If you’re a regular viewer or follower of the famous The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City show, then you must already be familiar with names like Lisa Barlow as Vida Tequila, right? Well, in the public eye, she is actually known for her business moves, that confident attitude, and, of course, the drama that she brings to the table. But this time, it is not just about the drama; it is actually a real legal case that is going on, and yes, we’re referring to the Lisa Barlow Lawsuit, which you might be seeing in the headlines lately. So let’s talk about some important details here about the case, shall we?
What’s the Big Lawsuit About?
The bigger suit, still being decided, was filed in June 2024. Bart Carlson, a construction businessman from Park City, sued Lisa, her companies, Vida Tequila, and Luxe Marketing. What does he say? That Lisa owes him the big sum of $410,000.
According to Carlson’s account, this goes back to 2010, when Lisa indicated she was having financial issues. He adds that he stepped in to help with loans and support, and even:
- Lisa had the card open at Amex, incurring charges above $119,000 from 2011 till the year 2017.
- Sent loans through her lawyer, keeping her husband, John, from knowing how bad it was for Vida Tequila.
- Received a text from Lisa in 2019, with just the word OVERWHELMED and the facepalm emoji, in response to his repayment ask.
Lisa, nevertheless, denies all of this. According to her, it is a fabricated story, and she maintains that she pays all her dues. Her legal team tried to get the case dismissed in the year 2024, but the court kept it alive. So for now, this lawsuit remains active.
What About the Lawsuits That Got Dropped?
Lisa has faced a few other lawsuits, but most ended quickly:
- August 2024: William McGeary was named as a man who owns a Trust that lent Lisa and her significant other $400,000 to buy tequila merchandise. During the two days, she then had to file for bankruptcy.
- 2020: Another claim was filed, alleging that Lisa and Vida Tequila owed slightly above $27,000. That one was settled in a month.
- 2021: In May 2005, the Utah Tax Commission filed two tax liens against Lisa and her husband, totaling a little over $16,000, and those were made void in less than one month.
In short, lawsuits have been filed against her before, but most didn’t stick around for long.
How’s Lisa Handling This in Public?
Lisa could have been quiet, but she decided to capitalize on those lawsuits. She went as far as throwing a “lawsuit luncheon,” an event where she transformed a restaurant with huge “DISMISSED” signs.
She told her castmates at the event that people can sue you for almost anything, and exorbitant lawsuits may be nothing but a frivolous claim. She declined to call the matter an active lawsuit, but rather baseless in her opinion.
What Did Meredith Marks Say?
Law graduate Meredith Marks added her sisterly sense of justice while giving her perspective. She said that civil suits are not the same thing as criminal charges-they are mostly about money. She also added that it is quite common to borrow and lend money in business, and sometimes people have differences about paying it back.
Her take was that Lisa likely will not lose in the Carlson lawsuit, but if she did, it would change things.
So? What In The End?
Over the years, Lisa Barlow has faced many lawsuits. Most, however, were thrown out swiftly, such as the $400,000 case in 2024, the $27,000 case in 2020, and the $16,000 tax liens in 2021.
The $410,000 Bart Carlson case remains pending. Hence, Lisa will go under legal scrutiny both in court and on Real Housewives until that case is resolved.
