Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City star Lisa Barlow and two of her companies are being sued for allegedly failing to repay over US$400,000 in loans.
Bart Carlson, who claims to be a longtime friend of the reality star, filed the suit claiming he loaned Barlow and her Vida Tequila and Luxe Marketing businesses a total of $410,842.36 (RM1.93mil) between May 2010 and February 2018, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.
According to Carlson, Barlow approached him in 2010 and requested the funds due to financial difficulties her ventures were facing. Carlson agreed to help Barlow without drafting a timeline for reimbursement.
Despite repeated attempts to collect on his loan over the years, the 49-year-old has allegedly failed to return any of his money.
“Bart Carlson was once a business partner in a restaurant in Park City and, I thought, a friend,” Barlow said in a statement to TMZ.
“I am deeply saddened that he has decided nine years after our restaurant business ceased to claim that I owe him money,” her statement continued.
“The claim that I owe Bart or his company money is untrue. I pay my bills and obligations and I always have. I look forward to the truth coming out and I intend to hold Bart fully accountable.”
Fans of the Real Housewives franchise may recall a 2022 episode in which a heated exchange took place after co-star Meredith Marks questioned Barlow’s SEC filings for her alcohol brand.
The filings in question were related to a crowdfunding campaign aimed at raising US$25,000, and Barlow claimed on the show that there was nothing unusual about the venture.
At the time, Marks questioned why her former close friend, who has often boasted about being the wealthiest cast member on the show, would need to resort to crowdfunding for a relatively small amount.
“It would seem to be quite unusual to put yourself through those kinds of hoops if you could just write a cheque,” Marks said at the time. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
