Former Disney Star Erik Von Detten Facing Lawsuit Over Alleged Fraud and Elder Abuse
Former Disney child star Erik Von Detten and Rosland Capital face a lawsuit from an elderly couple alleging $900,000 in damages from precious metal investments.
Erik Von Detten, the former child star best known for his roles in Disney projects like The Princess Diaries, is facing a lawsuit alleging elder abuse and fraud. An elderly couple filed the legal action against the actor and the company he works for, Rosland Capital, following precious metal transactions.
Lawsuit Details and Allegations
The lawsuit was filed by Norman Greenberg, 97, and his wife, Sheila Greenberg, 85. According to legal documents, the pair claim they suffered $900,000 in damages while working with the 44-year-old actor and the organization, which bought and sold precious metals. The couple alleged that the company targeted elderly citizens by exploiting financial fears and promoting the stability of gold.
Norman and Sheila stated in their court filing that they initially contacted Rosland Capital in 2020 after seeing a television commercial. Following the initial contact, Von Detten allegedly spoke with the couple via phone calls, claiming he possessed special knowledge regarding gold and could assist them with the $2 million held in their retirement accounts.
Gold Coin Purchases and Losses
According to the filing, the couple spent approximately $1 million on two Lady Liberty gold coins before Von Detten reportedly directed another $1 million of their funds toward additional coins. The plaintiffs claim the acquired coins were stored in a warehouse and that they ultimately spent about $2.1 million on purchases that were allegedly worth only $1.3 million.
The Greenbergs are seeking to recoup their financial losses in addition to requesting an additional sum for punitive damages. Legal documents show that the organization involved went bankrupt in the months following the initial filing of the lawsuit. A representative for Von Detten did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
Background and Career History
Von Detten began his acting career in 1992 and gained recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He played Clu Bell on the Disney Channel series So Weird and voiced Erwin Lawson on the animated series Recess, which ran from 1997 to 2001. In 2001, he appeared as Josh Bryant in the feature film The Princess Diaries.
The former soap star has largely stepped away from consistent acting since the aughts, though he returned to the screen in 2024 for the Lifetime movie My Acting Coach Nightmare. Outside of entertainment, he married his wife, Angela, in 2020, and the couple shares three children: daughter Claire and sons Thomas and Nicholas.
The legal proceedings remain ongoing as the plaintiffs seek to recover their funds following the bankruptcy of the precious metals company involved.
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