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

Lawsuit Accuses Brown ‘Husband’ of Abuse

(CN) - The conservator for Bobbi Kristina Brown says in a lawsuit filed in Atlanta that Nick Gordon, Brown's self-described husband, abused the young woman, and stole more than $11,000 from her since she's been in a medically-induced coma.

Brown, the daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston, was found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Atlanta-area home on Jan. 31, and she has been comatose ever since.

Last week, her family moved her into hospice care. In statement announcing that decision, her aunt Pat Houston said, "Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown's condition has continued to deteriorate. ... We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God's hands now.

In a complaint filed on June 24, conservator Bedelia Hargrove, says Gordon was physically and emotionally abusive toward Brown, misrepresented the nature of their relationship, and made off with money without Brown's authorization.

"Defendant has geld himself out as having several different relationships with Brown at various times," the complaint says. "Prior to 2012, Defendant held himself out to be Brown's surrogate 'brother.' Then, after 2012, when Brown inherited a substantial sum, Defendant assumed the position of Brown's boyfriend. On or around January 9, 2014, Defendant perpetuated the fraud that he had married Brown, though in fact he never did so."

Hargrove says Gordon claimed he was Brown's husband "To control Brown and limit with who she could interact."

"For example, Defendant often answered Brown's personal cell phone, would not allow her to make appointments without his approval, and manipulated her bank relationship so that he could access her money," the complaint says.

"This was all part of a scheme to benefit from her wealth," Hargrove claims.

"In fact, Defendant acted on this scheme by routinely transferring a large portion of Brown's funds into an account controlled solely by him, without the consent or authorization of Brown," the complaint says.

Hargrove then goes on to accuse Gordon of domestic violence, "including punching [Brown] in the face, knocking out a front tooth, and dragging her upstairs by her hair."

"Just prior to January 31, 2015, Brown had confided to someone that Defendant was not the man she thought he was and set up a time on January 31, 2015 50 meet with this person to further discuss this revelation," the complaint says.

"Brown, however, never made it to the meeting," it continues. "Instead, on the morning of January 31, 2015, Brown became embroiled in a loud argument with Defendant at her townhome. The loud argument ended and Brown was later found unresponsive and unconscious, face down in a bathtub, with her mouth swollen and another tooth knocked out ... She has since been diagnosed with global and irreversible brain damage."

Hargrove seeks at least $10 million in damaged on claims of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment and conversion.

Representatives of Nick Gordon could not be reached for comment on Monday.

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...