The heir of one of Canada’s richest families is taking legal action against her former best friend, stating that she’s lost everything and is now resorting to driving for Uber while representing herself in court.
Taylor Thomson, 66, a member of the billionaire Thomson family, was once inseparable from Ashley Richardson, 47, a California mother. Their friendship blossomed in 2009 at a party in Malibu, but things soured in 2022 after disastrous investment advice from psychic advisors which led them to pour money into cryptocurrency that ultimately collapsed.
Thomson claims Richardson conducted risky transactions without her knowledge and exploited their friendship for financial gain, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Richardson refutes these accusations, taking issue with Thomson’s behavior in their friendship and blaming her for the fallout that left her struggling.
In a poignant message to Thomson, Richardson expressed, “Thanks to you I lost everything and you decided to sue someone who has nothing left to lose. I loved you more than anything.” There’s a sense of betrayal that hangs over their relationship.
It seems that even as friends, they had their conflicts. Thomson reportedly became volatile, perhaps out of a fear that others were only after her wealth, a behavior highlighted in WSJ.
Thomson even hired a private investigator with a criminal background to surveil a nanny in a custody battle, which suggests a level of distrust that complicates relationships.
Richardson characterized herself as a supportive friend throughout their twelve years of closeness, mentioning her efforts to help Thomson manage her affairs, like relocating her beloved chickens.
Ironically, Richardson fell victim to a faulty crypto venture in 2021, despite being skilled in consulting psychics and astrologers about investments. This led her to pour significant funds into a new crypto scheme, initially pitched by a popular psychic.
Their investment approach became increasingly reckless, with Richardson reportedly putting most of her savings into this project, while Thomson invested over $40 million. Yet, as the market began to collapse, it seems trust deteriorated further. There was friction over how much more they should invest after early successes.
Amidst their struggles, Thomson composed a scathing letter to her brother, accusing him of hampering her investment opportunities.
In the wake of the crypto market crash, Richardson lost everything, and Thomson felt deeply betrayed, seeking restitution through legal channels.
Thomson has since pursued a lawsuit against Richardson for a minimum of $25 million, claiming she was misled regarding investments, which she alleged put her finances at risk.
While Thomson and Persistence Crypto reached a confidential settlement, Richardson continued to contest her friend in court.
Consultants predict that Thomson’s losses tied to Richardson may exceed $80 million, a staggering figure that adds to the drama.
In response, Richardson alleges that she only acted with Thomson’s blessing in their investments, emphasizing her attempts to mediate losses throughout their dealings.
Now, facing significant financial difficulties, Richardson claims to be working as an Uber driver while navigating life’s challenges, like caring for her dogs and meeting her legal responsibilities following the crypto debacle.
In a surprising turn, she has even initiated a countersuit for $10 million, asserting that Thomson’s accusations are defamatory and crafted with the help of AI.
Thomson’s representatives have dismissed Richardson’s claims, standing firm against allegations made, including an encounter during a 2019 trip.
The last known communication between them seems to have devolved into intense conflict, with Richardson feeling utterly devastated, even using derogatory terms against Thomson.
“Send your f-goons to take my life. You destroyed me,” she reportedly remarked in one of their final exchanges.
