ATLANTA — Todd and Julie Chrisley have filed a civil lawsuit in Atlanta against their former defense attorney Chris Anulewicz and the law firm Balch & Bingham. The lawsuit alleges legal malpractice contributing to their 2022 federal convictions.
A jury in Atlanta convicted Todd and Julie Chrisley in June 2022 on federal charges, including bank fraud, tax evasion, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Todd Chrisley received a sentence of 12 years in federal prison, while Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years. President Donald Trump pardoned the couple last year.
The Chrisleys are seeking compensatory damages exceeding $25 million in the lawsuit, in addition to legal costs and attorney fees. The lawsuit claims that Anulewicz lacked meaningful criminal defense experience. It also alleges a conflict of interest, stating that Anulewicz directed the Chrisleys to invest $75,000 into a startup food truck business owned by his brother-in-law. The lawsuit further asserts that the firm took the case for publicity and to generate business.
Balch & Bingham and Anulewicz are being represented by attorney Patrick T. O'Connor, who said, "We are unable to comment on an unserved, apparently pending federal lawsuit." Doug Schneider, a spokesperson for the firm, added, "This complaint will be vigorously defended." According to an online biography, Anulewicz currently works for the law firm Bradley. His biography also shows he has nearly 30 years of experience in civil and white-collar criminal business cases and was listed among Georgia's Super Lawyers from 2014 to 2026 and in The Best Lawyers in America in 2021.
The lawsuit states that a 2017 Georgia Department of Revenue search of a warehouse containing the Chrisleys' belongings was conducted without a warrant. A judge later granted a defense motion to suppress physical documents seized during this 2017 search. The lawsuit alleges that Anulewicz did not request the suppression of derivative evidence, such as emails and bank records, which prosecutors subsequently used to obtain search warrants. The plaintiffs contend that without this derivative evidence, prosecutors would not have had sufficient evidence for a conviction.
Before becoming television personalities, prosecutors stated that the Chrisleys and a former business partner submitted false documents to Atlanta-area banks to secure millions in fraudulent loans. They alleged the couple used new fraudulent loans to pay off previous debts and acquire luxury items, including vehicles, clothes, and real estate. Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy and abandoned over $20 million in debt, according to prosecutors. The Chrisleys, known for their television series Chrisley Knows Best, currently reside in Tennessee. Savannah Chrisley advocated for her parents' pardon before Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration. The couple released a documentary series titled The Chrisleys: Back to Reality on Lifetime in September.