Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Actress Mischa Barton Takes Own Mom to Court

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Actress Mischa Barton sued her mother Tuesday, claiming that her mom defrauded her of acting fees and her interest in an $8 million Beverly Hills house.

Barton, 29, was acting professionally at age 10 and scored her first major film role when she was 11. She sued her mother, Nuala Barton, in Superior Court, alleging breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of oral contract and conversion.

"This action arises from the tragic tale of a greedy stage mother posing as a talent manager who, instead of acting in the best interest of her daughter/client, schemed to defraud her unsuspecting victim," Barton's 11-page complaint states.

"In the process, defendant Nuala Barton ('Nuala' or 'Defendant') forged documents and has even kicked Barton out of her own home - the home purchased with Barton's money but that Nuala has turned into her own personal ATM."

Though Nuala Barton had "absolutely no experience or training" as a talent manager, she withheld her daughter's earnings for modeling and acting, lied to her about her fee for the movie "The Hoarder," and traded on Barton's name to create a line of handbags and a fashion boutique, Mischa Barton says in the complaint.

She says she did not receive any compensation or profits from the products or boutique.

She claims that her mother took her interest in the Beverly Hills property by "granting herself a one-half undivided interest in the property, and encumbering the property with two deeds of trust."

"Neither Nuala nor Barton's father, Paul, has had a job independent of Barton in over a decade. Instead, they sit back expecting their daughter's hard work and dedication to her craft to support their lifestyle. Both comfortably reside in the $7.8 million Beverly Hills home that was purchased with Barton's funds while Barton is not welcome at the property," the lawsuit states.

Barton is represented by Alex Weingarten.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...