elder abuse, negligence, and fraud, among other allegations.
The plaintiff, Diane Field, 74, filed the lawsuit against Gunvalson and her business partner, Ali Hashemian, in May. Field claims that Gunvalson and Hashemian misled her into investing in a life insurance policy that would provide a tax-free inheritance for her children. However, the policy allegedly had hidden fees and conditions that Field was not aware of.
According to Field, she and her late husband, George, had a combined net worth of $6 million. After George’s death, Field invested in an Allianz 222 annuity, a savings plan that helps decrease taxes. She claims that Gunvalson and Hashemian convinced her to invest in the life insurance policy, promising lower taxes and increased financial capital for her children.
Field alleges that Gunvalson and Hashemian failed to disclose the true costs of the policy and misled her about the benefits. She claims that she was persuaded to make a “one and done” payment of $300,000, but was later told that she needed to pay $300,000 annually to maintain the policy.
Being a Real Housewife isn’t all glamour and excitement — just ask the many Bravolebrities who’ve faced legal woes that have played out in the spotlight. While some franchises tackle the lawsuits on air — including Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa and Joe Giudice’s fraud case, Real Housewives of New York City’s Sonja Morgan’s bankruptcy filing […]
Field claims that she was taken advantage of due to her vulnerable state after George’s death and her own health issues. She alleges that Gunvalson and Hashemian engaged in a pattern of elder financial abuse, using fraudulent sales tactics to convince her to invest in the life insurance policy.
The lawsuit is not the first time Gunvalson has faced legal trouble. In 2019, another former client, Joan Lile, accused her of raising premium costs. That lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice.
Gunvalson’s former costar, Teddi Mellencamp, seemingly reacted to the lawsuit on social media, writing, “I HAVE NEVER ABUSED MULTIPLE ELDERS IN MY LIFE.” The comment is a nod to an iconic line from season 8 of RHOC, where Gunvalson said, “I have never been with multiple partners in my life!”