Grieving Mother Battles Alleged Legal Exploitation of Euphoria Star's Estate

In October 2025, Angus Cloud's mother, Lisa Cloud, filed a lawsuit in an Alameda County, California courtroom, accusing a Sacramento-area law firm of exploiting her family's tragedy for profit and publicity. The civil complaint alleges that attorney Michael Hackard, his associate Brian Geremia, and their firm, Hackard Law, "filed false and frivolous claims" against her late son's modest estate, then pursued a meritless lawsuit "generating attorney's fees and extracting settlement" that caused "emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, panic attacks and prolonged grief."

The lawsuit claims the attorneys represented a man named Jonathan Kim, who alleged that the young Euphoria star owed him more than $310,000 in unpaid wages and commissions. However, Lisa insists these claims were "entirely fabricated," pointing out that Angus had other assistants on payroll during the same period and that no employment records, contracts or tax forms supported Kim's story.

Lisa's attorney, Jessica Barsotti, argues that the case isn't just about one mother or one estate, but about protecting vulnerable families from the misuse of the legal system for personal gain. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, including potential treble damages under California's elder abuse and fraud statutes.