Pawn Stars in Legal Trouble: Every Shady Lawsuit and Scandal Explained

For a show about haggling, the real drama was always off-camera. If you're wondering just how messy things have gotten, here's every scandal that's dragged Pawn Stars through the legal mud.

Rick Harrison's Family Feud: Sued by His Own Mother

In 2022, Rick Harrison got dragged to court — by his own mom. Joanne Harrison sued her son, claiming he tricked her out of majority ownership of the family's World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. According to her, she was given 51% ownership when the shop opened, but after a medical emergency in the early 2000s, Rick allegedly had her unknowingly sign over her shares.

Joanne also accused Rick of hiding assets left behind by his father, Richard "The Old Man" Harrison, who died in 2018, and of cutting off her monthly allowances. She even secured a temporary restraining order to prevent Rick from moving family money around.

While the current status of the case is unclear, that lawsuit put a public spotlight on the Harrison family's financial power plays.

Chumlee's Arrest: Drugs, Guns, and a Plea Deal

Austin "Chumlee" Russell might play the lovable goof on-screen, but in 2016, cops found a stash of meth, marijuana, and firearms in his home. The search was part of a sexual assault investigation — Chumlee was never charged on that front — but the drugs and weapons were enough to land him with 19 counts of drug possession and one weapons charge.

Chumlee avoided prison by striking a plea deal:

• Three years probation
• Counseling sessions
• Felony weapons charge wiped clean if he stayed out of trouble

Chumlee's stayed quiet legally ever since, but the arrest remains a black mark on the Pawn Stars legacy.

Corey Harrison's DUI Arrest — and His Defense

Corey Harrison, Rick's son, found himself in legal trouble in 2023 after Las Vegas police pulled him over for allegedly swerving. He was arrested for DUI, but Corey fought back, claiming he'd only had one drink — hours earlier — and that the field sobriety test was flawed due to his injured leg.

After a blood test, Corey was released, and he didn't shy away from challenging the arrest publicly. As he put it:

"When I get punched in the face, I am going to fight back."

Assault Lawsuit: Rick and Richard Harrison Accused of Roughing Up a Customer

In 2012, disabled veteran Daniel Callahan sued Rick and Richard Harrison, claiming the father-son duo assaulted him when he brought a rifle into the pawn shop. Callahan said he was grabbed by the neck and tossed out — and sued for $20,000.

Corey Harrison disputed the story, saying neither Rick nor Richard was present, and that Callahan was acting aggressively while carrying his gun. Pawn Stars security apparently took care of the situation, but the lawsuit added another tab to the show's legal troubles.

Promoters and Agents: Two More Lawsuits Hit Pawn Stars in 2012

The same year, a former promoter, Wayne Jefferies, sued the entire main cast for breach of contract. He claimed he was instrumental in selling Pawn Stars to networks but was fired and denied a cut of the profits.

Then in December 2012, talent agency Venture IAB Inc. filed a $5 million lawsuit accusing the cast of ditching them for another agency. They blamed History Channel execs for meddling and steering the stars away to a rival agent — a classic case of Hollywood backstabbing with millions at stake.

And Let's Not Forget — Stolen Goods Slip Through Too

You'd think a pawn shop with a TV deal would avoid shady merchandise, but even Rick Harrison admits it happens. He once paid $40,000 for diamond earrings that turned out to be tied to credit card fraud.

"I took a hit for $40,000... the cops came by to retrieve the illicit jewelry," Harrison told NPR.

Pawn Stars built an empire on Vegas oddities, but the legal battles — family betrayals, drug charges, DUI, assault allegations, and bitter lawsuits — prove the real gamble was behind the counter.

In this business, it's not just about what something's worth. It's about what it'll cost you in court.