When it comes to the ongoing lawsuit against her, it seems as though Vicki Gunvalson believes that she’s merely “being nailed to the cross like Jesus was.”
A few months ago, a 74-year-old woman named Diane Field filed a suit against the Real Housewives of Orange County alum, her company, Coto Insurance and Financial Services, and Allianz Life Insurance Company.
Diane accused Vicki and her business partner of elder financial abuse after she invested in an expensive life insurance policy with them. However, Vicki denies any wrongdoing and has now requested for the judge to throw the whole suit out.
Vicki Gunvalson’s filing argues that Diane knew what she was signing up for
According to Diane’s allegations, she and her husband, Gary, had amassed a $6 million fortune, mostly from stocks. Gary had managed their investments, but when his health declined, she took over.
In 2019, Diane met with Vicki and her partner, Ali, for financial advice. Vicki agreed to help and began proposing strategies to hopefully reduce taxes and increase future gains.
Vicki initially suggested annuities, but Diane said she preferred stocks because she was more familiar with them.
Eventually, Vicki and Ali convinced Diane to invest in Allianz annuities, which led to complications. The lawsuit alleges that they used “fraudulent sales tactics” to pressure Diane into transferring funds into the annuities and persuaded her to purchase a life insurance policy, which she later discovered would cost her $300,000 annually. Gary’s health further declined.
In Touch obtained Vicki’s dismissal request. In it, her lawyer says she did nothing wrong and Diane didn’t do her “due diligence.” Wow.
It read, “[Diane] 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.”
It also accused Diane of being “careless and negligent with respects to the matters alleged in” her suit. Vicki and her attorney desire for the whole case to be dismissed and for Diane to be awarded $0.
So far, the judge hasn’t made a decision. Only time will tell if Vicki will eventually have to “whoop it up” in the courtroom.
Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 9/8c. on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON VICKI’S REQUEST TO HAVE DIANE’S SUIT DISMISSED?
