Reality TV star Todd Chrisley’s legal troubles continue to escalate as he faces a hefty payout following a defamation lawsuit filed against him by tax investigator Amy Doherty-Heinze. The Georgia court ordered Chrisley to pay $755,000 to Doherty-Heinze after she accused him of slandering her on social media and his podcast.
Doherty-Heinze alleged that Chrisley targeted her with false accusations after the Georgia Department of Revenue launched an investigation into the Chrisleys in 2017. Despite her not being involved in the investigation, Chrisley allegedly launched a social media campaign against the GDOR and its employees, claiming the investigation was illegal and improperly motivated.
After serving Chrisley a retraction demand letter in July 2021, Doherty-Heinze proceeded with the lawsuit when he failed to retract his defamatory statements. A jury recently ruled in her favor, finding Chrisley liable for defamation by libel and slander for statements made about her on his podcast in 2020.
While Chrisley was found not liable for some statements made on his reality show, he was ordered to pay compensatory and punitive damages, as well as legal costs to Doherty-Heinze. Despite the verdict, Chrisley’s lawyer plans to appeal the ruling, expressing concerns about the case’s impact on the First Amendment.
This legal battle adds to Chrisley’s existing troubles, as he and his wife Julie are serving reduced sentences in federal prison for bank fraud and tax evasion. The couple’s daughter, Savannah, revealed that an appeals court will hear oral arguments in their case, indicating that the legal saga is far from over.
