Todd, Julie Chrisley file $25M lawsuit over lawyers' 'catastrophic' error
Todd and Julie Chrisley are suing their former defense attorneys for allegedly mishandling their criminal case that landed them in prison.
The reality TV couple filed a $25 million lawsuit Friday, June 5, accusing law firm Balch & Bingham LLP and lawyer Chris Anulewicz of legal malpractice and breach of contract, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
The complaint alleges the attorneys made a mistake regarding the federal probe into Todd and Julie Chrisley's finances that could have helped them avoid prosecution.
In 2019, the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars, who have denied any wrongdoing, were indicted on fraud charges based on evidence found during the Georgia Department of Revenue's search of their property. A district court later ruled that the search was unlawful, but Todd and Julie Chrisley say that only happened because they made a "demand" that Anulewicz file one.
Todd and Julie Chrisley say their legal team was unqualified, led to prison
The Chrisleys allege Anulewicz only attempted to block some evidence, but didn't try to suppress "the emails, bank records, and financial documents that federal agents obtained because of what they learned from the illegal search." It was that evidence that allegedly "formed the core of the government's case."
Two years later, Anulewicz attempted to have any evidence uncovered in the aftermath of the search suppressed as well, but "the motion was denied as untimely."
"A lawyer with actual criminal defense competence, supervised by a firm that took its professional obligations seriously, would never have let this happen," Todd and Julie Chrisley say in the suit.
In June 2022, the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars were found guilty of conspiring to defraud community banks in Atlanta out of more than $30 million, running a scheme that defrauded the IRS and committing tax evasion through fraudulent loans.
Todd Chrisley was initially sentenced to 12 years and Julie Chrisley received seven years, although both sentences were later reduced. The pair began serving their time on Jan. 17, 2023. After more than two years behind bars, on May 27, 2025, President Donald Trump issued the pair full pardons and they were released.
The lawyers' "catastrophic, unforced error … sent two people to federal prison for crimes they would never have been convicted of had their lawyers done their jobs," the filing says.
Todd and Julie Chrisley further allege the firm and Anulewicz were not qualified to take their case, but did so "because the Chrisley name meant money, publicity, and the kind of high-profile notoriety that brings in business."
They also allege that Anulewicz "convinced" them to invest $75,000 into his brother-in-law’s startup, "exploiting his position as their attorney to benefit himself and his family while neglecting his duty to them."
The legal battle and convictions cost Todd and Julie Chrisley "more than $25 million in income," damaged their reputations and took away time with their family, they say. "This was not a close call on a hard legal question. It was a failure of basic competence that Balch, as an institution, allowed to happen."
Todd and Julie Chrisley are requesting at least $25 million in damages with "interest at the maximum rate allowed by law," along with attorneys costs and fees and a 12-person jury trial.