Former Child Star Erik von Detten and Rosland Capital Sued for Elder Abuse and Fraud by Elderly Couple
Former child actor Erik von Detten, widely known for his role in “The Princess Diaries,” has been named alongside precious metals company Rosland Capital in a civil lawsuit alleging elder abuse and fraud. The legal action was initiated by an elderly couple, 85-year-old Sheila Greenberg and 97-year-old Norman Greenberg, who claim they were targeted and financially exploited while attempting to secure their retirement funds.
According to court documents, the dispute centers on transactions facilitated by Rosland Capital, a firm that buys and sells precious metals. The plaintiffs assert that the company specifically targets senior citizens, leveraging financial fears and vulnerabilities by pitching the stability of gold and other precious metals as a secure investment.
The Greenbergs stated they first contacted Rosland Capital in 2020 after seeing a television advertisement. Following their inquiry, they were connected with von Detten, who was working for the firm. The couple informed the former actor that they possessed limited knowledge regarding gold markets but disclosed that they held approximately $2 million in their retirement accounts. They allege that von Detten presented himself as knowledgeable and capable of managing their assets.
Per the terms of the lawsuit, the Greenbergs placed an initial order for about $1 million worth of Lady Liberty gold coins. Rather than shipping the physical assets directly to the buyers, the couple was informed that the coins would be sent to a warehouse facility for storage. Shortly after the first transaction, von Detten reportedly facilitated a second purchase involving another roughly $1 million in coins.
However, the couple contends that they subsequently discovered the purchased coins were heavily marked up and possessed a market value far below what they had paid. The Greenbergs allege they invested a total of approximately $2.1 million, while the actual value of the acquired coins amounted to only $1.3 million.
Seeking to recover their losses, the plaintiffs claim to have suffered financial damages totaling $900,000. In addition to retrieving their lost funds, the lawsuit asks the court to award punitive damages against the defendants. Court records indicate that Rosland Capital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection months after the lawsuit was initially filed.
