Todd Chrisley ordered to pay tax investigator $755,000 for defamation after losing lawsuit while in prison

4 minutes, 36 seconds Read

[ad_1]

Todd Chrisley’s authorized and monetary woes proceed to mount as the fact star is serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted of federal financial institution fraud and tax evasion. 

On April 4, a Georgia courtroom ordered Chrisley, 55, to pay Amy Doherty-Heinze $755,000 after he misplaced a defamation lawsuit the tax investigator filed towards him in July 2021. 

In a defamation criticism obtained by People journal, Doherty-Heinze, an investigator with the Georgia Department of Revenue (GDOR), accused Chrisley of slandering her on social media and “Chrisley Confessions,” the podcast he hosted with his spouse Julie. 

todd chrisley with his hand on his chin

Todd Chrisley was ordered to pay tax investigator Amy Doherty-Heinze $755,000 after losing a defamation lawsuit she filed towards him. (Dennis Leupold/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Images)

TODD, JULIE CHRISLEY’S DAUGHTER ACCUSES PRISON OF ‘PADLOCKING’ SUPPLIES AS COUPLE GETS REDUCED TIME

Doherty-Heinze alleged that, in 2020, the actual property tycoon “began attacking [her] and accusing her of a multitude of crimes and wrongdoing” after the GDOR launched an investigation of the Chrisleys in 2017. 

Doherty-Heinze accused Chrisley of beginning a “social media campaign against the GDOR and certain of its employees, contending that the investigation was illegal and improperly motivated.”

She alleged Chrisley defamed her although she was “not involved” in the GDOR’s investigation of him and his partner.

Todd and Julie Chrisley smiling

The actuality star is serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted of federal financial institution fraud and tax evasion. Todd’s spouse, Julie Chrisley, was additionally convicted and is serving 5 years. (Kevin Mazur/ACMA2017/Getty Images for ACM)

According to People, the paperwork stated Doherty-Heinze served Chrisley a “retraction demand” letter July 2, 2021. She later filed the lawsuit after he “failed and refused to retract any of his false and defamatory accusations.”

A jury in Newnan, Georgia, entered a verdict in Doherty-Heinze’s favor April 4, 2024, in accordance to paperwork obtained by Fox News Digital.

The jury discovered Chrisley liable for one rely of defamation by libel for written statements he made about Doherty-Heinze. The jurors additionally dominated Chrisley was liable for one rely of defamation by slander for oral statements about her he made on episodes of his podcast in 2020.

Todd Chrisley smiling

On April 4, a Georgia courtroom ordered Chrisley, 55, to pay Amy Doherty-Heinze $755,000 after he misplaced a defamation lawsuit the tax investigator filed towards him in July 2021.  (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Chrisley was discovered not liable for one rely of defamation by slander for statements he made about Doherty-Heinze in a 2022 episode of “Chrisley Knows Best.” Though the jury agreed the statements have been “false and defamatory,” Chrisley was not discovered liable since Doherty-Heinze had not confirmed by a “preponderance of evidence” that he had acted with “actual malice.”

Doherty-Heinze was awarded $350,000 in compensatory damages, $170,000 in punitive damages and $235,000 in authorized prices.

In an announcement to Fox News Digital, Dohery-Heinze’s lead counsel, Nicole Wade, stated, “Amy is thrilled with the jury’s verdict against Todd Chrisley. These lies have been hanging over her head for four years, and she is very thankful that the jury believed in her and vindicated her.

“The jury discovered on all counts that Mr. Chrisley’s accusations have been false and defamatory, they usually additionally discovered that he acted with precise malice and particular intent to hurt Amy,” Wade continued. “The verdict towards Mr. Chrisley proves that social media personalities will probably be held accountable for publicizing lies about an harmless individual, and it’s a lesson that we hope he takes to coronary heart.”

JULIE AND TODD CHRISLEY’S DAUGHTER SAVANNAH SAYS PARENTS NOT GUILTY ON FRAUD CHARGES: ‘I KNOW THE WITCH HUNT’ 

Leesa Guarnotta, a lawyer for Chrisley, did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. In a statement to People, Guarnotta said she and Chrisley were “happy the jury acknowledged that a few of Mr. Chrisley’s statements weren’t defamatory and awarded the plaintiff a fourth of the damages she requested.”

Guarnotta told the outlet they plan to appeal the ruling, saying, “We are involved in regards to the state of the First Amendment the place such a case might make it to trial in the primary place.

“We are optimistic about our appeal.”

Chrisley and his spouse have been convicted of federal financial institution fraud and tax evasion in June 2022, they usually reported to prison in January 2023. Todd is serving his sentence on the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, while Julie was despatched to Federal Medical Center Lexington in Kentucky.

In September 2023, the Chrisleys have been granted lowered sentences. The pair will now serve a mixed 15 years — 10 for Todd and 5 for Julie.

APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST

Todd was initially sentenced to 12 years, and Julie was sentenced to seven after being indicted in August 2019 on financial institution fraud and tax evasion fees. They have been initially ordered to full 16 months of probation after their prison phrases.

Julie’s convictions included conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, financial institution fraud, tax fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. She was additionally charged with wire fraud and obstruction of justice. 

Todd was convicted of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, financial institution fraud, tax fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. 

The two are interesting their case, and their daughter Savannah revealed in a November Instagram publish that an appeals courtroom had agreed to hear oral arguments. The oral arguments will start April 19, in accordance to People. 



[ad_2]

Source hyperlink

Similar Posts