Britani Bateman, a star of the reality TV show "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," faces accusations of owing a substantial $100,000 to her former mother-in-law, Sandra Underwood. According to court documents obtained by Page Six on Monday, Sandra, the mother of Bateman's ex-husband John Scott Underwood, alleges that Bateman misappropriated the funds for her personal gain and has refused to reimburse her.
In the paperwork filed on May 6th, the 87-year-old Sandra claims that Bateman, aged 53, took money deposited into a family trust and used it for her own ends. The complaint states, "Britani, willfully, maliciously, and through intentionally fraudulent conduct, converted Plaintiff's funds and now refuses to repay them," adding that Bateman has been unjustly enriched by this action.
In March, Sandra's attorney sent Bateman a letter requesting the return of the $100,000. However, Sandra asserts in the court filing that she has yet to receive her money back. According to the letter, which was included as an exhibit, Sandra received $338,889.31 from the sale of her West Valley Utah home. Shortly thereafter, allegedly at the urging of Bateman, Sandra deposited $100,000 into the trust, believing she could withdraw it at any time without objection.
The trust, named "Integrity Trust," was established in 2019 by Bateman's father, Melvin Merrill Martin, as the settlor. Bateman and her mother, Cathie, were designated as trustees. However, Cathie has passed away, and John was appointed as the successor trustee.
As the letter explains, Sandra, now in her 80s, faces increased living expenses, primarily due to health issues that are common among elderly individuals. Her limited income of approximately $1,600 is insufficient to cover her medical care and prescription needs.
Sandra's lawyers argue that Bateman should, as a matter of simple decency and morality, fork over the $100,000, plus interest at the statutory rate prescribed by law, and cover any attorney fees.
Bateman and John, who finalized their divorce in October 2023 after seven years of marriage, have been entangled in legal drama in recent years. In a $2.5 million lawsuit filed last October, Bateman accused John of becoming "very controlling and abusive" during their marriage, claiming he demanded sex multiple times a day. Months later, she alleged that John had drained their shared bank account and excluded her from their joint business ventures.
