Actor Erik von Detten is facing a lawsuit alleging fraud and elder abuse, filed by a married couple who claim they were defrauded out of $2.1 million in gold investments. The legal documents were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of 85-year-old Sheila Greenberg and 97-year-old Norman Greenberg.
The lawsuit names von Detten, known for his role in "The Princess Diaries," and his employer, Rosland Capital, a precious metal asset management firm that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. According to the Greenbergs' claims, Rosland Capital targets senior citizens by exploiting their financial anxieties and vulnerabilities, promoting gold and other precious metals as stable investments.
Representatives for von Detten and Rosland Capital did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The couple alleges they contacted Rosland Capital in 2020 after seeing a television advertisement and were connected with von Detten. They informed him they had limited knowledge of gold but possessed approximately $2 million in retirement accounts. The Greenbergs claim von Detten impressed them with his expertise and assured them he could assist.
Their lawsuit states they made two purchases of Lady Liberty gold through von Detten, totaling around $1 million. The coins were reportedly sent for storage, and shortly thereafter, von Detten facilitated another purchase of $1 million in gold coins. The couple later discovered that the coins were overvalued, purchased at a significant premium.
The Greenbergs assert they invested a total of $2.1 million, but the value of the coins was only $1.3 million. They are seeking $900,000 in damages to recoup their losses, in addition to punitive damages.
Rosland Capital's Chapter 11 filing in July followed significant financial difficulties and numerous customer complaints and lawsuits. The firm had terminated its employees in June, the month prior to filing for bankruptcy protection.
Rosland Capital's business model involved selling physical gold and other precious metals, including as part of IRA investments.
Von Detten, a former child actor, is also recognized for his role as Josh Bryant in "The Princess Diaries" (2001). His other acting credits include the lead role of Andy "Brink" Brinker in the 1998 Disney Channel film "Brink!" and a recurring role as Clu Bell in the series "So Weird" from 1999 to 2001. He also lent his voice to Sid in the original "Toy Story" (1995) and Flynt the gorilla in Disney's "Tarzan" (1999).
