A fierce legal skirmish has erupted over the $400,000 estate of late actress Daveigh Chase. In a dramatic twist, her former manager has waded into what has already become a contentious standoff between her estranged parents, all vying for control of her remaining assets.
This unusual probate conflict comes in the wake of the passing of the former child sensation, best known for haunting audiences as Samara in ‘The Ring’. Tragically, Chase passed away at just 35, her life marred by tumultuous bouts with addiction and a heartbreaking stint without a home in Los Angeles.
Living in an RV amidst the struggles of Skid Row—a neighborhood infamous for its homelessness—Chase was elusive, as her loved ones tirelessly searched for her during those final months.
According to findings from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Chase’s death on June 16 resulted from a dual affliction: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and complications from polysubstance abuse.
Despite the hardships that defined the end of her days, court filings have disclosed that Chase left behind an estate her mother appraised at about $400,000, as reported by documents acquired by the Daily Mail.
Despite being unhoused in her final months, control of that money and Chase’s remaining assets has become the focus of an increasingly bitter legal fight involving her mother Cathy Chase, estranged father John Schwallier – and her former manager John Ryan.
At a hearing on Wednesday at a Downtown LA courtroom, Daveigh’s parents and their attorneys told a judge that they plan to move forward with competing petitions to each take over their daughter’s estate.
Cathy told the Daily Mail that Daveigh also had residuals that she never collected from her work in various commercials, film and TV shows.
Late actress Daveigh Chase had an estate valued at $400,000, according to a court filing from her mother in the wake of The Ring star’s tragic death at 35 in June of this year
Cathy spoke to the Daily Mail from a $1.5 million, four-bedroom home in Chatsworth, Los Angeles
Daveigh, who died at 35, is seen with her mother Cathy as a child during happier times (2002)
John Schwallier, who has not seen Daveigh since she was a child, initially told the Daily Mail he would rather have a fiduciary, Megan Boling, be appointed by the court to deal with settling the estate affairs.
He also filed paperwork asking a judge to approve Boling as administrator to Daveigh’s estate.
Then, in a surprising turn of events, another name came forward to obtain a piece of Daveigh’s earning.
An attorney representing Daveigh’s former manager also told the judge that his client, John Ryan, had filed paperwork in support of Boling as the administrator.
Ryan had publicly criticized Daveigh’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, for setting up a GoFundMe for the actress, calling it ‘fake’ and warned the public not to donate to the crowdfunding site.
‘That GoFundMe is not going toward ANY expenses for Daveigh,’ Ryan said in a statement.
‘Myself, her father, her uncle and all of us close friends who knew her for decades are encouraging people not to donate to this page. This man making these claims brought her into the hospital in terrible condition and didn’t let any of the family know until she passed so he can control the dialogue.
‘Daveigh’s actual family is handling all arrangements, we have contacted go fund me to let them know this man started this page on his own under Daveighs name when she was already unresponsive and urging people to report the page and not donate.’
Chase had been unhoused and was known to have stayed in an RV in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood, pictured, before her death
Daveigh in 2011 at the peak of her career following a string of high profile movie and TV roles
Attorney Richard Pershing, who represents fiduciary Megan Boling, told the judge he met with Cathy Chase’s attorney, but they could not ‘find a resolution.’
Cathy Chase, who was on the video call, remained quiet. Her ex-husband, however, spoke to the judge in frustration.
‘Ultimately, I would like a court-appointed person,’ said Schwallier as he rubbed his brow.
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‘I’ve got nothing but ill representation from my ex-wife and I don’t see her treating this fairly. That is why I want a fiduciary person to do it.’
Attorney Cliff Melnick, who represents Cathy, said he was concerned with the amount of time it could take to argue over the competing petitions.
‘Your Honor, I am concerned about the length, time and expenses this is going to take,’ Melnick said.
‘There are so many competing petitions. And as far as Ms. Boling is concerned, my client clearly has priority over Mr. Schwallier’s nominee.
He continued: ‘I guess my overall worry is that we’re just going to keep pushing this. A resolution is important to my client. It’s a tough situation, and under these very difficult circumstances, I am further worried that we are being engaged in discovery.
‘It’s going to become some form of a fishing expedition. There is nothing in any of the papers that I’ve seen indicating Cathy Chase should be disqualified for any reason whatsoever.’
Chase’s estate reportedly includes money connected to her years working in movies, television shows and commercials. Chase is pictured in 2012 in LA
Chase began acting as a child and built a career that included major film and television roles; Chase is pictured in 2008 in LA
Before the 15-minute hearing ended, Schwallier told the judge he also plans to file his own petition.
He told the judge, ‘If you are not going to grant [Boiling to take over] or a court-appointed fiduciary today, I will file a competing petition.’
The judge told Schwallier to file his petition by January 8. The hearing was continued to February 10, 2027.
In June, Cathy Chase told the Daily Mail about the harrowing moments she experienced upon learning of her daughter’s death via online news alerts.
‘I was devastated,’ Cathy said. ‘It felt like something inside of me squeezing all of the air out of me, and at the same time, it felt like I was exploding outwardly.’
She continued, ‘I let out this guttural scream and I just was running. And these weird sounds were coming out of me, these kind of, like, primeval sounds.
‘And I went out into the backyard, and I was screaming, “No, no, no, no!” I am in so much pain but I hope her soul heard me.’
Cathy told the Daily Mail she had said a prayer for her late daughter when she identified her at a Los Angeles hospital early June 18.
She said a chaplain joined her as they ‘were able to lay hands and pray.’
Aged 12 in 2003, she won the ‘Best Villain’ MTV Movie Award for her turn in The Ring. Ashton Kutcher and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs presented her with the award
Chase became internationally recognizable as a child actress for playing the terrifying Samara Morgan in the 2002 horror movie The Ring. Chase is pictured in The Ring with Naomi Watts
Cathy added, ‘We were able to lay hands and pray. Technically, we were touching the glass, but it’s as close as we could get, so we were able to lay hands and pray for her.
‘It was a beautiful experience, and, I feel very blessed to have been able to share that with my daughter.’
Daveigh Chase was best known for her work in films such as The Ring and Lilo & Stitch, both of which had been released in 2002.
The Las Vegas-born actress had previously appeared in the 2001 film Donnie Darko and 2003 series Oliver Beene.