Reality Stars Sue Lawyer They Claim Ruined Their Lives

When Todd and Julie Chrisley landed in federal prison following their 2022 fraud conviction, they believed their legal team had let them down. Now, they’re putting that belief into a lawsuit.

The Chrisley Knows Best stars have filed a malpractice suit against their former attorney Chris Anulewicz and law firm Balch&Bingham, alleging that his inexperience and negligence directly led to their convictions. According to court documents obtained on Tuesday, June 9, the couple claims Anulewicz had no meaningful criminal defense experience—and that the firm knew it (or should have). The lawsuit suggests the firm took the case anyway because the Chrisley name meant money, publicity, and high-profile business opportunities.

But there’s more. The lawsuit alleges Anulewicz exploited his position as their attorney to steer the couple into a $75,000 investment in his brother-in-law’s food truck startup. While supposedly defending them on serious federal charges, he was using their trust to benefit himself and his family. That’s not just negligence—it’s a jaw-dropping breach of professional duty.

The fallout has been staggering. An Atlanta jury found Todd, 57, and Julie, 53, guilty of tax evasion, bank and wire fraud, and conspiracy in June 2022. Todd received a 12-year sentence; Julie got seven years. Beyond prison time, the couple lost their television show and endorsement deals—a financial hit they claim exceeded $25 million in lost income. Their reputations took a battering, and they’ve spent millions more fighting appeals and post-conviction proceedings, all trying to undo damage that one competent legal motion could have prevented.

The couple was ultimately pardoned by President Donald Trump in May 2025, allowing them to return home and reunite with their children. Now they’re seeking more than $25 million in damages and a jury trial. Anulewicz’s team says they’ll vigorously defend the suit—once they’re formally served. The case raises a brutal question: how much responsibility does a lawyer bear when their incompetence sends clients to prison for crimes they might never have been convicted of in the first place?