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Reality Star Accused of Swindling $100K from Ailing Mother-in-Law Amid Family Drama!

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In a recently filed civil lawsuit, Britani Bateman, a cast member on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, stands charged with failing to return a $100,000 loan she received from her ex-mother-in-law.

Earlier this month, Sandra Underwood (mother of Britani’s former partner John Scott Underwood) filed a lawsuit against him, claiming he failed to honor an earlier agreement where the reality TV personality was supposed to repay $100,000 in a critical situation.

In the report exclusively provided by DailyMail.com, Sandra (aged 87) alleges that Britani misused a sum of $100,000 for her personal gain. This money was initially placed into a trust fund where Britani was appointed as a trustee in the year 2021.

The grievance alleges that Britani knowingly, with a harmful intent, and by engaging in deceptive practices, not only took the money belonging to the Plaintiff but also has since refused to return this money.

One part of the filing submitted on May 6th includes a letter from Sandra’s lawyer asking Britani to return $100,000. This money was donated by an ailing relative and forms part of the Integrity Trust. The Integrity Trust was established by Britani’s father, Melvin Merrill Martin, with Britani serving as both trustee and beneficiary.

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In simpler terms, the corpus, often called the ‘trust body,’ encompasses the resources or assets that a trust manages. It’s like the initial amount placed in the trust, which is then cared for and utilized by the trustee on behalf of the individuals who will eventually benefit from it.

In June 2021, Sandra placed $100,000 into a trust. This money came from the sale of her home. As stated in court documents, Britani suggested that Sandra put this amount into the trust fund. The agreement was that Sandra could ask for the money to be withdrawn at any time, and it would be returned to her without argument.

Moreover, Sandra donated a sum of $217,000 towards constructing a house on Britani’s 10,000-square-foot property in Provo, Utah, without expecting any repayment. This property is presently undergoing renovations.

The popular TV figure’s ideal residence boasts six bedrooms, seven baths, and two kitchens. Additionally, there’s another house on the expansive estate, known as ‘Casita,’ which features two bedrooms, two baths, and a single kitchen. The Bravo celebrity disclosed these details in a recent chat with Realtor.com.

The renovation plan encompasses constructing a swimming pool and a picturesque outdoor space, along with another garage featuring living quarters on top, to serve as a welcoming haven for her relatives’ children who may require temporary housing, she mentioned.

In the legal letter sent in March, Sandra’s attorneys mentioned that Britani apparently consented to the fact that Sandra’s mother-in-law was eligible for the money, and essentially expressed, “I can’t think of a reason why not.

In simpler terms, the letter accompanying the complaint states that Sandra, being almost 90 years old, appears to lack adequate financial resources to meet the expenses of living independently or covering her healthcare and prescription costs related to her unspecified health problems.

In simpler terms, Britani’s attorney asked her to demonstrate basic integrity and ethical behavior by repaying $100,000 so that Sandra could enjoy a modestly comfortable lifestyle in her remaining days. He had initially aimed to settle this matter promptly, but lack of response from Britani or her legal representative led him to file the complaint prematurely, about two months earlier.

In her lawsuit, Sandra is asking for the return of $100,000, along with interest at the legally required rate, starting from the time the funds were moved to the trust in 2021. Additionally, she wants Britani to cover her legal fees and expenses related to collection, as well as a punitive penalty equal to up to three times the amount of her losses.

Britani hasn’t submitted a reply to the accusation as of now. We contacted her legal representative for their perspective on the matter.

Previously, DailyMail.com detailed the contentious divorce of a Real Housewives of Salt Lake City newcomer, who alleged that Sandra’s son, John Scott Underwood, and her ex-husband had depleted her bank accounts and barred her from participating in their joint ventures, accusing them of such actions.

On March 20, 2023, the celebrity known for reality TV shows filed for divorce from John. The divorce was finalized in October of the same year. Yet, she reported to the court in December 2024 that he had failed to adhere to the terms set by the Domestic Relations Injunction.

In the court papers, Britani outlined the charges against Underwood, which include spending company funds without authorization on personal expenses, neglecting to include Britani in accounts related to their shared businesses, unapproved withdrawal of the business partnership’s account, and operating the businesses inconsistently with their usual methods.

Among their joint ventures are the Starwood Group, a real estate development firm, Pure Productions, specializing in entertainment productions, and Millcreek Builders, a construction-focused enterprise.

In a different legal case, Britani and John find themselves at odds again, this time due to allegations about how he behaved towards her throughout their 6.5-year marriage.

Shortly after the divorce was made final, she submitted a complaint for intentional tort, stating that she had endured ‘extreme emotional anguish’ throughout their marriage, and further accused him of repeatedly demanding sexual encounters on a daily basis.

Apart from these incidents, she additionally claimed examples of his controlling actions, such as specifying the types of clothes, makeup, fragrances, and beauty items that Britani was allowed to wear or utilize, whether he was present or not.

In a statement given to DailyMail.com, Underwood’s lawyer, Randy S. Keste, refuted Bateman’s accusations, stating that these are part of several troublesome lawsuits initiated by Ms. Underwood, many of which involve false and overblown claims. At least three earlier cases she instigated have already been dropped.

Both lawsuits are still ongoing with the parties having scheduled upcoming hearings. 

Last season, Britani made her debut on RHOSLC as a companion of Heather Gay. As the shooting for season six commenced in March, she was seen filming alongside the previous season’s cast members throughout Utah.

In addition to her role, she’s now a realtor specializing in home sales. Notably, she recently transferred her license to collaborate with Presidio, the brokerage featured on the Bravo series “Sold in SLC.

Despite some of her fellow cast members choosing to distance themselves, she maintains her affiliation with the Mormon community and actively participates in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Last season, she created quite a stir by reportedly secretly recording the cast’s confidential discussions on her mobile device inside a Sprinter van, as well as engaging in intense disputes with fellow cast members Bronwyn Newport and Angie Katsanevas.

The star is recognized for the rollercoaster romance they shared with Jared Osmond, Donny Osmond’s relative, who briefly appeared during season five.

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2025-05-26 17:35

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