Chrisleys sue former lawyer for $25 million malpractice

Reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have filed a lawsuit accusing their former defense attorney and his law firm of legal malpractice, claiming their inadequate representation led directly to the couple's federal fraud convictions and subsequent prison sentences. The lawsuit, filed Friday, June 5, 2026, in Atlanta, seeks more than $25 million in damages from attorney Chris Anulewicz and the law firm Balch Bingham.

The Chrisleys, best known for their USA Network show "Chrisley Knows Best," were convicted in June 2022 on charges including bank fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Federal prosecutors had accused the couple of using false documents to obtain over $36 million in fraudulent loans from Atlanta-area banks to fund a lavish lifestyle. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Julie Chrisley received a seven-year sentence. Both were released in May 2025 after receiving a presidential pardon from then-President Donald Trump.

The new lawsuit alleges that Anulewicz, who led their defense, lacked meaningful criminal defense experience and that the firm pursued the high-profile case primarily for the publicity. The...