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‘RHOC’ Star Vicki Gunvalson Is Reportedly Being Sued for Fraud by Insurance Client
Not good. The Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson is reportedly being sued by a client who is accusing both Gunvalson, 57, and her insurance company of fraud.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, a woman named Joan Lile is suing Gunvalson and her company, Coto Insurance & Financial Services. Lile, 82, is accusing Gunvalson — who has worked as a licensed insurance broker and agent since 1995 — of fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract.
Lile claimed that in 1996, she purchased a long-term care insurance policy from Gunvalson for her and her husband Robert. She claimed that Gunvalson assured her that the policy she purchased that would cover future medical premiums after one of the spouses died.
But Lile claimed that the reality star had lied about the policy agreement including a “Lifetime Waiver of All Premiums for a Surviving Spouse,” therefore allegedly “preying on the confidence and trust” of Lile and her husband.
“This SWOP benefit was of utmost importance to the Liles because Robert Lile was significantly older than Joan Lile and wanted, above all else, to know that his wife would be protected financially upon his passing,” the documents read.
But Lile accused the Bravo star of lying to her about the policy for more than 20 years, “throughout which time [Lile] paid ever-increasing premiums yet was ultimately denied the specific benefit on which the purchase of the policy was predicated.”
Lile’s husband died in 2017, and since his death, Lile tried to use the SWOP benefit but her requests have been denied by Coto Insurance & Financial Services, which Vicki founded in 1991. Lile claimed she is still being charged policy premiums. Lile is suing Gunvalson and Coto Insurance & Financial Services for unspecified damages.
A rep for Gunvalson did not immediately respond to In Touch‘s request for comment.
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