Former Child Star Erik von Detten Sued Over Gold Coin Scheme

Former Disney child star Erik von Detten and precious-metals dealer Rosland Capital face a lawsuit filed by an elderly couple alleging elder abuse and fraud. Norman Greenberg, 97, and his wife Sheila Greenberg, 85, of La Jolla, California, claim they suffered a $900,000 loss after purchasing gold coins through the organization.

The legal complaint, filed on May 11 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, states that the couple's relationship with Rosland Capital began in 2020 following a television advertisement. According to the documents, the Greenbergs informed von Detten that they possessed over $2 million in retirement funds but had limited knowledge of gold investments. The actor allegedly encouraged them to utilize these retirement accounts to buy precious metals.

Von Detten reportedly recommended Lady Liberty gold coins, prompting the couple to place initial orders totaling roughly $1 million. Rather than receiving the physical currency, the lawsuit alleges the coins were sent to the Delaware Depository for storage, resulting in recurring maintenance and storage fees. From October 2020 to August 2021, the actor allegedly pushed the couple to invest an additional $1 million.

The Greenbergs state they only discovered the true value of their assets in 2025. They contend they paid roughly $2.1 million total for coins that were actually worth approximately $1.3 million, suffering from substantial markups that grossly exceeded market value while being misled to believe the pricing was fair.

The lawsuit lists five separate claims against both von Detten and Rosland Capital, including elder abuse, intentional misrepresentation or concealment fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud, and conversion. The plaintiffs are seeking to recoup their losses, alongside punitive damages, and have requested a jury trial.

Complicating potential financial recovery, Rosland Capital filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on July 2, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Court records indicate the company reported assets between $1 million and $10 million against liabilities ranging from $50 million to $100 million. The precious-metals dealer stated it is currently working with a creditors committee to establish a liquidating trust capable of investigating its financial history and addressing investor claims.

A case management conference is scheduled for November 9 before Judge Bradley S. Phillips in Santa Monica. Von Detten has not publicly addressed the pending litigation, and representatives for Rosland Capital noted they could not comment directly on the ongoing case.