WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • Sheila and Norman Greenberg accuse Erik von Detten and Rosland Capital of financial elder abuse, fraud and other misconduct.
  • The couple allegedly paid $2,146,958.22 for gold coins worth approximately $1,360,925.
  • The complaint alleges the first gold coin purchase carried a premium of roughly 60%.
  • The Greenbergs are seeking at least $900,000 in compensatory damages, additional damages, fees and costs.

Former Disney star Erik von Detten is facing a lawsuit from an elderly California couple who accuse him of persuading them to invest more than $2.1 million of their retirement savings in allegedly overpriced gold coins.

Sheila Greenberg, 85, and Norman Greenberg, 97, claim the purchases generated immediate and devastating losses, as reported by Fox News.

The Greenbergs filed their complaint against von Detten and his former employer, Rosland Capital, in Los Angeles County Superior Court on May 11. Their allegations include financial elder abuse, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud, and conversion.

Von Detten is best known for appearing in Disney's "Brink" and "The Princess Diaries." According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the Greenbergs dealt with him after contacting Rosland in 2020.

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The couple allegedly reached out after watching television commercials that promoted gold as a safe way to protect their wealth. The complaint says Rosland used television and internet advertising, direct mail brochures, and intense sales practices designed largely to attract senior citizens.

Once connected with von Detten, described in the lawsuit as one of Rosland's top advisors, the Greenbergs disclosed that their combined traditional IRA accounts held more than $2 million. They claim he gained their trust and that they relied on his purported expertise when following his recommendations.

On Oct. 19, 2020, the Greenbergs allegedly purchased more than $999,000 in Lady Liberty gold coins. Sheila allegedly paid $599,654.83 for 797 coins, while Norman allegedly spent $399,519.09 on 531 coins.

The complaint alleges those coins were sold at a premium of roughly 60%. According to the Greenbergs, they effectively paid $3,009.56 per ounce when the spot price of gold stood at approximately $1,903 per ounce.

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The couple claims that the first transaction erased more than $367,000 in value almost immediately. They believed the price was fair and that von Detten was helping protect the retirement wealth being moved through the IRA rollover, according to the complaint.

The Greenbergs allege that von Detten continued contacting them and pressured them to commit even more money. Their lawsuit claims Rosland likely regarded them as a lucrative customer after discovering how much they had available to invest.

On Nov. 5, 2020, the couple allegedly completed a second purchase totaling more than $1.14 million. Sheila reportedly bought another 885 coins for $677,644.50, while Norman allegedly purchased 614 coins for $470,139.80.

That second transaction allegedly produced another immediate loss exceeding $418,000. Altogether, the Greenbergs claim they paid $2,146,958.22 for coins worth approximately $1,360,925, with their entire traditional IRA accounts rolled into the investments.

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The couple also alleges they never received the physical coins. Instead, the holdings were reportedly sent to Delaware Depository for storage, while the Greenbergs continued paying fees to maintain their gold IRA accounts and store the coins.

After their retirement accounts were depleted, Rosland allegedly pursued other potential sources of money. In August 2021, the Greenbergs claim they used their family trust to purchase nearly $200,000 in additional gold coins.

The lawsuit says they paid $135,487 for 109 PAMP British Museum Lewis Chessmen coins that were allegedly worth approximately $48,832. They also allegedly spent $64,300 on 50 PAMP F1 Abu Dhabi coins valued at about $22,420.

The Greenbergs claim they did not discover the alleged overcharges until 2025, when they began investigating the value of their holdings. After an Advantage Gold representative allegedly indicated that the company operated differently from Rosland, Sheila used AI to research Rosland's business practices.

According to the complaint, that research led Sheila to uncover conduct she considered unethical. The Greenbergs allege the defendants obtained or retained an unconscionable markup of no less than $900,000 despite knowing, or having reason to know, that the transactions would likely harm them.

The couple is seeking at least $900,000 in compensatory damages, double damages, punitive damages, prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. They have also demanded that the case be heard by a jury.

Von Detten has not publicly addressed the lawsuit. A representative for the former Disney star did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.