Rick Harrison, co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, rose to fame through the History Channel’s reality series Pawn Stars. The show, which debuted in 2009, offers viewers a glimpse into the daily operations of the pawn shop, featuring negotiations over unique items and interactions with a diverse clientele. While the series has garnered a massive following and turned the Harrison family into household names, the business’s real-life operations have not been without controversy and legal challenges.
In May 2012, Rick Harrison and his father, Richard “Old Man” Harrison, faced a lawsuit filed by Daniel Callahan, a 62-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran. Callahan alleged that during a visit to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in October 2011, he was physically assaulted by the Harrisons. According to the lawsuit, Callahan brought a Model 96B rifle to the shop for appraisal.
He claimed that an argument ensued, during which Rick and Richard Harrison placed him in a chokehold, dragged him through the store, and threw him onto the sidewalk. Callahan sought $20,000 in damages for injuries he purportedly sustained during the incident.
The Harrisons denied the allegations. Corey Harrison, Rick’s son, stated that neither Rick nor Richard were present during the altercation. He described Callahan as “absolutely irate with a weapon in his hand” and emphasized that the staff acted appropriately to ensure the safety of everyone in the store. The outcome of the lawsuit was not publicly
Family Feud: His Mother Joanne Harrison’s sued him
In February 2022, a more personal legal battle emerged when Rick Harrison’s mother, Joanne Harrison, filed a lawsuit against him in Nevada’s Clark County District Court. The dispute centered around the ownership and assets of the family-run Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.
Joanne alleged that she originally held a 51% ownership stake in the pawn shop. She claimed that while she was hospitalized in the early 2000s, Rick had her sign over her shares without fully understanding the implications, effectively transferring control of the business to him. Following the death of her husband, Richard Harrison, in 2018, Joanne asserted that she inherited his 49% stake, making her the rightful owner of the entire business. However, she alleged that Rick failed to provide her with complete financial documentation and had been mismanaging the company’s assets.
Joanne’s lawsuit also accused Rick of misappropriating over $500,000 in cash and silver that her husband had accumulated before his death. She sought unspecified damages, a full accounting of assets, and a court order preventing Rick from using funds belonging to her.
In response, Rick Harrison denied the allegations, stating that they were false and that his 81-year-old mother was being manipulated by others for their personal gain. He emphasized that he had always acted in the best interests of the family and the business.
The legal battle intensified when Joanne filed a temporary restraining order against Rick in March 2022. The order aimed to prevent him from transferring or concealing assets and from cutting off her monthly income, which she relied upon for medical and personal expenses. Court documents revealed that Joanne required 24-hour care and supervision due to her health issues and that she was concerned about her financial stability.
As of now, the lawsuit’s resolution remains undisclosed to the public.
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