Pawn Stars: Rick Harrison’s Legal Battle With His Mother
Rick Harrison’s Nasty Legal Battle With His Mother Explained
Pawn Stars celeb Rick Harrison’s involved in a nasty legal battle with his 81-year-old mother, who’s suing him. The series premiered on the History channel in 2009, and has aired for 20 seasons. The Harrison family patriarch, Richard “Old Man” Harrison, opened the shop in 1988, with his son, Rick. His other son Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, and Corey’s childhood friend, Austin “Chumlee” Russell, also appear on the show.
Sadly, Richard died in 2018 at the age of 77, but Pawn Stars continues to focus on the dealings at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. The owners haggle over the prices of the antique and vintage items that people bring to the store. The most Rick has ever paid for an item was $250,000, for Maurice Sendak’s one-of-a-kind original sketches for the classic children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are. The most expensive item he ever walked away from was a three-piece suit worn by George Washington, which the seller offered him for $3 million. Rick countered with $2.5 million, and the deal eventually fell through.
Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison’s Net Worth May Be At Risk Due To Lawsuit
According to USA Today, Rick’s mother Joanne Harrison is suing him in a dispute over family assets, and the ownership of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. As per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the civil lawsuit was filed in Nevada state court by Joanne’s attorneys. The lawsuit names Rick Harrison, the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, business entities Harrison Properties, JoRich Properties, and others, as defendants.
The complaint cites a breach of contract, stating that Joanne was married to Rick’s father for 58 years. However, when she was hospitalized in 2000 or 2001, just after she had awoken from a coma, Rick had her sign her 51% interest in the pawn shop over to him. She claims she didn’t fully understand what she was signing. In 2018, when Richard died, Joanne inherited his 49% share of the pawn shop, but Rick hasn’t provided her with complete documentation of the businesses’ finances. She claims that she’s been unable to get proper accounting for more than $500,000 worth of cash and silver. She believes the late Richard accumulated those things before his death.
Rick’s net worth is threatened because the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, an accounting of assets, a court order banning Rick from using funds belonging to Joanne, and, “a constructive trust” over property that belongs to her. Rick told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “The allegations are false and I think that my 81-year old mother is being manipulated by others for their personal gain.” According to The Daily Mail, in 2020, the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which usually accumulates over $1 million annually, only made $37,406 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison’s Mother Joanne Filed A Restraining Order
According to The Daily Mail, Joanne’s temporary restraining order against Pawn Stars’ Rick is to prevent him from selling off the family’s assets. She claimed that Rick stopped sending her money from Richard’s share of the business. Until recently, Rick was giving her regular $25,000 payments, but stopped in 2020. Joanne’s now trying to have that allowance reinstated through the courts. The restraining order would also stop Rick from transferring or concealing cash assets, or performing any other actions that would diminish her interest in the family’s business.
Joanne’s request stated, “While Rick enjoys his comfortable life as a celebrity firmly in control of all the family businesses and finances, Joanne is left frightened, and unsure of if she will have enough resources to pay for her considerable medical and personal expenses each month.” The publication also reported that Joanne is 81 years old, and suffers from many health issues that require 24-hour care and supervision, which can cost up to $15,000 a month.
Rick stated that he only found out about the restraining order request through news reports. He said, “I’ve tried to reach her numerous times over the last several months and am unable to do so. In fact, one of the companies she is suing is owned 100 percent by my mother.” The Pawn Stars celebrity seems confused about his mother’s lawsuit, so it’ll be interesting how it plays out in the end.
Sources: USA Today, The Daily Mail, Rick Harrison/Instagram, Rick Harrison/Instagram, Las Vegas Review-Journal